Kafue with Ed - The Wildlife Magician
Remarkably Ed spotted it. Our very good local Bush Camp driver and spotter didn’t. Clearly neither did I. The moon was still up and it was pre-dawn gloomy. It was yet another 20 minutes to sunrise. We stopped the Landcruiser and Ed pointed into the woods on the edge of the Busanga plain. And there it was 300 meters away – between two trees – a couple of ears popping up. And then four more. The three lionesses started to slowly walk away. How Ed managed to spot them was incredible. But that’s why I came back to Zambia on a photo safari with Ed Selfe (see the Galleries section for pictures from my previous trip with Ed to South Luangwa). Not only is he a very good photographer, but he has lived in Zambia for 15 years and knows the environment inside out. His knowledge of the local wildlife and their behaviour allows him to get us into the most incredible positions for great shots. If you don’t get the photos you want, then there is no point blaming Ed. Here is a link to his website: https://www.edwardselfephotosafaris.com/.
We tracked the lionesses for hours – through the woods and to the waterhole. Patience is key and it pays off. Calculating light, position and anticipating the animals’ next steps was the business we undertook early morning and later evenings for 12 days across the Kafue National Park. This remote and less well visited park is a haven for wildlife and covers an area larger than Wales.
We started this trip at the northern end of Kafue, on the Busanga plain. A vast open savannah with a myriad of life, Lechwes in the thousands, Pukus, Sables, Roan antelopes and elephants among other wildlife, with the ace predators of lions and leopards hunting among the trees and thickets. Unlike other more accessible national parks in Zambia, Kafue is quieter with far fewer safari vehicles. Wifi and cellular reception is mostly absent – which adds to the feeling of being removed from the busy normal world and it allows you to be fully engrossed in this beautiful wilderness.
We ended the trip in the Musekese sector of the park along the majestic Kafue river, a broad meandering river teeming with life. We used a boat to explore the riverside. This gives you a different perspective of the landscape and provides an excellent viewpoint for photography. Slowly drifting along the riverbanks with the low sun behind creates a magical light to observe and shoot the animals venturing down to drink. The river attracts an abundance of bird life in all colours, sizes and shapes – a truly magnificent feast for bird enthusiasts.
It was an amazing 12 days with Ed in the wilderness. Sadly, I’m now back in London. But, I will have the pleasure of sifting through thousands of photos to edit and display. See my new Kafue entries in the Galleries section of this website, which will evolve significantly over the next few months as I add to and update the selection. I will also post separate blogs focusing on the bird life and photos I took on this trip, so watch this space. Much more to come from this excellent trip … thank you Ed!