HWANGE NATIONAL PARK REPORT – OCTOBER 2011 (Part 2)
by John and Jenny Brebner
We then moved on to Sinamatella and stayed two nights. Warden Gomwe is doing a sterling job there and is keeping his camp ship shape. Most of the lodges have been repainted and it would appear that fixing of light fittings and electrical plugs and general maintenance has been carried out. Everywhere was litter free and tidy, the gardens were taking shape and we were most impressed to find every bird bath filled with water. Hot water wasn’t a problem for the most part as it was SO hot that we showered at midday in lukewarm water. Just about all the lodges now have chip boilers which is perfect. Water pressure to the lower lodges may be all right later in the evening but as our lodge was higher up, once the booster pump was turned off for the day, we did not have hot water in the shower. Those visiting the camp should certainly take malarial precautions and make sure you have some mozzie repellant. We had a thoroughly enjoyable visit there, taking several drives and seeing good game. We came across two lots of lion, three one afternoon resting along a river bank, and on a drive along the Kashawe Loop the following morning, we saw at least nine lion – three females and six knee high cubs scuttling along a river bed. We managed to pick up two of the lionesses for a bit of a view but the others had disappeared. Once again birding was excellent, with a number of vultures nesting and roosting along the Lukosi River drive. Five Greater Flamingos were spooning away on the far side of Mandavu, a few Yellowbilled Storks still remained and two Ospreys had been sighted at the dam on the morning of the count by some of our team. Each time we went for a drive, we saw a Giant Eagle Owl sitting in a baobab not far off the road and we definitely saw another bird further up which looked rather like a youngster. At one of the Kashawe pools, we saw two magnificent saddlebilled storks as well as two hamerkops scratching around in the mud. While there, a male and female Bateleur along with two immature Bateleurs took to the air. We visited a known Black Eagle’s nest and saw the fledgling perched not far from the site, in its glorious golden plumage. So a wonderful trip all round and thanks to Hwange National Park.
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