SOUTH LUANGWA IS A PARADISE

A leopard and her cub are just around the corner, as we learn from our guide Innocent and other avid lodge guests, who’ve already seen them. At our evening game drive we meet the two then and are eyewitnesses of a dramatic confrontation. A hyena creeps about and lurks, while mother and child quench their thirst at a small waterhole. She either wants the Leopard’s prey or, if necessary, the cub.

In this dangerous situation, the leopard courageously launches a sharp attack on the hyena, although she knows that she would have no chance against this powerful predator in the worst case. But as a clever mother, she also knows that with her skilful diversionary tactic, she can give her child a survival advantage. Luckily, the little one does exactly what Mama taught him. It escapes into the safety of a tall tree. The danger seems banished for the time being.

The next morning at sunrise, we visit the two again and still the hyena sneaks around greedily. Mother Leopard lies under a tree completely relaxed, as she knows her cub and the kill in good hands. On a branch high above it hangs, an impala, stonedead. The leopard probably killed it last night. On another branch, the little kitten turns around, cuddles with his mom and then enjoys the view from above again. Morning idyll with family Leopard.

All of a sudden there is some trouble. The mother is on high alert when her cub eats over her in the tree with relish at the prey. If her child or the prey falls, she is ready to jump to bring it back up before the hyena can strike.

Eat and be eaten – the wilderness is fascinating and relentless at the same time.

There are so many beautiful and touching impressions that we are allowed to experience here. Be it the spicy scent of dry grass, sandy dust or sun dried wood. Be it the magical light of the sun or the mysterious haze between the trees. Be it a colorful bird or the lively chirping of a whole flock of birds. Be it a herd of stately buffaloes or a group of silent puku. It is always fascinating or exciting. Win and I now have a bad suspicion. We are probably addicted! Addicted to elephants, leopards, wild animals and safari.

On our morning walk Innocent, our guide, discovers lion tracks. Our little group of hikers follows the tracks, but can not spot the lions. Only the next morning, when we roam through the bush again with Innocent in the safari vehicle, he pursues further tracks, thinks and steers the vehicle on searching. A short time later he can spot her – a lioness. And a cub. There are even two cubs! On closer inspection, we count four lionesses and five cubs of different ages. This is an absolute stroke of luck – madness!

Innocent skilfully maneuvers the vehicle through a dried out branch of the river to get as close to the animals as possible. There in front of us they are. The little ones suck on the lioness’ teats, smacking and happily moaning. They scramble about each other, and every lion child tries to get the best position. It does not matter to them which mother belongs to which baby, they suck where they can get milk.

The other three lionesses meanwhile lazily lie around, at such an early hour they are still unresponsive. Only a little later, they rise and lick each other’s head and face. It is their way of maintaining the sense of belonging within the group. The little ones are now full and ready for adventures.

We spend a lot of time and observe extensively the amusing spectacle of nature. It’s just too sweet!

The following evening, we also meet the father of the little lion children, a handsome guy. In the heat of the day the lions were lazy and slept in the tall grass, huddled in a nest. Now, as the sun sets and it gets cooler, they gradually perk up. The little lions expectantly watch their father, who has rested a bit away from them. If he will all them to play with him?