Weather
Our staff firmly announced that "Kisalo" is now here. Kisalo means 'summer' in KiKaonde, and we've certainly been having that 'kisalo' feeling this month with maximum temperatures of over 35˚ Celsius.

Wildlife
A sure sign that summer has come is the sound of the cicadas. They have come out in hordes and are making their presence known with their renowned acoustic talents - sometimes deafening around midday! Despite them being a little imposing, and always uninvited at the dinner table, attracted to the candles and lanterns, the cicadas have proven an interesting topic of conversation between guests and guides.

We've had two spectacular python sightings this month. One enormous specimen was found sleeping high up in a tree (think Kaa from Jungle Book!), and the other seen twice, once swallowing a squirrel! Our five-year-old daughter, who is fast becoming a budding wildlife photographer managed to capture (albeit not 100% sharply) the squirrel consuming python, whilst Dad succeeded in getting a beautiful shot of Kaa.

Whilst father and daughter were chasing snakes, I thought I would focus on our prettier feathered friends! We are privileged enough to have a mum and dad Giant Kingfisher pair decide to set up nest below our Riverside Café deck. They are a wonderful sight to watch, fluttering and calling enthusiastically to each other whilst they bounce from one branch to another, and swoop around infront of the deck. A couple of days later, we came upon a gorgeous specimen of a Bateleur eagle who was kind enough to pose for us too - now this is more my cup of tea!

Our guests continue to be treated with regular showings of our beautiful lion pride dominated by the big Lufupa Brothers. The cubs are growing by the day and becoming more adventurous and even more entertaining to watch whilst they rough and tumble with each other. And let's be honest, hanging onto dad's ear has got to be the best game ever!

The assumption is that because it has remained wet longer than usual in the north, the cheetah have decided to honour us with their continued presence in the area instead of moving north as they have done in previous years. Two of our guests had been out for just over an hour one morning when the guide called in to say they were returning to camp. "We've already seen a leopard and three cheetah," he reported, so the guests decided to return to camp and relax! Other guests came upon a rather bloody kill on their first afternoon with us, and that night heard lions mating only metres behind their tent.

A few nights ago, our campers held their breaths as a leopard fed on the most scrumptious meal of freshly served puku in the middle of the campsite! So despite the heat, this month has been teeming, yet again, with predators.

As if that all isn't enough to get your blood racing and sense of adventure awakened, let's throw in another pangolin sighting, an aggressive honey badger, the cutest little timid blue duiker, a regal sable or two, and I think you have, as a result, another awesome month of game viewing!!

Guest Comments
"A return trip for me, a place unlike any other, the friendliest staff, like home". (COE, USA)
"Excellent facilities, great food, wonderful country and first class staff". (KENNEDY, USA)
"Best meat dishes in Africa, compliments to the chef. Thank you for everything, you guys are great."  (LIEBENBERG, USA)

-Bas, Nathalie and the Lufupa Team-