Tuesday, January 22 finally I left Lusaka with four new tires BFGoodrich. The road T4, Great East Road, up to Chipata, 270 km, is divided into two parts; the first has a roadway very dented with pot-holes up to the bridge crossing Luangwa River while passing according to the principle “one by one”, then the second part was renovated financed by the European Union with the French Agency of Development, AFD. Chipata is a city of the standard stop and go with a supermarket SPAR. I establish my bivouac at Mama Rula's where I was alone.
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Wednesday, January 23 around 10:30 I began the visit of South Luangwa National Park, here, after the usual formalities of entry in a park. Admittedly in rain season all the tracks are not practicable and the wild animals, the predator, are not very visible. Besides four hours of course at low speed, I observed impalas, hippopotamuses, elephants, giraffes, zebras, of Kudus and of course of many birds. Around 15:00 I installed my tepee in Croc Valley Camp for four nights.
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Thursday, January 24 I was as of 6:00 at the gate of the park for a new hunting photographs. I was not disappointed. After the visit of Big Baobab I traversed the same track as the day before by taking some cross-roads. Thus I saw a strange spectacle of hippopotamuses in a covered pond with aquatic plants whose heads emerged to breathe. At one time I stopped to make a small urgent need by half-opening the door; I heard a terrible howling in front of me in a bush a couple of lions, male and female. I returned precipitately in the cabin by seizing my camera. I remained in contemplation very a long time. The couple moved in the shade of a tree. Taking again my progression I have a few hundred meters further the explanation from their presence. Indeed a lot of raptors finished cleaning the carcass of an animal certainly devoured by several lions. Then it was a herd of buffaloes accompanied by birds which took their rise with the noise of my vehicle to release the track.
Friday, January 25 I was again at the entrance of park around 6:00. It had rained all during the night; the ranger advised me to remain on the main track. But the day before I had taken a track whose roadway was solid; I traversed it again. I was behind two elephants head-digs, without knowing if they were in conflict or to be made large tender. I prudently remained distant with the revolving engine and engaged reverse running. Each one weighs approximately 7 tons, my vehicle only 3.5 tons; more they are at home! After one night of rain the wild animals are invisible except the prolific impalas and oddly the birds which are on the track. The raptors were very numerous because a new carcass of animal was at little distance from the track; a banquet of lions had had to take place the day before. They are very fond of delicacies buffaloes. The elephants were in great number to have their breakfast in the close meadow. At the end of the morning I returned to the Hook Valley Camp.
Saturday, January 26 was the last day in South Luangwa NP, I were lucky to see again the couple of lion almost at the same place. I waited a long time until the lioness rose; admittedly it was Saturday and it made the sleep in. I saw again the usual animals as well as new birds due to many marshes along the rivers. I returned to Croc Valley Camp at the end of the morning. Tomorrow I return to Mama Rula B&B before entering Malawi on Monday, January 28.
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Sunday I stopped at Mama Rula at the end of the morning before a violent tropical storm fell down at 1050 meters of altitude. Tomorrow I enter to Malawi.
Monday, January 28 after having exhausted the last ZMW by buying diesel fuel, I crossed the border around 09:00.
