Zimbabwe - Somalisa Camp

Grey-crowned Cranes

From Camp Hwange we moved on to Somalisa Camp for three nights and the conclusion of our trip. Two of the Camp Hwange guides drove us to a meeting point where we were picked up by another game vehicle from Somalisa for the duration of the trip. Somalisa Camp is in the eastern part of the park and would be our best chance to see endangered African Wild Dog. As with Camp Hwange, Somalisa is a luxury safari camp with its own guides and beautiful lodge. Right away we picked up two great birds - Southern Pied Babbler and Southern Ground-Hornbill. 

Southern Pied Babbler

Southern Ground-Hornbill

And just a short distance out of camp the driver found a leopard lounging on a tree branch, with a kill of fresh impala stashed above.

Leopard

The schedule for the rest of our time there would be a game drive in the morning, back to camp for lunch and a rest during the heat of the afternoon, then another game drive in the early evening. Our first afternoon game drive after arrival induced the most spectacular encounter of the Africa trip, so I'm saving that for a final blog post after this one. 

Our personal game drive guide was Michael, an experienced spotter and birder. He has been with Somalisa Camp for ten years. Each of our drives on our two full days produced lots to see and many new bird species for our lists. We really enjoyed our time with Michael, and really appreciated his good humor and the wealth of knowledge he shared with us on birds, animals and habitats. Thank you Michael!

Typical bird list for a game drive morning

Some highlights from our drives:

Our safari limo

Our guide Michael explains the complexity of baby elephant poop. It was fascinating!

Chacma Baboon on predator watch

Chacma Baboon

Bradfield's Hornbill

Bradfield's Hornbill

Broad-billed Roller

Big bull elephant

Common Waterbuck

Common Waterbuck

You get really close to animals on a game drive

European Roller

There are some wide open spaces in this part of Zimbabwe

Hooded Vulture

Sunset at the end of our first full day

Magpie Shrike

Purple Roller

Red-billed Spurfowl

Southern Carmine Bee-eater

Southern Carmine Bee-eater

Southern Carmine Bee-eater

Southern Carmine Bee-eater

Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill

Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill

Swallow-tailed Bee-eater

Woolly-necked Stork

Bradfield's Hornbill

Amar Falcons were abundant during their migration back to Europe for northern summer

During our afternoon breaks there were always Elephants at the lodge waterhole. We were able to sit on the deck often within feet of drinking elephants. There were several baby elephants that were less than a week old. Too cute!

Baby elephant nursing

On our final evening a crew from the lodge drove out to meet us for "Sundowner" drinks, and brought the whole bar it seemed! It was a nice touch and we really thank them!

And what a sundown it was!

We left then next morning for our trek back to Victoria Falls and our flights home. Michael was kind enough to drive us to the pickup point, birding and game viewing our way there. Fantastic! We had a very close encounter with a pair of male lions. Too cool. 

Most animals totally ignore game drive vehicles

This kitty foot is the size of a dinner plate

We were really close!