This blog will mainly be all about the animals. With still no hospital clearance to work, and a car, it meant that I’ve been going further afield and getting to know Zambia better.
My first stop this week was to the Lusaka National Park. There are more than 1 000 species found inside the park, including giraffe, eland, hartebeest, zebra, sable, kudu, blue wildebeest, waterbuck, black lechwe, impala, puku, bushbuck, reedbuck, warthog, pangolin, and axis deers.
I hired a ranger who came in the car with me and pointed out the various animals, which is just as well as they are very well camouflaged!! As Jake pointed out to me…it’s not like trying to spot a black and white cow in a green field ??♀️
It is such an amazing thing to see these animals in the wild, although they don’t stay still and pose for photos, as soon as they spotted us, they legged it. I have new found respect for wildlife photographers now.
The ranger said that I got to see all the main players while I was there, because I happened to be the only one in the park at that time, and they hadn’t been frightened off into an area that cars can’t reach. My favourite by far were the warthogs. They were hilarious and just like Pumbaa from the lion king ?
Honestly, there are warthogs in this picture 
Running away when they see us 
This beauty is bigger than a camel 
Within the Lusaka National Park is a memorial to all rangers/conservationists who have died while trying to protect the animals, such as from poachers.
My next trip out was to a place called Monkey Pools. This is a place where there is natural pools that you are allowed to swim in, plus beautiful grounds with walks through woods and areas for picnicking.
Apparently at the weekend, it’s very busy, but as this was a week day, once again I appeared to be the only person there. I wasn’t brave enough to go into the natural pools, just in case I got into difficulties and no one found me until the following weekend, but I had a lovely walk and then cooled off in a tradition swimming pool.
Despite the place being called Monkey Pools, I was still surprised to see real, wild monkeys there. Once again, these wild animals were very nervous around me and ran off as soon as I got close. For anyone that has ever driven through the monkey enclosure at Longleat Safari Park, these monkeys didn’t come anywhere near my car, and no bits were removed from it ????
My final visit this week was to Kalimba Reptile Park. This was just a small place with a few Zambian deadly snakes behind glass, which made me question going for any more walks!! They also had a few Nile crocodiles and some tortoises. The primary school children that were having a day out here, were definitely having a great visit.
The drive to the reptile park was interesting, in that it seemed to go through a more agricultural area and this made a lovely change to being in the city.
My final wildlife piece is on the things I have so far found in my room ?
All are still alive and not seen for a couple of days now ?
Friday night saw me out with Thandi and her friends again. I didn’t end up in a night club this time. This group of women are amazing, accepting me and making me feel so welcomed and included.
So this blogs ‘and finally’ is…… who wouldn’t want to win this prize???
Bye for now xxx
Absolutely wonderful. Lovely art and page design. With your text this could almost be a coffee table boutique publication.
You are hilarious Tony ?? and if this looked shabby, what a reflection it would be on Jake??
lol
I love reading these blogs. It sounds like your having a great time and this is just the start of your adventure. The wild animals look amazing. I’m glad everyone is making you feel welcome and your making new friends. Your very brave hiring a car. I still get list in the uk let alone in a foreign country. I hope your trying some traditional food aswell as kfc . Take care mate. Looking foreward to the next instalment xx
Thank you Jill. Something very special about seeing these animals in there natural habitat. I also feel very brave hiring a car, there is literally no rules or road positioning. The only good thing is that they don’t drive very fast if I were to be hit ?
I’ve only had the KFC once, the food is mainly western so I’m living on chicken and salad ??
Thank you….lots of love Mxxx