The migration is on the move and everybody’s abuzz again.

Nomad guides reported lots of action in the Western Corridor early in the month. The corridor is particularly dry now and fires are taking their toll on grazing over a wide area throughout the park.  The northern Serengeti had some rain and is now awash with the migration well spread from Ikorongo in the west to Bolagonja in the east.  [see map ] 

Kenya’s Mara Conservancy team reported early crossings of the Mara in July – around 3 weeks sooner than expected. 

• Olonana guides have estimated around 10000 wildebeest now crossed into their area. 
• The herds crossing near the lower Mara Bridge are now massed up on the recently burnt section on the south Mara triangle. 
• Rekero on the Talek River are reporting the migration in “full flow” with lots of predator action.

Kenya’s Mara circuit and Tanzania's northern Serengeti camps are going to be well occupied for the next few months. 

Late October/November is prime time in the northern Serengeti – with few crowds as the early rains start, the migrant birds pass through and the migration turns tail and heads back down the southern plains.  

Liuwa National Park covers an area a third the size of the South Luangwa – a vast open space encircled by a treeless horizon.  This is “wide screen Africa”, remote, isolated, totally undeveloped and only accessible outside of the main rainy season from May until late December each year.

The big attraction to these grasslands is an annual migration, or “gathering” of around 35000 blue wildebeest.  Game is prolific and includes zebra, red lechwe, tsessebe, oribi, roan (rare), lechwe, eland and buffalo.  Birding is spectacular especially during November/December when the migrants pass through.

Access under normal circumstances is difficult.  Liuwa and much of the Kalabo district is well away from mainstream safari traffic, roads vary from rough with potholes to very sandy bushtracks and the pace through the West Barotse Floodplain is tedious unless you regard the dusty route as part of the adventure (speak to us if that's the case). 

Robin Pope led expeditions in the area in the 1990’s and returned for a recce trip in May this year.  The Pope's are going back - Robin will be using the African Parks Foundation camp at Mata Manene for a series of set date safaris in December 2008 and again during May and June 2009.

The 4 night trips will cost $2400, 5 night trips $3000 per person all inclusive except visas, departure taxes and the charter flight from and return Lusaka ($1000 seat rate).  Speak to Trish, Chris or Jackie .

[Liuwa Plains video ]

Serengeti Walking Safaris:  Zambezi valley friends have recently completed a recce of a new walking safari area in the Serengeti.  John will be joining the second phase of the expedition through the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area to Lake Natron in October…look out for these active safaris in 2009..

Kilimanjaro Marathon dates: set for Sunday 1 March 2009 and Sunday 28 February 2010.  The Victoria Falls Marathon is postponed until 2009 - contact John to register your interest in any of these events.

Rwanda Gorilla permits:  we have access to 4 permits per day from 23 to 29 August due to a late cancellation – drop a note for Sam’s attention

Zungulila, South Luangwa: the BushCamp Company’s new secluded base up the Kapamba River has just opened.  Sitting on a raised knoll the camp has a commanding view across plains in front of camp.  There’s no road network, no traffic and no other operations in the vicinity - just authentic safari territory.  A “walking only” camp – watch this space or speak to Chris.

Mobile Camping in Botswana: The Letaka Brothers, Grant and Brent Reed are offering an “end of season” discount on 3 of their set-date mobile trips during October – contact Liz for details. 

Trish, Chris and John exhibited at the Scottish Game Fair (Scone Palace) and CLA Game Fair (Blenheim Palace) with much appreciated support from some of our Kenyan and Zimbabwean colleagues. 

The great British Summer held out for everybody at both events.  It was really great to meet up with old friends and many new acquaintances.  Look out for us again in July 2009.

The rest of the gang in our African and UK teams has been either hard at work on the current season or burning both ends of the candle with the latest web developments – BIG announcements due over the next few months!

...and then we're off again!

The British Birdwatching Fair :  Trish, Chris and John are exhibiting again at Rutland.  See us from 15 to 17 August. 

We’ll have colleagues from Kenya and Botswana supporting us whilst Chris and John hold daily workshops on “how to pack and prepare for an African Safari”.  

Chris is also conducting “walking safaris in the Rutland bush” as part of the main event features each day. 

A footnote 

Our northern hemisphere friends are off on summer holiday, our southern colleagues are beyond the dead of winter and the season is in full swing

...these were the only feet in the Ermington office today!

Until next month...have a good one...

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