Malawi 2016: Day 23 - 5 June 2016 Mvuu Lodge, Lower Zambezi National Park

Day's trip schedule

Mvuu Lodge -> Lower Zambezi National Park

Distance & time taken

72 km
5 1/2 hrs

Accommodation

Mvuu Lodge, Lower Zambezi (www.mvuulodge.com )
+/-40km from Chirundu on the dirt road leading to Lower Zambezi National Park

Trip Notes

We decided not to make use of the lodge game safari option but rather head into the park ourselves. We had our coffee on the banks of the Zambezi watching the sun rise over Mana pools - always keeping a watchful eye over the river banks & campsite for Hippo returning back to the river from the evening feed.

Elephant in the GMA outside Lower Zambezi National Park

We left camp quite late but I was deliberating whether to replace the fuel filter before we left or on our return - later it would be. The drive to the park gates through the GMA took about 2 hours & we saw a number of animals en route including a family of bushpigs & a few herd of elephant. Again we felt screwed when we had to part with $75 for the privilege of entering the park.

The unfortunate aspect of this park (at least for the first 10 or so kilometres) is that there are hardly any river frontage areas to drive let alone stop. Those that we found were all for the private lodges located within the park boundaries. When we did eventually find a spot with a view down one of the channels of the Zambezi, we stopped & had lunch.

We carried on for a while longer & then decided to wend our way back to Mvuu Lodge. We saw a number of bird species, antelope & elephant in the park but no more than what we saw in the GMA leading into the park.

Crested Guineafowl

Open-Billed Stork trying to enjoy lunch

Bushpig

We got back to Mvuu around 15h00 & decided to light the fire for an early dinner - possibly while the sun was still up. I then proceeded to replace the fuel filter - an exercise more difficult than I had initially anticipated. After a bit of a tussle, I had the unit out & replaced the filter. The problem came trying to fit it back into the engine & ensure it functioned properly. I was unable to get the seal right & it leaked diesel when it was pumped. After 2 hours of struggling, I approached the lodge staff to see if their mechanic could give me a hand but as it was Sunday evening, he would only be back in the morning. So, Monday it would be.

We then settled down to a braai on the riverbank & a few Mosi's while trying to keep the mosquitos at bay.