SKI SAFARI PHOTOS NO. 8

The Devil's Pool

On leaving South Luangwa National Park, we flew up to Livingstone, to the

Victoria Falls to fulfil a bucket-list wish - to swim in the Devil's Pool!

The picture above shows the spray rising from the Falls, shot through with a rainbow.

The Devil's Pool is a natural rock formation right on the very edge of the Falls, where you can swim and look over the edge at the water falling over 100 meters down to the gorge.  There is a rock barrier that prevents you being carried over the edge, but this activity is only safe during certain times of the year, when the mighty Zambezi is not in full flood.  Even so, you can still feel the pressure of the water lifting your legs up - quite an adrenelin rush!

We were lucky enough to be there at the right time!  We took a boat over to Livingstone Island, and from there we took a walk along the top - what a spectacular view!

Then it was time to change and step out into the Zambezi River....

we walked across some rocks then climbed down into the water and swam to the edge, following

our guide, whilst his assistant took some photos of us.

If you would like to see the video, check out
http://skisafariblog.blogspot.ug/2017/09/conquering-devils-pool-days-8-9-25-th.html

Next stop.....Namibia

SKI SAFARI PHOTOS NO. 7

Hey, you, Hammerkop, GET OFF MY BACK!

Not sure what this argument was about, but someone wasn't happy!

What is a Puku?  this is a Puku...

Bushbuck

Impala

The Dagga Boys - batchelor buffaloes

On a gentler note...

Lillian's Lovebirds

A Saddle-Bill Stork and a croc who had his eye on its fish...

Yellow-billed Oxpeckers grooming their friend's mane

An African Skimmer - incredible precision flying, as it skims across the water with just its beak touching

A delightful place for a coffee stop...

and a slightly disturbed picnic lunch....

Next stop, the Devil's Pool, Livingstone, Zambia.....

SKI SAFARI PHOTOS NO. 6

Night Drive

Seeing a leopard at any time is always exciting, but finding one hunting whilst on a 

night game drive is especially thrilling.

On a somewhat smaller feline scale...

a pretty little Genet, also a nocturnal hunter

This is an animal we had not seen before - 

a White-tailed Mongoose

And lastly - this was a real highlight for me as it had been on my bird wish-list for many years -

A Pel's Fishing Owl

 That's all for today, some miscellaneous animals and birds next, then we leave South Luangwa...

SKI SAFARI PHOTOS NO. 5

Giraffes - the gentle giants of South Luangwa

Mother and child

Could this be Dr. Dolittle's Pushmepullyou?

A mother leads her twins to the river for a drink

As young teenagers, the male giraffes practice their fighting skills.  

This is known as 'necking'.

Whilst they generally do not injure one another,

 there still has to be a winner and a loser before they give up

A male giraffe can be identified by the 'bald' tips of his horns

Whereas the female's are still covered.

Next...some nice surprises on an night-time game drive...