Chada Katavi diary - November 2009
by: Everyone at Chada Katavi on 28/11/2009 (chada katavi)
Dear all
There’s been rumour of El Nino bringing the rains with it, since early September. Well, things move a little slowly out here in Katavi, and the rain finally arrived on the 6th November, not too far off target with the Green Season officially beginning on the 1st November.
The first day with a reasonable amount of rain, and every animal seemed to go through personality changes. First to give the game away was the Chada Pride. Traditionally, these lions are known for their skill in bringing down buffalo. However, this season, they seem to have forgotten what they were meant to be doing. In spite of having a homeground advantage, with 600 buffalo grazing on Chada plain for six months, it was only when the buffalo left the plain a few days ago that they managed to catch one, just as the rain started.
Guests arrived there not long after the kill, and saw the pride quirky as ever: a cub managed to be about the first to start feeding and was trying to keep the others off, then the females started feeding, whilst the young males waited patiently off to the side. The next morning, after 14mm of rain, the guests headed back to the kill to see if the big males had arrived and how much buffalo was left. Strangely, the buffalo had now changed form somewhat: during the night, the lions had managed to kill a hippo as well. The crocodiles decided this was not a bad thing, and now there was a wall of dead hippo, with crocs feeding on one side, and lions on the other.
Abnormal behaviour was not just limited to mammals: our avian friends had taken the wet weather to heart as well. Perhaps none more so than a wayward African Jacana who was found in the library after dinner, chasing bugs around. Usually only found near ponds and places where there is plenty of water, this bird must have taken a detour and then ended up staying for dinner.He then proceeded to follow torch light around, obviously confused by the dark, which meant that he had to stand pretty close to the night watchmen. Eventually we managed to coax him back into a tree for the night.
Hope to see you at Katavi soon
Peter, Nicola and all the staff at Katavi
Chada Katavi diary - September 2009
by: Chada Katavi on 19/10/2009 (chada katavi)
Dear all
The month began a little quietly for the camp with a few days with no guests. We used this opportunity not just for the back of house tidy-up that happens in any camp with no guests, but to do a couple of safaris with a difference.
You may have read about Nomad Trust’s work with the local community and their support of the Mimampi project in the area. Funds from the Trust and donations from guests help support something called A Day in the Park, where children from local schools get bussed in to Katavi National Park for their first look at wild animals. This is immensely popular, but creates a problem as many of the village elders and teachers have never had this experience either.
So, we decided to send our guides and game drive vehicles out to the villages, where Mimampi had nominated either a village elder, or a school headmaster from each region. Over two days, we collected 22 people and took them on a proper game drive in the Park, with our guides explaining to the people what they were seeing. Chada hosted lunch each day, and the TANAPA Section Warden came and gave a talk to the guests on the important role of community in conservation.
For most, this was the first time they had seen lions, elephants, and general game. Word got out, and by the second day, our guides were inundated with people wanting to get on the car and see for themselves. It was such a successful program, we hope to try it again if we have another spare few days.
The month has also been great for game. The days have got very hot, and although there is still water in the river, it is getting lower and lower, and the tensions are rising. Guests captured on video an amazing fight between two hippos, which bowled over some indignant lions who leapt out of the way at the last minute.
Action on the Chada Plain has been excellent, with the herd of 600+ buffalo roaming from one end of it to the other, being admired by the Chada Pride. A hyena following the Chada Pride at a distance, ended up getting a rather large surprise when he stopped on the rivers edge to scrabble in the sand. Whilst he was busy digging away, he had his back to the river, and failed to notice a large male hippo that had learnt a few tricks from the lions, and was moving up on the hyena in stealth mode. Only when the hippos was about a metre away did the hyena finally realise something was up, and jumped out of the way at the last moment.
Near Ikuu, an elephant died a few hundred metres from the river. Knowing that there would be something interesting feeding on it the next morning, the guides headed over there. Interestingly, there were a group of lions eating their fill on one side of the elephant, and several large crocs on the other side! The lions were not overly amused about this, and eventually chased the crocodiles off.
Cheers all, and hopefully see you soon
Peter Nicola and all at Katavi
Chada Katavi August Diary
by: Peter & Nicola on 11/08/2009 (chada katavi)
The sun is low in the sky, just waiting to dip below the horizon for the evening. In front of the mess tent, by the fireplace, it’s almost quiet enough to hear the ice melting in the gin and tonics, as nearly three hundred elephants move across the plain without a sound. At one point, the last 150 or so start running, chivvying the first half of the herd ahead, having been disturbed by something in the grass. A whisper of sound reaches our ears, just the movement of grasses being swept aside. No trumpeting, no squealing, just pure silence from the elephants themselves.
Living here, we often don’t even try to explain some of the things we see. Who would believe us? How could 300 elephants not make a sound? How can you really count buffalo when they start numbering more than a thousand? How can you prove that where 200 hippos are currently squeezed together, they will soon be joined by many times that amount? Who has the time to sit and watch a leopard for 2.5 hours as she goes about her business one afternoon?
The guests over the last month that have experienced all this go back home and try to explain it to their family and friends, but we are sure it all gets put down to‘safari fever’.
Our favourites this month have been the elephants. Herds are often seen out and about on the game drives, but smaller herds also pass through the camp during the night, and sometimes during the day. They are coming into camp to enjoy the fruits from the tamarind trees, a couple of which are conveniently located near our library tent. Guest’s lunch is occasionally delayed by the elephant’s lunch: standing in the safety of the library tent, we are able to have close encounters with a group of relaxed females and their very curious youngsters. Eventually, with a little encouragement from the mothers, junior and family move on to a different clump of trees, and we are able to enjoy our own lunch. This is a very different experience from viewing elephants from the car, and is quite an emotional moment for many people.
Leopards are seen from time to time at Chada Katavi. Good viewing of leopards is difficult anywhere – shy, solitary creatures by nature, they normally require years of habituation before being relaxed around vehicles. Katavi
National Park.has very few visitors each year, and even less cars, so our leopard sightings tend to be either flash sightings, or just for a few minutes. This month, however, a young female leopard decided that it was time for her 15
minutes of fame – and enjoyed it so much she stayed around for another 15 minutes or so. In fact, she was admired for 2.5 hours a day, on two consecutive days. Totally relaxed, she strolled along, rested, climbed a tree, and even
attempted a hunt, all within metres of the vehicle. This was truly a sighting to remember.
Cheers all, Peter & Nicola and everyone at Chada
Chada Katavi diary - May & June 2009
by: Peter and all at Chada Katavi on 03/07/2009 (chada katavi)
Dear all
It's a new season at Chada Katavi and the end of the rains. This year we did not have as much rain as in 2008, which means that areas are already starting to dry out. The floodplain in front of camp is still a water wonderland with Fish Eagles, Egyptian Geese, White-faced Ducks, Grey Herons, African Jacanas and many other birds, mixed in with a sprinkling of hippos. Buffalos hang around the edge of the water, taking refreshing dips every so often.
In the drier areas, slow moving bushfires have passed through, clearing moribund vegetation, and encouraging the growth of new grass shoots. Herds of zebra are moving in to enjoy this source of food, and the lions have been following them in turn. This month we have had several sightings of three lion cubs, aged 2-3 months. They have been a great delight to watch. Whilst their mother and aunts doze in the shade, the cubs have been launching attacks on threatening bits of grass, suspicious twigs, malevolent flies, and each other. Although the cubs constantly look at the vehicle, none have been game enough to take more than a step closer. It will be some time before they completely ignore the vehicle, as adult lions do.
Another excellent lion sighting was of a pride of 10 lions killing a young hippo. However, it was quite distressing to watch, as hippos are not the easiest things for lions to kill, and it took some time before it succumbed.
We were lucky enough to have several sightings of wild dogs this month as well. At the beginning of June we saw eleven dogs and then a few days later two more sightings of eight dogs. This is probably the same pack, and since all sightings were within a fairly small area (as far as wild dogs go, a small area - their home ranges can be several hundred square kilometres) there is the chance that they are ‘denning’.
When the Alpha female gives birth to a litter of pups, (usually in June) the dogs will stay in one area for about 6 – 8 weeks until the pups are big enough to be able to keep up with the pack when they move. The pack go hunting once or twice a day, and return to the den where they regurgitate food for any adult dogs which were babysitting. Lets hope they have chosen the Chada area to den, so we can see the dogs regularly over the next month.
The camp itself has not had many quiet nights with herds of elephants moving though every night to feed. Since most of the tents are situated under tamarind trees for the shade, and these are a particular favourite of the elephants, guests have had their own private viewing of eles from the comfort of their own tent. Hyenas have added to the sound effects too. One night, whilst all the chefs were busily working away cooking dinner, a brave hyena snuck in and grabbed the rubbish bin. In spite of being chased by several people, he/she refused to drop it and ran off into the bush. The next morning, rather than searching for lion tracks on the first part of the game drive, guides were asked to call in sightings of parts of the bright blue rubbish bin, so that it could be disposed of correctly.
Hope to see you on safari with us soon,
Peter and everyone at Chada Katavi
Chada Katavi diary - May 2009
The beginning of a season in a tented camp is always a little manic, never knowing quite what awaits you: will it have rained too much? Will the grass be 3 metres high? Will the elephants have knocked down all the good shade trees?
So it was with a little trepidation that we set off from Arusha for the 1800km journey to Katavi National Park, with two vehicles loaded with supplies and seven staff that had been attending training workshops at Base. After a 3.5 day drive (not for the fainthearted!) across Tanzania, we arrived at Chada Camp to a warm welcome from the rest of the crew, who had got there a few days earlier from their local villages.
And so, to work. Chefs, waiters, mechanics, guides, askaris, housekeepers all pulled on overalls and worked together to make the camp look like a camp again. In only a few days most of the guest tents were up, together with the mess and the library. Beds were carried from one end of camp to the other, followed by desks, sofas, washbasins, and the odd silver candelabra. Then the polishing, varnishing, and washing began. In a camp with no running water, its amazing how efficient you can be with a couple of buckets.
The area looks beautiful: green, but with grass that is not too tall, water in the rivers, and thankfully the elephants have left us the shade trees for the camp. The nights we have spent here since arriving have been filled with sound – herds of elephants moving through the camp, huge buffalo herds around the edges of the plain, lions calling to one another, hyenas strolling their beat, and an early morning cacophony of vervet monkeys as they watch the leopard walk under their trees.
And now, we are ready. It only takes guests 3.5 hours, rather than days, to get here. Everybody is waiting for you, to welcome you home to Chada. What’s stopping you?
Cheers, Peter and Nicola
Jan/Feb Diary
by: Peter and all at Chada Katavi on 18/02/2009 (chada katavi)
Dear All,
Time comes and it goes, and so do the Wild Dogs of Katavi, we had great sightings of a group of 8 this month. The highlight of these sightings was when the pack pulled down a full grown male Impala in front of the library tent in the early evening of the 28th after having being seen on the afternoon game drive. After finishing off their meal the dogs then walked around the back of camp and rested up at the vehicle garages, and then they were gone….not to be seen in our area for a while.
As far as the lions of Katavi are concerned mating pairs seemed to be the flavour of the month. If I am not mistaken at least 3 pairs were reported from different locations in our game drive area. The 2 new cubs of the 1 Chada pride lioness have been seen on a regular basis and are doing well.
Leopard sightings were good with more and more sightings just to the east of camp. Towards the end of the month we had 3 days of good sightings of a female Leopard and her cub on an impala kill just 5 minutes from Chada.
General game has been excellent with large groups of Eland, Zebra, Giraffe, Buffalo, Elephant and Topi being seen regularly. There are plenty of youngsters around at the moment as well with plenty of food available, all are thriving.
The bush is alive with the sound of bird song and flashes of bright colour of breeding plumaged males catching your eye where ever you are. If you are only mildly interested in birds or avidly interested this is the time to be in Katavi as birds are all around, as you search out the large or small creatures that specifically interest you.
This was ever apparent when hearing the sightings that John and Norma Whittle guided by Paul Oliver, who were our guests for 10 days were seeing on a daily basis.
We have had good rains this month and so Katavi is still green and lush and a place for happy Hippos as the rivers are flowing strongly and there is lots of food for all. The Ellies still visit us in camp every now and then and we have to put up with some very loud snoring on occasion, so life goes on here at Chada Katavi come rain or sun shine.
You are welcome to join us should you feel the urge to get away from the pressures that are being brought to bare around us in this troubled world of ours.
Looking forward to seeing you in the new season.
Peter, Anita, and the Chada Team
Jan 09 Diary
by: Chada Katavi on 02/01/2009 (chada katavi)
Dear All,
The Chada team hopes that you had a wonderful holiday season and we wish all of you a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! We also hope that you have another great year of exciting travel, which we hope involves a visit to us at Chada.
November and December have been excellent months for all in Katavi. We have had good rains resulting in everything flourishing, so it is a green Eden that we look at every morning. The Kapapa River has not stopped flowing from Paradise plains all season and the Katuma had started flowing from the end of November which is really early and much appreciated by all beasts and birds that depend on it.
We have had excellent sightings of Lion as usual, which include 2 new cubs who should be introduced to the pride soon. Their mom killed a buffalo calf just after Christmas which will give them a good boost. Leopard sightings have been good including a 2 day sighting not far from tent No 6.
We are seeing very big gatherings of Elephant, Buffalo, Zebra, Giraffe and Topi. Some of the largest herds of Elephant, of around 400 animals were seen on the Chada plains in front of camp. We have had up to 100 move through camp at night feeding and sleeping. Lots of fresh dung is left behind which has been great for photographing and studying Dung Beetles of all shapes and sizes in action.
So for now we once again wish you a prosperous an peaceful 2009 in this problematic world of ours and look forward to your visit to this untroubled piece of paradise.
Peter, Anita and the Chada Team.
July/August Diary
by: Peter, Anita and the Chada crew on 26/08/2008 (chada katavi)
Dear All,
WOW! What a month here in Katavi, especially with Leopard sightings. I was fortunate while out with one of our new guides coming across a young mail Leopard, who had been left by his mother in a Tamarind tree. After I had spent around 1 hour photographing this very inquisitive and extremely relaxed young boy other guests arrived and had amazing sightings of him for the next 2 days in the same tree. With the grass being shorter we are having around 4 sightings per week.
We have been seeing Roan Antelope up north on the way to Lake Katavi, which still has still got good water. The birdlife is really excellent up at Katavi, with large numbers of Open-billed Stork, White–faced Duck and assorted waders along the edge. A Racket tailed Roller was also seen in the Woodland on the way. Paradise Plains is now reachable and has good quantities of Buffalo, Hippo, general game and good birds.
With the Tamarind fruit falling, we have the Elephant in camp on a regular basis and have had some amazing experiences at meals as the family group of up to 10 including 2 quite small calves picks up the fruit around the Mess tent. The picture is of Brian and Claire Crowe getting close up and personal at lunch.
Nomad Tanzania, through The Nomad Trust and MIMAMPI sponsor trips for local 7th grade learners. They come from schools south of the Park to experience the wonders of Katavi National Park. Over the last few weeks our guests have met up with some of these groups as they enjoy themselves on the main roads in the park. This is an important project, as it allows us and TANAPA to educate these children in the importance of conserving the resources of Katavi. Please remember that all guests visiting Chada contribute as small
part to the success of this education.
Keep well and hope to see you soon.
All the very best,
Peter, Anita and the Chada Crew
June 2008 Diary
by: Peter and all at Chada on 27/07/2008 (chada katavi)
Dear All,
When we arrived back in Katavi to start the new season we were greeted by a water wonderland. The Katisunga was a flood plain and Lake Chada was once again a lake and the Katuma River was flowing just under the bridge.
Over the past weeks the water has receded quite rapidly, but the Rivers are still flowing which is great for the crocodile population as there are large numbers of catfish for them to feed on. Ikuu bridge has been agreat spot to watch these big crocs feeding. The aquatic bird population has been really excellent, with large numbers of Openbilled storks feeding on increased populations of snails. Ducks, Storks and many waders have been having a field day with all the water around.
The elephant herds are enjoying the lush coarse grasses in the swamp areas and numbers up to 300 have been seen regularly on Chada plains with large numbers of Buffalo coming together as well. Very large herds of up to 2500 Buffalo have also been seen on North Katisunga Plains.
We have started the season off well as far as Leopard sightings are concerned with at least 2 sightings per week. 2 different males have been seen and a female with a cub who are quite relaxed.
The Chada Lion pride has an addition of 3 new cubs that are doing well. Bringing down a large male Giraffe by the pride around the 22nd June helped get them over a part of their vulnerable period. The Lions have once again been seen climbing trees on a regular basis to get away from flies, sometimes with hilarious consequences.
As the environment dries out more we can expect to have more and more incredible experiences with the wildlife of Katavi as we have created more tracks around Chada so as to cover more interesting areas.
Hope to see you soon,
Peter, Anita and the Chada Team
Chada Katavi Diary - Feb 2008
by: Peter, Anita and all at Chada Katavi on 01/03/2008 (chada katavi)
Dear All,
Sorry about being a little late with our news from the wonderful world of Katavi. What with the closing of camp for the season we have been running around a little.
Well, it seems that with the rain falling regularly and the grass getting taller the lions of Katavi seem to have taken to the trees!! During January and the beginning of February, our game drives had regular sightings of lioness, cubs(not always very elegantly) and even males up in the trees. Not just above the ground but high up in the canopy. It appears at one point a lioness was coming into season and her beau followed her up into a Sausage tree (Kigelia Africana) where he looked very uncomfortable, but managed to keep his balance and close tabs on her. One of our guides, Phillip managed to take some excellent pics, of which one is seen above. Well done Phillip!
We had one sighting only of the 5 wild dogs during this period as they headed out along the edge of the Katisunga plain. All seemed in good health and intent on filling their stomachs as soon as the opportunity arose.
With all the rank vegetation it has been a great time to study the small things such as insects and spiders. The variety of Dragon Flies is absolutely amazing as they fly around in their hundreds hawking for mosquitoes etc. The variety of web weaving spiders in the tall grass is astounding with all shapes and sizes seen.
We will be at Chada until the middle of March, then off for a bit of a break and will return in time to open camp in May. We look forward to being back in the bush to greet all in the new season.
All the very best
Peter, Anita and the Chada Team
Chada Katavi Diary - January 08
by: Peter, Anita and all at Chada Katavi on 09/01/2008 (chada katavi)
Dear All,
December has come and gone and so we think it time to wish everyone a very HAPPY NEW YEAR and all the best for a peaceful and prosperous 2008.
The good rains have continued in Katavi so everything is green and lush. The front of camp is like an emerald sea with large numbers of Zebra, Impala, Eland, Giraffe, Buffalo and Elephant dotted around the Chada Plain. We have very happy Hippos as the Katuma River has continued to rise and so provides even more area for the large population to spread out. With many overcast days, seeing Hippo out of the water grazing during the day has been very special. We have started seeing quite a few new born Hippos, with a very special sighting on the morning of the 26th of a mother taking her very new calf (estimated 2 - 3 days old) for a very wobbly walk along the river bank.
We had great excitement on the 23rd when 5 Wild Dog were seen patrolling the Katuma river heading north towards the Katisunga Plain. On the 31st more excitement followed the sighting of another group of 10 Wild Dog (5 adults and 5 pups) along Koli road in the woodland not far from camp. They were seen 3 times that day as they used the road to hunt. They were pretty comfortable around the vehicles, which was good to see.
Christmas day also produced an amazing experience when while driving along the Katisunga plain heading north towards Chem Chem we came across an unforgettable sight of over 400 elephant moving out of the woodland onto the plains, and they seemed to keep on coming! We sat in awe as we watched and listened to the interaction of the bulls as they moved from one family group to the other checking out the ladies. Our friend Rob Wissing, who lives in Oman was with us and in his words said "that was one of the most unforgettable and moving experiences that I have been fortunate to witness
in my many safaris to Africa."
The Chada pride have taken up permanent residence along the edge of the Chada plains and have been serenading us with their vocalizing most nights, sometimes from very close! The 4 cubs are looking good and are very entertaining with their antics. The Katisunga pride of 5 lionesses has been seen near the airstrip on quite a few occasions and in their special style treat the vehicles and aircraft with the usual calm nonchalance.
It certainly has been a great month in Katavi with lots of new life happening in this beautiful green paradise.
Hope to see you soon,
Karibu
Chada Katavi Diary - December 07
by: Peter & Anita on 10/12/2007 (chada katavi)
Dear all,
We have been in Chada for a month now and are really enjoying this wonderful piece of paradise. We have seen an amazing transformation from a very dry Katavi since the short rains have arrived, we now live in a beautiful green garden. When the rains first arrived the animals dispersed quite noticeably,but as the rains continued the sightings improved considerably. The overcastconditions have resulted in great leopard sightings (3 in 3 days WOW).
The Katuma River has water flowing so the Hippo population can now spread out a little and not live on top of each other in the springs. This has resulted in plenty of conflict situations between bulls as they now establish their territories along the ever increasing pools. It is amazing how this has changed the tolerance levels.
It is a time for the renewal of life in the bush so the days are full of bird song (especially Woodland Kingfisher) as the males entice their mates to brood and territories are established. It is a wonderful time for excellent birding
with many different Cuckoos being seen and heard with the Red Chested Cuckoo's song "it will rain" living up to its promise.
With the rains the Chada Pride have moved from the Katuma river back towards the Chada plains and are being heard most nights from camp as the males advertise their territory.
All in all we have had a wonderful and exciting first month at Chada what with getting to know our staff and exploring the area, time has flown. We already feel at home and look forward to many, many more months and years in this wonderful unique area.
Hope to see you soon.
All the very best,
Peter and Anita
Chada Katavi Diary - October 07
by: Peter, and everyone at Chada Katavi on 25/10/2007 (chada katavi)
Last night, after sipping their chilled Amarula liquors under the Tamarind tree, our two safari 'newbies' retired to their tent after dinner. Slowly falling asleep listening to the soothing sounds of the African night, they anticipated a soothing and restful slumber. However, three big male Chada elephants had something different in mind. The most delicious Tamarind tree of all in Katavi National Park (and there are many), is obviously situated right next to the veranda of their tent. The elephants strolled up, and proceeded to feast on the lower branches.
Waking up, and slightly worried at first, they then lay back and enjoyed having these magnificent animals with them, as they 'rumbled' away in elephant speak. What unique experiences Chada has to offer.
The game viewing has been brilliant in the last few weeks at Chada Katavi. With the drying out of the Karuma River there are not many spots left where the animals are able to quench their thirst. That means we have seen huge concentrations of game around the places holding the last water, with amazing interactions between the different species.
Recently, some guests were lucky to witness lions killing a young buffalo not far from camp, and every day the game sightings seem to be getting better. We've had 5ml of rain so far, and there is more on the way. The heat and humidity is high at the moment and the occasional drizzle is very
welcomed by everybody, especially by the hippos.
We look forward to seeing you at Chada Katavi.