Film Zambezi

Film Zambezi Stories of the people, places and wildlife of the Lower Zambezi Valley, told by indigenous African storytellers and conservationists.

03/06/2022

We conclude our Anabezi Opening series with a look at the final touches put in place just as the first guests of the Safari season arrive.



23/05/2022

Guides and Chefs stay ready, constantly practicing and adding to their knowledge and understanding of their skills and craft.

In Part 3 of our series, we take a look at the handful of tasks that these two departments need to complete before
receives the first guests of the season.




07/05/2022

Running a safari camp in a remote area presents unique challenges that are amplified when preparations for camp opening are in full swing.

In part 2 of our Opening series, we see first hand the amount of planning, resources and team work required by the Back of House department to ensure roads and airstrips are functional and the camp itself is restored to its renowned glory before guests arrive.





29/04/2022

April signals the beginning of the safari season in the Lower Zambezi National Park. At , most staff return a month prior and begin the mammoth task of preparing the camp to receive the first guests of the season.

With tourism and international travel on the rise again, this year's camp preparations come with a new sense of excitement as the camp staff prepare for a season that will likely resemble pre-covid times. 



13/02/2022

As the early morning light creeps in throughout the expanse of this Ana tree forest, a safari walk allows for one to interact with nature using all 5 senses.

Every plant and creature, great and small, has a story that can only be uncovered through this deliberate exercise.

This is where a guide's keen awareness and vast knowledge shines. From mere prints in the sand, Lawrence could identify what animal had passed through and how long ago. Most impressive was how a single strand of fur caked in mud on a tree trunk showed him that a buffalo had used that tree to scratch an itch.




The Safari walk facilitated at is nothing short of an immersive, sensory experience.This week, we trek along with guide...
12/02/2022

The Safari walk facilitated at is nothing short of an immersive, sensory experience.

This week, we trek along with guide, Lawrence Mazele, as he takes us through the ins and outs of this adventurous activity.

08/02/2022

Exceptional landscapes, unique aquatic life and more elephants than you can count are merely a fraction of the things I enjoyed about this trip.

Boat transfers are a comfortable way to travel while getting in a tour of a stretch of the Zambezi. Between August and November when Southern Carmine Bee-Eaters migrate to Zambia and Zimbabwe for the breeding season, you're bound to see the flock that have dug their burrows along the banks of the river.

During this trip, when we spotted the flock, a sneaky Legavon had found its way into one of the burrows and was trying to steal some eggs. It was riveting to see a couple of birds attempting to ward off a creature far larger than they were.

Getting acquainted with the valley by travelling along the Zambezi river by boat, lead by a transfer guide, is an unriva...
05/02/2022

Getting acquainted with the valley by travelling along the Zambezi river by boat, lead by a transfer guide, is an unrivalled experience.

The boat transfer from Kayila Camp to Anabezi Camp affords guests this experience and proves a memorable way to travel within the valley.

04/02/2022

For Southern Masked Weavers, breeding season kicks off in September with some construction. Breeding males of the species - identifiable by their bright yellow feathers and black 'masks' - use their legs and beaks to craft intricate nests from grass, reeds or palm leaves. They fly back and forth, shuttling the finest materials to the site and forming a sturdy hoop that serves as a frame for the nest.

Approximately 5 days later, weaved domes hang suspended where there had been a mere hoop days prior. The females - identifiable by their dull feathers and lack of a mask - inspect, select and complete a nest by lining it with soft grass and feathers before laying their eggs.

Southern Masked Weavers have several partners and therefore build several nests. Each male clocks in up to 25 nests per season with each one perfecting their craft and improving their methods as they gain more experience.

Watching this process take place in an acacia tree at Anabezi Camp made for some of the most fascinating bird watching I've ever done.




Suspended from the branches of an Acacia tree behind the main deck at Anabezi Camp is a plethora of weaved domes. Upon c...
01/02/2022

Suspended from the branches of an Acacia tree behind the main deck at Anabezi Camp is a plethora of weaved domes. Upon closer inspection, it becomes apparent that they are Southern Masked Weaver nests.

This week, to kick off a series called 'The bush in under 60 seconds', we observe how these artisans do what they do.

26/01/2022

Since coming to the Lower Zambezi Valley, I've said that if you throw a stone in any direction here, it's bound to hit an elephant. The statement is exaggerated - there aren't quite that many elephants here. Also, I don't recommend aimlessly throwing stones in the bush. Nevertheless, I will say that not a day has gone by without several elephant sightings.

Seeing an African Bush Elephant up close makes for a great experience. It's quite sobering when you take its size and sheer strength into account. They spend 80% of their day foraging and feeding - occasionally leaving damage in their wake.

During this specific instance at Anabezi Camp, a lone bull had knocked down the wooden fence that surrounds the kitchen area, while we were eating dinner unaware. This was not the first offence and likely would not be the last. Boardwalks and fences are often not spared in an elephant's pursuit of leaves and grass. For safari camp employees like Victor, the tireless job of mending fences proves worth it, as the wildlife is the central reason for their employment. However, for those living in the Game Management Area outside the park, the reality of co-existing with elephants can sometimes be more dire. I look forward to sharing some of those stories in the coming months.

For those working in maintenance within luxury tented camps in Lower Zambezi National Park, waking up to find a fence kn...
24/01/2022

For those working in maintenance within luxury tented camps in Lower Zambezi National Park, waking up to find a fence knocked down by an Elephant comes with the territory.

This week, we're reminded of one of the realities of living alongside wildlife as we follow a carpenter's tireless efforts to repair a fence that had already been knocked down 9 times in the preceding months.

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