The bandit has been caught...well that is on the night camera at least. The African Civet is mainly a nocturnal animal and generally solitary. The African Civet is one of the secret seven that can be hard to see and even photograph. It seems as though we have a resident one here that has been caught not only on camera but guests have been treated to sightings while having dinner and on the pathway to their tents.

Another dry season has come and gone. The Katuma river, which starts outside the north end of the park, and feeds both Lake Katavi, and all the way down to Lake Chada, is the life line of the park. The river has started to flow again. The energy of the park has changed, a sense of relief for all! Happy hippos and baby impalas are everywhere. 

Till Next Time Justin Stevens & Jacky Collett-Stevens

Whether it is big or small with the night camera up and ready for action nothing can escape it. Even if the night is a rare quiet one there is always something going bump in the night. Our big friendly giants are famous for moving through with  loud thrashing of trees together with grumbles that leave guests wondering what they are hearing. Then there is the nights where our friends try and sneak through camp unnoticed...except for being caught on the night camera!

As we continue to try and catch those who go bump in the night around camp, we always get excited when we check the camera and there are pictures ready to down load. This time we caught 1 of our 5 resident bush bucks. They work as our local alarm system as they move around camp in the evenings and alert us every time a predator comes through camp. 

Stay tuned for more of "What Goes Bump in the Night" around Chada.

Till Next Time Justin & Jacky

The lions of Katavi have been eating no stop. Between the Chada pride and the Katisunga Pride of lions they have been feasting. In 4 nights the Chada pride took down 3 buffalo!   

While the dry conditions  have been hard on the hippos the prides have been getting there fill of hippo meat as well. Sometimes it has been an unlucky hippo who lost the battle against another hippo or the lions taking advantage of a hippo with no water for safety.

 Even an elephant passing on from natural causes only last  two days for the lions.

 Well there is one thing for sure here in Katavi and that is there is plenty of food for our growing lions 

Special Thanks to the Chada Katavi guides Samwel Turoto & Paulo Siololo for the pictures

Till Next Time Justin & Jacky

Summer is here as one of the most amazing sounding kingfishers have arrived back to Chada! The Woodland Kingfisher which is a intra –Africa migrant have return letting us know summer is here!

Till next time Justin & Jacky

There is always those unidentified noises in camp, from the rustling in the leaves to something running past a tent along with those indescribable sounds that keeps one wondering what it was . Well we have decided to have some fun here in camp and with an infra red camera we have decided to try and catch “what goes bump in the night” around Chada Katavi. We will be placing the camera in numerous positions throughout camp  trying to catch all those tiny or giant night movers.

Up first is the one and only, most famous night mover the spotted hyaena.

 

 

Stay tuned for the next "what goes bump in  night" @ Chada Katavi.

 

Till next time Justin & Jacky

Every year Katavi see's the extremes of the both the rain and dry season. With the dry season in full affect we witness all the animals coming to last water holes for a drink. That is if there are any vacant watering holes left as the hippos congregate to every last pool of water.  

Hippos packed together like a can of sardines, pushing their way in for any water or mud they can get. It is a phenomenon to see.

 

Community support and education is a big part of  Chada Katavi camp and it is always great fun when guests get involved. The White  family was super excited to visit the local community in and around Kibaoni and a morning trip was scheduled.

The morning began and as the White family was on route to Kibaoni their  trip was interrupted as they came across the Chada lion pride. What a way to start the morning! After the lions, their journey continued to a farm house outside of the village. With the help of the White family and Michael Sungula (one of our staff members and community liaison) the Malambo family received a rocket stove and were taught how to build and use it. This will slow down the deforestation on the edges of the park as it reduces the amount of trips for wood each family needs to make.

The next stop was the Kakuni Primary School, where the school had a heads up we were coming for a visit. They welcomed us with open arms and the White family was given a tour of the school and were treated to some local dances and singing as the school put on a little performance for them.

We ended our visit off with a friendly football game. The White family along with Michael and the Nomad guides played against one of the school's teams. It was loads of fun, which resulted in a nail biting game that ended in a 2-2 draw. It was a wonderful sight to see all those big smiles that filled the school.

For more information in the Nomad Trust and the Chada Katavi projects visit: 

http://www.nomad-tanzania.com

Thanks to the White family, Bryan, Christine, Jeffrey, Paul, Alex, Nick, Aris, Anthony and family friend Olivia 

Till next time, Justin & Jacky