A quick stop in the city of Chipata, Zambia, to hit the ATM machine for some Zambian Kwacha and snacks at the grocery store before heading to our Croc Valley campsite in Mambwe, Zambia. I took about 400 Zambian Kwacha, about $15 USD. (Oct. 23, 2024)

This is the only photo I took of the bar area at our Croc Valley campsite in Mambwe, Zambia. It’s the WiFi password, which worked well but only in the bar area. I tried to upgrade but the room was tiny and with the fan not working because the lack of electricity, (which was out for the night, using a backup generator for some things) I decided the coolest place for me was my tent.

But they did have cold Savanna’s apple cider, which helped bring this extremely long, hot driving day into a cool, quenching evening. (Oct. 23, 2024)

That’s my tent to the left of this huge tree at our Croc Valley campsite in Zambia that the vervet monkeys love to climb on. And I was told by Laban, our Intrepid travel leader that both a herd of elephants and a bloat of hippos walked through our campsite, between our spaced out tents, I slept so hard that I saw nothing and heard nothing. (Oct. 24, 2024)

The kitchen area where Ibrahim, our Intrepid cook, makes our three meals a day at our Croc Valley campsite near the South Luangwa National Park. (Oct. 24, 2024)

Our 4×4 jeeps have arrived at our Croc Valley campsite for our game drive inside the South Luangwa National Park in Kafue, Zambia. (Oct. 24, 2024)

The Sun rising over the Luangwa River by our Croc Valley campsite near the South Luangwa National Park. (Oct. 24, 2024)

The sun rising over the Luangwa River at our Croc Valley campsite across from the South Luangwa National Park in Kafue, Zambia. (Oct. 24, 2024)

The women’s shower and toilet area at our Croc Valley campsite near the South Luangwa National Park in Zambia. (Oct. 24, 2024)

Heading to the South Luangwa National Park in Zambia from our Croc Valley campsite for our game drive. (Oct. 24, 2024)

Our jeep group on our game drive at the South Luangwa National Park in Zambia. Next to me is Shi, our Intrepid leader in training, Chrissy, Kate, Daniela, Chris and then back down to me. The person in the back, right corner was not a part of our group. (Oct. 24, 2024)

A lone hippo crossing the field to get to the water. Hippos are grazers and they only eat grass. Their skin is delicate but when the sun comes out, they move to the river. In the river, they live in groups. (Oct. 24, 2024)

The South Luangwa National Park is unfenced and bordered to the west by a steep escarpment and to the east by the Luangwa River. The Luangwa Valley lies at the tail end of the Great African Rift Valley system, which extends 2,500 miles or 4,000 km all the way from the Red Sea down to the Pungwe River mouth in Mozambique. (Oct. 24, 2024)

Crossing the bridge over the Luanga River and into the South Luangwa National Park in Zambia. (Oct. 24, 2024)

The Luanga River with a bloat of hippos in the distance at the South Luangwa National Park in Zambia. (Oct. 24, 2024)

Female water buffalos at the South Luangwa National Park in Zambia. The male water buffalos have horns. (Oct. 24, 2024)

Female water buffalos at the South Luangwa National Park in Zambia. The male water buffalos have horns. (Oct. 24, 2024)

The lions at the South Luangwa National Park in Zambia. (Oct. 24, 2024)