The last few months at Wilderness Safaris have been sensational, with excellent sightings and game viewing reports pouring in from all of their camps.

(TRAVPR.COM) UNITED KINGDOM - September 14th, 2012 - The last few months at Wilderness Safaris have been sensational, with excellent sightings and game viewing reports pouring in from all of their camps. Titus the lion made his presence known to guests once more in Liwonde and leopard sightings on the Nyika remain incredible. With temperatures now getting noticeably hotter in Malawi, sightings close to the Mvuu Camp andLodge of elephants are increasing close to the river as they feed on the Fever trees and Common red grasses which fringe the shire. On a recent boat tour held by Wilderness Safaris, a herd of 80 elephants were spotted swimming opposite the Mvuu Camp providing entertainment for the lodges guests for more than half an hour! Close by, near to theChelinda camp and lodge, leopard sightings remain consistent being seen not only hunting, but also lapping up the sun on the road sides.

A pregnant Spotted hyaena has also been seen exploring the plateau. This news is always welcome as the hyaena population on the Nyika has dropped over the last few years. Eland and roan antelope herds are now moving into lower areas of the plateau and into forest thickets to give birth and escape from the cold weather at higher altitudes.

Birding can be tricky at this time of year as many birds are not so active in the cold weather, but nevertheless the more common species on the plateau have been spotted and sightings in general are on the increase as temperatures start to rise. On a forest walk, guide Whyte saw a Bar-tailed Trogan, Fullerborn’s Boubou, and Bronze Sunbirds. The pair of African Black ducks are still being seen regularly on the dam near Chelinda Camp – these ducks are territorial residents so it is hoped they will stick around! Very soon it is hoped congregations of Denham’s Bustards will arrive and will be seen foraging for insects in the burnt grasslands.

African Fish Eagles have also been seen regularly flying over the Shire “cart wheeling across the sky” as Relationship Manager Christopher describes it, in a renewal of their pair bonds. Pel’s Fishing Owls have been repeatedly spotted on the west bank, near the Natal mahogany trees downstream from Mvuu camp. They have also been seen upstream around the Cormorant breeding colony. Black-crowned and White-backed Night Herons are frequently sighted in the riverine vegetation in particular, around the Mvuu Lodge lagoon. A pair of Verreaux’s Eagle-Owls was spotted several times flying out of a baobab tree close to main road during the day - they are most probably nesting there.

First Flight Lands at Chintheche Airstrip - Last month (on two occasions) guests landed at theChintheche Airstrip with a South African charter company. This has not happened in Chintheche for many years and caused a lot of excitement.Chintheche Inn worked hard to prepare the strip and the landings and takeoffs were a success. The "welcome committee" of local children was a huge highlight for the guests. Take note though, landing at the Chintheche Airstrip is not advisable for pilots without experience of landing in the bush in a densely populated rural area...

Jump for CITW - Wilderness Safaris have had some brave souls step forward to participate in their ‘JUMP FOR CITW’, but they are in need of a few more! They’re still looking for daredevils to be put forward by organisations and companies to do a sponsored sky dive in aid of their environmental education programme, Children in the Wilderness. If you’ve got an office dare devil and would like to through them out of an airplane for charity, then please email marketing@wilderness.mw. Wilderness Safaris will be jumping with our partners in conservation the Lilongwe Wildlife Centre who are also doing a sponsored jump for the centre.

New Tree Nursery - The Children in the Wilderness Team at Mvuu recently launched their new tree nursery based at Nanthomba School. CITW invited village headmen Kwenji and Ligwang’a, Mvuu Managers Riaan and Christopher, H.E.L.P Malawi founder Gillian and director Wells along with CITW volunteers to mark the launch. CITW programme co-ordinator - Symon with 75 members of CITW eco clubs from three primary schools (Nanthoma, Kavunguti and Kafulafula), their headmasters and club patrons helped fill 200 tubes with soil and seeds top get the project started.

Specials at Chintheche - Chintheche Inn hosted a fine dining special in the month of July. Chefs Zana, Nick and Sarah together with the Chintheche Inn kitchen team put together some fantastic dishes for the four course dinners on offer for the weekend. These included a Crispy Asian Style Quail Salad, a sumptuous Chicken Liver Pate with Red Onion Marmalade, Slow Roasted Belly of Pork with Spiced Couscous, and the guest favourite of the weekend a melting Chocolate Fondant. Feedback was fantastic and this is something we plan to do again in the future, so food lovers look out for our next fine dining special!

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