by Jandejager » Mon Jul 10, 2006 2:34 pm
Hi Dean.
I, sometimes travel to Zambia / DRC., via Botswana. Youle see, Botswana has some open savanah land around Francistown to Nata, with broken bushveld (sandveld), that turns into full bushveld.Be very carefull if youre driving...at night theres lots of donkeys on the road right up to Nata! & some elephant. Bitis Arietans are quite comon through-out Botswana & Zam. occasionaly youle see Mambas & diferent sand snakes.
Nata is the start of the Reserve, you have been warned! there is animal disease control gates that are sometimes closed (on the road), & it is easy to drive into them. Elephants are plenty! we have found buffalo, girafe, sable, kudu, impala, lions, etc while passing(especially in the dry monts, when the animals cross the road to water holes) up to Kasane. from Kasane to Kazungula, youle find that youre getting closer to the Zambezi, as the humidity & temp rises, as wel as the density of the scrubs & bushes.Crossing the Zambezi we still saw lots of water monitors, & an abundance of crocs, hippo, (ps the fishing is excelent!) Livingstone is one of the hottest & crapiest places to be in summer! Humidity.. 10 times worse than Durbs.HOT!
Around the Zambezi, youle find lots of vinesnakes, boomslang, spitters, brown house, File snakes, molesnakes, bushsnakes, wolfsnakes & Afrocs.(bit more to the botswana side.) plenty geckos & other lizardy reptiles.
Close to Livingstone (15km from Vic falls) there's a small reptile park (on the Chirundu / Mosi oa Tunya road) . "Gwembe Castle Crocodile Park" theyle charge you US $10. just say youre a local/resident from Livingstone, & say you want to speak to Bwalya or Morgan. They are two keen local herpers, that can arange for you to go herping for Bitis gabonica close to Kitwe / past Lusaka, or just about anything! Theyle also show you that huge ex man-eater crock! But believe me if I say its not wort paying more than 10-000 kwacha for entrance(if you mention Morgan or Bwalya, youl get free access)
That area is a reptile haven, surely youl find just about anything there.
I promise youle love it, just take enough food & drinks!
F...T...W...Dyslectic...??