An African Adventure

The trip to Zambia was a lifetime opportunity. From landing in Lusaka to living in the sugarcane farm, standing precipitously close to the thundering falls, walking with the lions, lounging with the cheetahs, and living in a game park amid wild animals.

The images depicted in this book are raw, real and taken by Advait. Once you experience an African Safari, even the best-stocked zoos will turn you off.

We journeyed to two game parks in a tiny plane, stayed in one for three nights, and saw the last of the rhinos in another. Elephants and wild animals frequent the reception area in the game park, Mfuwe Lodge.

Our chalets, steps away from the main building, were guarded by alligators. At night a human guard took every guest to their chalet with the warning not to step out till morning.

I talked to one of the staff who had seen lions lounging outside the chalets in the morning. I saw the photograph of a lioness sunning herself outside the chalet where my wife and her sister stayed!

Every ardent safari-goer’s dream is to see the BIG FIVE: Elephant, lion, wild buffalo, rhino, and the reclusive leopard. Luckily we saw all of them: the leopard, just a glimpse.

I am not sure if I saw the leopard. Or, was my intense wish playing tricks? My wife and son claim they saw it. As Peter Zulu, our guide said, one has always to leave behind a wish to come back to fulfil it.

– Madhav