This is the view from the little chalet I am staying in at the abandonded camping site used by Liliongwe Wildlife Trust’s research teams (Primate release and Carnivores) at Kasungu. It’s 5 in the morning right now so it looks a bit different – through the mist rising off the dambo I can see the first glow of dawn outlining the woods across the water. Its very quiet, even the Hippos, usually a noisy lot, are quiet and birds have just started a few tentative chirps. But internet connectivity is at its best – just enough to upload a few photos and some words and its fun to be sitting here with my laptop in the icy morning.

I have been here at this strange and beautiful park for a few days and will write more about it later. It is a place forgotten and forsaken. Before coming here I spent 4 days on my own (there were delays upon delays with the program and I decided to head off on my own rather than hang around in Lilongwe) at a wonderful little place called Nitchisi Forest reserve. A former retreat of the British High Commissioner converted to a small guest house with the best food I have eaten in Malawi so far, aat the foot of a forest covered mountain. Well marked trails through the forest and surrounding hills, a brilliant little map with many interesting  things to track down an explore, Monkeys, Eagles and rare Forest birds – in short I had a lovely time, got fit climbing up and down the steep slopes and was in good shape for the rough bush life here in Kasungu. Here are a few photos from Nitchisi.

The Lodge at Ntchisi Forest

The lush montane forest on the wet side of the mountain

View from the top – clear across Lake Malawi to Mozambique

Thats all for now – I will try again in a few days with photos from Kasungu if the “Dongle” still works. Its getting light, a Pukku antelope with its baby just passed by and the Fish-Eagles have started their morning chorus; time to make some breakfast (porridge) and get ready for a day of Monkey tracking .