Imagine the sky full of streaks of red.
Imagine a background of river teaming with hippos.
Imagine the lovely visitors coming only for 2 short months.
Yeess Sir, I am talking of the magnificent and stunning Carmine Bee Eaters.
2017-Carmine bee-eaters pop in my research on Zambian attractions. A sight so beautiful that I immediately added it to my must see bucket. The window to view these birds is small. The place is in one of the remote national parks of Zambia-South Luangwa national park.
The first tentative enquiry about the tours to view these birds meet with a put downer from the local expert on popular travel site. Crushed I waited for another opportunity.
2018-Another innocent enquiry about the 19-hour road travel to this place met with haughtiness.I wait.
2019-The next year it was the budget which pulled me down. The air travel I planned to counter the 19- hour road trip was so high that I could take the whole family one way to India, which I did.
2020-okay we all know the reason.
2021-Finally the travel Gods were with me!!Yay!!!
Halfway journey was done by road and for the other half we flew. The safari guide was strictly told 'We ONLY want to see the Carmines.' Of course, they never listen and will try to show you the impalas, cheetahs, lions, umpteen elephants. You yawn and to pass time click yet another picture of mama lioness with 3 cute pubs.
Then the sight you have been waiting for.
On the banks of mighty river Luangwa you spot hundreds of carmines taking flight, catching the buzzing insects and bringing those back to their babies.
Again and again and yet again.
You forget everything.
As the rest of your tour mates chatter excitedly as they capture the hippos fighting in the background.You have eyes only for the Carmines.
So what is this big deal about Carmine bee eaters?
I quote the Zambia Tourism'Carmine’s are one of seven species of bee-eaters in the South Luangwa and begin to arrive during mid-August coming from the southern coastline of Mozambique and its surrounding area. They come to this area for one purpose, for breeding. Once they have arrived they form monogamous breeding pairs and begin to excavate the nest tunnels which they build into the banks of the river – these tunnels are known to reach up to a meter deep with a small chamber at the back where an egg is laid.
Each colony contains thousands of individuals and can stretch for hundreds of meters along an area of river bank. The colony becomes a hive of activity. Pairs will squabble over their hole and guard it aggressively.'
These temporay visitors join their cousins the green bee eaters.The colour green and red against the background of greyish river is a sight to behold.
A dream fulfilled .....another dream ticked off the list....contentment settles in and my footloose heart is at peace......for 10 seconds!!!
