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NATURE
Forest Life
Brett, who is one of Jungle Junction's owners, is resident on the island. A large part of his childhood was spent along the Zambezi whilst his father was a wildlife department officer. Since then, he has spent the last 26 years in the safari industry. He has a deep love for nature and will only be too pleased to share your enthusiasm. His girlfriend, Evelyn, is the resident Botanist who is conducting a thorough servey of the plants and trees of the area. River Life
Bird Life
Bovu Island is a great place to clock up some new spices on your list. If you are a novice, it's a good place to start your interest. The guides enjoy taking guests on early morning walks along the riverbank on the mainland, returning through the local villages. The paths around the island don't require a guide and you can spend all day moving from tree to tree peering up, and down, through the foliage.
For keen ornithologists, we can arrange for 'Bird-Man-Bob' to come into camp by prior arrangement. His real name is Bob Stjernstedt, he is one of the best in Zambia. As we are only 30 Km from the Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park, I have included a PDF file of its bird check list below, for those interested in a out. The other link qw2is the full Zambian List, just click on either of these:
Botany Evelyn Roe, our resident botanist, spends most of her time on the island, although she also spends time at Kew Gardens in London and also creating a checklist survey of the vegetation around Victoria Falls for Zambian National Heritage. She has identified over 200 different plants on Bovu Island; some of which have been identified by the local witchdoctor for their medicinal properties, which the guides will be able to inform you about. Insects
Snakes & Other Reptiles No, not too many of these. There are two varieties of poisonous snakes that live on the island; the Spitting Cobra and the Puff Adder. It is unlikely that you will ever see them. Likewise the harmless grass snakes, Verigated Bush Snakes and Brown House Snakes. To be on the safe side at night, please wear shoes and carry a torch. The Nile Monitor Lizard will often startle you on your walks around the island as it scuttles away from you through the undergrowth. This large reptile which grows to over one metre in length loves to feast on crocodile eggs, therefore discouraging crocodiles from using Bovu Island as a breeding site. Crocodiles live in all the waters of the Zambezi and we warn guests against going down to the waters edge at sunset and after dark. Young children should be mnitored all the time..
There are many species of fish in the Zambezi. Local people rely on this source of protein, and they begin the fishing season with a centuries-old tradition of harvesting Parrot Fish in conical reed traps in the winter months of May to July. |
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