We never seem to get tired of snapping photos of hippos, even though they are dangerous and tend to be cranky. This is actually a bird photo because the bird on the hippo’s head is one of my favorites. It’s a hammerkop stork. He always looks like he’s being blown by the wind and it’s messing up his hair.

 Elephants help open up wooded areas that allow lagoons to spring up and attract exotic bird life. People travel to the South Luangwa Valley for birdwatching alone because there are so many species of stunning birds. Lions, leopards, zebra, giraffes, warthogs, elephants, and other animals are interesting side notes for serious bird watchers. But without elephants, Zambia’s keystone species, the delicate ecosystem would collapse, leaving only birds and reptile in a thicket so dense we would no longer be able to get near them.

We work hard to plan a fundraiser that helps you experience part of Zambia on a spot of the Sacramento River that resembles the winding South Luangwa River. We want you to enjoy the food, music, and marketplace, and we want you to see the natural life in Zambia for yourself. Safari on the River (www.safariontheriver.com) gives you a taste of Zambia and we have a package you can bid on for a safari for two that will give you the thrill of a lifetime where you’ll see an amazing display of birds and wildlife.

Tickets are going fast. Buy yours today and join us at Juluka Landing on the Sacramento River on Sunday, September 18, 2018. You can pretend you’re in Africa for an evening where we’ll transform a spot in Sacramento into a taste of the South Luangwa National Park in Zambia.

 

Written by Patricia Cole

An Africa Hope Fund board member for 7 years, Pat is a writer and a conservation activist. After traveling to Zambia, she became dedicated to helping Africa Hope Fund provide education to the next generation of Africans and ensure their future by protecting wildlife. Find Patricia on Facebook and Twitter, or on her websites www.writepatwrite.com and www.patmcole.com.

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