Stanley & Livingstone – Private Game Reserve

As much as those names conjure up an image of 19th century colonial explorations in Africa and the discovery (and eventual manipulation) of the dark continent, I am referring to a lodge where we stay. This is a most relaxing location with game and acres and acres (or hectare and hectares) of private game reserve. The Stanley and Livingstone is ten minutes or so from Victoria Falls but is a million miles from the paved streets and tourism of downtown Livingstone.

See for yourself at http://www.stanleyandlivingstone.com.

The entrance to the Stanley and Livingstone is very welcoming. The ride out to the lodge is through park and game reserve and it is common to see wildlife both coming and going. Elephants may be the most common mammal seen but sable and roan antelope are possible as are greater kudu and wild dog.

The rooms are two-to-a-bungalow and are really suites not merely rooms. There is a living room with desk, couches, chairs and a place to make tea. And a porch upon which to drink your tea. The bedroom is spacious with more furniture than the average visitor will ever use. The bathroom is off the bedroom and is nearly the same size. The tub is a claw-footed beauty that Napoleon probably once found Josephine in. The shower is a large pan-headed affair with plenty of water. There are sinks, vanities, a bidet, and all the accoutrements that one might need. Nice rooms to say the least.

Africa is a treat. Africans are very nice people. I am always asked if I am afraid to travel to Africa (or most anywhere). My response is that when I read the newspapers in the US I read about some pretty significant tragedies and some disconcerting behavior. In my opinion these activities are much less frequent overseas and especially in Africa. (I say this even as the Nairobi mall tragedy is just ending.) When traveling in Africa you are on a safari route; a circuit that means a great deal to the economy of the country. These areas are managed by the governments and kept safe for the tourists. Anyway, the food is great here and the ambiance is just right. Relaxing, reading, photographing, exploring, and game viewing can be part of the scene.

Like most African hotels and lodges meals can be (and often are) taken out doors. The Stanley & Livingstone is no exception.

From the dining deck a view of the waterhole draws your eye. In this image there are a dozen or so baboons (Chacma) under a fig tree. When the figs ripen there are antelope, elephants, warthogs, and lots of birds in with the baboons enjoying the fruit. This area also has waterbuck, kudu, and bushbuck. At night there is a wood owl that uses the trees as a hunting perch.

The greater kudu is (perhaps) the most elegant of the antelope. The eland is a bit larger and the roan  about the same size – but none have the style and looks of this guy. The ears of antelope have patterns on the inside and there is often a mane along the spinal ridge.