With ten years in the South Luangwa under my belt I have had my fair share of wildlife encounters. I like to share these stories to give insight into the extraordinary setting Mulberry Mongoose has grown up in.
One of my fondest memories is of Gilbert, a large bull elephant who used to lie down on his side and fall fast asleep 20 metres from our front door. It was an incredible sight as he was huge, but also a little off-putting as, in his relaxed state, he farted continually. Gilbert was a gentle giant and we got used to tiptoeing past him on our way to work.
Our kitten, Mapani, was equally fearless next to her giant friend. She would spend her time stalking him, crouching down and launching herself at Gilbert’s trunk, blissfully unaware that she was biting off more than she could chew.