Skubies Blog 2025
Our new camp by the Great Ruaha River
This year is bitter sweet for us as, due to Trump and Musk destroying USAID, it will be be our last year suporting STEP and the wonderful ecosystem here along the Ruaha River. We will miss the animals, the Elephants coming through the camp, plus the amazing people who supportted us, especially the Village Game Scouts who did everythimg to ensure we felt at home
Elephant visits our new camp
Lone female bushbuck visits the camp
Elephant visits our new camp
The new camp is only 50 meters from the one we had last year, and while it is more closed in, it is certainly more luxurious. Instead of a standard crawl in tent, its a proper stand up tent with a double bed and coat hangers on a frame, so we can hange stuff up, instead of lying around on the floor. Luxury Indeed!
We still have animals vi
The new camp is only 50 meters from the one we had last year, and while it is more closed in, it is certainly more luxurious. Instead of a standard crawl in tent, its a proper stand up tent with a double bed and coat hangers on a frame, so we can hange stuff up, instead of lying around on the floor. Luxury Indeed!
We still have animals visiting the camp, just not as many this time.We have had the occasional Elephant, numerous Imppala, a lone female Bushbuck who attached herself to an Impala herd for safety, but the standout was one night when we saw two Honey Badgers crossing the river. They are so hard to see, infact we had never seen any in the wild before.
Our new Logo on the aircraft
Lone female bushbuck visits the camp
Elephant visits our new camp
It's only been 13 years (and our final year to boot), but we finally managed to put our Wings Over Africa logo on to the aircraft.
Flanked by Godfrey and BK, two of the guys who have been most hands on with supporting us, Both fantastic guys, nothing is too much for them. Gody in the office and BK out in the field.
Lone female bushbuck visits the camp
Lone female bushbuck visits the camp
this lone female Bushbuck wondered past our camp next to the (now dried up river). She had attached herself to a small herd of Impala for protection. They are very similar though they do not interbreed, the Bushbuck being slightly larger and heavier built.
Sunset at the Maru Maru hotel, Stonetown
Its always a pleasure to arrive in Zanzibar at the beginning of our flying season, as it signals a few days rest from our hectic schedule in the previous weeks, getting the house ready for summer rental.
We have a few days downtime with nothing to do except renew my Aircrew Medical, and to drink coctails at sunset at the Maru Maru happy hour!
Washing the aircraft
Having sat in the Hangar for three months, the aircraft was sorely in need of a wash. Took it for a flight first to blow off the cobwebs!
The indifatiguable BK doing the honours as usual
Happy, protecting us from the Lions
Happy is a ranger amongst the new crop that we have this year. I suppose I would be happy if I could wander about the bush with such a blunderbus!
Stranded Road crew
Anne Briefing Rangers
Anne Briefing Rangers
We found these poor buggers stranded on the road to Lunda 10k inside the entry gate, on our first driive to Lunda. 4 weeks later, when we left, they and their JCB are still there, and probably even now they may not have been rescued. Africa is an unforgiving place!
Anne Briefing Rangers
Anne Briefing Rangers
Anne Briefing Rangers
Always important to let the rangers know where we will be flying on patrol so that they have a rough idea where we we would be in case we have an emergency.
we also have a Garmin Inreach handset, which texts our position at 10 minute intervals back to STEP HQ.
Obviously, if they keep getting numerous texts from the same spot, they will know we have an issue!
Bush TV
Anne Briefing Rangers
After every day we relax by the campfire, waiting for the sky to get dark enough to see the occaisional stellite or two.
Our best ws last year when we counted 23 satellites from a Musk launch.
Lions in the river
After complaining betweej ourselves that we hadnt seen any lions from the air during our time in Africa, on almost our last flight, while patrolling low level following the river Ruaha, we saw this familly, casually drinking.
Anne on Kilimanjaro
Saving Kittens in Zanzibar
Not content with our work preserving wildlife near Ruaha, Anne was also determined to widen her horizons by climing Kilimanjaro!
This not insignificant milestone she achieved right after we had finished our flying assignment at Lunda. Amazing effort. Yay!
Thats her on the left, next to the guide in Red
Saving Kittens in Zanzibar
Saving Kittens in Zanzibar
Upon returning from Kilimanjaro, Anne is now currently in Zanzibar helping a charity, Mama Paker save kittens and cats that roam around Stone Town in Zanzibar.many are sick and need help just to survive. Also, when they are brought in, they are neutered in addition to receiving medication and food, before being released back into their cat community on the streets again.