Yamadori expeditions

Africa has different seasons and climate than the northern hemisphere. Zambia in particular is at very high altitude, 1450m above sea level. As e result we have very moderate climate here. Winters are not too cold and summers are not too hot. Rains are not excessive.   Our winter starts in June when the summer in the northern hemisphere starts.

Zambia is a very peaceful country and the people are very friendly compared to any other country I have been to. Lovely people.

We have a game ranch near the Capital Lusaka. We have two dams and a large area that is fenced. We bought wild animals and started breeding them several years ago. We have all animals in Zambia apart from carnivores and elephants. The animals are free and rooming over large area in the ranch. We also do some fish farming there. Poachers some time come and kill some of the animals. As a result we had to employ armed guards that patrol the area, which is so big that it is hard to protect it.

Here are some of our animals:

We bought 3 giraffes, now they are seven:

This ostrich always comes to meet as. Here it rolling in the ground, to clean itself. They are dangerous. Can kick you, even open your stomach with their clows like feet.

Here is one of the males

The zebras have been breeding a lot too:

We atarted building another house next to the dam. The second floor is done now. Some of the ostriches are always there.

This Sunday we decided to catch the fish in the dams, especially the bubble fish since we want to restock them with tilapia. But it will take long time to catch all the fish.

The ostrich as usual is in the action:

Normally all this area is under water, but now it is the hight of the dry season, so the level of the water has gone down.

This is how it looks in April, after the rain season. This is the same place where the car is. This pictures were taken from the dam wall.

This is in July when the water level already reduced.

This is the other dam:

The other dam and the fence for the animals.

That is the place where I normally go to dig some of my trees. So far I have been digging every month several trees. On the forum I was told:  this is not the time…they will die…you need to dig in spring…But I continued digging every month, and my trees continued to survive. I loose some occasionally but that is normal. As I was told in Japan, you can dig any time, what is important is the aftercare.

I guess my after care is not bad.

What do I do as aftercare:

Prune all roots that dont have fine roots and are not needed for the nebari.

Normally trees come out like cuttings. Some have no fine roots at all.  We have a dry period here when for over 6 month not a drop of rain falls. As a result the trees develop very deep root system. Acacias are almost impossible to dig.

I soak them in some vitamin B and disprin overnight,

The following day I smear sulfur on all cut roots and plant in very coarse sieved river sand.

I cover them with a very large clear packet, and keep them in a shaded place. They can overheat if on full sun.

I water them with sea grow every other day for a month. As new shoots appear the plastic is lifted in stages.

I am very interested on promoting and experimenting with the local trees. I bough what books I could find on trees in Zambia, but most of the trees I have failed to identify so far. But I am trying.

In some places the vegetation is very dens and with lots of thorns. You have to crawl in order to reach some places.

This is a huge rock on which an acacia galpinii is growing. Who said that acacia is in the savanna only?

In the next post I will show you the type of trees I found, dug out, and how they are doing.

Next I will post what other trees that I found so far that are suitable for bonsai.