A safari question
Discussion
Largest Man yet eaten by lions on Kulan Plain
LionThe lions are eating well tonight on the Kulan Plain as Liganti, the leader of the Wazin pride brought down a 350 pound American safari member. Safari leader Ted 'Blazin' Gunn said 'The lion got him fair and square so we left him to em.' Locals will recall that last fall Liganti brought down a 280 pound Belgian to set the record he broke with this kill.
From www.tanzanica.com/TanzanicaTimes/T
LionThe lions are eating well tonight on the Kulan Plain as Liganti, the leader of the Wazin pride brought down a 350 pound American safari member. Safari leader Ted 'Blazin' Gunn said 'The lion got him fair and square so we left him to em.' Locals will recall that last fall Liganti brought down a 280 pound Belgian to set the record he broke with this kill.
From www.tanzanica.com/TanzanicaTimes/T
Edited by simpo two on Monday 9th October 13:43
I've driven round Kruger Nat Park (SA) by myself and saw loads of stuff.
I've also done an organised, guided "Safari" in South Luangwa Nat. Park in Zambia which was really superb , .... saw lots of lions and leopards close-up .....far fewer tourist than in Kruger .
IMHO the guides are really good at spotting stuff , and know where to go to .... I'd recommend an organised trip. If you book locally in Zam. or Malawi (I used Kiboko (sp?) Safaris ) it is MUCH cheaper than booking through a UK agent.
I've also done an organised, guided "Safari" in South Luangwa Nat. Park in Zambia which was really superb , .... saw lots of lions and leopards close-up .....far fewer tourist than in Kruger .
IMHO the guides are really good at spotting stuff , and know where to go to .... I'd recommend an organised trip. If you book locally in Zam. or Malawi (I used Kiboko (sp?) Safaris ) it is MUCH cheaper than booking through a UK agent.
I'd recommend a guide, they really do know where to go to find the animals. Plus you don't want to be upsetting a lion, elephant or hippo!
The place we stayed had armed guards who escorted you everywhere after dark, although we were able to walk around the camp area during the day. Also the guides who took us out on safari were armed too.
The place we stayed had armed guards who escorted you everywhere after dark, although we were able to walk around the camp area during the day. Also the guides who took us out on safari were armed too.
blindswelledrat said:
Has anyone done a safari in Africa on thier own?
By this I mean booking into one of the lodges, hiring a 4x4 and just heading off yourself?
Is this feasible or not?
By this I mean booking into one of the lodges, hiring a 4x4 and just heading off yourself?
Is this feasible or not?
It's a piece of piss. You might not see as much (We saw heaps on our own btw) but when you do it's very satisfying knowing that you found it. You do need a guide when you're on a walking safari though
It was a matter of pride with our guide that he found the best animals.
We had an independent guide who took us between half a dozen lodges and we could just agree when and where we wanted to go each day before moving on to the next lodge. He thought it was very funny that I didn't like getting up early. He was fantastic, and because he wasn't just part of the standard tours, we totally avoided the little queues of lodge vans waiting to see the lions. Instead we'd end up heading into the hills following leads that his mates had radioed through.
We had an independent guide who took us between half a dozen lodges and we could just agree when and where we wanted to go each day before moving on to the next lodge. He thought it was very funny that I didn't like getting up early. He was fantastic, and because he wasn't just part of the standard tours, we totally avoided the little queues of lodge vans waiting to see the lions. Instead we'd end up heading into the hills following leads that his mates had radioed through.
mechsympathy said:
blindswelledrat said:
Has anyone done a safari in Africa on thier own?
By this I mean booking into one of the lodges, hiring a 4x4 and just heading off yourself?
Is this feasible or not?
By this I mean booking into one of the lodges, hiring a 4x4 and just heading off yourself?
Is this feasible or not?
It's a piece of piss. You might not see as much (We saw heaps on our own btw) but when you do it's very satisfying knowing that you found it. You do need a guide when you're on a walking safari thoughThats what I imagined! Theres something about just setting off on your own into the wilderness like that.
Do the parks allow you simply to drive around on your own then?
blindswelledrat said:
Thats what I imagined! Theres something about just setting off on your own into the wilderness like that.
Do the parks allow you simply to drive around on your own then?
Do the parks allow you simply to drive around on your own then?
You're only allowed to camp in designated spots, and you're not meant to drive off the tracks or get out of the car (we spent plenty of time on the roofrack without problems.) but apart from that it's fine. There are pros and cons in going with a group, but we found the pros outweighed the cons by some margin. Where are you going?
See previous thread on Safari's
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=141&t=304502
I did Kruger National Park, booked my camps (stayed at 3 different camps) through their website. Accomodation varied from tents to proper villa style acomodation. See SAN Parks link for details. www.sanparks.org
Enjoy!!! PS take a decent zoom lens camera and binoculars.
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=141&t=304502
I did Kruger National Park, booked my camps (stayed at 3 different camps) through their website. Accomodation varied from tents to proper villa style acomodation. See SAN Parks link for details. www.sanparks.org
Enjoy!!! PS take a decent zoom lens camera and binoculars.
Just got back from Sand Rivers in Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania - very exceptional! Maximum of 16 guest in the lodge and a totally free bar!
Had our own guide for the entire week and went when/where we wanted. Very rare to see another 4x4, even one from our lodge as there are only 100 beds available in the entire game reserve and very few independant guests - although there is a public campsite in the reserve, it's very, very basic and cheap. You'd have to contact the Game reserve for opening dates of the campsite, but it would be possible to hire a 4x4 and a guide in Dar es Salaam and drive to the reserve.
www.sand-rivers-selous.com/
The view from our room
The dinning room and lounge
The dinning room again
Had our own guide for the entire week and went when/where we wanted. Very rare to see another 4x4, even one from our lodge as there are only 100 beds available in the entire game reserve and very few independant guests - although there is a public campsite in the reserve, it's very, very basic and cheap. You'd have to contact the Game reserve for opening dates of the campsite, but it would be possible to hire a 4x4 and a guide in Dar es Salaam and drive to the reserve.
www.sand-rivers-selous.com/
The view from our room
The dinning room and lounge
The dinning room again
I lived in Botswana for 3.5 years and did loads of parks in South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and (obviously) Botswana.
To be honest I think it is more fear of the unknown than anything else that prevents people from doing it. Kruger is like driving through town for a lot of it as the roads are metalled and people are pootling aroung in carollas and stuff watching all the game. In some of the others you definately need a 4x4 but if you are sensible (by that I mean stick to the recognised tracks) then you will have absolutely no problem at all.
Having said that the guides (some of them anyway) relay sightings to their colleagues, so they can easily take you to the hot spot for that day. I would probably recommend using a guide the first day to get your bearings and see what is where, then after that do it alone.
If you need any advice on Botswana/SA/Southern Zim then drop me a line and I will do my best. Know a little about Namibia (drove on the bottom and through the length of the country before exiting through the Caprivi strip) so might be able to help there
To be honest I think it is more fear of the unknown than anything else that prevents people from doing it. Kruger is like driving through town for a lot of it as the roads are metalled and people are pootling aroung in carollas and stuff watching all the game. In some of the others you definately need a 4x4 but if you are sensible (by that I mean stick to the recognised tracks) then you will have absolutely no problem at all.
Having said that the guides (some of them anyway) relay sightings to their colleagues, so they can easily take you to the hot spot for that day. I would probably recommend using a guide the first day to get your bearings and see what is where, then after that do it alone.
If you need any advice on Botswana/SA/Southern Zim then drop me a line and I will do my best. Know a little about Namibia (drove on the bottom and through the length of the country before exiting through the Caprivi strip) so might be able to help there
i would second that. the major advantage of having a guide is the radio tip offs but if you wave down traffic heading the other way and ask them what they have seen you will often get good info that way.
a trip i did some years back and desperately want to do again is flying in to Windhoek, Namibia, hiring a car and touring to Swakopmund on the Skeleton coast, then to Etosha via the Waterberg plateau. Unbelievable scenery and very easy - all the locals just drive their own cars around the game parks. the camps in Etosha have different grades of accommodation according to your budget, but nearly all the ones i went to have floodlit waterholes so you can sit there at night with a beer and watch the game. Best time to go is dry season so the animals spend more time at the waterholes and are therefore easier to spot. Also take binos and don't forget to look up - if you see vultures coming down that is the place to head as there is always action if there has been a kill...
i think it is possible to drive the Caprivi strip if you hire a 4x4 too but check up, it used to be Injun country up there!
enjoy - where ever you go, Kenya, Tanzania, RSA, etc etc you will love it!
a trip i did some years back and desperately want to do again is flying in to Windhoek, Namibia, hiring a car and touring to Swakopmund on the Skeleton coast, then to Etosha via the Waterberg plateau. Unbelievable scenery and very easy - all the locals just drive their own cars around the game parks. the camps in Etosha have different grades of accommodation according to your budget, but nearly all the ones i went to have floodlit waterholes so you can sit there at night with a beer and watch the game. Best time to go is dry season so the animals spend more time at the waterholes and are therefore easier to spot. Also take binos and don't forget to look up - if you see vultures coming down that is the place to head as there is always action if there has been a kill...
i think it is possible to drive the Caprivi strip if you hire a 4x4 too but check up, it used to be Injun country up there!
enjoy - where ever you go, Kenya, Tanzania, RSA, etc etc you will love it!
We drove through the Caprivi strip in '97 whilst Angola really was still bandit country (actually not sure that has changed). Set off in the evening and hit the Botswana border at Chobe in the morning (had a couple of hourse sleep in the 4x4 in the town nearest the border). At that time you needed a 4x4 but they were working on the road so I am sure that you could pass it in a normal car now (maybe not in the rains)
Was pretty scary having heard about all the bandits, but didnt see anything untoward, although one (white) couple did try to flag us down to help them as their car was stopped by the side of the road - have to say didnt even touch the brakes just flew by and reported them to the police when we came to the checkpoint at the end of the strip (didnt want risk being hijacked/killed).
Seems Zim is pretty diabolical now, shame as there were some great places, but if you have the purse for it Chobe (Botswana) is excellent and the Okavango Delta (also botswana)is simply stunning, but eyewateringly expensive for most of the lodges there. Went tracking lions on foot on one of the islands there (never found them) but it puts a whole new perspective on viewing game when you are walking out in the open (our guide didnt have guns)
Read Clarkson in the TG mag and he goes on about his trip to Botswana, used to go to those pans regularly and they are quite awesome!
Was pretty scary having heard about all the bandits, but didnt see anything untoward, although one (white) couple did try to flag us down to help them as their car was stopped by the side of the road - have to say didnt even touch the brakes just flew by and reported them to the police when we came to the checkpoint at the end of the strip (didnt want risk being hijacked/killed).
Seems Zim is pretty diabolical now, shame as there were some great places, but if you have the purse for it Chobe (Botswana) is excellent and the Okavango Delta (also botswana)is simply stunning, but eyewateringly expensive for most of the lodges there. Went tracking lions on foot on one of the islands there (never found them) but it puts a whole new perspective on viewing game when you are walking out in the open (our guide didnt have guns)
Read Clarkson in the TG mag and he goes on about his trip to Botswana, used to go to those pans regularly and they are quite awesome!
my folks did the caprivi drive four or five years back and loved it, but went up and back to Windhoek. I sure wouldn't go to Zim now as any money you bring in is just supporting that 
Mugabe and his thugs.
Blindswelledrat if you are still reading, check out the lonely planet guide for where you go - will have all the options in there i'm sure!
cheers
schmo
Mugabe and his thugs. Blindswelledrat if you are still reading, check out the lonely planet guide for where you go - will have all the options in there i'm sure!
cheers
schmo
I worked as a guide in Botswana for a while a few summers ago. It is possible to get into big trouble if you're out in the bush on your own. Get a guide - they know where to look, where not to look, and instinctively sense danger - don't underestimate anything out there.
I once had a very angry bull elephant absolutely trash one of the jeeps from our camp, and we really had to leg it. If that happened to you, no radios, no rifle, no back up, once it's dark how long do you think you'd last?
Answers on a postcard please......
I once had a very angry bull elephant absolutely trash one of the jeeps from our camp, and we really had to leg it. If that happened to you, no radios, no rifle, no back up, once it's dark how long do you think you'd last?
Answers on a postcard please......
Stephanie Plum said:
I worked as a guide in Botswana for a while a few summers ago. It is possible to get into big trouble if you're out in the bush on your own. Get a guide - they know where to look, where not to look, and instinctively sense danger - don't underestimate anything out there.
I once had a very angry bull elephant absolutely trash one of the jeeps from our camp, and we really had to leg it. If that happened to you, no radios, no rifle, no back up, once it's dark how long do you think you'd last?
Answers on a postcard please......
I once had a very angry bull elephant absolutely trash one of the jeeps from our camp, and we really had to leg it. If that happened to you, no radios, no rifle, no back up, once it's dark how long do you think you'd last?
Answers on a postcard please......
I don't have a postcard but probably not very long, although if you escape the elephant you could be lucky. Predators do have a knack of finding the weakest animals out there i.e. you!
Having said that I've done both and any parks I've been in either kick you out after dark or you have to stay in camp or go out with guides. Driving during the day you'll bump into plenty of other people who can raise the alarm if you have a problem. Roads are generally good but we did break a few things on the hire car in Hluhluwe. It doesn't matter as you'll take out max insurance in SA more for the car jackings, thefts, bad driving, etc. rather than the elephants/roads.
The big bonus about a guided Safari is as people say the guides know the terrain and the four wheel drives can go anywhere to find animals as well as radio messages from other guides in the park. It also feels more authetic than spinning around in your VW Golf with the air con on full whack.
Either way the best tip is early starts and late finishes as the animals don't have air con so they sit in the shade during the middle of the day. Make sure you take a reliable alarm clock as you'll be up at 5am each day! Long camera lenses, film/memory and batteries are essentials.
Enjoy. You won't regret it whatever you do, (unless you get eaten by a lion which, admittedly would suck).
err i'm assuming that he has a modicum of common sense and won't go wandering about on foot!
there's no problem with driving round. follow other cars if nervous. if you are trundling round Kruger or another fairly popular park and don't do something dumb (like getting too close to an elephant / rhino / herd of buffalo / hippo) then you will be fine.
Half my family used to live in Namibia and RSA and they went every year for 20 odd years with no guide and no problems. Goes without saying of course that if you break down, stay with the vehicle. Also i believe that if you book in to some of the camps and don't show they will look for you (even if it takes a fair bit of time to find you).
cheers
schmo
there's no problem with driving round. follow other cars if nervous. if you are trundling round Kruger or another fairly popular park and don't do something dumb (like getting too close to an elephant / rhino / herd of buffalo / hippo) then you will be fine.
Half my family used to live in Namibia and RSA and they went every year for 20 odd years with no guide and no problems. Goes without saying of course that if you break down, stay with the vehicle. Also i believe that if you book in to some of the camps and don't show they will look for you (even if it takes a fair bit of time to find you).
cheers
schmo
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