BOTSWANA, a year's planning!

8 nights is great. You'll have in depth knowledge of the place to share with us.

Just hearing that you are planning a mobile trip with Masson's makes me want to pick up the phone and plan a trip. I've been on two mobile safaris in Botswana and loved both of them. I also don't think 8 nights is too many to spend in one place. (Well, I guess if you choose the wrong camp it is.) I spent 6 nights at Mashatu a few months ago and the time went very quickly. You have a very nice trip planned. Congrats!

Thanks Lynn.
I forgot to mention earlier that I also have to thank Jochen (pixelpower) for his detailed trip report on doing a mobile safari in Botswana with Masson's.

Cheers
Marc

Thanks Sundowner

Which mobile camps did you do and did you share the vehicle with others?
We have booked a private vehicle with Masson's and the rates compared to private Lodges (with private vehicles) are fantastic!

Cheers
Marc

Waiting eagerly for your report on Masson's private safari. I'd like to do a mobile some day. (Mark calendar, africaddict, Sep 2009, Masson's mobile trip report due ).

Eight/ten nights in same safari camp is fine with me. IF good camp. Not so good if not good camp. Been there done exactly that this last Sep. Kings Camp - good, Ngala Lodge - not so good. (Trip report posted here).

regards - tom
ps - it's JNB not JBN, right. Just to be sure you're going to right airport
ps ps - Myself, I'm looking to go back to South AFrica for Sep 2009.

Hi Tom

Yes should be JNB, correct.
I'll definitely be putting in a report on our return.
I understand in regards to a long stay as long as it's a good stay.
You can align all the stars in the solar system and still end up with a dud, however going by (most) of the glowing reports on Mapula our expectations will hopefully be met.

BTW Tom, have just been catching up on all the bitchy postings re. Skimmers images, and have now noticed on Aardvark Travel that they have gone (again) plus the trip report on Johan's Masson's review?

Can you please report to me that you are now shooting/processing in RAW

Cheers
Marc

Marc, both mobiles were with a group of photographers. Once with Gametrails and our guide was Nick, Masson's father-in-law. Nick was great. That trip was in October, 2005. A trip report and photos are here. That was an excellent trip. http://www.pbase.com/cjw/botswana_africa_2005

The other trip was in August, 2007, and was with Joyce and Simon Paul of Maun Rest Camp. Their tents and setup were very similar to Gametrails but the vehicles were much better. They also added some extra rails and stuff to have a place to brace your camera on. They also contract with REI to do the Botswana portion of the safaris that they sell. I haven't processed all of the photos from that trip but the ones I have done are here http://www.pbase.com/cjw/botswana_2007

I'm sure you'll have an excellent time, especially on a private trip.

Thanks for the photos posts. Loved the sunset photos!!! www.pbase.com/pattyroth

Marc - skimmer's images gone again? Yep, just looked, confirm that. Don't know, they were back for at least a few days. I don't see any more arguments on the Fodors site regarding them. Soooo . . . ? (Some of my safari photos wound up being discussed and critiqued which was fun).

Cindy/sundowner vouching for Masson's is a good recommendation.

Yes, RAW, my cameras shoot in RAW but I still leave it in the camera . Still only taking the best most neutral jpg out and working it. I admit RAW could help but the question is how much and how often. I'd guess it could help maybe 2% of my photos but that's not often enough to be worth the additional work. That is, even if I used RAW I'd still take every image I like into Photoshop for cropping and other processing. I'm more interested in perhaps the 20 really good images out of 2,000. In other news, I have not gotten the Nikon D300, still using the D200 (and D40X). Going to wait for the next DX model. FX format doesn't interest me for wildlife photos. Never mind the larger body etc. required to carry-on and around. So, going to wait and see what the D400 brings.

regards - tom

Thanks Cindy.

Great trip report, it reminded me of my overlanding days in the 90's. I shared a 6 wheeled drive truck with 19 others for 6 months going from Cape Town to London back in '93.
And found that when I returned to OZ I needed to escape society again and did a similar overland journey for another 6 months traveling round Sth America.
A lot of friends I made from my Africa trip thought I was NUTS!!!

......hmmmm..........maybe nothing's changed!

Cheers
Marc

Tom

I hear what your saying in regards to RAW. The D300's jpg's (if shot correctly) are almost (not quite) as good as processed RAW's!!
Having said that, I loved to trawl through 5000+ images processing from RAW . LOL.

Cheers
Marc

Marc,
That sounds a very nice trip, a very sound choice based on very sound advice. 8 days at Mapula sounds very nice we only did 6 but will be back again in March for a further 5. We are having a private safari with Massons (3 of us) before we go to Mapula. We are also currently booking Savuti/Chobe for November, Let's hope we all have very good luck!!

Thanks Ken

We have spoken about this trip on another forum.
I'll look forward to your report when you get back, have a wonderful time.

Cheers
Marc

Mark & Rossana
Sounds like a great plan 8 days at Mapula is not too much, time spent with wildlife is the key to those special shots. we recently attended a lecture by Andy Rouse and he emphasised this very point and after some 30 years of visiting africas different countries I couldnt agree more.We recently visited Namibia and stayed 4 nights at each of the main camps best thing we could have done and are now members of a very elite club those who have seen black rhinos mating what a buzz. I am sure you will both have a superb trip and by the way my lovely lady JEANIEG is completing her web design currently editing 12000 pics from Namibia should keep her busy through the winter we will let you know progress.

Leonard G
As you are new it is probable that you did not know that a mention of Andy Rouse on this forum, usually results in damning criticism. I am a great fan and have been privileged to join him on safari.
We recently visited Etosha and also saw mating Black Rhino at Okaukuejo on 2nd September.
There is some rather bad video ( I had to try to remove the color cast from the lights and much else)of this posted on You Tube at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pueTUE6U_so

>>> I forgot to mention earlier that I also have to thank Jochen (pixelpower) for his detailed trip report on doing a mobile safari in Botswana with Masson's.

You're welcome, Marc! You'll enjoy Ewan and his gang, I'm very sure of it.

Enjoy, and please show us the pictures.

Ciao,

J.

africaddict,
sounds like a perfect itinerary, but having to wait for a year is so painful!

LeonardG
I went to Andy Rouse's lecture too, very interesting and also informative about where to go to get good pictures. I think his book is also a good source of tips and inspiration - though the photos posted here are also an inspiration to me.

Sniktawk
I wondered why my mention of Andy Rouse's lecure was met by resounding silence - I didn't know there was 'history' here. You went on safari with him? Did he ever stop talking long enough to take a photo??!!

Excellent Marc! Sounds like a great trip.

tockoloshe, Sniktawk is annoyed by the fact that not everyone is as big a fan of Andy Rouse as he is and that I dared to say so publicly.
I think that the best of Andy Rouse's work is fantastic, however, I was very put off when, a few years ago he did a regular feature in an amateur photography magazine. Perhaps they were paying peanuts but he consistently presented images I felt were not worthy of his skills and nor did I happen to like the way he came across in his writing.
Friends of mine also attended one of his zoo photography advice sessions and I found some of his comments that they relayed to me rather unpleasant.
This all came up because Sniktawn was disparaging of certain other professional photographers that were under discussion at the time and put Andy Rouse forward as far superior to those individuals.
I posted my personal opinions in response and he's not been able to let it go since then.
As I said, I absolutely find some of Andy Rouse's top work truly excellent but that doesn't mean I'm not entitled to express my opinions.

Africaddict

Great itinerary, the green eyed monster is rearing his head!
I could spend forever at my favorite camps like Mala Mala or Mombo, so 8 at Mapula should be wonderful. It's also nice to see the supporting cast of other guests cycle through.

Matt

Tokoloshe

You will no doubt see that it is easy to attract a critical response to a jovial comment on this forum , and too think only yesterday I passed on a tip on a plug-in to the same person.
Yes Andy did keep quiet when in the field, a marvelous person and photographer IMHO.Incidently he has just won 3 awards in Natures Best the US equivalent of BBC WPTY. See his blog

http://www.andyrouse.co.uk/blog.asp

Love the skiing penguins, thanks for the link Sniktawk. Where would we see the other 2 awarded images?

Twaffle,

I have just realised that the other two are on his newsletter which is sent by email. I am reluctant to post my email on here so if you could send me a private message via SafariTalk.net, where I am also Sniktawk then I will forward a copy of the email to you. I am told by the publishers of Natures Best that the entirety of this years winners will appear on their website within two weeks after the publication of their magazine containing the winning images. This thread has somehow lost its origins SORRY MARC.

Sniktawk,
Being helpful about one (or more topic) doesn't excuse rudeness elsewhere.
Your idea of a "jovial" comment and mine are clearly quite different.
Where someone has the temerity to disagree with an opinion of yours, you really seem unable to let it go. On threads where there are differing opinions, you clearly see it as some kind of battle, thanking those who happen to share your opinion for their support, as though the opposing opinions were a personal attack on you as an individual, and then scouring the net for additional sources to back up your argument as you did about the WPOTY results.
Why not just allow people their opinions, whether or not they match yours, without either making digs in unrelated discussions or seeking to belittle their opinions by pointing out that this or that expert or organisation is in agreement with you?
As for your assertion that "a mention of Andy Rouse on this forum, usually results in damning criticism", let's get some perspective here. Having angered you by putting forward my personal opinion on this photographer, you are the only one that has referred back to this on multiple occasions, not me. Where's the "usually" in that?
Tockoloshe, the reason I didn't respond at all to your mention of that lecture was purely because, had I dared to make even the most innocuous comment, it's obvious Sniktawk would have come charging in and trying to make a personal fight out of it again.

Marc,

I am extremely sorry for the hijacking of your thread.


Kavey
In future I will put what is supposed to be funny in italics or something, so that people who think that a jovial comment is a sign of annoyance or of course rudeness can more fully understand.
Do you not find it strange that neither Leonard G or Tockoloshe were offended by my remarks.

Why would they be offended?
You were referring to MY comments (on a different forum no less) about Andy Rouse. Not theirs.

Marc
Would you mind sharing an idea of the cost of the 10 days with Massons? (I hate wasting the operator's time asking for quotes then finding it's not within my budget!)

Sorry about the other stuff, my fault for going off-course, much like my navigation.

Kavey, I obviously added insult to injury when I mentioned the photography thing on one of your threads, I had no idea, just knew you are into photography and live in London - will stick to trip reports from now on, it's safer!

Tock, it didn't bother me in the slightest, the only reason I didn't respond to it there was that it would have given an excuse...

Hi Tock

For Masson's mobile safari, each itinerary is custom priced since each circumstances is different. They said in general their 2009 rate for 2 people is $400 pppn.

Cheers
Marc

Our private safari with the Masson's was $310 pppn in early November 2007. One thing to note, as there were just two of use the cook and helper and supply trailer traveled with us between camps (there weren't two separate vehicles, as larger groups would have). Also our trip just went to Moremi, Kwhai, and Savuti, not up to Chobe.

Nancy

Wow, those prices are far lower than I expected... I'd kind of ruled out this kind of trip as last time I looked into a private mobile safari it came out as exhorbitant!
Thanks, the pppn rate is good to know.

Those numbers are very attractive! Thanks for sharing.

Thanks Marc & Nancy, gives us another alternative to think about! The recent Masson's trip reports on the forum have got a few people considering it as a good option, I think. As much as we enjoy the freedom of our self-drives it's good to have an expert on hand and someone else doing all the chores!

You know there was a Masson trip report a couple of years ago by a guy named Mike? Okay, I searched and found it. http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessages.jsp?fid=4&tid=34684546&numresponses=14&start=0&searchText

It looks like Masson has been around awhile and has happy customers.

Are there other solo travelers out there who might be interested in exploring the possibilities of joining forces to get a small group together for a Masson's-type mobile safari?

rick dot mck at hotmail dot com

When do you want to go, rick? I haven't planned anything in Africa for 2009. I was kind of thinking about skipping Africa because I do have a couple of other trips planned but now that 2009 is getting closer, I'm rethinking. And I definitely enjoyed the mobile safaris I did in 2005 and 2007.