It's hard to say how I'd feel about Exeter if it was my first safari lodge ever, I'd probably be wowed by the animals and that would make up for everything else. My sister did say she wants to return to Ngala to spend more time with Lyson, but made no mention of returning to Exeter River Lodge.

Your vehicle traffic at Exeter reminds me, back on the private vehicle thing. Even if you do have one, at a popular/busy sighting you have to follow the sharing time limits like everyone else. Of course after your turn you can come back in while most guests would proceed to another sighting. In that circumtance it is not an advantage to having a private vehicle.

oops posted before I could re-edit correct spelling and say

regards - tom
ps - sure would be nice Mr. Fodor to have text editing of posts. Can at other sites.

Tom, wow, these photographs are superb. Whole different level than us point and shooters -- see why you need special conditions. Also serve to make me sooo excited for September. Femi: I'm very interested in your comments re River Lodge. Hope we won't experience as much of a traffic jam going out from Dulini, but it has to be similar. Several hours of radio chatter at a time does not sound fun. How was this dealt with at Ngala?

It seems to me that the amount of radio chatter depends on the guide. Some use it to communicate the bare minimum, turn it off, then turn it back on for updates. At the other end of the spectrum is ongoing conversations about things that don't have anything to do with wildlife or the current game drive.

There have been a few times when I've lucked out and ended up with a private vehicle. Sometimes it made no difference to my level of enjoyment, and at other times it was an improvement but not worth $600 (is that how much it costs?).

Presumably it would be permissible to ask for it to be dialled down, especially if completely off-topic? Sounds like it may also depend on how one is feeling: under-slept, etc.

It would of course have been entirely permissible. I just didn't want to spend my stay telling the guide what not to do, and essentially how to be more professional. I couldn't tell if others in the vehicle were as annoyed as I was.

Rather than rile everyone up (myself included) I decided to focus on the good parts and make the most of it.

Your mother and nyala calf is a precious picture. Lovely elephants at sunset. Great shot of the hyena pup and the ostrich at Cape Point.

Thanks for the other links too.

Agree, amount of radio traffic depends on guide. At some camps the guides wear head sets and microphones, you hear no radio. At tea or sundowners break you can ask the others how they feel. If you feel it is too much, say it continues after the first game drive, I would not hesitate mentioning to the guide.

regards - tom

good advice

Yes, good advice, for some situations.

Reminds me of what happened on a safari long ago when I did speak to my vehicle mates about something I was unhappy with. They happened to agree with me (about placement of the vehicle during sightings). What I didn't forsee was that they would go to the guide and tell him that I was unhappy. They neglected to mention that they were also unhappy. I would have preferred to handle it in a different way.

Anyhow, guide found out I was unhappy, was terribly hurt, and the situation I was unhappy with didn't change! We continued to end up in unfortunate situations, like our driver stopping to chat with a mate whose van completely obstructed our view of the animal activity we'd been tracking. Tight-lipped, resentful glares would be exchanged in the back of the van, but no one else voiced their dissatisfaction.

If I think a problem can be resolved with a simple word or two, I'll address it. If not I'll chalk it up to luck of the draw and move on.

I have on two occasions simply asked my guide to assign me to a different vehicle. Different vehicle not different guide. Then the guide can make up any story he wants to management for your request. Blame it on compatibility among guests, not himself. Both instances I had new guide next drive. But management could have also said that my request could not be accommodated at that time.

FWIW, the my two requests were - 1) because of 2 couples of newlywed honeymooners in vehicle that were silly chatty beyond reason. 2) The second time was combo reasons of "bad" guide and also because an 8 year old girl who joined vehicle (with her parents). I told the guide I wanted another vehicle, that the girl was not well behaved at sightings.

regards - tom