Big 5
May 26th, 2007, 01:23 PM
#3
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You can see the big 5 in a zoo. There is a finer aspect to encountering them in the wilds. These animals are part of a far greater picture which is made up of so many more interesting components. The habitat and other animals and more importantly the whole experience.
There is this wonderful advert in South Africa, where a safari guide races through a park with a vehicle full of Japanese tourists. He quickly points out one animal to the next, as his clients check their lists. In record time he makes it back to watch his super sport channel.
I suggest working through a good local tour operator who has the experience of the different types of safaris available. Another advantage to use an operator is that you get help with all your transfers and they offer discount rates on the safari camps.
Please let me know if you need any personal recommendations, I have been traveling in Africa for the past 15 years.
Ruf
There is this wonderful advert in South Africa, where a safari guide races through a park with a vehicle full of Japanese tourists. He quickly points out one animal to the next, as his clients check their lists. In record time he makes it back to watch his super sport channel.
I suggest working through a good local tour operator who has the experience of the different types of safaris available. Another advantage to use an operator is that you get help with all your transfers and they offer discount rates on the safari camps.
Please let me know if you need any personal recommendations, I have been traveling in Africa for the past 15 years.
Ruf
May 26th, 2007, 02:35 PM
#4
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Most all of the private reserves in Sabi Sabi, including Mala Mala, you can see the big 5. My favorite reserve is Lion Sands and I have been lucky enough to see all 5 in one day.
Mike
www.pbase.com/mytmoss
Mike
www.pbase.com/mytmoss
May 26th, 2007, 03:30 PM
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Which one of the OAT tours? They have a couple. When we know which tour we can tell you what you are likely to see in which parks. You can also get a better weather forecast when we know what countries.
May 27th, 2007, 06:09 AM
#13
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Sea4burkes,
With the specifics, here is some info.
This chart shows the best wildlife viewing times in different parks in different months.
http://www.africa-adventure.com/dsp_besttime.html
Here is weather:
Zimbabwe
http://www.africaguide.com/country/zimbab/info.htm
Botswana
http://www.uyaphi.com/botswana/weather.htm
Zambia
http://www.uyaphi.com/zambia/weather.htm
Looking at the itinerary, the Big 5 is dicey. Lion, ele, buffalo should be no problem as you are going to good places for those.
Leopard is always elusive. I’ve seen one at night in Hwange, one of your stops. You could see or not see a leopard in most of the parks you’re visiting.
There are rhino present in Hwange, but I did not see any and would not count on it.
There is a place you could have a good shot at rhino and that’s when you are at Ilala Lodge in Zimbabwe. There is a small park just over the border in Zambia that is fenced but it has rhino. The park is Mosi-Oa-Tunya (Smoke that Thunders—name for the falls). I noticed the optional activities did not include a visit here, but if you arranged it before leaving, you could probably go there during your time near Vic Falls. I’m not sure if you have to undergo the whole Zambia visa process for this trip. Another thing to check.
As others stated, if Big 5 is your goal, the Sabi Sands, which are the private reserves near Kruger Park in South Africa is your best bet.
Here is a link to other discussions on your trip, with even more links.
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34982202
Good luck in your planning.
With the specifics, here is some info.
This chart shows the best wildlife viewing times in different parks in different months.
http://www.africa-adventure.com/dsp_besttime.html
Here is weather:
Zimbabwe
http://www.africaguide.com/country/zimbab/info.htm
Botswana
http://www.uyaphi.com/botswana/weather.htm
Zambia
http://www.uyaphi.com/zambia/weather.htm
Looking at the itinerary, the Big 5 is dicey. Lion, ele, buffalo should be no problem as you are going to good places for those.
Leopard is always elusive. I’ve seen one at night in Hwange, one of your stops. You could see or not see a leopard in most of the parks you’re visiting.
There are rhino present in Hwange, but I did not see any and would not count on it.
There is a place you could have a good shot at rhino and that’s when you are at Ilala Lodge in Zimbabwe. There is a small park just over the border in Zambia that is fenced but it has rhino. The park is Mosi-Oa-Tunya (Smoke that Thunders—name for the falls). I noticed the optional activities did not include a visit here, but if you arranged it before leaving, you could probably go there during your time near Vic Falls. I’m not sure if you have to undergo the whole Zambia visa process for this trip. Another thing to check.
As others stated, if Big 5 is your goal, the Sabi Sands, which are the private reserves near Kruger Park in South Africa is your best bet.
Here is a link to other discussions on your trip, with even more links.
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34982202
Good luck in your planning.
May 27th, 2007, 06:51 AM
#14
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SSGR has plentiful game, at Mala Mala you would be extremely unlucky not to see the Big 5 and a whole host of other animals and birds small and large.
Also for the more experienced here, remember most first timers often have a specific target animal that they are not really until they see it. Roght or wrong its human nature.
If someone has dreamed of seeing a Leopard all their life, a lot of other things will pale into insignificance until they see the Leopard. That's 15 years of guiding experience distilled into a sentence, but it comes from my friend Leon and so I take it as very reliable.
Weather can be wet and will likely be pretty warm.
Also for the more experienced here, remember most first timers often have a specific target animal that they are not really until they see it. Roght or wrong its human nature.
If someone has dreamed of seeing a Leopard all their life, a lot of other things will pale into insignificance until they see the Leopard. That's 15 years of guiding experience distilled into a sentence, but it comes from my friend Leon and so I take it as very reliable.
Weather can be wet and will likely be pretty warm.
May 28th, 2007, 04:47 PM
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We went to South Africa and Botswana in December. We saw the big five at Sabi Sands as well as wild dog. We actually saw so many animals and it was exciteing to see them all. Weather was fine. We would opt to go again in December. We like the warm weather and didn't find much rain.
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