Looks like I'm back to the drawing board - silk duvets, bah. Anyone have a link with pricing for Savuti and the Kwandos?

Due to my research and proximity to Zib. I'd go for Selinda but it looks like those prices will skin me alive as well.

I'd love some rec. for camps that won't break the bank but offer more or less the same safari exp. as Zib. i.e. wildlife viewing, good guiding and a fairly intimate camp.

ttt

cybor- can't remember if you've been but have you considered Hwange/Mana Pools? Can't beat the price and wild dog viewing IS guaranteed. (stop off at the Painted Dog Conservancy just outside Hwange)

Sherry,

I would replace Zib with Lebala (only because of the price hike at Zib).

Savuti camp is exceptional for the 'woodpile' hide with awesome elephant viewing (during the later dry season) but doesn't rate with Zib/Lebala on other viewing.

Although I have not stayed at Duma Tau, (Savuti camp uses the same gameviewing areas) and I think Lebala would be a closer match to Zib/Selinda terrain whereas Duma tau/Savuti has too much mopane woodland. With Zib lagoon frontage and the Savuti channel being the exceptions.

Geoff.

Thanks for the reports, all ... have booked Lebala and Savuti for July '08 and am licking my lips in anticipation.

Hi Dennis,
Thanks, I'm already planning on the Mana pools canoe trip - scroll back to 6/22 for my itinerary. If I get priced out in Bots. I may just add in more in Zimb. - that's been on my mind. You going back to Zimb.?

Geoff,
Good to know to comps. between the properties. As Lebela seemed far enough away, I assumed that it was different. Are sable seen there?

Rizzuto,
Glad to hear your set. Did you end up with pricing lower than those stated on the Selinda link?

You out there Lynn?

Geoff,
Just returned from Savuti and thought an update on the "woodpile hide" was in order. They are not using the hide because the eles are very protective about the water supply (short supply). Camp management feels it is too dangerous to drive down to the hide, the eles attack the vehicles. Also they tell me the hide is not expansive enough to keep the eles from snatching people out of the log pile (it will ruin your day). I was seriously disappointed but after watching the aggressive behavior of the eles towards any other species, I thought it wise not to force the issue. Perhaps when water is more plentiful, they will resume "hide" activity. However, they were not optomistic about that possibility. By the way, I too have booked Savuti again for 2008.
Regards, Chuck.

Sherry,

I haven't read most of your thread in a long time now, but, from memory your itinerary was planned around wild dogs and their potential den? For this, Lagoon is a better bet than lebala. Duma Tau, i guess the dogs did den last year and we don't know about this year yet. Next year is a possibility too....

Sure, you could drive from Lebala to Lagoon to see the den.....but it is a three hour drive one way (without stops). They are unlikely to den at Lebala, however you are still likely to see a lot of other stuff in the south.....cheetah, lion, leopard, buff, ele etc etc.,

I would personally stay in Lebala specifically as south of camp is a great cheetah area!

Hari

Geoff,

Thanks for the info on the Duma tau/savuti concession having a lot of mopane woodland....i meant to wait for fellow fodorite (skimmer)to return from Botswana for his inputs on the concession.

Rizzuto,

Good plan! I'm sure you can't wait to get to the hide. I am still working out my safari/s for next year. Do you have any in the works for the current year?

Rgds,
Hari

Roan and sable around lebala is possible, but, i should suspect lagoon is better- simply because it is more wooded!

That said, i saw a herd of 16 roan near the Zib airstrip on the open plains earlier this month.

Hari -- I've made game drives from Old Pole Bridge (at Savuti Channel mouth) up to Linyanti Discoverer Camp in the far north and can confirm what Geoff is telling about the Linyanti concession's landscape - all mopane, except Savuti Channel. (You can even see it on Google Earth, the whole concession is featured in hi-res.) If it comes to diversity of landscape NG15 can't compete with Selinda, or the south of Kwando.

Sherry, my agent just gave me a package price for Lebale/Savuti/transfers, so I don't really know the piece-by-piece amounts.

The hide was one of the main reasons I chose Savuti and I hope it'll be available when I'm there ... but I'm sure Savuti will be wonderful in any event.

Hari, yep, I'm headed to the Masai Mara (Il Moran) and to Shompole in mid-August, and keeping my fingers crossed that I'll catch the migration. Stopping in Paris for a few days on the way out.

Thanks, Nyama.....i was just too "caught up" with the two cheetah boys. And who knows how things are next year for them....ofcourse, i wish them the best and hope that they stay at the top forever........but, it is not practical to plan a trip around them!!!

I will await for the National Geographic documentary that may soon be aired and yes, i will buy the dvd the moment they release it! then, hope for the best next year.

Thanks,
Hari

Rizzuto,

MasaiMara sounds fantastic!!! No, i meant the other hide (your favourite one!)

Rgds,
Hari

Nyama,

Nothing can match Selinda or the South of Kwando in terms of terrain that is suitable for chasing dogs on a hunt. Agree?

Hari, up to now I never had the opportunity to chase wild dogs. I only saw them resting or at a den where you couldn't follow them when they began to move. Once I met a running pack during a night drive at Selinda but we couldn't follow them because of the darkness. At Selinda Camp I also saw a pack that passed my tent and were after some zebras, just after midnight. Thanks to my Swarovski it was an exciting sighting. But I agree, if you meet them in that area during daytime, chances are very good that you can follow them.

Busanga Plains in Kafue is also a good terrain for chasing them - if you're lucky to see them. Having been there for three times now, I never had this luck. Once I missed them by two hours. Interestingly, the only time I saw wild dogs in Kafue it was in the miombo area around Lufupa Lodge.

Hari, that may be a hide to other people, but to me it's my Office.

Hari

I agree about the south of Lebala for following the dogs.
I have also tried following them through the mopane near the Lagoon airstrip. That is quite an experience.
I felt sorry for the tracker LT, that had to clean up the car afterwards

rizzuto,
Savuti is wonderful with or without the Hide, I wouldn't let that influence me in the least.
Regards,
Chuck

Quote "Nothing can match Selinda or the South of Kwando in terms of terrain that is suitable for chasing dogs on a hunt. Agree?"

Hari,

I couldn't agree more with that comment. I've been lucky to witness many wilddog kills from go to woe mainly in the Zib region.

On one occassion we were doing 35 MPH behind the line of dogs.

Infact I've seen wilddog on every visit since 1998.


Chuck,

thanks for the update on the woodpile hide.

Geoff.