Nyama: Thanks for the info....Busanga plains is on my list of places to go to!

Rizzuto: Yes...i thought so!

Michael: I agree. Lagoon side, we being the only truck with the dogs, was hard to keep up. Spencer tried his best...but, the combination of high grasses and the woodlands....we lost them very soon (two days in a row!). He thought it was easy as pie, when there was impala on the other side of the airstrip......not to be....they stopped, took a look and just moved on!

Geoff: We kept up with them late one evening and they deceided not to hunt, as hyena was trailing them and more members of the clan gathered around. Took the sundowner stop. BB, in the other car seemed anxious that action may happen!

Rgds,
Hari

Chuck,

Just thought you'd like to know that a mate of mine spent 90 minutes in the woodpile hide with the camp manager (and electricians there to instal a new electric pump) after all the other guests had left on the afternoon gamedrive.

You never know if you ask nicely, but Peter is a regular visitor (perhaps a few times a year) just to photograph ellies from the hide.

He is of the same opinion as me... the rest of the savuti concession area is not much chop compared with the Selinda & Kwando concessions.

Peter is also of the opinion that the whole Selinda - Savuti area has been less productive for phenomenal gameviewing the past few years.

Geoff.

geoff,
The two women managers (Uno and Karen) were new to Savuti (since February I recall) but the ovrall Wilderness Manager for all of the 5 paw camps in the area was there(Brandon). There pumps were on every night trying to keep the watering hole supplied. They were just able to keep up with the demand. The problem was more in how the elephants reacted to a vehicle driving down to the Hide to drop off guests. Very agressive toward any intrusion of their water territory. I have witnessed mock elephant charges before, but the behavior at the camp water hole was a step beyond that. As far as "not much chop" (English or Australian ?) I guess that mean not much good or perhaps not much meat? If I understand correctly your friend feels Savuti is not as productive (game viewing wise) as Selinda/Kwando. Our own experience indicates otherwise. Perhaps we were lucky but Three days with the dogs, two or three with the Cheetah, two days with two different leopard and two or three days with the lion pride seem pretty good. Perhaps I'm too easy to please. We paid less attention to birds than normal because we had just come from Kwetsani (water camp) and had 4 days of great birds and swimming lions as well. I would like to see Savuti reactivate the Hide so that I can do a bit of special elephant photography. I use Canon Super-telephoto lenses but I can't quite get the feel of being in among the heard from any distance. If water is more plentiful the eles will settle down and all of us will be happy.
Regards, Chuck

Chuck,

Sounds like most of the same identical animals....they can be in either of the three concessions on a given day! You were extremely lucky!!!

Rgds,
Hari

Hi all this is a most interesting and instructive thread! The wildlife viewing wild dog. cheetah, ele sounds fantastic. And although Zib has hiked its prices - we are still going in 2008 and are glad that we will given all this news.

Cheers
Jude

OK at least Selinda has one customer for next year! Hope you find it value for money, just out of interest they are promising two vehicles for three tents for next year so you should get a window seat!

sniktawk, Not sure what you mean - are you saying that you don't like Selinda?

First off, thanks for all who've helped thus far.

I may have a tent. plan but need further assistance, yet one more time for the below question.

If any one has rec. for guides and tent #'s for the following camps I'd be forever grateful.

Ilana - VF
Somalisa Zimb.
Selinda
L.Vumbura
Chitabe Trails
Planet Baobob

I'll post my revised trip as soon as it's a done deal.
Thanks ahead;
Sherry

Sherry,

Little Vumbura:Madala Kay;
Selinda: BB (Barberton);
Chitabe trails: Newman.

They are top class guides - but I am not sure if you are able to be guided by them - because they are frequently requested for private vehicles.

Greetz,

Johan

you know - in a way all these questions are moot. We are having problems with availability in our planning. Trip was for June, then August, then just got changed back to June, '08. Some of the camps we wanted are booked already. Although our problem could be because we are a group, too, but my point still stands...

Skimmer,
As always I appreciate your help.

Hello Momliz,
Perhaps these questions are moot for you but I already have space held at the above mentioned.
You are right, however, in that space is very tight especially with Zimbliaga and a few others increasing their prices.
Have you tried waitlisting? I did and got lucky - I also have a TA who's very diligent as well.
Good luck to you!

thanks cybor, I also have a wonderful - and VERY PATIENT agent (Vanessa at EoA) - and we will get in some great camps. There are enough to choose from. I am more picky in that I want a diverse selection of environments - we would like to spend time in a water (or water/dry) camp, one in the open grassland, and one in mopane/scrub forest, as well as the Makgadikgadi. My problem has been that ALL the camps (almost) look fabulous.

bookmarking for future reference. :-)

Sherry: Re guides at Selinda, if BB is private guiding or on holiday break, there is Motsamai(Mots) who guided me at Selinda main camp (very good). Ka

Hit post too soon... Kanawe is their senior most guide on the concession, but is focussing on the walking trails at the moment!

testing - ttt. why won't this post

Hi Sherry,

It works!!!

Well, finally after waiting forever
Planet Baobab confirmed - so I'm locked in and excited as he((.

Camp Kalahari is now a permanent camp and will give us a taste of the desert along with a nature walk with a tribesperson.

Planet Baobab will satisfy my funky factor and allow us a cultural visit or two with real local people, including a school. We also look forward to tooling around on 4 wheelers and hopefully seeing merkeet (sp.).
Anyone recommend any specific activities in either area?

As for Selinda and Chitabe, any rec. on taking a walking expedition or staying at a hide in either?

I think I've got my water covered at
the Mana pools and perhaps L.Vumbura.
I'm not sure if the makulo (boat) (sp.) thrill me - any comments - is it not to be missed.

Here's my itinerary, let me know what you think:

22 July 2008: JOHANNESBURG
Southern Sun 1
1 n.

23 July: VICTORIA FALLS
Ilala Lodge
1 n.

24 July: MANA CANOE TRAIL
3-n./4 d.

27 July: SOMALISA CAMP, HWANGE
3 n.

30 July: SELINDA CAMP, SELINDA-LINYANTI
4 n.

03 Aug: LITTLE VUMBURA CAMP,
2 n.

05 Aug: CHITABE LEDIBA CAMP,
3 n.

08 Aug: CAMP KALAHARI
1 n.

09 Aug: PLANET BAOBAB
2 n.

11 Aug: DEPARTURE

All thoughts welcome!

Hi cybor, RE the mokoro (dugout canoe), I stayed at Xigera Mokoro Trails for a couple of nights last year and found the canoeing marvelous. Yes, you will get lots of canoeing in at Mana Pools, but being in the mokoro, poling through the narrow channels and high reeds of the Delta was just magical. You won't see much big game (and those you do see will likely be distant), but you will see a plethora of birds and insects. I thought it was a highlight of my trip.

Cybor,

Looks great. I recall writing somewhere that I like to go where Cybor goes. This proves it.

For the hide experience. I liked the Chitabe Walking Trails a little better than the Selinda one, but with 4 nights at Selinda, I think that's where it should go.

On the mekoro: If you think you might be uncomfortable in it, then you can enjoy the short boat ride to/from LV. But if you are just wondering how to fit it in, I'd request to go midday so it does not interfere with a normal game drive. I'd put in that request early. It'll be hot midday, but then you won't miss out on your two days at LV.

You could also do it at the end of a morning outing. Instead of just boating back to LV, you could do a mekoro trip around the area, ending up at LV. But I'd request any of this up front.

I think a mekoro outing while in the delta is one of those when in Rome...