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.

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...