Game spotting technique
 

A nature show mentioned this and I thought I'd pass it on. Those of you who spend lots of time in the field can tell me if it is worthwhile.

<i>Since most westerners read left to right, when searching the savanna for animals, scan <b>right to left</b>. Your eyes will not be on autopilot and will pick up variations better.</i>

I'd assume those who normally read right to left would reverse this suggestion.

Now I'd like a hint on how to distinguish between all those rock-shaped animals and real ones.

you need to hire a very sharp-eyed driver/guide. You will never see the many things we all miss without a person who has done this for years.

Gene, I certainly agree that the best technique is getting a good guide. I'd never think looking right to left would produce better results than the trained eyes of a guide.

I think I scan both ways anyway, whenever I can. Forward, then back, sometimes more than once over the same ground. How quickly you do it depends on whether and how fast the vehicle is moving. I haven't noticed whether left-right or right-left is better.

John

The looking is the best part of the ride for me, and everyone benefits if you do spot stuff. While a good guide is a must, he often has to keep his eyes on the road, so I like to help out as much as I can. It's all about powers of observation and not just good eye sight. (Although having 20/20 vision doesn't hurt).

Before my first safari, I read a book that had a section on how to spot better, and I learned a lot from it. Knowing the tricks helps, such as time of day for species, habits, eco systems, listening to other animals for warning calls, and then keeping an eye out for the slightest movement and variation in colour or shape. Of course, everyone will have their share of &quot;rhino stumps&quot; and &quot;hippo bushes&quot;, but then so do the guides. Besides, keeping your eyes peeled could be important. I spotted the Duba boys as they were watching us from behind the bushes from about 50-75 metres away while we were on a &quot;bush break&quot;!

I mainly concentrate on the herbivores, watching their behaviour (where are they looking?), or listen to any unusual sounds (alarm calls) and try to get the direction. Also have a close look at &quot;typical&quot; land marks, for instance shadow spots bordering open plains. Just scanning around makes my eyes tired. If I find something special it's mostly because I already have a closer look at a special spot. Can't say if I move from right or left to that spot, as said it depends on landscape, animal behaviour and sounds. Also often some movement attracts your eyes.

jjmb,

Have to agree with you about the looking being the best...not much fun having everything served up on a plate. Some people seem to sit back and expect the guide (and the radio network if it is used that way) to do it all. It's a good idea for everybody to scan different quarters. It's far better than having everybody looking in the same general direction, and it doesn't hurt if they overlap a bit.

John

John, it depends whether you and your fellow travellers are looking for the same. For instance, birders have quite different interests, and experienced safari goers don't necessarily look for the next lion pride.

Nyama,

We might be at cross purposes here but if we're not: it wouldn't make much if any difference to the people I go with...I look for everything, as do my companions. And I think it would make sense for a carload of birders to spread their spotting talents by looking in different directions, too, unless they were aware of the general location of a specific target.

In the end, though, the best formula is a good guide and people, whether an individual or a group, who are alert, quietly enthusiastic and intelligently helpful and co-operative-- whatever scanning method they use.

John

John, for my part I have given up to show my fellow travellers some nice squirrels or interesting impala behaviour if I know that they are after the big game. Boring faces can be quite frustrating. You are right if all clients share the same interests and are enthusiastic to learn new things. Unfortunately this isn't always the case.

Nyama, yes, a couple of bored faces can be a pain...but I ignore them as long as they keep their mouths shut :D

One morning on our last trip to Zibalianja, my wife and I were with a couple whom we'd never met before. It is rare for us to be with strangers, but they were ideal...we heard a tree squirrel going bananas, so drove over to investigate the noise. It took us a little while to discover the reason for the squirrel's annoyance. Perched a short distance away was a pearl-spotted owlet. All four of us had a delightful few minutes photographing both critters. I confess I don't understand people who find such things uninteresting.

John

Thanks Lynn....on the note of scanning, last year at Lebala on one of the drives where we routinely were tracking the female cheetah: we went back for the afternoon drive and the guide and tracker were looking into the horizon via binoculars as they were pretty certain she was in the vicinity......so here we were parked and scanning the horizon...then i go,&quot;Spencer what are you looking for, she's right in front of our truck!&quot;....we all had a laugh!!!

Lesson for the day...look right in front of you!!!

Cheers,
Hari

John, I had a great time watching squirrels at Jack's where I was the only client in the vehicle. Also at Mwamba where I shared the vehicle with the head of SLCS and her brother for some days. The guides were so happy to make some game drives without the usual routine, not looking for the next predator, but fully concentrating on the small things.

Nyama, I've experienced the same thing. I truly believe many guides are sometimes bored stupid with the routine of seeking out the glamorous targets for most clients. More credit to them that they manage to conceal it and do their job so patiently and so very well.

We've noticed subtle changes in the enthusiasm of guides on more than a few occasions when small but extraordinary opportunities have come up. One time, when my wife and I had a whole camp to ourselves, our guide grinned from ear to ear when it suddenly occurred to him that we wouldn't mind spending the whole day looking at birds (though we're not birders). He asked with great surprise and pleasure: &quot;You'd like to look for more birds?&quot;...as if that day, a big slice of his training wasn't going to be wasted.

John

John, I made the same experience. I also wouldn't call me a birder, but with each safari I'm more interested in birds and make more photos of them. This doesn't really surprise me if you look what diversity the avifauna has to offer. I certainly will never be a real birder - I can't memorize all of these species especially if you only see them a few weeks during the year, and, in my case, they all have names in a foreign language (and I can't memorize scientific names at all). But it's always great to see how even the most introverted guide become enthusiastic if you mention the magic line &quot;I want to see birds&quot;, especially if you ask for more than the usual ABR (&quot;another bloody roller&quot;).

And they love it if you ask to stop for a shot of an LBJ :)

I will never memorize these. :-D

Nyama, we were pleasantly surprised when our guide at Ruaha NP used the same bird book as did we. When ever he spotted something different he not only named it in English but also pointed to it in the book!
Dick

Dick, this once happened to me during a Kenya tour. All what my guide needed to say was &quot;Plate 8 No 33&quot; or similar. I loved it.

Nyama, that would be cool! We have two weeks before departing for East Africa so posts like yours raises the excitement level! Thanks
Dick