zd53

I'm thinking about exploring the Gol Mountains area on my next trip to the Serengeti (Feb 2010).
Anybody on this forum been out that way? Would you recommend it as a side trip?

jesron

I actually donīt know if itīs in the same area, but I twice been around the Gol Kopjes and it was great. You are allowed to go off road and we saw a lot of cheetahs and lions up close. And a lot of other animals.. Big herds of elands, gazelles and wilderbeest. And there were no other tourists around for hours. That was pretty nice..

Dana_M

Here's a link to PredatorBiologist's trip report on Tanzania this past February. He hasn't written the Gol Kopjes portion of the report yet, and I think he's in Africa again now, so it might be a while. However, there is a photo link on the thread, and the photos contain a folder with Gol Kopjes photos as well as a brief narrative.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...4&tid=35115186

Bill_H

I twice been around the Gol Kopjes and it was great. You are allowed to go off road and we saw a lot of cheetahs and lions up close

Unfortunately it is now illegal to go off the main tracks at Gol kopjes We've always seen cheetahs there too.

andybiggs

The Gol Mountains are totally separate from the Gol Kopjes. I have been out to the Gol Mountains a few times, and don't expect the area to be game rich and without humans.

Do you have a reason for asking about the place?

ley

I just returned from spending five days around the Gol Mountains and Angata Kiti. Because of the heavy rains in late March, the area was amazingly green and beautiful. I hired a local Maasai to explore the area and hike the hills and mountains. Large herds of wildebeest were present along with zebras, tommies and even giraffes. We saw a total of eight cheetahs around Angata Kiti however unlike those found in SNP, they were shy and could only be observed from a distance. We had incredible sightings of a pack of wild dogs every day that we were there. I was in the area April 2007 but at that time it was quite dry, dusty and devoid of game other than the hardy tommies.

I would recommend visiting the Gol Mountains if you want to do walking safaris, appreciate the beautiful landscape or interact with the local Maasai, but I wouldn't recommend it if you are looking for great game action.

zd53

Thanks everyone. I am mainly interested in the scenery out that way. I saw the Gol Mountains in the distance on the way to the Serengeti on my last trip and they looked invitingly dry and desolate through the heat haze. If there is a chance to visit some local Maasai that would be a bonus.

pippa13

beautiful landscape and in feb it should be awesome because of the wildebeest calving season. furthermore close to pijaja village the wilddog pack is obviously pretty residental there. when i visited in late feb 06 i could watch the pack (16 dogs at that time) for 4 consecutive days; they prefered to feed on newly born wildebeest.

sd_kifaru

Thanks Pippa13. Did you camp out there? Which safari company did you use?

pippa13

we stayed at asilia's sayari camp which has been replaced by suyan camp - the same company.

sayari now is temporarily in the northern serengeti but also moves. these asilia camps are all semi-permanent moving to where the "action" is but offering all luxurious commodities one would expect.

www.asilialodges.com

atravelynn

"but offering all luxurious commodities one would expect."

It is the continual racheting up of expectations of luxury in the raw wilderness that is disturbing to me.

climbhighsleeplow

Pippa, Sayari Camp is a permanent camp.
Suyan moves between 2 locations.

Here is a map of the Gol Mountain area:
http://www.go-safari.com/safari_YouTube.htm

Seasonal accommodation options for Gol Mountains include:

Nomad Nduara Camp - http://www.go-safari.com/Serengeti/Nomadlol.htm

Suyan - http://www.go-safari.com/Serengeti/Suyan.htm

There are also mobile camps from a few different outfitters (camp sites negotiated with local Maasai). In the NCA area of Gol there are only special camp sites with no facilities so your outfitter needs to be prepared with water, etc.

pippa13

@ atravelynn
"racheting"
my very limited english knowledge doesn't allow for that one.....also a university dictionary hasn't got an explanation, it's unknown to them as well.

so i cannot respond to your post - only guess.

if you mean that luxury doesn't comply with "raw wilderness" you must adjust to nowadays opportunities.

it's quite simple: every product has got its clientele.

jambo!

HariS

well said, Lynn ....... i fully agree!!!

Dana_M

Lynn-I agree with Hari. You hit the nail on the head.

Pippa-ratcheting means increasing (ratcheting up) or decresing (ratcheting down) incrementally, in one direction. Well, I don't know if that's a meaning you'd find in a dictionary, but I'm pretty sure that's what Lynn meant.

atravelynn

The confusion is because I forget the t. It's ratchet. Like Nurse Ratchet. Sorry for the obscure and US-centric Jack Nicholson-esque reference, but sometimes I think Cuckoo's Nest is an apt metaphor for ultra luxury on safari.