I wish I had seen...
Oct 5th, 2007, 09:10 AM
#22
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Close look at honeybadger, Pangolin, serval, caracal, aardwolf, maybe some snakes, even though we´ve seen wilddogs almost every year, they are always on the list!
Like someone said: it´s always good to not having seen everything, so you have a good reason to come back.
I stick to that attitude.
Thomas
Like someone said: it´s always good to not having seen everything, so you have a good reason to come back.
I stick to that attitude.
Thomas
Oct 5th, 2007, 11:59 AM
#23
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Sitatunga...a live one!
My first and only sitatunga sighting (if you could call it that) was this summer in Bots when leopards had already killed the sitatunga. In a fight with hyenas over their evening meal, the sitatunga was ripped in two. When I arrived at the sighting the sitatunga's head was on the ground with the hyenas and it's body in the tree with the leopard.
My first and only sitatunga sighting (if you could call it that) was this summer in Bots when leopards had already killed the sitatunga. In a fight with hyenas over their evening meal, the sitatunga was ripped in two. When I arrived at the sighting the sitatunga's head was on the ground with the hyenas and it's body in the tree with the leopard.
Oct 8th, 2007, 07:52 PM
#24
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I'm so jealous! If we wanted to take our 18 year olds for a long (3-4 Wk visit) to Africa to see game, when would be the best months to go for weather and/or the most sightings of the most sought-after wildlife? What countries and when? Would really appreciate experienced advice!
Oct 9th, 2007, 07:46 AM
#26
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I've seen so much, but now I just hope for interactions both inter and intra species, these are the best moments for me.
And of course the Pels Fishing Owl! Add to that African Finfoot and Gorgeous Bush-shrike.
And of course the Pels Fishing Owl! Add to that African Finfoot and Gorgeous Bush-shrike.
Oct 9th, 2007, 08:41 AM
#27
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I am on the honey badger bandwagon.
Also although I have seen Marshall Eagles in flight, I have never seen one up close perching on a branch.
Since I am on dream list why not throw an aardvark and a few baby pangolins into the mix!!
Also although I have seen Marshall Eagles in flight, I have never seen one up close perching on a branch.
Since I am on dream list why not throw an aardvark and a few baby pangolins into the mix!!
Oct 11th, 2007, 08:08 AM
#28
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Slight twist on this -
Came across a pack of Wild Dogs on out FIRST trip to Africa. We were self driving through Umfolozi and had NO idea how rare the animals where or how lucky we were to see them. We spent some time with the pack before moving off. I still kick myself at the thought of taking that priviledged moment so lightly.
Came across a pack of Wild Dogs on out FIRST trip to Africa. We were self driving through Umfolozi and had NO idea how rare the animals where or how lucky we were to see them. We spent some time with the pack before moving off. I still kick myself at the thought of taking that priviledged moment so lightly.
Oct 12th, 2007, 01:17 PM
#31
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Amolkarnik- you nailed it for me when you said...I still kick myself at the thought of taking that privledged moment so lightly. Some of my little privileges:
We were once in the middle of the Serengeti when we came upon two tortoise about 20 feet apart. My safari mates thought I was nuts as I wanted to sit there a while. What were the odds that they would find each other in that vast openness? Would they fight or mate? We invested a huge amount of time as they slowly came together. To our amazement, the gentle pushing/ramming we witnessed was not a form of fighting; rather he was coaxing the female into submission. We were entertained by such vocalizations from the male tortoise. Such high drama.
On another afternoon a Marital eagle looked intently into my camera lens before taking flight - actually gliding to a nearby pond. The guide followed stating once his feathers were wet, he would be grounded for a little while. We watched for the longest time; when he finished his bath he walked on the land, spread his magnificent wings so his feathers could dry. What powerful legs he displayed. We must have taken 50 shots of this magnificent bird. That has been my only encounter of a Martial eagle in 14 safaris.
I hope many generations to come enjoy such privileges as we.
We were once in the middle of the Serengeti when we came upon two tortoise about 20 feet apart. My safari mates thought I was nuts as I wanted to sit there a while. What were the odds that they would find each other in that vast openness? Would they fight or mate? We invested a huge amount of time as they slowly came together. To our amazement, the gentle pushing/ramming we witnessed was not a form of fighting; rather he was coaxing the female into submission. We were entertained by such vocalizations from the male tortoise. Such high drama.
On another afternoon a Marital eagle looked intently into my camera lens before taking flight - actually gliding to a nearby pond. The guide followed stating once his feathers were wet, he would be grounded for a little while. We watched for the longest time; when he finished his bath he walked on the land, spread his magnificent wings so his feathers could dry. What powerful legs he displayed. We must have taken 50 shots of this magnificent bird. That has been my only encounter of a Martial eagle in 14 safaris.
I hope many generations to come enjoy such privileges as we.
Oct 12th, 2007, 02:06 PM
#32
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Matt, we got an good long look at an African Finfoot last year at Phinda. We were on a little boat on a river. I would have never known what a rare sight this was except for the South African birder on board, who practically fell overboard when the ranger spotted it. Have to go back and see whether we managed to get a picture (which I doubt).
Leslie
Leslie
Jan 31st, 2008, 03:23 AM
#33
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Adding to my wish list:
I'd like to spot an Egyptian Vulture and observe it using stones to break into an ostrich egg AND be lucky enough to see their breeding displays. I was told they were common on the plains, but I've never spotted one.
I'd like to spot an Egyptian Vulture and observe it using stones to break into an ostrich egg AND be lucky enough to see their breeding displays. I was told they were common on the plains, but I've never spotted one.
Jan 31st, 2008, 08:37 AM
#34
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I'm glad this thread has been revived -- it started while I was in Africa and I missed it.
My wish list for "next time" (if I can ever afford a next time!): wild dog, honey badger, caracal, elephant shrew, more baby cats (specifically cheetah and leopard--I saw adults but no cubs), hammerkop, and meerkat. Even one of these would be great, but none of them would be fine, too. I'd just be happy to be on safari again someday.
Having said that, we've already been very lucky. The sightings we were most surprised by: aardvark, multiple servals (including a mom and baby), lion in a tree, leopard as our first cat, 10 rhinos in one game drive, juvenile black mamba. Animal that most surprised me in terms of how much fun it was to watch: pygmy mongoose.
My wish list for "next time" (if I can ever afford a next time!): wild dog, honey badger, caracal, elephant shrew, more baby cats (specifically cheetah and leopard--I saw adults but no cubs), hammerkop, and meerkat. Even one of these would be great, but none of them would be fine, too. I'd just be happy to be on safari again someday.
Having said that, we've already been very lucky. The sightings we were most surprised by: aardvark, multiple servals (including a mom and baby), lion in a tree, leopard as our first cat, 10 rhinos in one game drive, juvenile black mamba. Animal that most surprised me in terms of how much fun it was to watch: pygmy mongoose.
Jan 31st, 2008, 08:54 AM
#35
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Oh my God. Just reading through all these posts is exciting. My daughter and I go on our very first safari in late October to Tanzania. I cannot wait.
I do wonder how on earth you get to go on safari's more than once! Some people I note, have been on safari's 14 times! WOW.
I know this is my one and only chance, I am spending my life savings (well the payment from my divorce settlement) on my dream trip that I have wanted since I was a kid. I am now 52.
I love the names of some of the animals you have all seen that I haven't even heard of.
I am SO EXCITED I cannot wait.
I love this forum.
Sue
I do wonder how on earth you get to go on safari's more than once! Some people I note, have been on safari's 14 times! WOW.
I know this is my one and only chance, I am spending my life savings (well the payment from my divorce settlement) on my dream trip that I have wanted since I was a kid. I am now 52.
I love the names of some of the animals you have all seen that I haven't even heard of.
I am SO EXCITED I cannot wait.
I love this forum.
Sue
Jan 31st, 2008, 12:08 PM
#38
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We've been fortunate enough to see pretty much everything we ever wanted to see, including a cheetah kill, wild dog hunts, etc. but the one sighting that had eluded us is a large male lion, which is probably surprising considering that's the stereotypical safari sighting! We've only ever seen one from a distance.
Jan 31st, 2008, 02:01 PM
#39
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On my wish list are caracal, meerkat, honey badger, pangolin, aardvark, baby ostriches, aardwolf, elephant shrew, and anything being born.
The one thing I saw that I didn't get a picture of and wish I could see again was a hedgehog. We saw it on the grounds of the Kilimanjaro airport within moments of deplaning and assumed they must be common but never saw another one. Actually, we have seen serval twice also but the sightings were too fleeting to get a picture, so I would love to see that again, also because they are one of the most beautiful creatures I have ever seen.
Things I feel very fortunate to have seen: leopards mating, elephants mating, wild dogs hunting, brown hyena, green mamba, black mamba, African rock python.
The sighting someone mentioned on this thread that made me most green with envy: baby serval!!!
The one thing I saw that I didn't get a picture of and wish I could see again was a hedgehog. We saw it on the grounds of the Kilimanjaro airport within moments of deplaning and assumed they must be common but never saw another one. Actually, we have seen serval twice also but the sightings were too fleeting to get a picture, so I would love to see that again, also because they are one of the most beautiful creatures I have ever seen.
Things I feel very fortunate to have seen: leopards mating, elephants mating, wild dogs hunting, brown hyena, green mamba, black mamba, African rock python.
The sighting someone mentioned on this thread that made me most green with envy: baby serval!!!
Jan 31st, 2008, 02:19 PM
#40
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Lisa, if it makes you any less envious I will add that we didn't get good photos of any of our servals either (including the baby). But it was definitely one of the most beautiful little things I've ever seen.
