jasher

Hello,

Great trip report Kaye -- though I'm sorry we didn't meet up at Londoz, and that your stay in Botswana was disappointing. Elmon is legendary, and you were very lucky to have him as your tracker.

Glad to hear that you had a much better time at Founders and Pioneer than you did at Bateleur -- as I mentioned in my trip report, I was also in Suite 6 at Pioneer. Personally, I really loved the fireplace on those chilly nights. I also saw one of the chalets at Pioneer (identical to the chalets at Founders), and I agree that they have a more open feeling than the suites do as there's no fireplace.

I have to admit to wondering who the landowner you encountered was -- I've crossed paths with the Vartys a number of times, and they have always given guests clear priority at sightings.

Personally, I think a private vehicle is worth the money -- I love the flexibility in terms of timing for game drives and and being able to stay as long as I want at a sighting. To keep the expense manageable I'll sometimes book a private vehicle for part of my stay and share for the other days.

Cheers,
Julian

KayeN

Hi everyone,

With the help of my friend James and now my niece, Madeline I think I have posted my trip photos to share. I think the link to connect you is as follows:


If you can't see the link, copy and paste the following directly into your browser:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=...1&y=12k3lo

Hope you like them.

Kind regards,

Kaye

KayeN

Hi Julian,

I am sorry, I didn't see your reply until I had just posted the photos here.

The landowner was Doc, and I have seen him quite a few times. Didn't see any of the Vartys this trip, but did have one of them on the way back to Johannesburg, had a beautiful golden retriever. John Varty was a daily sighting last Christmas.

Still could not pay for a private vehicle especially during my long stays, that is not to say that I wish I could after the experience at Londolozi.

Kind regards,

Kaye

sundowner

WOW! These photos are wonderful! There are so many good ones. I like the same ones you do plus the last one of the cub in the tree. I would crop that one vertical, sharpen it a bit and print it. Love the elephants, the giraffes, the hippo in the sunset and the hippos on land, the leopards, the birds. Your photos say you had a great trip. Thanks for posting, Kaye.

KayeN

Hi Sundowner,

Thanks for that tip, I shall certainly try it.

Kind regards,
Kaye

KayeN

Hi again Sundowner,

I have just added the male leopard cub, cropped and sharpened - what do you think?

Kind regards,

Kaye

sundowner

Oooh, now I'm not sure. I like the way he's in the "V" of the two trees in the uncropped. But I also like the cropped. He looks like he's going to jump out at you. His posture reminds me of some of the baby bears photos I've seen. I'll look at it again tonight when I get home. I may pull it into photoshop if it's okay with you. He's so cute! I can't believe how big that paw is that is in the crook of those limbs!

I think you should start another post with the link to your photos. I'm sure everyone will love to see them and they are kind of lost here at the bottom of your trip report.

Cindy

napamatt

Kaye

Great shots. What were you using, particularly on some of the birds? I've only seen Paradise Flycatcher once, and there you have it hanging around the camp. I need to have a word with the Rattrays.
Was the Heuglin's continually mooching at meal times at Sandibe?
Love the Short Tale Mail - Bicycle Crossing right?

matnikstym

Great pictures Kaye! All of them are fantastic, but my favorite is the hippo at sunset. Thanks for sharing!
Dennis

KayeN

Hi Cindy,

That is fine with me. He's a cute cub and his mum is a large female, so with those large paws, I think he shall also be a whopper!

Hi Matt

All photos taken with the Panasonic FZ30. I spent up to 3 hours each day walking around the camps taking bird photos, and I found that Paradise Flycatcher at Bateleur near their boma. The Heuglin's Robinchat was right near my tent and I never saw them after food at meal times, it was a pair of crested barbets that were always around. Yes, Short Tail Male is Bicycle Crossing Male at MM and he is a good looking boy.

Thanks Dennis, I also like that photo, but the quality is pretty poor, due to the light conditions and the distance we were. But doesn't look too bad.

Kind regards

Kaye

Cindy, I shall do as you suggest and start another thread for the photos.

bat

Kaye:
I enjoyed your report and your photos. Thanks.

santharamhari

Kaye,

Thanks for your report. Just read it now as i was away. I urge you to not give up on Botswana. However, it is very different from the SSGR and i won't compare the two areas.

Sorry about Matetsi. Even if i dont see any game, it's ok by me- it's all down to the luck of the draw. However, hearing gun-shots is a big no-no!!!

I didnt get to you SA segment yet, but, will read it soon.

Hari

KayeN

Hi Hari

Thanks, but I am thinking that I am a MalaMala girl. I found gameviewing in the area I was disappointing big time, especially considering that it was peak season, and the big open spaces of Botswana do not overly attract me unless I am looking at something. We have fantastic and diverse scenery here, it is not what I go to Africa to look at! Same goes for Matetsi in Zimbabwe, loved the Zambezi River and the Falls and the people were some of the nicest and friendliest, no mean feat, as they were all lovely and friendly at all the CCA camps, but again they are not the reason I return, though I do have a friendship with one person, I no longer visit that reserve, she visited me at Londolozi this time.

Kind regards,

Kaye

santharamhari

Kaye,

OK. Yes, perhaps your style of game viewing is MM or Londolozi. However, i urge you not to judge Botswana thru Sandibe or the CCA camp, which i dont think are prime predator spots. However, during my recent Kwando visit....i met two nice french ladies who said they were happy with leopard and lion sightings at Sandibe. Their trip was Sandibe, Lebala, Seba camp and Lianshulu.

Hari