Kgalagadi and the Okavango with Masson Safaris
 

Myself and 2 friends spent 5 wonderful weeks in South Africa and Botswana during July and August, 2011. This was my 4th safari, Cheryl’s second and Caryl’s first, so a real mix of safari experience and expectations.

Highlights of the 3 in Kgalagadi and the Okavango included 2 handsome male lions at Langklaas, striped mice, a crimson-breasted shrike with a kill, hyena pups, entertaining yellow mongoose and ground squirrels and plenty of bat-eared fox. The Okavango region delivered stunning elephant viewing, a herd of roan antelope, baboon family fun and many honking hippos and shy red lechwe.

A full trip report with photos is available at http://safaritalk.net/index.php?showtopic=7333

The itinerary was:

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (KTP) - Nossob Rest Camp (3 nights), Gharagab Wilderness Camp (2 nights), Kalahari Tented Camp (2 nights) and Kalahari Rest for 2 nights between Maun and KTP. Photos available at https://picasaweb.go...ansfrontierPark
Mobile camping safari with Masson Safaris. Savute – 4 nights, Khwai – 3 nights and Moremi 3 nights. Photos available at https://picasaweb.go...ica2011Botswana

Accommodation photos are also available at https://picasaweb.google.com/Treepol/Accommodation2011

A trip review with photos of the first 2 weeks at Shindzela, Umkumbe and Mashatu is available at http://safaritalk.net/index.php?showtopic=7275

Enjoy,



Pol

I have read the excellent report but hadn't had a chance to look at all the photos. I can only access the accommodation photos on Picasa, not sure why the other pages are failing. Thought I should let you know.

You got some great pictures, especially of the birds and other little critters.

I also could not open any photos, other than the accomodation ones.

Sorry to all those folks who are having trouble opening the photo files. Here are the links again:

Kgalagadi https://picasaweb.google.com/Treepol...nsfrontierPark

Okavango https://picasaweb.google.com/Treepol/Africa2011Botswana

Shindzela, Umkumbe and Mashatu https://picasaweb.google.com/Treepol...UmkumbeMashatu

and the accommodation link https://picasaweb.google.com/Treepol/Accommodation2011

Thanks for taking the time to check these out.


Regards,


Pol

Nice pics Treepol! Did you have hyenas at KTC? Looks like they have different doors then when I was there, but still don't look hyena proof.
Would you go back to Kgalagadi?

Great, thanks Pol! I couldn't open these the other day, though of course I appreciated seeing your accommodations. Nice variety.

@matnikstym - We didn't have hyenas around the tents at KTC, plenty of yellow mongoose and squirrels though. I thought it was quite funny that the camp was unfenced, but the individuals tents had fences. I don't think the low wall around the kitchen/outdoor area would fool a determined hyena.

Yes, I would go back to KTP at a warmer time of year.

We saw a lot of cats - I think the last count was 21 lion, 14 cheetah and a leopard, although some sightings were distant. We missed brown hyena and meerkats which was disappointing, but some great sightings to be sure and those red dunes are a great backdrop.

I am impressed with the sightings consistently reported on the Sanparks Travellers Tales forum.

@Leely - I'm pleased you enjoyed the photos.

Regards,


Pol

I asked you on another forum about this itinerary. Here it is:

Mobile camping safari with Masson Safaris. Savute – 4 nights, Khwai – 3 nights and Moremi 3 nights

Looks good! I'll be checking out the photos.