Kwando's Nxai Pan video
 

Thanks for the link, Hari.

I was in Nxai Pan in March last year. Game-viewing is always going to be subject to the vagaries of Nature. For me, the unexpected highlight was a series of amazing shows by several hundred springboks on 2 consecutive evenings -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGgtqLXpDO0. We did see a cheetah and her 1-yr old cub, but no other cats over 3days. The camp overlooks a waterhold that attracts huge numbers of elephants, zebra, and other wildlife.

I found Nxai Pan to be just a bit different from other Kwando properties: Game drives are in open-top (that is, semi-enclosed) rather than fully open vehicles, drives are on-road only because it's in a national park, accommodations are in chalets rather than tents, and the camp is encircled by a fence to keep the elephants out.

Don Topaz

Thanks Hari, but, ho hum. Six minutes of yawning.
Not very safari excitement presentation. Too much aerial photography, do they also have game -flys- in planes? Sound is -all- music, except for a lion roaring which does not at all match the picture of the lion walking.

They should take lessons from MalaMala's two minute video clip. http://www.malamala.com/ . Lot of natural sound and action. Now that's the camp to go to for safari. You will see cats every game drive. And, you can go off-road!!!

regards - tom
ps - If Kwando would like to fly me over (first class, and for a nominal fee) I'd be happy to help them re-work their video :) .

Mala Mala? that's just too funny ........

Thought you'd like that Hari :)

regards - tom

I haven't seen the clip - just thought it hilarious!

Ooops, I see my un-clartiy. I understood what you meant - "too funny". But by my "that" I did not mean the actual MM video, but just my mentioning of MM!! :) . Like you say.

regards - tom

Good morning, Tom! Sorry - you lost me, again!!!

and good evening Hari. Well, words failed me :) . Again :)
Like they say - "never mind" :)

regards - tom

There's always a first time, Tom ...... I thought words never fail you! ;) guess, I was wrong...

HariS
Excellent Video

I was at the Nxai during the filming of that clip. What makes it extraordinary is that everything on the clip was shot over three days.

It is a stunning short production and actually while you comment that the roaring is not in sync with the walking lion, that is because the roaring lion was next to the cameraman's vehicle.

Stunning stuff and truly a beautiful account of the wildlife seen over those few days.

"...the roaring is not in sync with the walking lion, that is because the roaring lion was next to the cameraman's vehicle."

How is the viewer to know that???
They could have simply editted out the lion roar. Or maybe better yet -film- the roaring lion !!!
And the music, was it by a band next to the cameraman ?? :)

As for three days of sightings, I would be disappointed if that were all I saw in three days at a camp. But then again I have a high need for excitement/danger :) .
Whatever, no biggy.

regards - tom

Mkhonzo,

How are you? Good to hear from you and how lucky that you were there during the filming ..... take a good look at the Lion clip - ofcourse, they have the male Lion roaring and in sync in the clip (not that it matters, as i'm not sure what the intent of the film maker was .... who did a super job IMHO). The clip then moves onto the rest of the pride (who i assume were there nearby). Awesome footage .....

Did you also go to Lagoon / Lebala this time? see anything worth mentioning?

Hello Hari,

I visited Tau, Kwara & Lagoon as well. I am not one for trip reports because what appeals to me does not necessarily have value for others and I am loathe to tag my observations and experiences with subjective adjectives like "best" and so on. But yes: there were many highlights.

Nxai: That entire lion experience was brilliant, male calling, pride coming in followed by another male, a stand off and then the pride took off leaving the males to lie and look at each other over a 100 yard gap.

I was stunned by the number of giraffe & elephant. Of course the beauty of the pans with myriad birds, antelope .. dare I say etc?

Tau: Awesome game, particularly enjoyed the proliferation of honey badger. But the most memorable moment was a huge thunder cloud that glowed from the lightening within as the sun set behind a herd of thousands oryx on the pan.

I have experienced the "bushman walk", but the guys at Tau seemed to take the entire experience to another level. Maybe it was the male lion roaring about a mile away in the direction we were walking, or it was the soft drizzle, a rare privilege in the Kalahari or it was simply the nature of the guides who told their story with such ease and passion. Whatever it was I have not laughed so heartily for a long long time. I learnt a ton from those guys too.

Kwara: I adore this part of the world, so again selecting highlights is a challenge. Perhaps the volume of water in the delta spilling out of the channels, the lush grass and washed blue sky! We had lion on a kill, leopard in the early light of the morning, mating giraffe and and and.

Lagoon. Well I was staggered by the incredible refurbishment that has taken place, huge airy rooms, simply and yet well appointed. Super public areas and a lofty library that catches the breeze in the afternoon.

The staff were charming - an aspect of the Kwando experience that I truly appreciate. A friendly crew that offer keen service that is not subservient, rather efficient and chatty. I enjoyed the all Botswana staff, their pride was infectious.

So Hari, yes many great experiences....

Cary 999 you need some imagination when viewing movies and or clips. The guy that filmed that did a splendid job, particularly when you compare what he created with well sponsored movies that the jouberts make. While is is comparing apples with lemons, the point is he had a short window to capture Nxai and the others spend years to get their content. IMO, reflective of the wealth of game in the area at the time, which was way beyond my expectation. Afterall that was filmed in the Kalahari a desert for 90% of the year!

Hari, thanks for posting the video. It really makes me want to go to the area, as I haven't spent time there as of yet.

Thanks for your post, Mkhonzo. Lots of amazing stuff for sure ........... sounds a great trip!!!

HariS- Thanks so much for directing us to this amazing video. I'm reminded that we were to have been there a year ago, but for my husband's tragic stroke, we would have these memories in our memory bank. This clip awakens my love again for Botswana. I simply MUST see the Kalahari! Maybe in a year or so Max will be able to make such a trip with me.

MKHonzo- When exactly were you there? I think that would be the right time to see the Kalahari. How long were you in Nxai Pan Camp? Also when were you at the others and for how long. Thanks so much for your wonderful dialog.

I do hope we'll get there someday. Liz F.

Hi, I've just put up a planned itinerary which includes some of these camps. If anyone here could give me some tips on the route, time in camps (we are a bit restricted now due to availability) etc, I'd REALLY appreciate it too.
http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...-cape-town.cfm

Thanks!

Liz,

Very sorry to hear about your husband. Trust things are better........ I do remember your planning threads back then.

Take care
Hari