Phinda, where the h is silent but the rhino flatulence is not--Trip Report
Aug 4th, 2007, 07:39 PM
#82
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,558
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hills, looking at this map Vlei and Forest Lodges are in the Northern area of the reserve, Rock and Mountain Lodges are in the Southern. I wonder if that's what she meant? I just read Lynn is on safari in Brazil for 3 weeks.
http://www.eyesonafrica.net/south-af...tal-safari.htm
http://www.eyesonafrica.net/south-af...tal-safari.htm
Aug 4th, 2007, 08:02 PM
#83
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,923
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Right now, I'm more stressed than excited. I had expected to pack today, but I've spent the last 24 hours in agony in bed. Had an awful reaction to the Tetanus vaccine I had yesterday. Never doing that again!
Aug 5th, 2007, 02:53 PM
#84
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 448
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Carla and Hills, yes, she meant North and South. Hills, I like that you are going to Phinda and then Singita after. Should be a fantastic trip (we were at Singita Boulders (right next door) 4 years ago and saw incredible game every drive - saw eles surrounding rhino, leopard in tree with kill, followed hunting leopards, saw several active cheetah, hippo on land, rhino within yards of our vehicle, etc. Have never heard of a tetnus reaction like that, I hope it is over soon.
Lynn is on another safari??? what a life!
Lynn is on another safari??? what a life!
Aug 5th, 2007, 04:40 PM
#85
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,923
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks!
The reaction is partially my own damn fault. I had a bad reaction the last time. So, when I went to the travel medicine center this time, I declined the Tdap shot and promised to think about it (thinking to myself, NFW). But when I went back for the second hepatitus shot, she was so adamant, I caved. If I wasn't already in so much pain, I'd be kicking the crap out of myself for being so wimpy.
And not only do I still have to pack. I first have to pack for a business trip tomorrow. Ack!!!!
The reaction is partially my own damn fault. I had a bad reaction the last time. So, when I went to the travel medicine center this time, I declined the Tdap shot and promised to think about it (thinking to myself, NFW). But when I went back for the second hepatitus shot, she was so adamant, I caved. If I wasn't already in so much pain, I'd be kicking the crap out of myself for being so wimpy.
And not only do I still have to pack. I first have to pack for a business trip tomorrow. Ack!!!!
Aug 5th, 2007, 07:56 PM
#87
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,923
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My thoughts exactly!
My mother called me a while ago to tell me she finished packing. (Thanks for rubbing it in, Mom!) I told her I was packing for Denver. She asked what for? (grrrrrrrrrrrrr.......)
My mother called me a while ago to tell me she finished packing. (Thanks for rubbing it in, Mom!) I told her I was packing for Denver. She asked what for? (grrrrrrrrrrrrr.......)
Aug 18th, 2007, 11:42 AM
#88
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 873
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
WOW Lynn, another fantastic trip report. The game viewing overall sounds fantastic, but I particularly enjoyed reading your descriptions of rhino tracking and of course, Phinda's cheetah. And the Zulu village vist and dinner at Thulani's mother's homestead...what perfect accompaniments to gameviewing.
I love your stories about Ma and Pa Hunter and children. Sounds like the family I met at Forest Lodge a few years ago. Are they from Mountain Brook, AL? Glad you weren't stuck with them for the entire stay, and that the Costa Rican family were enjoyable vehicle/rhino tracking mates. And of course that you had so many activities on your own. What a great trip.
I love your stories about Ma and Pa Hunter and children. Sounds like the family I met at Forest Lodge a few years ago. Are they from Mountain Brook, AL? Glad you weren't stuck with them for the entire stay, and that the Costa Rican family were enjoyable vehicle/rhino tracking mates. And of course that you had so many activities on your own. What a great trip.
Aug 18th, 2007, 03:09 PM
#90
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,039
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We did a 2-night/3-day walking safari at Phinda and I highly recommend it. There's a combination of walking and game drives and we were able to see LOTS of animals (both large and small) this way.
I know that a walking safari is not for everyone, but I do think that it would be very doubtful to find a family like The Hunters on this kind of adventure. Only 8 guests at a time can take the walking safari (since there are only 4 tents) and I must say that everyone in our group was on time and ready to go for every game drive and walking excursion--even at 6:30 am!
If anyone has any questions about the walking safari, ask away!
I know that a walking safari is not for everyone, but I do think that it would be very doubtful to find a family like The Hunters on this kind of adventure. Only 8 guests at a time can take the walking safari (since there are only 4 tents) and I must say that everyone in our group was on time and ready to go for every game drive and walking excursion--even at 6:30 am!
If anyone has any questions about the walking safari, ask away!
Aug 26th, 2007, 06:36 PM
#91
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 14,440
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for the kind words.
N/S refers to North and South. Not non-smoking.
The walking safari did look enticing. When I was booking, you had to book certain days for it. Then they changed it so that you book the walking part just like any lodge on any days you want.
Hills, from your recent emails it appears you recovered with no lingering effects for the trip. Soon we'll be reading about your Phinda experiences. I won't spill the beans with any of the extra special sightings you mentioned in your emails.
N/S refers to North and South. Not non-smoking.
The walking safari did look enticing. When I was booking, you had to book certain days for it. Then they changed it so that you book the walking part just like any lodge on any days you want.
Hills, from your recent emails it appears you recovered with no lingering effects for the trip. Soon we'll be reading about your Phinda experiences. I won't spill the beans with any of the extra special sightings you mentioned in your emails.
Aug 26th, 2007, 06:55 PM
#92
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,558
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Lynn, I have been waiting for your return to ask you.... when you were planning your MM/Phinda trip, did you ever consider the Timbavati region (Ngala, Kings Camp for example). If so, what made you choose Phinda over this area?
Ah ha! Hills snuck in and out without us knowing...I am eager to hear about your trip too!
Ah ha! Hills snuck in and out without us knowing...I am eager to hear about your trip too!
Aug 27th, 2007, 10:34 AM
#95
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 14,440
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Carla,
If I had another 3 days for that trip I would have gone to King's Camp in Timbavati based on what I've read and what Nicky at Eyes on Africa said about it.
I had rhino and cheetah as priorities for the trip. When I learned Phinda was a cheetah conservation area with rhino tracking, it made sense to go there and stay there.
I spent a week at Phinda because I wanted to do 3 rhino tracking trips and I knew those would eat up at least 3 mornings of potential traditional game viewing. Since I did hope to see cheetah, I felt I should spend at least 4 additional full days looking for them. It was Day #5 before I saw a cheetah at Phinda during the day. I saw a total of 6 cheetah, 7 sightings. I also felt with Phinda's 7 distinct habitats that I would need more time to get to them and see what each had to offer.
With cheetahs looming large for me I asked myself, "Why should I cut time at a cheetah sanctuary and spend it elsewhere?" I could not come up with a good answer so I booked a week at Phinda. If cheetahs had not been a priority, then I would have spent about 4 nights at Phinda. That is enough time to enjoy the different habitats, track rhino, and check out the wildlife.
If I had another 3 days for that trip I would have gone to King's Camp in Timbavati based on what I've read and what Nicky at Eyes on Africa said about it.
I had rhino and cheetah as priorities for the trip. When I learned Phinda was a cheetah conservation area with rhino tracking, it made sense to go there and stay there.
I spent a week at Phinda because I wanted to do 3 rhino tracking trips and I knew those would eat up at least 3 mornings of potential traditional game viewing. Since I did hope to see cheetah, I felt I should spend at least 4 additional full days looking for them. It was Day #5 before I saw a cheetah at Phinda during the day. I saw a total of 6 cheetah, 7 sightings. I also felt with Phinda's 7 distinct habitats that I would need more time to get to them and see what each had to offer.
With cheetahs looming large for me I asked myself, "Why should I cut time at a cheetah sanctuary and spend it elsewhere?" I could not come up with a good answer so I booked a week at Phinda. If cheetahs had not been a priority, then I would have spent about 4 nights at Phinda. That is enough time to enjoy the different habitats, track rhino, and check out the wildlife.
Aug 28th, 2007, 08:31 AM
#97
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,923
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just got back. I am thoroughly exhausted, but I'm trying to stay awake to reset my clock.
The trip was fantastic, and Phinda thoroughly exceeded my expectations. Our sightings could not have been better, but I'll save the details for my trip report. If I get a second wind, I'll try to start it this afternoon. Of course, the worst part will be trying to come up with a title even remotely as catchy as Lynn's.
Carla, we stayed 6 days (split between Rock and Vlei), and I am so happy we did. I could have stayed even longer. Lynn is spot on...there's so much diversity among the habitats, which really became evident upon our stay at Singita Ebony and Lebombo. But our vehicle mates went on to Ngala after Vlei, so I will email them for you to find out how it compared to Phinda.
The trip was fantastic, and Phinda thoroughly exceeded my expectations. Our sightings could not have been better, but I'll save the details for my trip report. If I get a second wind, I'll try to start it this afternoon. Of course, the worst part will be trying to come up with a title even remotely as catchy as Lynn's.
Carla, we stayed 6 days (split between Rock and Vlei), and I am so happy we did. I could have stayed even longer. Lynn is spot on...there's so much diversity among the habitats, which really became evident upon our stay at Singita Ebony and Lebombo. But our vehicle mates went on to Ngala after Vlei, so I will email them for you to find out how it compared to Phinda.
