Pics Posted: WS Migration Routes Mobile + Mala Mala
Nov 11th, 2007, 12:49 PM
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Pics Posted: WS Migration Routes Mobile + Mala Mala
9d / 8n on the Migration Routes mobile camping safari operated by Wilderness and covering areas of northern Botswana, followed by 4d / 3n at Mala Mala Game Reserve in South Africa. I had previously posted a brief synopsis of this trip here:
http://tinyurl.com/ynw83m
A more detailed trip report will not be forthcoming soon (so much to do), so I thought I’d go ahead and post the pictures. There’s a lot of them, culled down from about 2500 to start, so I’ve posted them in batches. In each case, the link takes you to a Kodak gallery; click the yellow “View Slideshow” button.
To and around the Xigera area (48 pics):
http://tinyurl.com/ywf5oc
To and around the Lechwe Island area (Selinda Spillway) (45 pics):
http://tinyurl.com/2xm9ny
To and around the Savuti area (61 pics):
http://tinyurl.com/2fyeg9
To and around the Linyanti area (81 pics):
http://tinyurl.com/2gackt
Chobe and Zambeze Rivers (21 pics):
http://tinyurl.com/2ygld4
Mala Mala (192 pics):
http://tinyurl.com/ywkl96
rickmck
http://tinyurl.com/ynw83m
A more detailed trip report will not be forthcoming soon (so much to do), so I thought I’d go ahead and post the pictures. There’s a lot of them, culled down from about 2500 to start, so I’ve posted them in batches. In each case, the link takes you to a Kodak gallery; click the yellow “View Slideshow” button.
To and around the Xigera area (48 pics):
http://tinyurl.com/ywf5oc
To and around the Lechwe Island area (Selinda Spillway) (45 pics):
http://tinyurl.com/2xm9ny
To and around the Savuti area (61 pics):
http://tinyurl.com/2fyeg9
To and around the Linyanti area (81 pics):
http://tinyurl.com/2gackt
Chobe and Zambeze Rivers (21 pics):
http://tinyurl.com/2ygld4
Mala Mala (192 pics):
http://tinyurl.com/ywkl96
rickmck
Nov 12th, 2007, 02:50 PM
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The guinea fowl with their blue helmets shining in the sun was a favorite.
Between the sable, roan, and tangle of kudu you got the trifecta of cool antelope. The Zib lagoon looked like the county recreation department pool in summer. The elephants were really enjoying the water. The bathing hyenas were cute too.
Between the sable, roan, and tangle of kudu you got the trifecta of cool antelope. The Zib lagoon looked like the county recreation department pool in summer. The elephants were really enjoying the water. The bathing hyenas were cute too.
Nov 12th, 2007, 04:08 PM
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Looks like you had a great safari Rick. You saw such a variety of wildlife. Being partial to big cats I'm jealous you saw leopard, lion, and cheetah, all three in one trip. The leopard photos in the tree eating the python at Mala Mala are really good.
What was the source of the dead elephants you saw while traveling to Linyanti?
What was the source of the dead elephants you saw while traveling to Linyanti?
Nov 12th, 2007, 04:58 PM
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The sitting giraffe is a nice find. The kudu female herd was lovely. You really caught the domestic activities of the baboons. The trio of male lions is great and the trio of male ground hornbills is even more rare I think. Nice hippo yawn on Chobe River. Mala Mala tomorrow.
Nov 12th, 2007, 07:18 PM
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Thanks for the comments, folks...
Lynn: Pel's Fishing Owl was definately a highlight. I do some volunteer work with raptor rehabilitation, so seeing a number of exotic raptors like Pel's was a real treat. The long-distance Sable was the only one seen on this trip (one more reason to go back) and a poor photo... The Sable / Roan / Kudu trifecta is augmented by Nyala at Mala Mala (in fact, I'm also fond of Bushbuck, Waterbuck, Reedbuck, Steenbok, Duiker, Klipspringer!) -- all the antelope are amazing in their beauty and variety. The Ground Hornbill in the middle is actually a female, I believe (touch of blue on the neck). As the three of them foraged along they kept up a steady chatter which our guide interpreted as: Male saying "Who did it?", and Female responding "It's YOU who did it!" I think you will like some of the MM pics, and may get a chuckle out of the last one in the set...
Dana: I felt privileged to have such great cat sightings. We also caught a brief glimpse of an African Wild Cat, but hardly enough to even qualify as a sighting, and a Genet by spotlight at Mala Mala. I was hoping for spotlight sightings of Serval and Civet, but no such luck... There were many dead Ellies in Chobe NP. We saw probably 6 or 8 carcasses (including a Leopard feeding on one at night) and smelled several others that we didn't actually see. According to our guide, there are too many Ellies there and not enough forage (water not being a problem).
Michael: Thanks for the comment. Bird pics are tough with an amateur with a p&s, but I was happy to get a few decent ones...
When can I go back??
Lynn: Pel's Fishing Owl was definately a highlight. I do some volunteer work with raptor rehabilitation, so seeing a number of exotic raptors like Pel's was a real treat. The long-distance Sable was the only one seen on this trip (one more reason to go back) and a poor photo... The Sable / Roan / Kudu trifecta is augmented by Nyala at Mala Mala (in fact, I'm also fond of Bushbuck, Waterbuck, Reedbuck, Steenbok, Duiker, Klipspringer!) -- all the antelope are amazing in their beauty and variety. The Ground Hornbill in the middle is actually a female, I believe (touch of blue on the neck). As the three of them foraged along they kept up a steady chatter which our guide interpreted as: Male saying "Who did it?", and Female responding "It's YOU who did it!" I think you will like some of the MM pics, and may get a chuckle out of the last one in the set...
Dana: I felt privileged to have such great cat sightings. We also caught a brief glimpse of an African Wild Cat, but hardly enough to even qualify as a sighting, and a Genet by spotlight at Mala Mala. I was hoping for spotlight sightings of Serval and Civet, but no such luck... There were many dead Ellies in Chobe NP. We saw probably 6 or 8 carcasses (including a Leopard feeding on one at night) and smelled several others that we didn't actually see. According to our guide, there are too many Ellies there and not enough forage (water not being a problem).
Michael: Thanks for the comment. Bird pics are tough with an amateur with a p&s, but I was happy to get a few decent ones...
When can I go back??
Nov 13th, 2007, 01:19 AM
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Hi Rick
I have been through all the photos - and you have got some lovely shots. Love the Guinea Fowl, one of my favourites as is the Sable Antelope.
Of course, my favourite are the MalaMala photos. Some great ones of the Styx Pride, and just reading the cyberdiary, one has some tiny baby cubs. Hopefully all the baby cubs will be there for me in just over 4 weeks. I am not happy the Eyrefield Males are back - the poor lionesses in a few prides are having a hard time bringing the cubs into adulthood! Also loved the photos of the daughter of the Campbell Koppies Female eating the python, feel for the poor python, especially when it is larger. I saw her in December 2004 as a baby around 2 months old and I am thrilled that both daughters are still being viewed.
Some of the baby ele ones are also lovely as are the zebra photos - cannot take a bad photo of a zebra. I do not think I have ever seen your ranger, so shall be seeing a few new faces next month.
I also always take a photo of whichever niece is with me with the warthogs - they are magnificent sculptures, as is the duiker in the northern part of the camp.
Kind regards
Kaye
I have been through all the photos - and you have got some lovely shots. Love the Guinea Fowl, one of my favourites as is the Sable Antelope.
Of course, my favourite are the MalaMala photos. Some great ones of the Styx Pride, and just reading the cyberdiary, one has some tiny baby cubs. Hopefully all the baby cubs will be there for me in just over 4 weeks. I am not happy the Eyrefield Males are back - the poor lionesses in a few prides are having a hard time bringing the cubs into adulthood! Also loved the photos of the daughter of the Campbell Koppies Female eating the python, feel for the poor python, especially when it is larger. I saw her in December 2004 as a baby around 2 months old and I am thrilled that both daughters are still being viewed.
Some of the baby ele ones are also lovely as are the zebra photos - cannot take a bad photo of a zebra. I do not think I have ever seen your ranger, so shall be seeing a few new faces next month.
I also always take a photo of whichever niece is with me with the warthogs - they are magnificent sculptures, as is the duiker in the northern part of the camp.
Kind regards
Kaye
Nov 13th, 2007, 01:18 PM
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Rick,
I see your guide was Emmanuel.
He was my guide at Savuti camp a few years ago. He very nice guy.
A lot of photographers would love to have an image of a Pel's fishing Owl.
In all my trips I've never seen one.
Geoff.
I see your guide was Emmanuel.
He was my guide at Savuti camp a few years ago. He very nice guy.
A lot of photographers would love to have an image of a Pel's fishing Owl.
In all my trips I've never seen one.
Geoff.
Nov 13th, 2007, 06:59 PM
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Once I got into the slide show I had forgotten your comment about getting a kick out of the last MM photo. So it was a surprise. Good one, I laughed out loud!
You must have been rewarded for your raptor volunteering with the excellent view of the Pel's Fishing Owl. That's nice that a good photo of one goes to someone who appreciates that kind of bird and its rarity.
My favorite MM shots were the jackal pups at the den. What a treasure. You had plenty of all the other animals too. Nice hippo fight you caught. Some realy tiny baby elephants. The rocks were an attractive setting for the lioness photo shoot.
The mobile plus Mala Mala really is a superb combination.
You must have been rewarded for your raptor volunteering with the excellent view of the Pel's Fishing Owl. That's nice that a good photo of one goes to someone who appreciates that kind of bird and its rarity.
My favorite MM shots were the jackal pups at the den. What a treasure. You had plenty of all the other animals too. Nice hippo fight you caught. Some realy tiny baby elephants. The rocks were an attractive setting for the lioness photo shoot.
The mobile plus Mala Mala really is a superb combination.
Nov 14th, 2007, 11:07 AM
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Rick
Loved Garfield. For years I spent trips trying to see wild dogs, now I'm trying to see Pels.
When we were in the Linyanti we saw evidence of elephants dying because they couldn't handle the extreme conditions, produced by last years drought, its natures way. Also at Mombo a huge male was lying down at the site of old Mombo and didn't seem particularly bothered by us driving by. Grant our guide explained that lying down was a means of conserving energy, for older elephants struggling to find suitable food.
Loved Garfield. For years I spent trips trying to see wild dogs, now I'm trying to see Pels.
When we were in the Linyanti we saw evidence of elephants dying because they couldn't handle the extreme conditions, produced by last years drought, its natures way. Also at Mombo a huge male was lying down at the site of old Mombo and didn't seem particularly bothered by us driving by. Grant our guide explained that lying down was a means of conserving energy, for older elephants struggling to find suitable food.
Nov 14th, 2007, 07:31 PM
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Thanks again for the comments folks. My theory, as a strictly holiday-type photographer, was to take LOTS of pictures and, hopefully, some will turn out pretty good. Overall, I was happy with the results. Not looking to win any awards here, but plenty of lovely memories...
Kaye: The several baby Ellies we saw at MM were very amusing to watch. So young as to be unsteady on their feet, losing their footing, falling down, etc. We got a VERY close inspection from one Mom -- I thought she was about to take the hat off my head with her trunk!
At one point, a very young one got too close to a second MM vehicle that was on the scene, tripped itself, and "trumpeted" as it tried to regain its feet. The herd IMMEDIATELY turned, trumpeted, and moved quickly to physically surround the youngster, sending the second vehicle off in reverse at high speed. A great illustration of just how quickly situations can change!
Geoff: Emmanuel was an excellent guide. Experienced, knowledgable, and very personable. It was a pleasure to have his company on the trip. I soon figured out, however, that he was very clever about managing expectations among his guests. For example (one of several), although he frequently had radio contact with other WS guides in the area, he never let on that we were heading to a particular sighting. In the Moswiri area of the Selinda Spillway, after a radio communication, he told us "There's nothing up ahead, so I am going to change course. To make up time, I'm going to be driving fast, so please fasten your seatbelts!" And we were off at high speed on the rutted, deep sand track, to end up with the two Lions seen in my pics. For the night-time Leopard sighting, he called us to the vehicle just after we had gotten off, back at camp, late for dinner, saying "Come quick! We are going!" And, again, he told us to buckle up but didn't tell us what we were headed for.
He told me he's been guiding with WS for 9 years (at both permanent camps and mobiles) and was in an anti-poaching unit of the Botswana Army before that.
Pel's was really a treat. I hope you find one on your next trip into the Delta. Although Emmanuel was our guide, at Xigera the bush walk was led by a much older man with limited English -- William. He clearly knew the area well. After coming across fresh Giraffe spoor, he climbed a termite mound to get some elevation for a look 'round, then led us to a great experience with a number of Giraffe. He seemed to know exactly where to look for the Giant Eagle Owl and Pel's, and sure enough found them for us.
Elainee: After reading other people's trip reports and seeing their pics, I had the same sentiments as you -- "I hope I am so lucky..." Don't worry about it! I came away from my trip feeling like my most optimistic expectations had been exceeded. No doubt, you'll be very happy with what you see and what you experience.
Lynn: Glad you liked the "tribute pic." MM was great, and I would happily go there again.
Kaye: The several baby Ellies we saw at MM were very amusing to watch. So young as to be unsteady on their feet, losing their footing, falling down, etc. We got a VERY close inspection from one Mom -- I thought she was about to take the hat off my head with her trunk!
At one point, a very young one got too close to a second MM vehicle that was on the scene, tripped itself, and "trumpeted" as it tried to regain its feet. The herd IMMEDIATELY turned, trumpeted, and moved quickly to physically surround the youngster, sending the second vehicle off in reverse at high speed. A great illustration of just how quickly situations can change!
Geoff: Emmanuel was an excellent guide. Experienced, knowledgable, and very personable. It was a pleasure to have his company on the trip. I soon figured out, however, that he was very clever about managing expectations among his guests. For example (one of several), although he frequently had radio contact with other WS guides in the area, he never let on that we were heading to a particular sighting. In the Moswiri area of the Selinda Spillway, after a radio communication, he told us "There's nothing up ahead, so I am going to change course. To make up time, I'm going to be driving fast, so please fasten your seatbelts!" And we were off at high speed on the rutted, deep sand track, to end up with the two Lions seen in my pics. For the night-time Leopard sighting, he called us to the vehicle just after we had gotten off, back at camp, late for dinner, saying "Come quick! We are going!" And, again, he told us to buckle up but didn't tell us what we were headed for.
He told me he's been guiding with WS for 9 years (at both permanent camps and mobiles) and was in an anti-poaching unit of the Botswana Army before that.
Pel's was really a treat. I hope you find one on your next trip into the Delta. Although Emmanuel was our guide, at Xigera the bush walk was led by a much older man with limited English -- William. He clearly knew the area well. After coming across fresh Giraffe spoor, he climbed a termite mound to get some elevation for a look 'round, then led us to a great experience with a number of Giraffe. He seemed to know exactly where to look for the Giant Eagle Owl and Pel's, and sure enough found them for us.
Elainee: After reading other people's trip reports and seeing their pics, I had the same sentiments as you -- "I hope I am so lucky..." Don't worry about it! I came away from my trip feeling like my most optimistic expectations had been exceeded. No doubt, you'll be very happy with what you see and what you experience.
Lynn: Glad you liked the "tribute pic." MM was great, and I would happily go there again.
Nov 15th, 2007, 07:18 AM
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Rickmck,
Since you mentioned you'd gladly go back again to MM, you have opened yourself up to the question, "Do you have any thoughts on returning?"
Also did you use one agent for both the mobile and Mala Mala? Sorry if you already stated that in the other trip report post.
Since you mentioned you'd gladly go back again to MM, you have opened yourself up to the question, "Do you have any thoughts on returning?"
Also did you use one agent for both the mobile and Mala Mala? Sorry if you already stated that in the other trip report post.
Nov 15th, 2007, 07:15 PM
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Lynn, other than my comment that I'd happily return to MM, not sure what you are asking with the question of any thoughts on returning? I'm happy to provide a response if you can clarify your question.
I booked both the mobile and MM through Vanessa at Eyes on Africa (she's been very helpful). At first, I was interested in the mobile with the idea of staying in Botswana for an extension at one of the permanent tented camps, but the cost was just too much. Vanessa suggested MM, and just about all the feedback I had seen here about MM was very positive, so I booked it and it worked out great.
I booked both the mobile and MM through Vanessa at Eyes on Africa (she's been very helpful). At first, I was interested in the mobile with the idea of staying in Botswana for an extension at one of the permanent tented camps, but the cost was just too much. Vanessa suggested MM, and just about all the feedback I had seen here about MM was very positive, so I booked it and it worked out great.
Nov 16th, 2007, 10:11 AM
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If I could be on a plane tomorrow, I'd pack a bag tonight! Yes, I'll definately be going to Africa again. The mobile followed by a few days at a fixed location worked out very well for me and is a model I am looking to repeat. Actually had a chat with my TA yesterday about some ideas for this, both in Bots and in Zambia. Have you had any experiences with a mobile and, if so, any tips or references to offer?
Rick
Rick
