Hi Folks,

Just wanted to say hello from JNB prior to my Flight to Maun.

Phinda, was OK. More in my report on return.

Exeter Dulini was very good in terms of the service, guiding/tracking (BEST) and it's lion and leopard viewing was awesome!!! 3 prides of lions Sand River (only 2 left of this once formidable pride), Shimungwe pride (southern portion near Savanna lodge), Otthawa pride (eating a wildebeest) they move in and out from Singita. Area has a powerful co-aliotion of 6 males of different ages. Our Ranger was Craig. Tracker Lucky. They r awesome!!!

4 leopards. Including leopard killing and hoisting a nyala up a tree. Sightings were rushed, due to a two car limit at sightings. Downside, non-stop radio chat from the rangers.

More later after Maun.

Phinda.....more on that later....

Hope all's well in fodorville....

Hari

Hey Hari,
Glad you're having a good time with some awesome sightings, it's a pity they are rushed though - it's definately dissapointing when this happens especially when there are lions or, my favourite, leopards.

I hope the rest of the trip makes up for it.

Imelda

Good luck with the dogs!

Cheers,
Julian

Hi Hari,
I've been thinking of you and hoping it wasn't too much hassle for you flying out of India.
It's good hearing all is well and you've had good cat sightings. Wow, a leopard kill.

Can't wait for your report. Perhaps you'll set a cat record!
Sherry

We just missed each other. Thanks for checking in!

Hari,

Thanks for the update, best wishes for good viewing in Botswana.

CW

Sounds like the six males might be the Eyrefield Males from MM, if so I saw them take down a Buffalo bull in his prime in January.

Do the guides at Exeter not use earpieces?

Radio chat -yep, I don't get it, why do guides have to listen over the speaker and use a hand held microphone? Do they feel important to pick up the mike and say "roger" , "10-4", "over" etc. At MalaMala the rangers use headsets and you do not hear any radio chat. So simple.
regards - tom

We decided we were really listening to radio Botswana this year, there was so much inane chatter, fortunately I didn't understand much of it.

If radio chatter got to much for me, I would ask the guide/ranger about it. In a nice way, like, what is going on? And continue from there. You know, when I'm paying $100 per hour for my drive they should know who is the guest and who's paying them.
regards - tom