Sabi Sands Game Reserve
 

I will be doing a 6 day Botswana safari in July. I was thinking of adding a 3 day trip to Sabi Sands since I have read about such amazing wildlife there. My agent strong discouraged me from doing so since he feels that the Botswana safari experience will be far superior than the commercial operations around Sabi Sands. He also thinks Mala Mala is one of the worst properties in that area because the guides are always wearing headsets trying to find out from each other where game is located instead of focusing on the guests' requests, and when game is located, many vehicles are usually descending on the same spot. Does anyone have any experience of going on a Botswana safari as well as Sabi Sands, maybe even Mala Mala? Is the different experience worthwhile? I am going on an Orient Express 6 day safari which means the game viewing is less than ideal (as compared to Wilderness Safari camps as far as I can glean from this forum), so I was hoping to make up for what is missing in Sabi Sands.

Your agent, "he feels" does he, that's nice. Has he been to any of these camps he is talking about? If he has not been to ALL of them, I would devalue his advice by 50%, if to none of them, then 100%.
regards - tom

Travelingmel, I think your idea of adding a three day trip to Mala Mala is an excellent one. I was at several camps where the guides used the radio to communicate and it just made the game viewing all the more exciting. When she wanted to surprise us, she would put it on headset so we wouldn't hear, and then she'd race off to the location. We were delighted when we saw a leopard up a tree with a kill or a lion pride with two month old cubs. The headset was only used for a few moments. We are planning to go to Mala Mala this year. I've read so many glowing reports here by return visitors.

Yes, I was in Botswanan camps and also at Singita and I think the different experience is worthwhile.

Hi travelingmel,

I have been to Botswana and the Sabi Sands - and my experience was the opposite to what you are being told. I found Botswana gameviewing inferior to the Sabi Sands by a long shot, that is not to say I did not have a few good sightings, but a few is all I had! I am a regular to MalaMala, and the sharing of sightings is common to many many reserves, certainly in all of the Sabi Sands lodges. So that comment is bizarre to put it mildly, as all have radios - the headsets are for the purpose of not hearing the other rangers talking and at MalaMala, you would not have any more than 3 unless a sensitive sighting then either one or two vehicles. His comments sound like sour grapes! You will not be disappointed by going to MalaMala - I have photos up here now under KayeN from my time at MalaMala from 9 March to 3 April 2007.

Kind regards

kaye

Who is your agent?

All properties have radio available to tell other vehicles about sightings, at MM they use headsets so they dont intrude on the guests enjoyment. In Botswana, no headsets and the radio bursts into life at the worst moments.

Ignore your agent and get one who actually specializes in safari's and can give unbiased advice.

I would say that MM gets more more positives on this board than almost any other property, and trust me, I think every property in SA / Bots has been visited by someone here.

I have also combined MM with Bots on several occasions and love both. This fall I have MM3, Mombo3 and Kings Pool3.

I think your agent is doing a good thing for all the MalaMala fans by discouraging new visitors. The more people that discover MM will mean less availability for all of us that love MM. Of course, if you listen to him you'll never find out what a great camp MM is for gameviewing. The headsets add to your experience - not detract from it. You benefit from the game spotted by other rangers that you might not be aware of. And if the "guests' requests" aren't to see the game, what are they?

I visited MM in 2004, Botswana in 2005, MM in 2006, Botswana in 2007. Combining both in one trip gives you the best of both worlds. And if the places you're going in Bots aren't that great then definitely include MM.

Thank you to all for your tremendous help. It confirms my opinion of what I have read about Mala Mala so far. I think my agent had a bad experience once at Mala Mala. I will insist on adding that to my Bostwana trip!

I agree with those who think you might need a new agent. We went on our first southern Africa tour last summer. We were in Chobe in Botswana and Londolozi in Sabi Sands (which borders Mala Mala). Both were spectacular, but for very different reasons.

Chobe was a little more game-rich, but the park is public and at certain sightings we found there could be up to a dozen vehicles. Our guides weren't as knowledgable and so we had less information about the animals we were seeing, as well as more difficulty tracking and spotting some of the more elusive animals.

Londolozi was completely different. Our guide was spectacular and could speak at length about everything we saw. Our guide and tracker were much better at following and locating game. It's true that the Rovers radio each other, but that adds to the experience. Londolozi and most private reserves have rules dictating how many vehicles can be at a sighting, with never more than three allowed. Most sightings are limited to just two.

Each experience was very different. Both were great, but I think if--God forbid--I could only go to one location again, it would be one of the Sabi Sands reserves.

Pabster

Not wanting to dissuade you from vsisiting SSGR, but you really should visit one of the more remote Botswana camps run by Wilderness Safaris, CCA, Kwando etc to really appreciate Botswana.

napamatt--No doubt about it. It was our first trip to Southern Africa and we didn't have quite as much time as we would have liked. Our next trip will absolutely include a lengthy visit to the Delta and I'm sure I'll be coming here so that you and many others can give us advice. Hopefully that'll be soon.