SL special event
 

My apologies if somebody has already mentioned this. The mind almost boggles: http://www.kaingo.com/photo_newslett...letter2006.asp

John

I got it too John! WOW!!! 4 leopards in one tree...warthogs...hyenas...all 2 minutes from camp!!! Lucky people they were huh?

John,

Thanks for the link. Yep, amazing!!!

Hari

Add my "incredible" to the list! WOW!

Thanks for posting this. What a saga!!! With these photos and the narrative I almost could imagine being there.

Maybe Predator Biologist will chime in about this male leapord's behaviour(Goldie's son). I always thought the males were prime candidates to be sued for back payments in child support, as my understanding was that once done mating they had little to do with mom or the cubs.

GreenDdrake - Is it you who is soon heading for Buffalo Camp in North Luangwa? If so, please remember to tell us about it when you return!

(Sorry for hijack!) :-)

Oh Boy, Oh Boy, Oh Boy!!! This might just rival Botswana for our next trip (next trips mission is to see more leopards!). Does anyone have any idea of rates for these properties??

Thanks,
Imelda

Imelda,

SL vs Botswana....don't make the comparison. Enjoy each for it's own sake!!!

Hari

Hari, I know I really can't compare both countries ..... I'm hoping I can't compare the rates either... fingers crossed ;). Julian had me practically convinced on Mambo, that is until I picked my jaw up off the floor after discovering the price, which, very sadly, is waaayyy out of our range. ALL Botswana camps seem to be quite expensive in comparison to say Kenya / SA where there are SOME moderately priced camps (read $500 per room per night or less). I know you pay for what you get but when I started to research Botswana (just a couple of days ago I must add), I found practically ALL camps expensive and what with hubbys dislike of 'tents' the lack of many lodges, is even more prohibitive for us soooooo when I read about Leopards in Zambia and went to the website where they claim a whopping 95% of people see Leopards at these camps, well that just grabbed my attention ;)).....

Imelda

Cooncat - yes I will to be going on the Kafunta N.& S. Luangwa trip in October and will be driving up to Buffalo Camp in N.Luangwa. Will definitely post a report. My current excitment level is equivilant to a "9 1/2" year old counting the days to his 10th birthday.

Imelda - Rocco has a great post showing all the peak S.Luangwa and Lower Zambezi 2007 lodge rates.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=4

That link did not work Imelda. Here is the cut and paste version:

Author: Roccco ([email protected])
Date: 08/06/2006, 05:11 am
LOWER ZAMBEZI 2007 HIGH SEASON PRICING

Kasaka River Lodge = $375 pppns

Kulefu Tented Camp* = $475 pppns

Chongwe River Camp = $480 pppns

Old Mondoro Camp* = $595 pppns

Sausage Tree Camp* = $695 pppns

Chiawa Camp* = $695 pppns (only $100 pppns more for their ultraluxurious Superior Safari Tent)


SOUTH LUANGWA 2007 HIGH SEASON PRICING

Tafika = $675 pppns (Aug/Sept)

Tena Tena / Nsefu = $560 pppns

Tafika = $530 pppns (July & Oct.)

Kaingo = $525 pppns

Luangwa River Lodge = $500 pppns

Nkwali = $480 pppns

Puku Ridge* = $475 pppns

Bushcamp Company Camps* = $385 pppns

Kafunta River Lodge = $340 pppns

Kafunta Island Bush Camp* = $305 pppns

*Located within the national park

APPROXIMATE AIR TRANSFERS

Lusaka to South Luangwa to Lusaka = $425 per person

Lusaka to Lower Zambezi to Lusaka = $325 per person

Comparatively speaking, Zambia still offers wonderful value for money.

I don't know why but for me, Kaingo really stands out from the rest of the camps in South Luangwa (and probably Zambia). I have never been there but it is the one camp that I HAVE to go to!!! It has some sort of magical power that draws me to it.
(no....I have not been drinking or smoking anything :) )

I have booked 3 nights there for my August/September 2007 safari.

GreenDrake - Thanks a million for posting those rates, certainly saves me a LOT of work looking them up and thank you Rocco for the initial post!!

Africa - I have just sneaked a quick look at the Kiango website and it does look wonderful... and all those Leopards WOW - I am envious of your upcoming stay there. Please post about it when you get back. Do you have any idea how the cheetah sightings and wild dod sightings are in that area or am I pushing my luck? :)

Imelda

Hi Imelda

Wild dogs are a definate possibility (look at Kaingo's May 2006 Photographic Newsletter!!! :) ). For cheetahs in Zambia, you would have to go to Kafue National Park - especially the Busanga and Nanzhila plains). I've got 3-weeks of my trip planned and booked, but I am still working on the fourth week's itinerary for Kafue.

Africa - are you in need of a porter? :-D

Kaingo's hippo hide, built into the bank of the river, is another highlight of that camp. The hippos come so close, you can take photos of the bristles on their snouts.

Oh WOW Africa.... <b>FOUR WEEKS</b> in Zambia.. now I'm really envious!!! Do you think you might need TWO porters for all that luggage you will need :))

Also, sorry for the bad spelling - that's what happens when to my brain after my first day back at work after safari!!... Bad work.. Bad work!!

Imelda

Cooncat and Imelda

I may take you both up on the porter offer. I have arranged this trip for a family group of 10, so lots and lots of bags - does the offer still stand? ;)

The main purpose of this trip is to introduce some younger members of my family to life on safari. I am taking 4 nephews and nieces (aged 10 - 16). They are all really well-behaved and they have already been given homework. They have been given field guides to African fauna and flora. They have also been set a task to identify 150 different bird species during the trip (...I know I am very harsh ((6)) ). It will be a big first trip so I want them to be prepared.

The first 4 nights will be in the Sabi Sands (a gentle introduction to safari) before spending 12 nights across South Luangwa and the Lower Zambezi. The rest of the family will then return home (school will start for the kids), but my wife and I will stay do an old-fashioned overland trip to Kafue (for 1 week) from Lusaka.

Gaurang

Guarang - OF COURSE the offer stands. Don't forget to post your final itinerary.

:-)

Sharon

ABSOLUTELY, the offer still stands Gaurang, 10 bags + Safari v's staying at home in cold wet Ireland in October ... piece of cake ;)

Seriously though, you just have to be 'THE Worlds Best Uncle' to take your nieces and nephews along with you and yours.. want to adopt a Niece??? LOL! Your trip sounds AMAZING... Kiango AND Sabi Sands .. Double WOW WOW! And what a good idea to have set them a task (and quite a big one at that ... don't know how many of the 150 I could ID!!). Seems like no-one is going to be complaining of being bored if everyone is on the lookout for as many species as possible - now that's what I call thinking ahead. You sure will be ready for a quiet week without the kids by the end of three weeks I'm sure. Please post your trip when you get it fianlised, it looks like it could be my 'dream trip' so far :)

Imelda

I was in Zambia last week in the lower Zambezi.

We saw Leopards on every one of the 5 game drives we did.

Here is my favourite photo:

http://djbarnett.smugmug.com/gallery/1584115/1/86491225

Lovely shot, David. I wouldn't mind at all if this was mine. How close were you and what focal length were you using?

John

Thanks for the kind words John.

We were i guess 25-35 feet away. We watched the leopard stalk 2 impalas and then leave them before climbing a tree above our vehicle and proceed to sleep for 45 mins!

The shot was taken at 1/60 at F6

ISO 1000

200mm focal length

nikon d2h with a 80-200 2.8 lens.

David

Good shot AND good choice of cameras David, I have the D2Hs + 70-200 VR f/2.8. Will be taking this combo (+17-55 f/2.8 &amp; 1.7 TC conv)with us to Zambia next Sept for 2 weeks in SLNP. Did you find you were needing any longer reach?

Cheers
Marc

David,

I'm impressed with what I've read about that camera (I'm a Canon person, still on film).

Handy distance for 300mm equiv with that size cat-- no cropping needed. I dislike cropping, though I'll do it if I need to.

John

Africaaddict:
Thats a really nice set up.

I had the 80-200 2.8 and my 18-200 with me. I also used a 1.4 convertor for some shots.
I think if i had my time again i would buy either the 70-200 vr that you haveor the 80-400.
We idnt really need the extra reach but i would have liked to get close into the subject and get more detail.

Game viewing was exceptional , I am sure you will love it.

David

afrigalah: I adislike cropping as well but sometimes its needed of course.

My big error was not taking my monopod or tripod with me. I didnt think about the low light situations nor did i think about camera shake during the day with my heavyish 80-200 2.8

Next time its a monopod for sure.

David

David
Were your safaris in vehicles or walking?
Did you take or use a SB 600/800 with you?
I'm doing a combination of both and will take a bean bag + monopod for the walking safaris.
Cheers
Marc

Marc

we werein the vehicle all the time.

I did use a sb600.

I just wish i had taken my monopod . I did manage tio borrow a beanbag for some shots.

David,

I'm never without my mono or a beanbag in or out of the vehicle, even with my IS lenses (prime and zoom)...especially important with slow film of course, but I sometimes wonder how important when you can rack up the ISO on a digital camera. Depends on both the light level and the weight of the lens I guess. My wife often sets high ISO with her digitals (EOS 1D II and 5D) and still uses a mono a lot of the time with long lenses.

John

John:

you are totally right. I now think the monopod and bean bag are as important as the lens!