Hi!
I'm looking to track a lion pride for approx 1 week, then spend approx a week and a half hiking, driving around and generally experiencing the natural surroundings. I'd like to go in July/Aug, and the greatest challenge is that my budget is approx $2.5k ppn excluding round trip flights from US. My travel buddy and I are very comfortable with rustic accomodations tracking the pride and hiking. So the questions are:
- Given the time of year, where is the best place to go to track the lions?
- Anyone know of an operator who will take us out for this week of tracking at this budget?
- Any recommendations on good hiking nearby after the tracking?
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

hi, my first thought was zimbabwe.if i was still in contact with my guide there-maybe he could help. but i have not heard from him for some time.
2nd thought-maybe kenya. of course not in the reserves or parks.but maybe along the outside or inside the private ranches.
for ex. i hired 3 masai and hiked about 30miles on the outside of the mara. we had elephant, giraffe,zebra even hyena.
maybe, if i hook you up with my regular masai driver there-he can find out about your details with his masai boys at the mara and other places.
other than that-not sure. if you go through a regular tour op-it will cost you guys a bit i would guess.
any thoughts?
if you need to email me it is:
[email protected]
thx, david

Well, This is an off the wall question, so you get an off the wall answer.

Contact Cameron Harvey Safaris
http://www.warthogs.co.zw/
reserve a series III landrover-$75/day -self drive
plus equipped with cooking utensils and for camping- get a list of the works.
Don't tell them what you are doing because they may push a guide on you.

You can buy supplies in Kariba, but just verify that to be safe because things change.

Now contact Central Reservations in Harare or call Mana Pools Hdqtrs directly.Tell them what you want to do and would like a game scout for a week. Its cheap. You would like to do this in Mana Pools. Matusadona is another good place but fuel is the issue. You can camp, stay in a park lodge or one of the exclusive camps. If you can be totally selfsufficent-in otherwords carry water for abolutions-the remote camp Chitake Springs is excellent for this. Lions will be within a couple hundred metres everyday because this is the only source of water till the river and it is the heart of this prides territory. All the game come here.

Haven't played with the numbers, but Iimagine with the plane fare, it will fit your budget with 2 people splitting costs.

Then you can do a couple days canoeing after you turn in the landy or before. You can move to the river and walk on your own if you have the b@lls.

If this doesn't sound like something you want to try, contact Natureways or Cameron Harvey (for his guides)

Found this on Mana Pools site
"Lion Tracking -
This is a limited activity whilst the lion research project at Mana Pools is in progress. Visitors can join Parks staff as they track radio-collared lions on foot. Visitors are guaranteed a close view of the lions in most instances. This activity is unique and also assists in data collection for research projects. "

If you need further help-

[email protected]

I have done this many times, in a lot of different parks, on my own, with scouts and with guides. Not for a week on one pride though.

Remember that lions spend much of the day sleeping. That can get boring after a while.

have you been to africa before? ie do u know what you are getting into tracking lions? it can be pretty scary seeing lions for the first time from a vehicle, let alone on foot. anyway, if you have been, there was a post here a few days ago about n. luangwa and that seems to be a great place to follow lions on foot. i havent been but other people on this forum have.

You can also consider a mobile safari in Botswana.......however, if this is your first trip to Africa......i strongly suggest you take in everything from the experience instead of being fixed on one thing........

Some options in your price range, gametrailsbotswana.com and www.masson-safaris.com

good luck\

Hari

Is your tracking on foot? I did this at Kutandala in North Luangwa, Zambia. In 4 days, were encountered a group of 3 lions once at about 300 meters, but lions were not our one goal. The lions reacted to us at this distance and were wary and sought to distance themselves further. I was there in July. September would have been better for seeing lions, but much hotter. August would likely be a good compromise between heat and dry conditions. Almost all activities were on foot.

If tracking from a vehicle is acceptable, Busanga Plains in Kafue in Zambia had a resident pride when I was there in July 2003. We spent most of the day and evening with the pride of 7 for 2 days and were unable to locate them at all one day. I would describe that experience more as hanging out with lions than tracking them. All of this was in a vehicle and most of the time they were napping and lounging. The hunting at night was exciting. If tracking from a vehicle was ok, then a private vehicle in the Mara would also be a good option, but there would be more people in the Mara. There was no one else in Kafue.

Both lion encounters in N. Luangwa and Kafue were excellent in my opinion.

In walking safaris I've done in other parts of Zambia and in Zimbabwe and Botswana, I have not encountered lions on foot.

I saw Lunangwablondes (who always has loads of detailed and helpful info) mention Natureways. I was extremely pleased with a Natureways walking safari I did in Mana Pools.

Lynn,

Did you see any Cheetahs in Kafue? are they common to see or hit or miss?

Thanks
Hari

P.S: August is such a looooooooong way away.......i'm going insane with the wait....

Hari,

I was in Kafue 5 nights and saw 2 pairs of cheetah. One pair in Busanga Plains and one pair near the Lunga River. The odd part was they were both at night on night drives. I have never seen a cheetah at night except for Kafue.

I think cheetah are a bit tougher to see here than the Masai Mara or Serengeti, but with enough days, you have a decent chance.