Where to go for best game viewing in Botswana or Zambia in August?
 

Planning a 12-night safari flying in & out of JNB for next August and hoping to either go back to Botswana or possibly split the time between Botswana and Zambia. We've previously been to Little Kwara, Lagoon, and Lebala in the "green season" and LOVED the guiding and game viewing at all three Kwando camps. Subsequently we went to Mapula (OK but skittish game, wouldn't go there again), Little Vumbura (very disappointing guide and we didn't like not having a tracker), and Chiefs (excellent, but while the game viewing and guiding were on par with what we experienced at Kwando camps, the pricetag was much higher). We've also been to Sabi Sands and Timbavati in South Africa; they are too busy and crowded for us now -- too many vehicles and not as remote or "wild" as we like. Loved Tanzania, especially the Serengeti. Also just did a self-drive through Namibia which was fun (ellies & rhinos galore) although we didn't have many great cat sightings.

Would definitely consider going back to Kwando but at first glance I am experiencing a bit of sticker shock due to "high season" August prices; our previous trips have all been in November-January.

What we're looking for: cheetah, lions, wild dogs, leopards, ellies, and all the smaller, harder to see things like serval, caracal, pangolin. Guides who love what they do and will be happy to go out earlier or stay out later. Night drives. No middle seats (that doesn't work for photography, and I think a private vehicle is out of the question due to cost). Value for money. Animals in camp. No queues at sightings. Toilet and shower. Preferably a tracker.

What's not as important to us: Water activities, luxurious accommodations, fancy food. The opportunity to do walks sometimes would be nice but is not essential.

We've never been anywhere in Zambia and have not been to Chobe or Savute in Botswana.

Any suggestions from the experts here would be helpful!

Now I love Zambia and especially South Luangwa- it's my favourite park in Africa, but based on what you're asking for it doesn't sound quite what you're after.
Lions- loads, especially in the north of the park
Leopards- loads. One of the best places for leopard IMO.
Cheetah- nope, none in the park. Ditto rhino.
Wild dog- they are there, but you will be very very lucky
Serval I have seen, but none of the others you mention.
Walking is awesome but you don't seem that fussed.
They don't have trackers and guides but I've never really found that a problem.
If you pick the right camps you will hardly have any other vehicles around. No one uses middle seats (except possibly the budget camps). Camps are mostly very small, you will definitely get animals in camp. Some quite rustic- bucket showers.

You could combine with Kafue- chance of cheetah and wild dogs there I believe.

Have you considered Southern Tanzania? To me, Selous and Ruaha would be a lot better fit with the things you are after. There have been a couple of recent trip reports on this area.

i am considering this:

http://www.eyesonafrica.net/safaris/...fue-rivers.htm

Combined with Mana Pools and Hwange in Zimbabwe, it might be an option for you. Or Mashatu in SE Botswana. No Rhinos or buffs, but it was great for the other wildlife. Madikwe is popular and has a wide variety of animals and accommodations. We went to Zululand on our last trip - Tembe and Zululand rhino Reserve. We were pleasantly surprised by both. Lots of rhino. Thanda has dogs. I think Mkhuze does, too.

For cats - Kgalagadi. We are going next year. Maybe combined with Madikwe for ellies and rhino.

I've looked at the Kafue Rivers & Plains trip before and it's still on my "to do" list. However, it's a group itinerary with a maximum of 8 which means they could be using the middle seats in the vehicle.

Tembe, Thanda and Mkuze all have dogs now- I volunteered at Tembe for 8 weeks last year and they were in the process of bonding a pack for reintroduction, which has now been released.

I just came home from Botswana in Aug/Sept. My FAVORITE camp was Chitabe. Dense animal concentration, good guiding, nice terrain. Read my trip report here....

http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...e-duma-tau.cfm

Why not look at Zimbabwe. I was considering a return trip to Zambia next August, but the prices have gone up considerably since my previous trip. I will be visiting Hwange,, Matusadona and Mana Pools. I am also spending three nights at Imbabala Camp which is 70km from Victoria Falls, bordering Chobe where wild dog are often seen.

Stokey - yes, there are dogs in Tembe but they have been staying in the area that tourists can't go. It's a shame - when we were there in June, they hadn't been spotted on game drives. I'm just happy knowing they are there.

I wonder if they get 8 on the kafue trip. I know they want to maximize their profits, but 6 seems a lot more comfortable. I'd hate to be unlucky enough to spend over a week with 8.

We've been to Kgalagadi twice -- the first time (in the rainy season) had the most amazing sightings, and just last month (in the dry) saw almost nothing. The luck of the draw.

Zim is on our list for someday (we drool at the stories we've heard from Mana Pools), but we have decided that we will wait until Mr. Mugabe meets his maker. Just personal preference.

Please keep those ideas coming.

I'm with you on Zim. We are contemplating Kgalagadi in April or August. I know it's luck of the draw, but it's looking like August. We've had some bad luck in some places, so I know there are no guarantees from day to day. Can't wait!!

Have you considered the Waterberg area? It's pretty and there are lots of options. We'd like to go to Marakele before Kgalagadi, but we don't have time. Venetia (run by the deBeers) has a wild dog program. It's across the river from mashatu.

Would you do a self drive in Zambia? Hopefully luanguablondes will chime in, too.

Yes, 8 on the Kafue trip is rather a lot. I'm wondering if I do the trip as a single whether it will guarantee a max of 7, or if they will still have 8 in the vehicle but just an extra room at the camps........

I went to Mana Pools last year, to Ruckomechi. I can't comment too much on the game viewing as I did mostly walks and water activities, but we saw lion and leopard at night. They see wild dog there too, although I flicked through their sightings book and the last dog sighting was about 3 weeks before my visit. When I arrived the people getting off the morning drive had seen a pangolin!

I'd love to go to the Kgalaghadi- not too practical on my own though.

Can only comment on Botswana, having visited four times in the past seven years

If you are stuck with an August timeframe. and the Kwando group seem to be too expensive, then you should either look at a mobile safari in Botswana, or consider Tanzania or Zimbabwe.

In Botswana, and considering your specifications, only Sandibe and Little Kwara appear to meet all your requirements, and of course there are no guarantees on sightings.

For good predator sightings, and no middle seat issues, the Chitabe and Savute camps take some beating. There is no tracker, and excessive radio chatter can be a problem. They are Wilderness Safari camps, and regrettably have now priced themselves out of my reach.

We are doing the Kwando camps in May, but were very tempted with the apparent value for money option of Selous and Ruaha as suggested by Stokeygirl.