My first safari is coming up in June, and it will be here before I know it. We are starting out in the Chyulu Hills area of Kenya. I definitely plan at least one day trip down to Amboselli. Has anyone stayed in the Chyulu area and have any pointers? I hope to find some good elephants and maybe some predators close to camp. After that we are heading to the Mara and then up north for a few days. Anything I should target while I'm in that area?
Thanks! I'm super excited. My first trip to Africa.
Cduff406 wrote:
Has anyone stayed in the Chyulu area and have any pointers? I hope to find some good elephants and maybe some predators close to camp. After that we are heading to the Mara and then up north for a few days. Anything I should target while I'm in that area?
Thanks! I'm super excited. My first trip to Africa.
It's a really lovely green area, great for birds but wildlife is pretty sparse as I recall, think I saw a few lion but not much else predator wise. It can always change as things move in and out. Mara will be your best bet for everything.
robert_in_ca wrote:
I lived in Botswana for nearly 9 months and as nice as Mashatu is along with much of the Tuli Block I prefer Savute (March/April - October) and the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (Dec - March is the best time to visit).
Robert, could you elaborate on what it is about these two areas that appeals to you so greatly versus an area like Mashatu? Amount of wildlife? Diversity? Ease of locating (location and number of watering holes for instance)? Terrain? backgrounds? Pricing? Something else perhaps?
Also, the best time to visit for each of the places you mentioned have no overlap. What makes the best time for each so different?
berimbolo wrote:
Are most reserves in Botswana good spots for Wild Dog sightings? That is the number 1 species on my photography (and personal experience) list.
Khwai is well known for wild dog sightings. Moremi (Delta) I've seen them too. Savuti should work too.
EverLearning wrote:
Robert, could you elaborate on what it is about these two areas that appeals to you so greatly versus an area like Mashatu? Amount of wildlife? Diversity? Ease of locating (location and number of watering holes for instance)? Terrain? backgrounds? Pricing? Something else perhaps?
Also, the best time to visit for each of the places you mentioned have no overlap. What makes the best time for each so different?
Than
The thing that appeals to me is the sense of wild of the other two, whereas whereas Mashatu is really well know for its underground hide that gets you super low but a lot of the animals have been introduced.
Savuti's marsh lands, tall grasses and large pride of lions is really something. Also if you'e wanting to see wild dogs Savuti is hard to beat. There's a reason why people call Savuti the wild heart of the Chobe.
CKGR is extremely remote, sweeping lands that are not easy to travel and requires a very experienced overland driver - in a lot of sections you can go 3 days without any signs of civilization - meaning you need to be seriously prepared. But when you have a wildlife encounter, especially with a predator, it's as wild and untamed as you can get.
If you're focused on wild dogs then I would do Savuti or KNP in South Africa (between Orpen Gate and Satara). Now if leopards are your thing then I would opt for Tarangire National Park outside of Arusha in TZ (one of my favorite places in TZ) where hardly anyone goes, or any place in central KNP before going to Mashatu and spending 8-10 times the money.
Leopards AND Wild Dogs = Timbavati.
Highly recommend Tanda Tula Lodge with either Chad or Tristan as guides. African Painted Dog 3 by Alan Kefauver, on Flickr
Maybe a weird question that I should have asked before - Are there any camps that may be better suited for solo travellers? I'm not even sure what would make a camp better for a solo traveller. Just curious if other people have experiences. I am loathe to joining a workshop as I find them to be without much value for me.
berimbolo wrote:
Maybe a weird question that I should have asked before - Are there any camps that may be better suited for solo travellers? I'm not even sure what would make a camp better for a solo traveller. Just curious if other people have experiences. I am loathe to joining a workshop as I find them to be without much value for me.
There's a couple things you'd want to consider as a solo traveler. First is the single supplement charge. Most camps charge them as a tent that can hold two people is now only holding one. Some camps don't have them, and others will waive it if you are staying long enough. It's worth asking.
The other is a private vehicle. If you don't want to join a workshop then I imagine you don't want to be stuck with random, likely non photographer, travelers. Some camps charge a lot more for a private vehicle than others. For example, when I was in Botswana a private vehicle was about twice as much as I paid at an equivalent camp in Kenya.
I really like the Kicheche camps in Kenya. They have a photography vehicle you can book (one side flips down so you can lay down in the vehicle and get super low). They waived the single supplement for me as well.
VKM2F wrote:
There's a couple things you'd want to consider as a solo traveler. First is the single supplement charge. Most camps charge them as a tent that can hold two people is now only holding one. Some camps don't have them, and others will waive it if you are staying long enough. It's worth asking.
The other is a private vehicle. If you don't want to join a workshop then I imagine you don't want to be stuck with random, likely non photographer, travelers. Some camps charge a lot more for a private vehicle than others. For example, when I was in Botswana a private vehicle was about twice as much as I paid at an equivalent camp in Kenya.
I really like the Kicheche camps in Kenya. They have a photography vehicle you can book (one side flips down so you can lay down in the vehicle and get super low). They waived the single supplement for me as well....Show more →
I've been in touch with Kicheche. After initial contact with them, I was leaning towards staying in the NP instead of a conservancy, but I'm reconsidering now. Just trying to figure out how to swing Kicheche (or another similar lodge in a conservancy) + 1-2 days in Amboseli.
berimbolo wrote:
I've been in touch with Kicheche. After initial contact with them, I was leaning towards staying in the NP instead of a conservancy, but I'm reconsidering now. Just trying to figure out how to swing Kicheche (or another similar lodge in a conservancy) + 1-2 days in Amboseli.
It really depends on what you want to see. If you're heading there in July/August to see the migration and hopefully a river crossing, then the NP is the place to be. Otherwise I'll always opt for the conservancies. Way less traffic and the ability to go off road are real game changers. It comes at a premium, though, certainly. Porini is another option in the conservancies.
Same with Amboseli. It's a reasonable drive from major centres so parts of the park can be overrun. Tortilis camp, for example, is in a conservancy on the border of Amboseli. A lot quieter and again, the ability to go off road. You can of course head into Amboseli if that's where the tuskers are.
VKM2F wrote:
It really depends on what you want to see. If you're heading there in July/August to see the migration and hopefully a river crossing, then the NP is the place to be. Otherwise I'll always opt for the conservancies. Way less traffic and the ability to go off road are real game changers. It comes at a premium, though, certainly. Porini is another option in the conservancies.
Same with Amboseli. It's a reasonable drive from major centres so parts of the park can be overrun. Tortilis camp, for example, is in a conservancy on the border of Amboseli. A lot quieter and again, the ability to go off road. You can of course head into Amboseli if that's where the tuskers are.
Just some thoughts, good luck with your planning!...Show more →
EverLearning wrote:
Robert, could you elaborate on what it is about these two areas that appeals to you so greatly versus an area like Mashatu? Amount of wildlife? Diversity? Ease of locating (location and number of watering holes for instance)? Terrain? backgrounds? Pricing? Something else perhaps?
Also, the best time to visit for each of the places you mentioned have no overlap. What makes the best time for each so different?
Thanks
I would start by asking yourself what exactly do you want to see and what season do you like better (green/wet or brown/dry)? This will answer a lot of your questions as to when and where to go. The reason I would pick Mashatu for a South African destination is because it's one of the best places to shoot leopards. In my experience on Safari, pretty much all wildlife is plentiful except for rhino and wild dogs which are better sighted in specific regions. But as far as everything else like elephants, hippos, buffalo, giraffe, lions, cheetah, wildebeest, jackal, zebra, etc. there is plenty of that game everywhere and all of it is very easy to find/see. With that said, what is everyone always looking for that's harder to spot? Leopards...
Mashatu is known for leopards, so that's why it would be my pick. The cool terrain, mashatu trees, and underground hide are also a bonus.
If you were wanting to get the best bang for the buck and see the most sightings possible during a one to two week safari then you can't beat the mara conservancies in Kenya.
That's quite the Lodge there Alan. I was thinking Mashatu was expensive at $1500-$1600 per night for two but this place raises the bar to $2700 per night for two. Amazing place.
artsupreme wrote:
I'm with VKM2F but if you want to see wild dogs you will have to go elsewhere.
I think 2024 will be the conservancies and then I'll think about wild dogs in 2025. I also want to do 1 trip to Rwanda/Uganda for gorillas, which will be probably be 2025 or 2026.
berimbolo wrote:
I think 2024 will be the conservancies and then I'll think about wild dogs in 2025. I also want to do 1 trip to Rwanda/Uganda for gorillas, which will be probably be 2025 or 2026.
Nice! I've done Rwanda. If you are OCD like most photographers this trip can be frustrating from a photography perspective.
artsupreme wrote:
Nice! I've done Rwanda. If you are OCD like most photographers this trip can be frustrating from a photography perspective.
My main decision for 2024 now is whether I want to do Amboseli + Masai Mara or just Masai Mara. I'm leaning towards doing both so that I don't feel like I 100% have to return.
Yeah, I imagine Rwanda will be challenging for compositions, but I have some rough ideas of what could be unique out there. I considered it for 2024, but I've had some intermittent health issues, and I don't want to hike in a rainforest while I'm feeling unwell.
berimbolo wrote:
My main decision for 2024 now is whether I want to do Amboseli + Masai Mara or just Masai Mara. I'm leaning towards doing both so that I don't feel like I 100% have to return.
Yeah, I imagine Rwanda will be challenging for compositions, but I have some rough ideas of what could be unique out there. I considered it for 2024, but I've had some intermittent health issues, and I don't want to hike in a rainforest while I'm feeling unwell.
I would definitely stretch and figure out a way to do both the Mara and Amboseli while you are there. I would think a lot of places are getting all booked up soon, good luck!
