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African safari talk...recommendations?

robert_in_ca
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p.42 #1 · African safari talk...recommendations?

100% agree with everything you said Robert. In the end I went in on a kitted out V8 model Series 76 Land Cruiser with my friend. We rotate using it� which as you can see is complete overkill for KNP but for the western part of SA, Namibia and Bots it�s a different story.

rdcny wrote:
regarding self-drive in Kruger...yes very easy. Rent vehicle at airport via Around About Cars: www.aroundaboutcars.com - a South African company that gets discounts from the major rental car companies. For example, for $60/day we have rented an automatic transmission 4WD (Nissan Navara 4x4) that includes all insurance coverage (tires/windshield/undercarriage and obviously any accidents). You could do Kruger in any car...but bigger vehicles allow you better shooting opportunities. This rental is for 43 days in Nov-Dec 2024, and after a couple of weeks in southern Kruger we will head south into Swaziland and Lesotho (Sani Pass)...see photo below of the last 4WD rental we had in Kruger.

Northern Kruger is better for birds (greater diversity since you are moving toward the equator); southern Kruger is better for large predators including wild dogs. Also, in southern Kruger, you can stay just outside the park near Crocodile Bridge gate or Malelane gate...at the latter (Marloth Park area) there is a huge supermarket (SPAAR) that has wonderful food at very good prices...and there are many restaurants near the lodges at these gates. Places to stay (we try and save money) range from $40-$100/night - check Air BnB because there are some really superb places that border Kruger (so you have wildlife coming up to your deck - like elephants, zebra and the rest) - for reasonable prices. For example check this one: Majuli River Lodge.

We will be staying in Kruger too as we have done in the past...check reviews of places to stay in the areas (camps) you are interested in. Prices are higher for (often but not always) places to stay in Kruger (than lodges/air bnbs outside the park) - but they will have air-con, kitchenettes...we had wonderful times in the places to stay in the park. You can book them on-line and pay for them too...

If you are going to Kruger in the high season (June/July/August) or during their school holidays, book as soon as possible. Temps are cool during the day (their winter) and really pleasant...and dry (as in not much rain though this is an El Nino year). We go in November-Dec this year...end of spring and the time of short rains (though the short rains lasted much longer and harder in Nov-Dec 2023!).

Anyway, as I have written many times in this thread, doing a self-drive will save you money...it is really a lot of fun being your own guide - and 100% safe. I can't see paying the prices that the high end lodges charge...and by saving here and there, Deborah and I can head off for 30-45 days at a time (indeed we will be in eastern Australia this June-August with the money we saved).

ask questions if interested...many parts of Africa are set up well for self-drives...Namibia especially so. Etosha National Park is a great park - except the roads are like driving over a corrugated washing board......Show more →

Jan 11, 2024 at 01:42 AM

robert_in_ca
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p.42 #2 · African safari talk...recommendations?

Thanks. Actually she had it in on a lower branch and was dragging it up a little higher (pulling up from bottom as opposed to facing the tree and climbing). Then she paused (which is when the shot was taken) and went back down and jumped into the tall grass with it. Honestly, I think between the pack of wild dogs, the male lion and then seeing us she was a little startled/caught off guard.

artsupreme wrote:
Nice shots Robert. What is going on with the Leopard, is she coming back down the ground with her meal when you shot this? Clearly she didn't climb the tree upside down with the impala in her mouth, it looks like she is coming back down the tree?

Jan 11, 2024 at 01:59 AM

rdcny
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p.42 #3 · African safari talk...recommendations?

Hi Robert in California - yes I wanted to get some info in there for you (around about cars) so possibly you could save a bit in the future.

We've had similar vehicles in Namibia and Tanzania...but we try not to camp (preferring to be in an actual abode instead). We learned (the hard way) sleeping on the roof is hard - need to bring one's own inflatable mattress; bring small (4 to 6in) fans that can run off a power block because it can get hot inside tents at night if you are zipping up completely to keep out insects. We are mid 60s so we tend to feel stuff more than folks in 30s/40s. But in some places (Chobe eg) the best places to be had no shelters to stay in and camping was one's only option - and much safer on the roof of a vehicle than on the ground within a tent.

Glad to see you got the exhaust that is above the window...we've made quick bursts through water (potholes!) up almost to the door handle...and the rear vents kept slightly open are essential for keeping the dust from completely covering all the stuff in the back of the vehicle.

Nice to meet a fellow self-drive person. We'll have questions about the Kalahari, Okavango and other remote areas in Namibia. We want to drive through those...but this year eastern Australia from Sydney to Darwin...and Nov-Dec Kruger and heading south to Swaziland and Lesotho.

Lesser Flamingos (mostly) on 4 December 2023 in Arusha National Park, Tanzania

Jan 11, 2024 at 07:04 AM

Sanlameer
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p.42 #4 · African safari talk...recommendations?

rdcny wrote:
Hi Robert in California - yes I wanted to get some info in there for you (around about cars) so possibly you could save a bit in the future.

We've had similar vehicles in Namibia and Tanzania...but we try not to camp (preferring to be in an actual abode instead). We learned (the hard way) sleeping on the roof is hard - need to bring one's own inflatable mattress; bring small (4 to 6in) fans that can run off a power block because it can get hot inside tents at night if you are zipping up completely to keep out insects....Show more →

Hi,

I have some experience in self drive in those areas

Have been to Central Kalahari, Moremi, Chobe, Etosha, Kgalagadi, Southern Namibia, KNP all self-drive and camping. Vehicle used a 4x4 Toyota Landcruiser and an off-road caravan.
Madikwe game reserve several times-lodges, some offer specially adapted photography vehicle, personal guide to rent. (Jackies river lodge and also Pangolin at this lodge)

1. Etosha is possible with a 2-wheel drive like a Toyota Hilux. Roof top tents really uncomfortable and not required. Most of the Etosha camps do have chalets but not really high quality. Just a vehicle then required. water and cold drinks available in camps, food to be sourced outside in bigger towns.
2. Kgalagadi, sedan not ideal again 2-wheel drive as above. All 3 camps have chalets, basic food and drinks available in all the camps.
3. Central Kalahari, 4x4, totally self-sufficiency, own tent, water, fuel. Closest town Rakops, 3 h drive.
4. Moremi, 4x4, self-catering, camping, ablutions facilities available. Provisions from Maun, take sufficient fuel, nothing in camps.
5. Chobe, camping-4x4, same as Moremi but Kasane is about 1h away for day trip to do boat trip on Chobe River.(really awesome). Day trips from Kasane quite possible, stay in Kasane in lodge etc. From Kasane daytrips possible with rental guides. Some lodges offer day trips to Victoria falls. (Pangolin photo safaris-also offers 2 photo trips per day in boats Gimbals, guide, with Canon camera an 100-400 mm lens included. Pangolin hotel and 5 bedroom boat available for photo trips)
6. If only in Kasane, normal vehicle, fly in from Johannesburg.
7 Madikwe game reserve, 350 Km from Johannesburg, lodges, full board and game drives, excellent game viewing and much cheaper than some of the other private lodges. Malaria free.
8. Lodges around Kruger, all guided, no self-drive.
9. Camera and lens rental from Outdoorphoto in Pretoria. Close to Johannesburg.
10. KNP camping and chalets. normal sedan vehicle, food and fuel available in camps.

I hope this helps.

Regards,
Ben

Jan 11, 2024 at 08:48 AM

Cduff406
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p.42 #5 · African safari talk...recommendations?

Have you been to Lewa? If yes, how does it compare to Meru as they are very close to each other?

Lewa is on our itinerary for June, if anyone has been and has any insight, I'd be all ears!

Jan 11, 2024 at 02:43 PM

artsupreme
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p.42 #6 · African safari talk...recommendations?

Cduff406 wrote:
Lewa is on our itinerary for June, if anyone has been and has any insight, I'd be all ears!

I've been there, it's very different from the Mara with a more rugged landscape. Mt Kenya is part of the view. The landscape resembles Southern California terrain with rolling hills and mountains. I'm assuming you are going there to see Rhino? They are everywhere up there. Not nearly as many cats up there but it's a cool spot.

Jan 11, 2024 at 02:58 PM

Cduff406
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p.42 #7 · African safari talk...recommendations?

artsupreme wrote:
I've been there, it's very different from the Mara with a more rugged landscape. Mt Kenya is part of the view. The landscape resembles Southern California terrain with rolling hills and mountains. I'm assuming you are going there to see Rhino? They are everywhere up there. Not nearly as many cats up there but it's a cool spot.

Rhinos, but also the northern animals we won't see on our other stops. (Grevy's Zebra, Reticulted giraffe, hopefully the Oryx and if I'm really lucky some Generuks).

Mostly, it's a family vacation as much as a photo safari, and I'm not sure when we (or I) will have a chance to get back, so I didn't want to miss seeing it while we are there.

And I'm taking your advice and packing a 100-300 and 400!

Jan 11, 2024 at 09:22 PM

artsupreme
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p.42 #8 · African safari talk...recommendations?

Cduff406 wrote:
Rhinos, but also the northern animals we won't see on our other stops. (Grevy's Zebra, Reticulted giraffe, hopefully the Oryx and if I'm really lucky some Generuks).

Mostly, it's a family vacation as much as a photo safari, and I'm not sure when we (or I) will have a chance to get back, so I didn't want to miss seeing it while we are there.

And I'm taking your advice and packing a 100-300 and 400!

Nice, that's the perfect setup IMO, and you can bring the 1.4x to slap on the 400 to mix it up occasionally. I saw all of the above you mention up there except I don't recall if we saw Generuks, but I will find out when I sort through my photos. There's some really cool forest areas up there too, you will love it.

Jan 11, 2024 at 10:23 PM

rdcny
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p.42 #9 · African safari talk...recommendations?

Ben (Sanlameer) - thank You! Superb info for us independents

Jan 12, 2024 at 08:02 AM

artsupreme
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p.42 #10 · African safari talk...recommendations?

Abuttolph wrote:
Great advice - thanks. How did you carry four bodies with four attached lenses (plus additional lenses)? Were these all in one pack/case, or did you bring along more than one pack/case in the vehicle?

What I do to get my gear there is very rarely necessary because most of the time you should never be asked to weigh your carry on luggage. But being a surfer, they like to pick on us when we walk up with tons of cargo and board bags the size of caskets. It's very rare they don't weigh our bags, so I always plan for the worst. I have been called out once going to Africa in Qatar, but it's rare and shouldn't happen. For insurance and loss purposes I always take photos of my gear I'm bringing on that particular trip. Since I pack gear in vests this helps me remember what gear goes in what vest when I'm re-packing for the next destination. For Africa, I don't use my expensive thinktank camera roller bags as I can save 6lbs with these cheap rollers that weigh just 5.6lbs with bubble wrap and padding included. I wrap my gear in bubble wrap and then make sure it weighs the max limit without the vest, and then I add the vest loaded with other gear. If I'm ever asked to weigh my carry on, we just take out the vests and put them on knowing our total carry on weight will be right at the limit. If you care to look at the list below, you'll see on this last trip we carried on 82.5lbs of carry on gear when the limit allows for 66lbs. Once I get to my camp in Africa, I lay everything out in the tent and just carry my 4 bodies/lenses to/from the vehicle each day. I use my backpack for my drone and some accessories. My backpack doesn't get much use in the vehicle unless I need to change a lens or fly the drone. If you are sharing a vehicle with others, your bags in the vehicle will be more useful for storage.

Jan 12, 2024 at 03:18 PM

Abuttolph
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p.42 #11 · African safari talk...recommendations?

artsupreme wrote:
What I do to get my gear there is very rarely necessary because most of the time you should never be asked to weigh your carry on luggage. But being a surfer, they like to pick on us when we walk up with tons of cargo and board bags the size of caskets. It's very rare they don't weigh our bags, so I always plan for the worst. I have been called out once going to Africa in Qatar, but it's rare and shouldn't happen. For insurance and loss purposes I always take photos of my gear I'm bringing on...Show more →

Thanks for providing this info on how and what you and your wife pack and then how you handle things in the field. Your experience with bringing surfboards along no doubt has made you cautious and it never hurts to be prepared. The way that you did this makes excellent sense, and I will probably do something very similar. I probably will bring my photo carry-on roller (It is one of the discontinued Vanguard Alta rollers and I really love it) and prepare things similar to what you have done. I have never had my carry-on weighed in the US and am 99.9% sure that it won't be on my upcoming trip. The return flight home might be a different story so I want to definitely be prepared for any restrictions. My carry-ons have been weighed in the Brussels airport for a Qatar Airways flight, and then in the Windhoek airport on a departing AirLink flight.

You were smart to actually weight each piece. I have tended to just get the gear/bag/pack weights from online specs and go from there.

I start my flights from regional airports in the US and it is common to have to gate check carry-on sized rollers or suitcases. So, if any of my photo gear is in that type of luggage, then I prefer it to be packed my my Vanguard Alta as that thing has incredible protection. I would prefer to not do that at all, but sometimes there is no option. So far, it has worked out fine.

Edited on Jan 13, 2024 at 04:15 PM · View previous versions

Jan 12, 2024 at 04:07 PM

Cduff406
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p.42 #12 · African safari talk...recommendations?

That's great info and thanks for sharing. I think I am going to just buy a freight seat on my Africa flights, which should alleviate weight issues, right? Then I just need to worry about my international flights, which are more forgiving. Am I wrong in those assumptions?

Jan 12, 2024 at 04:23 PM

PIOK
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p.42 #13 · African safari talk...recommendations?

It was long 42 pages to read...

Thanks for all information
Looks like best for me as my first Safari is Kenia and Tanzania. I would like to do it this year in August or early September ( I hope is not too late ) I would prefer more budget tour. I am not crazy to photograph all this animals, just to see some action and enjoy nature and landscape.
My idea is - Safari (7-12 days ) and than climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania

I like some maps here
https://www.micato.com/a-map-of-africa/

I hope this page will help me a lot

https://www.safaribookings.com/best-time-to-go-on-safari-in-africa/august

Jan 14, 2024 at 01:33 AM

Abuttolph
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p.42 #14 · African safari talk...recommendations?

This month (January 2024) Kenya has revised their entry requirements. A visa is no longer needed, but an Electronic Travel Authorization is required instead. Here is their website: https://www.etakenya.go.ke/en/evisa.html

The application can be applied for within three months of entering the country.

One thing that they are requiring is booking confirmation for accommodations. I don't know the specifics on what information is required, but from what I can tell, it looks like tour/safari operators that you use will need to provide the specifics to you before you can apply for the eTA.

Jan 14, 2024 at 02:40 PM

berimbolo
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p.42 #15 · African safari talk...recommendations?

Jan 14, 2024 at 02:46 PM

Abuttolph
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p.42 #16 · African safari talk...recommendations?

berimbolo wrote:
For booking confirmation, you can send in the tour operator's agreement/confirmation.

Thanks. That is good to know and will simplify things.

Jan 14, 2024 at 04:45 PM

artsupreme
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p.42 #17 · African safari talk...recommendations?

Cduff406 wrote:
That's great info and thanks for sharing. I think I am going to just buy a freight seat on my Africa flights, which should alleviate weight issues, right? Then I just need to worry about my international flights, which are more forgiving. Am I wrong in those assumptions?

Sent you a PM

Jan 14, 2024 at 06:43 PM

artsupreme
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p.42 #18 · African safari talk...recommendations?

Abuttolph wrote:
This month (January 2024) Kenya has revised their entry requirements. A visa is no longer needed, but an Electronic Travel Authorization is required instead. Here is their website: https://www.etakenya.go.ke/en/evisa.html

The application can be applied for within three months of entering the country.

One thing that they are requiring is booking confirmation for accommodations. I don't know the specifics on what information is required, but from what I can tell, it looks like tour/safari operators that you use will need to provide the specifics to you before you can apply for the eTA.

The eVisa requirement has been around for several years. If you are putting together your own safari you can just use a copy of your receipt the camps will give you for the deposit. Otherwise you could even use an itinerary that your TO provides you with. I would also recommend creating a folder to store all your documents in so you can use most of them again when going back next time. The eVisas were taking months back during Covid and now they are issuing them very quickly.

Jan 14, 2024 at 06:45 PM

artsupreme
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p.42 #19 · African safari talk...recommendations?

PIOK wrote:
It was long 42 pages to read...

Thanks for all information
Looks like best for me as my first Safari is Kenia and Tanzania. I would like to do it this year in August or early September ( I hope is not too late ) I would prefer more budget tour. I am not crazy to photograph all this animals, just to see some action and enjoy nature and landscape.
My idea is - Safari (7-12 days ) and than climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania

I like some maps here
https://www.micato.com/a-map-of-africa/

I hope this page will help me a lot...Show more →

7-12 days in August or September will be an amazing safari. This is prime time high season so it's not too late to book, but good camps are definitely booking up very quickly. You will pay more during this time as it's the high season.

Jan 14, 2024 at 06:47 PM

artsupreme
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p.42 #20 · African safari talk...recommendations?

Abuttolph wrote:
Thanks for providing this info on how and what you and your wife pack and then how you handle things in the field. Your experience with bringing surfboards along no doubt has made you cautious and it never hurts to be prepared. The way that you did this makes excellent sense, and I will probably do something very similar. I probably will bring my photo carry-on roller (It is one of the discontinued Vanguard Alta rollers and I really love it) and prepare things similar to what you have done. I have never had my carry-on weighed in the US...Show more →

I have been called out several times to check my bags while boarding but I refuse and tell them they are $20K bags. Open it up and show them the gear and if they don't let you on then usually worst case they can put it in the flight attendant cubby.

Jan 14, 2024 at 06:49 PM

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African safari talk...recommendations?

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