There are no products in your shopping cart.
A Safari Experience Never to Forget - Botswana Okavanga Delta
Submitted by WildlifeNews on Fri, 08/29/2008 - 00:42.
Taking a trip down safari memory lane is not difficult when one has had the experience of taking a safari in Botswana's vast wildlife wilderness. Leaving ones daily life behind seems tough until you are sitting on that rough-terrain vehicle enjoying the cool air blowing in your face and engulfing the vast African bush veld covered with spectacular views of wildlife. Boy what a feeling! Those memories will stay close to me forever.
I recall such amazing events that included, being surrounded by buffalo and stared at with patient eyes, a feeling of being assessed for danger and being relieved when the bull of the herd turned and ran....but not after I captured remarkable footage on my old analog video camera. If digital was only invested then! My naivety was clear, and I was lucky that the bull did not charge!
Remarkable though, at the same location as those buffalos, we experienced elephant chasing hyenas from the water hole, and many animals coming and going that included zebra, giraffe and even a bat-eared fox.
On the salt-pan, we witnessed thousands and thousands of pink flamingos wading close to the bank and involved in their daily activities of looking for food in the shallow waters and mud - heads down. When spurred they flew off in a pink parade almost as if a pink cloud had ascended. These majestic birds painted a picture that I will never forget. The salt pan, a vast expanse of "nothingness", quiet and relaxing, clean and untouched, is truly an unrecognized wonder of the world.
Watching elephant gather around the water holes in their communion discussing the days events, while we also took a break and opened up our can’s of water (beer) and had a bite to eat. Eating with the Elephants! Hundreds of elephants were seen over the course of the two week period, with different experiences being noted, however, none was as exhilarating as the elephant that visited our tent – practically walked less than 5 feet from our tent, bold and brave, parading through our campsite to see what was up!
Secretary birds, blue rollers, and hornbills were abundant. Sharing a few moments with hornbills as they ate breadcrumbs out of the palm of my hand and really being able to see these carnivorous birds at such close up range was exhilarating. I almost felt like I belonged.
At night, camping in the bush in the wild near to lion - not being able to sleep for fear of being eaten alive! What a rush! during the night lion roars and wildlife noises everywhere - even with a night scope the realization of being in someone else’s home, as an uninvited guest can keep even the bravest awake. We saw some cool Owl as well as Bush Babies.
I could relive this story for hours and will write more about this experience in Chapter 2. For now, these tit-bits should give you some inspiration to write about your experience in the bush. I would love to hear about it and hopefully get some ideas of some key locations with unforgettable experiences.
Moremi Game Reserve
Botswana is pure heaven on Earth! The salt pan is like being on the moon. I recommend the makuro canoe rides in Maun. Our guide was so knowledgeable and an excellent instructor. He taught us the names of all the birds---mostly using inspiring our own initiative to hunt the bird down in his bird book! By the end, my boyfriend (now husband!) was able to spot the birds before the guide. We call him Hawk Eyes ever since. Our daughter seems to have the same keen sense of observation. I can't wait to take our kids there someday and DREAM often of how to make that happen soon!!
How to get the most out of your Safari experience
I have provided so many friends and family with advise and support about making their choice of safari type, that it has become common practice for me. What has surprised me is that what people find appealing in a safari experience is often much different that my expectations. Most of my referees, come back saying that their experience was good to great but that "they wanted more!"
So with that said, I thought I would take a moment to write a note about what a "comfortable" vs. an "uncomfortable" safari experience is, and hopefully that will help others when they make their decision to safari?
What is a "comfortable" safari? A comfortable safari is typically one that is at a luxurious hotel, with all the amenieties catered for, and where safari drives are taken twice a day (in the early morning and at dusk). These hotels usually charge hundreds of dollars a night and provide you with exceptional service. The safari drives are usually taken on the "safe" paths, as the hotels have major liability concerns when taking tourists out into the wild (yes, the WILD). Don't take WILD lightly, as the unexpected does happen and one has to be cautious. These safaris are great, you will see most of the common wildlife and will be able to capture awesome footage to take home! So, what more could you ask for?... An "uncomfortable" safari? Sounds strange, but take a read at a safari experience that will put you in the "fear factor category"!!!...well almost!
An "uncomfortable" safari is maybe not the right way to describe it, but taking a safari where you "rough it up" a bit will provide you with experiences you may not otherwise get from the typical hotel experience. Typically these safaris run for about 5 days in the WILD, and are IN the wild. These safaris are fully catered so you don't have to bring anything except yourself and some basic clothing and your camera and/or infra-red night-scope. Sleeping and eating in the wild may not be your cup of tea, but with experienced guides that take care of your tents (put them up for you, unless you want to do it yourself), and make your food (yes, steaks, eggs, ... you name it!) and provide your drinks (water, and alcohol) you will still be able to get that holiday feeling of being taken cared for.
In this article I will cover three key expereinces that differ from the comfortable, namely: Sleeping in the Wild, Eating in the Wild, Experiencing (seeing) the Wild.
Sleeping in the Wild
As evening sets in, your guides will most likely just turn off into a clearing or stop at a camp site and let you know you have arrived at your "hotel for the night". In the former case, pitching your tent under a tree or next to a mound may be a good or bad idea! :-] Ofcourse your tent should be placed near to the camp fire. I personally tell the story of the hyena that put its foot on my tent and woke me up!...I believe it!
Maybe "sleeping" is a misnomer - the sounds of the wild will awaken your inner sences, the sounds of lions roaring in the background, the sound of growls, hoots, and other strange noises will engulf you. A feeling of uneasiness may set in as you realize the enormity of the situation, the fact that you are in someone elses terriortiy, unwelcomed and unprotected. Using an infra-red night scope is a good idea if you want to scout the terriotory when there is nothing but darkness except for the moon and the dying campfire light. Hyena are very inquisitive and typically are the most common sighting around camp sites at night, with the night scope you may just spot one.
After a few nights of little sleep, you will just crash and enjoy your sleep, but not without dreams of your experience. Is it safe? Well as far as we are aware there have not been any recent cases of animals attacking sleeping campers in the wild. If unprovoked the wildlife should leave you alone, however, some animals are braver than others and it is not uncommon to have a heard of elephant, lion or hyena visit your camp site during the day or night.
Eating in the Wild
Eat lunch with the elephants! Unheard of? NO! Have a sandwich at the water hole with 15- 20 elephants and get to enjoy that wildlife entertainment. Your guides would wip out the barbaque (or braai, as it is known), and fy you up some boereworse (beef sausage) with some milies (corn on the cob). Enjoy the best in fine cooking and authentic cooking at that. If you have any food specialities or requirements you can have these catered for by informing your guides before the trip.
Your trip may even take you through some african villages where you can buy some food or drink from the locals - quite safe, cheap and an experience to be savored.
Besides the wildlife entertainment, a guide may pull out a guitar and play some songs, or tell some wildlife stories. What a way to experience the wild.
One tip - don't eat Tuna before bed, the lions favorite! and it will keep you up all night!
Experiencing (seeing) the Wild
Your guides will take you "off the beaten track", into the rough, and will find you wildlife that you will not often see. Puku, Rhoan, Sable and Bat-eared fox- hard to find, but if you know where and how, as these guides do, you will most likely get that rare glimpse. A guide often works in pairs - ie. a second vehicle, just in case one should get stuck and need a helping hand out of a deep sand pit or the like, with radio contact. With two vehicles they guides have the ability to radio in wildlife sightings as and when they come accross them. In many cases, if there is a kill, these guides will drive you right up next to it. At water holes, you basically drink! - well, you will be amongst the animals. A leopard perched up in a tree with a kill can be circled so you get the very best view. I have been told that these guides have driven along side a pack of hyena and followed them on their way to making a kill. Ofcourse this is done with due caution, at safe distance and without disturbing the wildlife. There are no deadlines, so pack your watch away and just enjoy the long days in the warm sun, and enjoy a ride at dusk as you see the animals on your way back to camp, or for that on your way out from camp. Night rides are an experience and give you a different appreciation for wildlife.
Note - this is not an attempt to sell you an "uncomfortable" safari but to give you some food for thought when planning your safari trip. Hope this helps to maximize your safari experience.
If you have any questions, you may contact me at SafariGuideMan@Yahoo.com.