When to safari

Jelster

Jelster

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I'm planning to take an African safari in the next 12 - 18 months, but am a little confused when to go. My plan is to take up to 3 weeks and include 2 or 3 locations including Victoria falls for a few days.

I'm not sure which Country or parks to try, obviously the photography opportunities are important, and other than the "big 5", I'd like to get Cheetahs and some bird action too if possible.

Any input you guys can give would be a great help.

Cheers
Steve
 
We've done 2 safaris in Africa. The 1st was 1 week covering Tanzania and Kenya. Far too much road travel for my liking but we did see cheetahs!

The 2nd visit was quite recent in Madikwe reserve in South Africa. This is a bush habitat so better for birds but no cheetahs to be seen!

Plenty of lion, elephant and all the other glorious creatures.

My impression was that you need to combine different habitats for a range of animals and birds.

Savannah is the place to see cats like cheetahs and bush is the best place to see birds as you're closer to their perches.

If you're taking 3 weeks then you have a good opportunity to vary habitats and see as much as possible although it's worthwhile remembering that you're not guaranteed to see everything you want to but what you do see will be amazing!

You will also be able to start a massive thread here regarding what kit to take :)
 
I would go between March and May sometime..basically Southern Africa's equivalent to autumn (although you probably wouldn't guess!). Probably less chance for mozzies to bite and give malaria as well seeing as it would be past the summer season.
 
I went to the Kruger in February of this year...they had a good rainy season so the bush was thick and visibility distance was'nt as good as normal (however still saw the big 5, cheetah, wild dog and so much more....) so maybe there winter (our Summer) may be better? but no doubt whatever time of the year you go there you will see plenty and it will be well worth it!!

I also went to the Pilansberg which is right next to Sun City so you can get the best of both worlds....harder to spot there but it felt and looked like Africa more than the Kruger did....did'nt see another human for a few hours or so and less tarmac roads.

Addo Elephant Park is apparantly very good also (I have not been) good (and I think only) place to spot Dung beetle. It's near Port Elizabeth.

Well those are my experiances.....Masai Mara is very good (I've not been)

Hope this helps and enjoy your trip!!
 
Depending on your budget, Botswana is great.

About an hour outside the capital city is a private game reserve called Mokolodi which has white rhino, giraffe, hippo, zebra, impala, red heartebeast (sp), ostritch etc, but no predators. They do have two hand reared cheetahs which you can pay extra to meet. The habitat here is bush veld, so the bird life there is great. It has a great restraunt and rhinos sometimes wander up to the boma there! 300mm is fine for the animals on the whole, you may want longer for some birds in the lake area.

In the middle of the country is the Makgadikgadi salt pans which are a haven for bird life. We were there in August (Winter) and saw thousands of flamingoes in the pans, plus loads of other birds too, though I was under the impression that the rainy season (summer) was the better time to see the flamingoes - when we were there 400mm wasn't long enough to get anything more than a pink blur on the horizon! Also on the pans, I have seen silver backed jackals and wildebeast. This is salt flat habitat and plains - in some areas you can see the curvature of the earth it is that flat. Reach is king here - I managed fine with 300mm, but there were times when at least double would have been nice!

In the far north is the Okavango Delta and Moremi Game Reserve. The Delta is great for birds, but check the seasons - some of the camps are not there when the Delta is in high flood. I think peak season is in July / August as it is winter and the flood is just starting. Moremi is the dry bit at the side of the Delta, it is mainly mopani woodland. In the past there, I have seen lions, cheetah and leopard in one day. I was fine here with 300mm, but I haven't been in the Delta proper, so I can't speak for there.

In the north east is Chobe. Here the river flows year round. It is fairly thick bushveld, so it doesn't make too much of a difference whether to visit in summer or winter in terms of visability - it is difficult to see into the bush in winter and impossible in summer! But either time of the year, it is a bit like being in a zoo - every bend you go round you see something. The bird life here is great also. I have seen leopard, lions, buffalo and hundreds of elephants here. For the animals, I have always found 300mm ok, but for smaller birds, again more reach would be preferable.

Vic Falls is about a couple of hours drive from Kasane (the town next to Chobe), I have only been to the Zimbabwe side, which is apparently better in terms of the view of the falls. I have never felt the need to spend more than a few hours at Vic falls, but then I am not interested in bungee jumping or white water rafting. Vic Falls town is a typical touristy town.

The areas of Botswana that I haven't visited are Tulli Block in the far east of the country. I know there is a rhino sanctury there, and the wildlife viewing is supposed to be good, it is possibly less touristy than Chobe and the Delta. In the middle of the country is the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, and in the south west is the trans kalahari frontier park, but that is easier to get to from the SA side - the road from the Bots side is pretty awfull by all accounts, unless you are with someone who knows the area and has the necessary safety / emergency equipment. Between the Okavango Delta and Chobe is Savuti and Linyati (sp), these areas are more like open plains and are known for the lion sightings. Savuti lions have been known to kill elephants in the past.

Bots is generally safe, has good transport links and the locals are friendly on the whole. The bad side of Botswana is the cost of getting there and hotel costs.

Hope that helps
 
I definitely recommend Chobe and Addo, especially if you have a thing for elephants. You really cannot fail to spot them.

Plan on taking morning and evening Safaris to make the most of your time there, as well as a water safari in Chobe. This allows you a totally different perspective on the elephants and other animals at the water's edge. If you're lucky you may even spot hippo out of the water.
 
Kenya has much to offer the massi is best in July/August as the migration is in progress north at that time.

There are plenty of parks to chose from with different things to see.
 
If Victoria Falls is important to you, then don't go when it is in full flood. You won't get near to take photos because of the mist. It is touristy so don't spend too much time there, but it is definitely worth a visit.

If you can afford it, Botswana is wonderful, but terribly expensive. We went to Little Kwara and Lebala camps. Both wonderful.

For our next safari, we would probably go back to Tanzania. The more touristy bits are the northern circuit - Manyara, Ngorongora, Serengeti, all fantastic. If you prefer to really get away from the tourists - try the Ruaha or Selous. Both amazing, but you get more variety of wildlife where there is water and there is more water in the Selous.

We normally go in November but depending where you are going it is worth checking the dates of the migration. That must be really worth seeing.

Jenny
 
AndyJ1980 said:
anti-malaria tablets for a start :lol:
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Don't get me started... The Mrs has now said SHE wants to go to a malaria free area. I've told her we may be going on separate holidays then, as it seems like all the best areas are not free of malaria....

The reason I mentioned Vic Falls, is that I don't know when I'll get back to Africa again, as there's so many other places to visit, so I wanted to get to see them, and get some landscape shots in.

As for a thread regarding kit, nearer the time I think.....

Steve
 
malaria free safari..... where's that then?
 
Malaria areas....
 
We went to Kenya over Xmas and new year a few years ago. We went to 3 different parks and all 3 offering something different.
Sambru in the north- a lot of vegetation but managed to see everything we wanted including the big 5. Very hot here.
Lake Nakuru in the rift valley - great for birds and hippos. We took a boat/canoe on the lake and had the hippo swimming around us.
Massi mara - amazing place saw everything here. Cheetah on hunt was amazing. We also took hot air balloon ride on Christmas day which is well worth it.

We got a plane between the parks so not much travel.
 
jennyb said:
If Victoria Falls is important to you, then don't go when it is in full flood. You won't get near to take photos because of the mist.
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And if you go when it's not in flood all you'll see from the Zambian side is a tiny trickle. If you really want to experience 'The Smoke that Thunders' then you'll want to have a lot of water there.

I first saw the Falls in October 2005 - and they were most disappointing. So when I was planning my second trip I decided that June would provide much more of a spectacle. And I was right - it was spectacular.
 
Zambia - South Luangwa National Park. I went in November 2009 just the beginning of the wet season so plenty of new shoots and lots of game - including 2 Leopards on the same night.

I would love to go to Botswana but it is costly.
 
Jelster said:
I'm planning to take an African safari in the next 12 - 18 months, but am a little confused when to go. My plan is to take up to 3 weeks and include 2 or 3 locations including Victoria falls for a few days.

I'm not sure which Country or parks to try, obviously the photography opportunities are important, and other than the "big 5", I'd like to get Cheetahs and some bird action too if possible.

Any input you guys can give would be a great help.

Cheers
Steve
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Hi Steve
I stay in South Africa and do annual 4x4 overland trips into Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique and other nearby countries. In my opinion the best time of year really depends on what type of photos you want to take:
For landscapes: September to April, is is also the rainy season.
For game and nice sunsets: winter from around June to August. You see more game as they flock around waterholes and the bush is not so dense.

In terms of cost, it is about the same in the different countries, again it depends on what you are after. Botswana more for game, Namibia for game and stunning landscapes. It is much better to camp as it is very cheap, not more than $8 per person per night at most camping spots. You also experience the bush much better.

There are lots of 4x4 rental companies (and yes, you need a 4x4) that can provide you with a fully kitted vehicle, tents included.

Please do not hesitate to contact me for more information, I will be glad to assist.
Attie
 
I did this trip with a friend - see my photos. I thoroughly enjoyed it and, depending upon who's with you, it may suit you too as it's 3 weeks long. (Feel free to ask more if you're interested.)
 
Camping (as in traditional camping) is definitely out, the wife doesn't rough it, not even for my 50th Birthday present :lol:

I'm not sure if I fancy doing a self drive either.

Steve
 
Jelster said:
Camping (as in traditional camping) is definitely out, the wife doesn't rough it, not even for my 50th Birthday present :lol:
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:lol::lol::lol:

Oposite here wife would ruff it but not me. I like my comforts. Curently planning a trip but Costa Rica keeps calling me back.

For sure we will be in Africa or South America in March, but not in a tent how ever nice:D
 
Steve,

We did Sabi Sands this past May. That is the start of the winter season for them. There was still a fair amount of water in the various watering holes and the herds were still not bunched quite yet. The bush still had some greenery to it. That said, the guides were so good and the animals so abundant it just meant we had to get a little closer. In talking to the owner (and head driver) of the lodge, he said September for that area because the water gets scarce and the animals bunch around the few big watering holes.

That said, we saw the big five multiple times over in 4 days. One day we saw 6 different leopards in the same day. We saw 2 two-month old leopard cubs, a 6 month old Cheetah cub with his mom, a baby elephant, a lion roaring, etc. There were TONS of great birds, I just didn't have a lens for them. Instead I shot a 55-200 and only lacked length on the birds. I would highly recommend a part of your trip there.

Thanks,
Rick
 
Jelster,

Apologies for being a little late, though this may help other people thinking of heading that way too.

I have worked in Botswana and Zambia running camps, and run group photographic trips, so hopefully can help a little.

I notice that your other half would like to visit a malaria free reserve, that would point towards Madikwe or Kruger/Sabi Sands in the dry season. Kruger becomes a malarial area when the rains start.

I also notice that camping is out, so that leave you with more expensive lodge options. I am going to ignore malaria in what I am about to write. East Africa will provide significantly cheaper lodging, as places like Botswana is significantly more expensive.

I mainly know Southern Africa, so will comment on that;

There are less expensive camps in Southern Africa, though they are more a one off and often in marginal areas where the game viewing is not neccessarily as good.

Botswana is very expensive if you are not willing to camp, particularly if you want to head that way in the peak season - you are looking at prices close to $1000 per person per night in most of the private areas. I love Botswana and it where I take groups, the whole northern part of the country is like one large game reserve, with no fences or people between national parks and private reserves. This enables you to experience a number of different habitats.

Namibia offers great landscapes, though game viewing is not a prolific, Zambia is good, though I did does no quite tick the box for me.

Zimbabwe is an incredible country to visit. Parks like Hwange and Mana Pools would provide you with an excellent safari experience. These areas can also be mixed with SA to give a real diverse experience. There are some excellent specials available in the country right now.

South Africa, good introduction, though it sometimes lacks that wild feel of the countries further north.

Even within each country, there are considerations like time of year -areas peak at different times. For example, whilst Botswana's dry season between Jun-October is supposed to offer the peak viewing, the large floods of the Okavango over the last two years restricts a lot the areas you can reach and in my experience, game veiwing can be poor.

The other aspect would be to consider what type of safari you are heading on. If your main interest is photography, you ideally need a private vehicle, or be part of a photographic group if you do not mind that. The private vehicles will be an additional cost.

In East Africa, there are camps like Serian, which inlcudes private vehicles in the cost of your trip - something to think about.

More than happy to help with more specifics where neccessary.......

I have a blog that maybe of some help http://www.thesafariphotographer.com
 
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Dormouse said:
Zambia - South Luangwa National Park.
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Yes, absolutely fantastic location!

My personal favourite is Mana Pools National Park in the north of Zimbabwe. A UNESCO World heritage site and the only NP I am aware of in Africa where you are permitted to walk without a guide. Once you have spent time game viewing on foot, viewing from vehicles makes you feel very detached.

Best time to visit (and this holds true for most of Southern Africa) - right at the end of the dry season (typically late October). At this time of year the bush will have died right back, improving visibility (and photo opportunities dramatically). The browsers / grazers will be at their most stressed, and will congregate around the few sources of water which haven't dried out.....which in turn, increases the chances of seeing predators.
 
i went to Tanzania last november and it was amazing. Try to go before the rainy season because the animals are easily seen next to water spots where they go to drink.
during rainy season you will have bad sky and problem to take animals hidding from pouring rains.
Serengeti is just fantastic. You can also visit the Kenyan part
 
if you take shoots from the 7D please post them here im quite curious about the result as i took mine from the 5D :)
 
Just thought I'd add my two pence....
We went to Chobe in April 2009 for our honeymoon (we stayed at the lodge inside the park). It was the first time we'd been on a safari and I had my lovely new D90 with a borrowed 70-200 and a hired 400mm (I believe) lens. We went on a game drive at 6am and 5pm, and a boat ride at 2pm, and the animals we saw were just amazing. I'll never forget sitting in the jeep with 2 lionesses (sp!) and lion cub eating a wildebeast carcass, with a large croc in the river on the other side of the jeep chomping on a fish!
To help us decide which country to go to for our safari, I spent some time on Google looking for the peak viewing in each country for every month.
For us it is Canada this year for whales and bears, and next year back to Africa for more safari :).
 
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