Hwange/Victoria or Kruger??

26 May 2011, 21:43

Me and the wife have been to Africa a couple times hunting. Next time we are mostly interested in wildlife viewing and photography. We have good equipment and would like to have an opportunity too see a lot of animals with some up close opportunities. I've read several blogs and articles that say the private reserves in Kruger and Hwange are far, far more conducive to good photography than the non private areas. We aren't stuck on the big 5, we've photographed ele, lion and rhino as well as a ton of plains game. We are fairly open to anything but want to have a quality experience. If I can line up a 4-5 day hunt before the trip, maybe in Natal for blue wildebeest, nyala and warthog would be a bonus and I'm sure the wife wouldn't mind

Any thoughts or suggestions? I know some of you guys have probably visited the private reserves. Yes, they are more expensive, I've checked prices on various places and am OK with that as long as we get a fair opportunity.
Thanks

26 May 2011, 21:49

shakari

There are indeed some great private lodges in the KNP but if you're considering a KZN hunt then I'd suggest you stay in that area and go to the Hluhluwe/Umfolozi park or one of the private game reserves in that area instead.

26 May 2011, 21:57

L. David Keith

quote:
There are indeed some great private lodges in the KNP but if you're considering a KZN hunt then I'd suggest you stay in that area and go to the Hluhluwe/Umfolozi park or one of the private game reserves in that area instead.

I would highly recommend while your in KZN you take the photo op time to catch some Nyala on film. They are plentiful in some areas of Natal and make for some outstanding album conversation. If your near some of the rivers, add Bushbuck, various birds of many species and the varmint crowd. An afternoon/late evening overlooking an alfalfa field should yield plently of photo's as well.
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26 May 2011, 21:58

darkside

Shakman
We wouldn't mind traveling after a hunt in KZN up to Kruger or Hwange. The hunt really is secondary but if I can arrange something I will. If not, then its a photography only trip. We'll have 10 days - 2 weeks.
thanks

26 May 2011, 21:59

PSmith

Well, in 2006 the wife and I went to Vic Falls and Hwange after my hunt. We saw virtually no animals in Hwange, but it was one of those really hot and windy days. Victoria Falls is really interesting. But given the choice of the Falls/Hwange or Chobe (which isn't far from Vic Falls) I'd go with Chobe.

Haven't been to Kruger so I dunno about that.

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26 May 2011, 22:04

darkside

Thanks guys. I know nothing about Hluhluwe/Umfolozi but will do a bit of research on it. I Googled it right quick and it looks like it might be worth looking at. Thanks

We had considered spending some time in Chobe and may do that if we end up in the Victoria area. Would like to see the Falls.

26 May 2011, 22:09

mufasa

You've gotten good suggestions but if you are already booked in KZN, why not try Mkuze then go to Kruger. My son and I safaried in RSA then he took an Aggie trip to Kruger and what is now part of the multi-national park. He loved it. Mkuze can be done in a couple of days and it is a real jewel. There is a high end hunting/game viewing concession next to Mkuze if you are interested in that.

26 May 2011, 22:44

Hallgeir Gravrok

I can recomend Hluhluwe/Umfolozi park I`ve been there twice, a lovely place.

I will also recomend the Wetlands. False Bay and the city of St.Lucia

26 May 2011, 23:38

shakari

One of the best things about Hluhluwe/Umfolozi is the game capture unit there. Hit it at the right time and the bomas are full....

27 May 2011, 06:10

billrquimby

I've visited all the places mentioned , except for Chobe and Hwange. I can't imagine anyone who hasn't seen Victoria Falls not taking a couple of days to visit it.

That said, of all of parks I've visited, Kruger remains No. 1 in my book. The private lodges on its perimeter, especially Londolozi, Sam's Place and Mala Mala, do offer the be photo ops.

Bill Quimby

27 May 2011, 07:46

Nevada Wapati

My wife, son and I are planning a trip for next year. We're going to be hunting in KwaZulu Natal. Before the hunt we're going to Victoria Falls for two days and Hwange for another two days. We're planning to stay at The Hide, luxury tents while at Hwange.
While hunting we plan to take three days of non-hunting activities with the outfitter. One of those days we plan on visiting Hluhluwe park. Close to that area is the Ilala Basket Weavers and Dumaluzu, a native culture village we also plan to visit.
I remember reading about a private lodge in the area that is supposed to be great for photography. It was rather expensive but if you want the name I'll look it up for you

27 May 2011, 08:56

ozhunter

"The Hide" in Wankie would be my pick.

27 May 2011, 09:30

7MMNut

quote:
Originally posted by darkside:
Me and the wife have been to Africa a couple times hunting. Next time we are mostly interested in wildlife viewing and photography. We have good equipment and would like to have an opportunity too see a lot of animals with some up close opportunities. I've read several blogs and articles that say the private reserves in Kruger and Hwange are far, far more conducive to good photography than the non private areas. We aren't stuck on the big 5, we've photographed ele, lion and rhino as well as a ton of plains game. We are fairly open to anything but want to have a quality experience. If I can line up a 4-5 day hunt before the trip, maybe in Natal for blue wildebeest, nyala and warthog would be a bonus and I'm sure the wife wouldn't mind

Any thoughts or suggestions? I know some of you guys have probably visited the private reserves. Yes, they are more expensive, I've checked prices on various places and am OK with that as long as we get a fair opportunity.
Thanks

I've only been to Africa once, but it was a combined trip to Kruger and hunting. The hunting safari was the primary purpose of the trip, with the KNP tour as and add on.

In retrospect the "add on" of KNP was a great decision. My wife and I had a great time and would like to repeat that with my sons someday. This part of the trip was definitely done with the budget in mind. We stayed at the Tremisana lodge. It's nothing fancy, but it was clean, the food was good and plenty of it, and the staff was great.

The touring was a combination of visiting the private game reserves and KNP. We arrived late in the afternoon from Jo'burg and went out a couple of hours for a night drive. I don't think we were a 1/2 mile from the lodge when I started taking pictures of three lions snoozing in the bush just feet away from the truck.

There is also a troop of vervet monkeys that have taken up the trees around the lodge as home. They're entertaining for sure and provide for a natural alarm clock in the morning when they come running across the metal roof of your cottage.

27 May 2011, 10:04

martin pieters

I am currently constructing a luxury photographic lodge in the middle of Hwange national Park, I have a large private lease of approx 500 square km,s, we will offer personalized guided tours including walking safaris and tracking of the big 5 on foot, if all goes well,we will be fully operational by October 1 this year. Although many parts of hwange;s tourist routes are not conducive to great sightings, this is not the case in the private concessions. Your trip can be combined with a trip to VictoriaFalls.

Martin

27 May 2011, 10:19

txlonghorn

The family and I are booked at elephant plains lodge in Sabi Sands reserve adjacent to KNP. They have excellent feedback on tripadvisor and the rates are significantly lower than similar accommodations. We then head to Kimberley for a 10 day plains games hunt. This will be in July. Can give a review when we are back.

27 May 2011, 13:56

ARWL

It's hard to say. The private lodges around KNP and in areas like SABI Sands and in the Timbavati Game Reserve do provide good opportunities for photographic safaris. You can also consider Madikwe (in the North West province of SA and malaria free if that is an issue to you).

There are lots of great places, but those would be my recommendation. None will be cheap.

27 May 2011, 18:02

butchloc

having been to all those places i would suggest that time is your major consideration. knp you should really have 5 days minimum to see the whole thing. umfolozi and hluhluwe can be done in a day each. vic falls is less than a day or a day if you include the market. hwange should be 2 days. knp and hwange both have lodges to stay at in the parks. lots of eles in hwange, but the big old tuskers in knp are really something to be seen. depends on what you want to see and where you are and how much time you have

27 May 2011, 20:53

txdoc

Darkside,
Appararently I am not authorized to access the PM you sent. May need to add me to your "friend" list?

27 May 2011, 21:18

darkside

txdoc
I'll try that or email, thanks

27 May 2011, 23:31

Tom In Tennessee

For some reason, I've never scheduled a side trip for photography in RSA even tho I have been there most....but any photo safari would be hard to beat what is offered in TAN say at Ngorongoro Crater or Tangire.

29 May 2011, 05:10

SteveGl

The thing about Kruger is that you can self-drive, which is what I did back in '03. Imagine being by yourselves, maybe 20 or 30 miles from the nearest camp. No one else around. Plenty of wildlife. That was something special.

29 May 2011, 08:33

ozhunter

quote:
Originally posted by SteveGl:
The thing about Kruger is that you can self-drive, which is what I did back in '03. Imagine being by yourselves, maybe 20 or 30 miles from the nearest camp. No one else around. Plenty of wildlife. That was something special.

Done this a couple time in Wankie (almost got eaten by Lion but that's another story).

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