Tswalu Kalahari

[optig]

Please excuse me,you did mention the cheetahs.

[Atravelynn]

@@Atravelynn already been 31/8/15 for 4 nights.....

Ok, I am behind the times. Will look for your report and that of @Alexandar33. What is funny is I have sometimes gotten you and Alexendar mixed up because your online personalities seem similar in mind. Both very positive, informative and constructive personalities I might add.

[Atravelynn]

I was planning to go for seven days but I think I'm going to book for ten days to take advantage of the 5 for 4 offer.

@@bushmaniac did you see honey badgers or leopards? You didn't mention the cheetahs in the list of animals that you saw.

 

 

Please excuse me,you did mention the cheetahs.

Photos of adorable cubs! With this avatar I can find a cheetah in a haystack or a 4-page report. The cheetah cubs are in post #34, right under the army of meerkats.

[Atravelynn]

@@bushmaniac - Great report!!! Thanks so much .........

 

Quick question - did you get a chance to chat to the guides about Aardvark sightings outside of winter? What about the other months? Thanks ...........

Inquiring minds want to know!!!

 

From the response just on this thread, I think Twsala will be booked solid just by ST members. Maybe I'll even be joining the party.

Edited September 28, 2015 by Atravelynn

[bushmaniac]

@@Atravelynn @madaboutcheetah

 

Sorry for my tardiness.

 

As soon as night time temperatures increase to a few degrees above freezing, the aardvark switches completely back to nocturnal behaviour. They think that they prefer the dark and are “forced” to forage during the day in winter. This means that the only reliable time to see aardvark during the day is from late May until early August. The change over happens virtually overnight.

 

This does not mean that they are not viewable all year round, but during some months it will take more time/effort. Aardvark are fairly often seen on spot-lit night drives during their spring, summer and autumn. If the (summer) rains are good then the vegetation growth in February to May does limit the small animal viewing and they become more difficult to see.

 

The guides are happy to follow an aardvark on foot with a portable spotlight. Guests who are prepared to drive late at night and stalk quietly through the dark are often rewarded with great viewing (but difficult to photograph).

 

In summary, aardvark are more difficult to find in spring and summer and perhaps most difficult in autumn but with some patience there is still a good chance of finding one at night.

 

They've also said that this winter has been exceptional (of course, the aardvarks knew I was visiting! ) and 2010 was similar. But 2011 and 2012 were not too good.

[bushmaniac]

@@optig

 

We didn't see either leopard or honey badger.

 

Other guests did see leopard, but the leopards are very skittish and tend to keep to the mountains and rocky areas. We spent most of our time focused on aardvark/pangolin which tend to avoid those areas and stick to the sandy dunes.

 

Our guide actually told us that they didn't have honey badgers, however I found a video on their blog of an incredibly relaxed honey badger actually in the camp. The video was a few years old, but it proves they must occur there. http://www.tswalu.com/blog/the-honey-badger/

[Game Warden]

We spent most of our time focused on aardvark/pangolin...

 

And that is the leitmotif I wish to apply to all my future safaris...

[bushmaniac]

@@Atravelynn

We saw meerkats, aardvarks (23 sightings, all during daylight hours) This looks like crazy talk. The first time someone accused me of crazy talk I nearly fell off my unicorn!

pangolin (2 sightings), Can you comment on how common or how unusual it is to see a pangolin? After delving into your amazing report, I have a better idea of pangolin sightings and the "enthusiasm" their rarity generates. To find the pangolin of your own had to be thrilling. The guides said that there's an average of one sighting a week during the winter, but not so frequent during the other months. After the circus of the first sighting it was so wonderful to find our own and be able to spend some peaceful quality time with the creature.

black-maned lions, definitely plural, what a handsome pair you saw.

aardwolf, a prize in its own right Next time I'll get it to stop for a photo

sable, roan, These are huge drawing cards on their own without all the other species. I agree. They weren't in big herds, but there were often both species lingering around the lodge and at most waterholes.

eland, tssessebe, oryx, springbok, duiker, reedbuck, impala, kudu, nyala, yellow mongoose, slender mongoose, wild dog pups, cheetah & cubs, African wildcat,

caracal, How about the caracal? Can you comment on how common or how unusual it is to see a caracal? Very rare! I don't think you have any more or less chance than at most other game reserves in SA. Both the guide and tracker were just as surprised as we were.

[bushmaniac]

 

Another question for you @@bushmaniac, how far in advance did you book? Sorry if I missed it.

 

 

I booked about 18-20 months ahead.

 

They have an online availability checker which is very useful. Next year is already pretty busy during the winter months. It looks as though they may be closing at the end of September 2016 for refurbishment as there's nothing available from 30th Sept through to 31 Dec - they did say they were thinking of refurbishing the camp early 2017 but may have brought it forward.

[Alexander33]

@bushmaniac

@@Atravelynn

 

We asked the lodge manager, Stephne Komoetie, about the refurbishment schedule, and she said it would not be until 2017, if even then. It does seem odd that there would not be any availability at all from September through December 2016, though.

[SafariChick]

I just looked at their availability and it is really busy in August. There's some availability in July. Didn't look at June. Is it all Safaritalkers who have booked it up?

[jeremie]

Amazing sightings!!!!! Such rare species seem to see really common at Tswalu according to your report!

Thank you for sharing with us this report

[Anomalure]

@@bushmaniac

 

Those Aardvark, Aardwolf, and Pangolin sightings are just incredible. And the Sable, Roan, Desert Black Rhinos, Wild Dogs, African Wildcats, Caracal, Cheetah, and Lions too - guess what my next safari destination will be!!

 

Did you ever hear of any Brown Hyena sightings at Tswalu? Are they seen very often?

[optig]

I'm going for ten days in 2017. I already have a booking and will be making my down payment a year and a half in advance. I am excited to see a caracal and pangolin which are on my list of dream animals to see on safari. However, everything else there will be superb and know that I will have a great experience there. I also have to stress that the bird sightings in Tswalu Kalahari will be superb. I also look forward to the gourmet cuisine and the fine facilities.