Worse trip ever!

[KafueTyrone]

I take it you were not guided by Mr McBride himself then?! Most people I meet who have stayed there either love it or hate it, and it seems to depend on wether the man himself is there/guiding or not.

 

Good point on Mushingashi too! I know the place well. It is a fantastic area, indeed Sable coming out of their ears, not to mention great numbers of general game, plus high chance for special things like Sitatunga and Otter. For the past 10 years it has been looked after very well, fire management, anti-poached very effectively, and as such it has staggering amounts of game for the typical 'low density Miombo woodland'. It is a model that the main park should follow in my opinion. It has however from my understanding been told to commercialise itself in the last year or so, as such hunting has become a more predominant feature of the place. I have not been since they started hunting more, as previously it was a handful of hunts all year, mostly by the owner of the land and only then for the odd Sable, etc. I also know Bongwe Safaris and they are indeed cheap and are becoming more popular, moving away a little from their mainstay of backpacker-type excursions. Delai camp is a place I have stayed on a few occasions and is well positioned, fine for camping, but very basic and a little run down (when I was last there, Nov 2010).

 

In regards to the balancing act of visitor numbers, again a very good point and one which I find myself justifying very often. The Kafue is bigger than the Kruger yet receives about 1% of the visitor numbers annually than the Kruger. We would not even nearly affect the untrammelled feel of the Kafue if we were to say double visitor numbers to 2% of the Kruger? I feel we could increase visitation in the Kafue 10 fold and still not touch the surface, the place is bloody massive! Of course when you start getting huge volumes then with this comes other issues. I just feel the park has a long way to go before too many tourists affect the experience.

 

Regards poaching, I can tell you that the Kafue is not alone in feeling the effects of a slight increase in poaching in recent times. Poaching is far more under control than a few decades ago though, let's not forget this. Again, something I always tell visitors to the Kafue is that if there is one park where by simply visiting you are making a difference it is here. Thanks to the tourist, safari camps can exist, and this, in simple terms means that a poacher is not there. Oh and former member you missed out one 'top spot' area, better than all those you have named, that is the Chunga/Shishamba area, a truly world class game viewing loop, rivalling any you can throw at me (all pics attached taken at Shishamba).

 

Edited January 7, 2019 by wilddog

[egilio]

Tyrone, so the pack of 42 was seen again? Do you know if Robin has managed to receive some pictures yet? He would love to get a handle on that pack. 42 and it's denning season...so there might be more coming out soon!

[madaboutcheetah]

Tyrone, so the pack of 42 was seen again? Do you know if Robin has managed to receive some pictures yet? He would love to get a handle on that pack. 42 and it's denning season...so there might be more coming out soon!

 

Oh WOW!!! Pack of 42????

[kittykat23uk]

Sounds amazing!

[KafueTyrone]

I'm not too sure if Robin has any pics yet. He must get hold of Linda at Mukambi as she is friends with Ian, the guy who saw the pack and who has the pics.

 

Let's hope they den successfully!

[kittykat23uk]

Do you run trips yourself Tyrone?

[luangwablondes]

People normally go to McBrides for the bush walking and other activities. Not to self drive around.

[Guest nappa]

I got this one wrong in more ways than one but I would suggest that some of your replies are well out of date with what is actually happening on the ground

 

McBride was at camp & escorted the so called 'Bush walks".

But for me a bush walk is far more than a few yards outside camp with a romantically dressed man sporting a rifle, bush hat & living on his reputation!

 

As I said not only was I dissatisfied with McBrides but so were others who had payed for a walking safari!

[luangwablondes]

So what you are saying, there is no reason anyone would want to go to McBrides, other then photo ops with the man himself?

 

Not what others are saying, who have been there recently.

[luangwablondes]

That's right. Game drives are not what people go to McBrides for. Where I am going with this, is it appears that this is a case of sour grapes. The Imfuduko guide set the tone for the safari and now everything stinks. If Nappa didn't like the bush walks, say so to McBride. Why wait till here.

[Guest nappa]

Did I say I did not like the bush walks at McBrides? ..... I don't think so, I never went on one!

I only reported my observations of the bush walks that I had witnessed & what I was told by others who had payed for bush walks.

 

Did I start this thread complaining about McBrides?...... Again I don't think so!!

 

I started this thread to warn others about Imfuduko as there had been a couple of questions asked about this company in the past & unfortunately at that time they seemed to be ok, I was wrong!

 

I seem to have touched a few nerves here with my replies to questions & criticism.

[ZaminOz]

Did I say I did not like the bush walks at McBrides? ..... I don't think so, I never went on one!

I only reported my observations of the bush walks that I had witnessed & what I was told by others who had payed for bush walks.

 

So if you didn't go on one how do you know that there wasn't more to the walks than:

a few yards outside camp with a romantically dressed man sporting a rifle, bush hat & living on his reputation!

I'm just not sure how one witnesses a walk that one is not on?

 

But you are right, quibbling about individual aspects of your trip is probably not very productive. I am sorry that the whole trip and the experience was ruined for you by the operator. And having grown up in and around Kafue I know full well that it is a park that can dissapoint as well as stun with its wildlife viewing. It is anything but predicatable. This is more to do with the vastness of the park and the fact that its interior is fairly well watered, which means that game can sometimes vanish away from the game drive loops and roads. There one day, gone the next and back again after that.

 

If anything this thread should serve to remind everyone that no two safari areas in Africa are the same, and that Kafue in particular is not a "tick the big five box" safari destination... it is more for those who just want to be in the bush and see what presents itself each day, without worrying about what you have or have not seen.

[KafueTyrone]

Amen!

 

And to cheer everyone up, a photo of a Pel's Fishing Owl in the Kafue!

 

[KafueTyrone]

Again, debatable. I argue that the rainy season, in particular January through to March the Kafue is one of the very best places to find Wild Dog and Cheetah. Of course the park as a whole is difficult to access this time of year, as such only camps such as Mukambi are your only real option, but a few loop roads have been made 12 months access from last year. Attached pictures from 'unseasonal' Kafue in the Chunga area...

 

Agreed on the different areas of the park being more 'productive'. In a park the size of a country you are always going to have that. Productivity is however subjective. I personally feel a productive day in the bush is to find a new species' of bird and maybe a day time sighting of Grysbok, maybe a nice herd of Sable, this for me would be productive. Indeed, if you come to the Kafue expecting the big 5 experience then you have unfortunately missed the point (although certain areas at certain times you can easily find 4 of them almost daily).

 

[Super LEEDS]

Did I say I did not like the bush walks at McBrides? ..... I don't think so, I never went on one!

I only reported my observations of the bush walks that I had witnessed & what I was told by others who had payed for bush walks.

 

So if you didn't go on one how do you know that there wasn't more to the walks

 

[ZaminOz]

My point being that the view expressed about the walks was no more than hearsay.

[wilddog]

Nappa, you have obviously had a rough deal and come back to UK without that normal post-trip euphoria. Clearly your time there was unsatisfactory, although others (including myself) have had a good time in Kafue. This probably only makes your dissatisfaction worse!

 

You have mentioned somewhere in this thread that there were some good points to your trip. I am personally looking forward to seeing or hearing about those and can only hope that your next trip is more satisfactory.

 

We live to fight another day...................

[Guest nappa]

Here is my slant on the walks & why I have that opinion.

I always take trail cameras with me it is good for my business & also a great deal of fun.

At McBrides I had three cams set up, one at the split in the approach road, one at the gully & one on the track from the approach road to the camping area.

I had met a walking Safari Between the junction & the main camp, I also observed this Safari from the camp site.

OK I admit I never watched it all the time but at no time did I notice the group going beyond the gully / camp site / main camp junction.

Although I captured game drive vehicles & night drive vehicles plus wild life I at no time captured anyone on foot & they would have had to pass a camera to leave the camp.

My cameras were out from the time I arrived & were only collected when we finally left the camp after four days!

For this reason I would suggest my observations are more than "Hearsay"

 

The two people I talked to were also regular safari goers & in both cases were not happy with the $25 they had paid for their bushwalk.

 

This is my last reply to this topic, I have done what I set out to do which was to warn people about Imfuduko.

Edited July 30, 2012 by nappa

[Atravelynn]

Thanks for your account Nappa. Hope you post about the good things you experienced and photographed at some point, maybe another thread. Again, sorry you had an unsatisfactory trip.

[luangwablondes]

From T4A - a couple different trails out of McBrides

[Jochen]

Catching up with this thread.

 

I think nappa's getting way too many heat for just that one remark about McBrides, which wasn't even the point of this thread. Just my 2c.

 

J.

[ZaminOz]

Catching up with this thread.

 

I think nappa's getting way too many heat for just that one remark about McBrides, which wasn't even the point of this thread. Just my 2c.

 

J.

 

Indeed... and the heat was certainly not my intention (apologies nappa). I was just trying to understand the criticism.

[pault]

On 7/30/2012 at 7:58 PM, Jochen said:

Catching up with this thread.

 

I think nappa's getting way too many heat for just that one remark about McBrides, which wasn't even the point of this thread. Just my 2c.

 

J.

 

It's more of a "drip drip" effect as people produce new evidence and testimony and some of the discussion heads off-topic.. I don't think any one person is really having a go - lot's of relevant and interesting information coming out. I guess people feel the need to exercise "right of response"...... but I agree, this has drifted... there are three almost separate topics/discussions going on.

 

Anyway, my humble opinion is that the best thing for censors and critics is to produce content of their own. I don't mean that as a dig at all... just my idea of the most effective way to get a point of view across in this context.

 

As examples, there was quite a big wobble in opinion over Botswana (especially) in the wet recently, but a few good reports from the ground and the "consensus" is trending good again. Same thing seemed to happen with Kenya as a whole. People who come here seem to be an open-minded lot, even if they feel strongly about some things.

 

Some excellent content will be missed here and deserves its own thread IMO.....

Edited January 7, 2019 by wilddog

[Guest nappa]

I have just come off the phone to Imfaduko who have apologised profusely about our trip.

 

I will give them the benefit of the doubt as I think there has been a major breakdown in communication between ourselves, Imfaduko & the lodges, especially McBrides.

 

No refund but a trip at cost with them in the future if we so wish.

 

But I offer this as a warning to anyone booking a Safari to read & read again their itinerary, do not do as I did & read your own meaning into the itinerary.

If your unsure, ASK! & then ask again for clarification if your still unsure.

[Super LEEDS]

Glad you're in a better position now, nappa, if I understand your post correctly.