Botswana was my first trip to Africa after an absence of more than thirty years & now I return there in two days time.
Africa how I love it, self drive & a tent!

Ouuuuhh

self drive and tent is the best way to travel. Only this way you can get the full feeling of the land you are on. Especially at night nothing can beat a tent out in the wild. The more luxury - the less experience.

I envy you

I hope you have a marvelous and safe trip Kipper.

Can't wait until you get back to hear all about it and see some of your fantastic pictures.

Flattery will get every where Jan!
You sweet talker you!

Kipper - flattery is only one of many ways to get a guy to do what you want him to do

But, in re-reading everyone's notes in the above thread I wonder if some caution warning ought to be attached to it. I know Carsten and Nico were born in Africa and you, Kipper, have done self drive tenting safaris many times.

However, I wonder if there are people reading bushdrums who have never traveled to Africa before and start planning a self-drive tenting safari based on bushdrums recommendations. You really have to know what you are doing before undertaking a trip such as this. Vehicle problems, bad roads, security problems and knowing how to act around wildlife are certainly all things that one has to understand.

I've run into many tourists on safari that really don't have a clue. There are a lot of things that can go wrong quickly so that I wouldn't recommend this type of travel for the average first timer.

Would you agree?

Yes! I'm in total agreement with you there Jan. I would hate to think of the consequences of anyone doing a self drive having never been to Africa or up close to large wild animals.
In most case not only are Wildlife guides very knowledgeable with a life time of experience but they also get to know individual animals in their vicinity of work, a luxury not available to a slf driver.

YouTube is full of clips of idiotic self drives in Kruger that have got it wrong!

I would also add that I am far from expert & always err on the side of caution, I would also advise on an Off road driving course & hours of animal behaviour study, that with a lot of common sense should see you through to the most enjoyable experience of Africa ever!
But remember! I f it goes wrong your on your own!

I know animals haven't read the same instruction books as us but you can be safe in the assumption that when a lion is driving & indicates he's going to turn left! He actually turns left! Unlike drivers on modern roads!