Sunset and Night Drives

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Bushcraft
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Sunset and Night Drives

Post by Bushcraft »

I recently did my first Sunset drive with the entire clan and it was an interesting experience.

One has to fill in forms stating what’s of interest etc and being new to the process, we put thought into this.

23 were permitted per vehicle and we ended up making the balance with a Canadian group travelling together.

After the first 1.5 hours, we had travelled 4km and had stopped to discuss kudu, impala and boons. I was nearly asleep and the rats, who were all excited about their first Sunset drive, were whining to go back to camp as it was so boring.

As the sun set we spent 10 minutes discussing the stars and continued to stop for every set of reflecting eyes, which 90% of the time were impala.

We also stopped to discuss non nocturnal animals that one would see in 10 minutes in their own vehicle during the day.

It’s a large amount of money spent for an entire family to go on one of these drives to see things that one can’t see in the daylight hours and to spend that time stopping for the daylight gang is frustrating.

In larger camps when multiple vehicles are going out is there any merit in having one for the “novices” and one for those who know what they want and where to find it -O-


flying cheetah
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Re: Sunset and Night Drives

Post by flying cheetah »

I nearly stopped to do drives in main camps but absolutely love the walks. I have done sunset drives in bush camps too (Biyamiti and Talamati) and both were fantastic. But there was a big difference: on the bush camp drives there were only a few guests (5 and 2) and we already knew each other before the drive. So the atmosphere on the vehicles was very relaxed and we got many informations of the guides that we didn't know before \O


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Flutterby
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Re: Sunset and Night Drives

Post by Flutterby »

Bad luck BC!!! :-( We did have a lot of overseas tourists on our drive, and we did stop for impalas and boons...but only the first time...after that we just drove past them. We were actually quite lucky on our drive. But your suggestion sounds good...don't know if could actually be put into practice but it does make sense. \O


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Dewi
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Re: Sunset and Night Drives

Post by Dewi »

Hi Bushcraft.

I've been on two night drives in Kruger. One was excellent - at Bateleur camp and we saw Civet, Side-striped Jackal, Spring-hares and Owls amongst other things, the was other spoilt by a group of people heckling from the back seat - at Olifants, we saw Impala and Scrub Hares.

I enquired about hiring one for us alone to go out to search for certain species. I got a resounding NO! Despite being willing to pay for the whole drive. -O-

Agree with FC about the drives from the bushcampe. We had a family onboard and their two children were great - really interested in seeing and learning about everything we saw. \O

Did another sunset drive in Tembe. We stopped to look at a Suni, but had to plead with everyone, including the driver, to stay at this sighting. No one seemed to realise how special it was.


Dewi

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Re: Sunset and Night Drives

Post by Twigga »

I'm sooooooo over night drives for a while..........

Had the best and the worst night drive in December.......
Had a few comrades on that drive thats sole purpose was just to drink! This drive was at Satara.

Did a drive recently from Tamboti and I must agree, the smaller camps experience was wayyyyyy better!


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Flutterby
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Re: Sunset and Night Drives

Post by Flutterby »

I'm not that keen on night/sunset drives, but do them to keep the Brat happy! :O^


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Re: Sunset and Night Drives

Post by Tshukudu »

Flutterby wrote:I'm not that keen on night/sunset drives, but do them to keep the Brat happy! :O^
Send the brat on his own next time -O-


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Flutterby
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Re: Sunset and Night Drives

Post by Flutterby »

I'm an over-protective mother!! ^0^


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Re: Sunset and Night Drives

Post by Twigga »

Had the privelege of going to Kruger in December & January

Just a quick Q

On a night drive, are the guides allowed to ask for a tip? Or as stated

"At the end of the drive, feel free to show your appreciation?'


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Flutterby
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Re: Sunset and Night Drives

Post by Flutterby »

I've never known them to ask! :-? -O-


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