When You Miss What All Others Saw
December 16, 2009 by Johan Knols
Filed under Safari Tips
Did YOU see it?
It can be a disappointment if you return from your game drive and it appears that guests on all other vehicles have seen something interesting that you haven’t. It might be that you missed a spectacular mammal interaction, a hunt or that you missed a rare animal like a leopard or brown hyena.
Putting the blame on the guide is what I have seen happening often. Not that safari tourists will say it, no, they mumble about it and moan behind the guides back. ‘How come he didn’t know?’ or ‘why do other guides find everything?’ are questions I have heard people asking before.
Game drive strategy
Unless your guide has heard noises in a specific direction before the start of a game drive, it is always a guess for him as where the action will be. The direction in which he will start to drive is often influenced by wind, the position of the sun or the presence of a nearby feature that will not move, like for instance a special group of trees or the presence of a river or stream. In general your guide will have in mind as where he wants to go during a specific game drive.
Especially when it is quite with wildlife(which can happen at any time), it can also for the guide be frustrating to not know where to find animals. And then we have these terrible forks in the road. Left or right? Often you will see that if he or you had chosen the other direction you would have seen what everybody else has seen. Yes, Murphy (from the law) is also present in the African Bush.
Dealing with disappointment
The best way to avoid getting frustrated over missed opportunities is to expect nothing on a game drive. The more eager you are to see the most amazing, the less likely it is going to happen. All guides can tell you that they have seen the most interesting things in the bush while not having guests on board. That gives you an indication that the safari game is one that also requires quite a bit of luck. So if you happen to come back to your camp or lodge and it is you who missed out that drive on ‘that awesome moment’, don’t psyche yourself up, don’t blame your guide and just remember that being on safari is not something you can influence.
Have you had a situation in which others saw ‘everything’ and you ‘nothing’?
Happy viewing!
Everybody who has done safaris has experienced a well hidden (or well articulated
) hope for seeing a particular species.
We always tell our clients that a safari is not a visit to a zoo so they should be well prepared to appreciate anything which comes along.
Of course a safari can be planned around all those “species” wishes – but weather change and therefore animal presence cannot be predicted even by the best consultant.
So – whenever and wherever one does a safari – just relax and be convinced most guides/trackers do their utmost to “find” the client’s favourite animals. But yes – at times it’s the luck of the draw to see a kill or cats on honeymoon.
Sit back and enjoy what ever you see.
But we also have experienced guides which are just doing a job and somehow lack the passion for both – wildlife and guest’s wishes.
If one has got the impression to be guided by such a guy just have a conversation with the camp manager and I am sure if the allegations are reasoned the manager will do his/her utmost to allocate another guide.
Sometimes it’s also the chemistry which simply doesn’t work between client and guide. Instead of torturing each other and getting the feeling of wasting time with each other – have a frank conversation with the manager and maybe guide. Sometimes it’s just a misunderstanding which easily can be sorted out by honest communication.
Happy safari!
Although I have the privilege of living in the bush and as such don’t need to place an emphasis on seeing particular animals, I can recognize frustration of having good and bad days in the field. Sometimes luck is on your side, other day can be just painful.
The attitude that I have developed over the years is ultimately to not have any expectations when you head out into the bush. If you have an appreciation for nature and look for the positive, interesting and beautiful moments that are occurring in the NOW then you will never be disappointed.
Hello Rich,
I am very happy to hear that I was not the only one with that attitude of ‘living in the now’. Always wondered how guides could make their live difficult by saying to clients: today we are going to look for …….. . You then start off with giving guests a certain expectation which turns easily into disappointment when not being fulfilled.
Have you had days that you were in the bush without clients and that you saw the most incredible things?
I’ve had many days on my own and seen some amazing stuff, partly due to the fact that there was no need to rush. If you spend a long time with a certain animal, almost always you will see it doing interesting things.
Rich and Johan
Of course staying with a pride of lions watching the cubs ambushing each other or even warthog family is entertaining. But of course that either requests a SUV or a passionate companion in the car who has got the same interests; if a cat lover was in a car with a birder…..now – that’s a completely other topic
Regrettably particularly American clients “go” for the “big 5″ and miss so much by just camp hopping or driving the guides nuts requesting the impossible – bushlife is unpredictable but many people don’t anticipate and just mix up bush with zoo.
Here again it comes down to information or education on the destination and how the whole safari circus works.
Needless to say you both are pretty privileged and cannot compare a “holiday” safari to the life you lead in the bush where just the options are limitless. Time is not a issue when you live in the bush.
I understand people who fly for almost 20 hours to see wildlife are keen on seeing the outstanding or like to tick their lists. But luck cannot be enforced and so can’t sightings.
Take care!
“Regrettably particularly American clients “go” for the “big 5″ and miss so much by just camp hopping or driving the guides nuts requesting the impossible – bushlife is unpredictable but many people don’t anticipate and just mix up bush with zoo”
HOW VERY TRUE!
I wish safari operators will not conduct radio controlled game drives, incorporate a tracker for an authentic bush tracking experience, and took an active initiative in raising the guiding standards even higher!