Botswana Green Season Deals in 2014

Probably the best value- to- quality safari is to visit Botswana in the green season. Kwando Safaris has already announced their continuation of offering the 5 Rivers Special and great news, it now starts earlier, November 15th through March. Costs are slightly more than the 2013 rates. We can offer camps at $400 to $425 per person per night with no single supplement.

I met with a representative of Wilderness Safaris. They will also be running their excellent green season deals and expect to release them in May. The rates will likely be the same as 2013 or possibly a 5% increase. The 2013 rate was $425 for classic camps and $525 for Premier level.

Sayari Camp 50% Off

Sayari Camp continues to offer pay one night full price and all subsequent nights are 50% off from mid-November through March. It is the perfect complement to the Ndutu area where the migration is calving as you get the northern Serengeti practically to yourself at a great value.

Naboisho Camp Pay 2 Stay 3

Naboisho Camp in the Mara area continues to offer a pay 2 stay 3 special throughout the year.

Zambia Private Guiding

We continue to offer a complimentary private guide and vehicle on our South Luangwa safaris using The Bushcamp Company. This is an exclusive deal from The Wild Source and an unbelievable opportunity for photographers and other serious safari goers to have full control of their safaris without having to spend the typical $400 per day for a private guide and vehicle.

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At The Wild Source, we believe a key component - perhaps the most important component to having a great safari experience is to have a great guide. Guides are not interchangeable, and we always strive to make sure our clients get the best guides possible. We're usually even able to tell you who your guide will be - as well as their background - long before you arrive in Africa.

To get to know your guides a little bit better, here are updates from a couple of our guests' more popular safari Guides in Africa.

Manda Chisanga (Bushcamp Company - Zambia)

Uber-guide Manda Chisanga of The Bushcamp Company is involved with a youth football (soccer) initiative to provide recreational opportunities for kids in the town of Mfuwe, Zambia. The program received a big boost at the start of the year when our clients, Butch and Bobbi, made a donation to assist with funding the program. Fantastic!

Ping from Mara Plains Camp is publishing a new book

Ping (Mara Plains - Kenya)

Many of our clients have been guided by Ping at Mara Plains. He is an exceptional guide, proud Maasai, and even helped open the Disney Wild Animal Park. He is a lively story teller. On April 19th a book about his life in the bush is being released. Ping has promised me full details. We will be sure to let everyone know how to obtain a copy of this sure- to- be great read.

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Our sponsored students, Jere and Matthews are both doing very well with their studies. In fact Jere finished among the top of his class and did so well on his Grade 9 exams he has been accepted into an excellent boarding school for his final two years of education. This is a big opportunity he has earned thus The Wild Source has increased our support to help him move on to boarding school this session. Jere was featured for his success in the latest Charity Begins at Home Newsletter.

The Wild Source is proud to sponsor Jere & Matthews - two students in Zambia

With it being rainy season making it too difficult to ride a bike Jere walked 45 miles in each direction to deliver his news and receive his support which is administered by The Bushcamp Companies Charitable Giving program. We could not be more proud to support these hard working young men and are sure they have bright futures.

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We're proud to announce this latest addition to our safari offerings. This small group departure will be led by our own Jeremy Waldron. Here's the background on the safari from Jeremy:

I’m thrilled to be guiding with one of Namibia’s top local naturalist guides, leading a group of just 6 people through one of Namibia’s most diverse itineraries beginning the end of August 2013.

Photo of Rhino in Nambia ©The Wild Source

In 2006 I sold or gave away nearly everything I owned and packed my bag for Namibia. Joining the Peace Corps opened up my eyes in so many ways and I remember a friend, also in the Peace Corps, ask me the question that had always been the most difficult for me to answer, “What is it you plan to do after our two years are over?” We hadn’t even begun our two years of service and she was already asking me what I had lined up! You see, I have a tendency to focus on the present so when I answered her question I said, “I have no idea… but I’m sure it’s something I can’t even imagine.” Nearly seven years later I’m humbled every day to be doing that “something that I can’t even imagine” and it was Namibia’s people, endemic species and unique environment that offered so much and keep pulling me “home.” I can’t wait to share my second home with those who join me on this specially crafted safari.

Namibia is the first country in the world to incorporate the protection of the environment into its constitution, giving life to thousands of species and providing great photographic opportunities for tour participants. Namibia has been described as the last frontier, a wild and rough country, a diverse and contrasting place unlike other more visited safari destinations and one of the reasons it is extremely dear to my heart.

The Classic Namibia and Desert Wildlife Safari provides you with an opportunity to experience Africa’s desert predators, the endemic desert adapted Elephant, giraffe, abundant plains game common to the desert environment and an incredible diversity of bird species. I have carefully selected camps to maximize our time among the stunning gold’s and browns of Namibia’s Savannah’s along with the swirling mountains of sands in Sossusvlei and the Namib Desert. Hidden within these environments is the wildlife, big and small, in their constant state of survival. Teaming up with Namibia’s best naturalist guides, together we will dedicate our time to exploring this uniquely rich environment. We will delve into the geology and massive red sand dunes of Sossusvlei, explore the clearest night skies I have ever seen with Namibia’s best astronomers, search for cape fur seals along the Skeleton Coast, and track desert elephant in Damaraland before heading to the great salt pans of Etosha National Park to put our skills to finding lion, leopard, rhino and many other species. This safari has been timed for the peak wildlife viewing and optimal weather.

An exclusive group of only 6 participants keeps the guide to guest ratio extremely low giving you the in-depth and educational experience you came looking for. This is an excellent opportunity to experience one of Africa’s truly unique destinations where there is more wildlife than people.

There is a Uukwaaludhi saying I grew fond of in the village during my Peace Corps experience that says in Oshiwambo, “Ohole nayi kale yu udhilila monkalamwenyo yoye.” Simply translated as, “May your life be filled with love.” And may that love of life be shared in Namibia with me and 6 others.

The full itinerary may be viewed here.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me with interest or any questions at Jeremy@thewildsource.com

Cheers -- Jeremy

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If I experienced nothing else, Selinda would be a highlight just to re-unite and guide with Dicks Tsima, one of my best friends who I consider my Botswana brother. Here is where nature took over to deliver one of our biggest highlights.

Photo of lioness with storm clouds approaching ©The Wild Source

We began by tracking a pride of lions. As we followed their trail we were very surprised to find signs of buffalo. In the green season buffalo often disappear into the woodlands where they can enjoy puddled water.

For some reason a small herd appeared to have returned to the Selinda plains and we were sure the lions would be very excited as this is their preferred prey. We tracked until we found a lioness. She led us to her sisters and eventually, four were gathered on a little mound. Behind them the sky had turned a daunting steely grey/blue with occasional flashes of lightning creating a stunning contrast with the lush green grasses and tawny coats of the cats. We enjoyed photographing this ever changing palette and anticipating the drama of the buffalo hunt.

Just then, at a distance of 150 yards, a line of buffalo crossed an open grass area on the far side of some trees. The keen eyes of the hunters locked in and the lionesses started to stretch and follow as did we. However, nature had a different plan more powerful and intimidating then this group of hunters.

We made it about 25 yards when the sky opened up with rain coming virtually sideways. We hunkered down with ponchos, hoods up, trying to patiently withstand the rain. Typically rain is quite localized and short lived, however the sky had transformed to a uniform sheet showing the storm in all directions. Within minutes there was booming thunder and crackling lightning on all sides leaving no direction available for escape. With nature’s violence all around us you could just squint out of the corner of your eye to the left and see the lions hunkered down and as humbled as us.

With it becoming dark and the rain no longer sideways it was clear the lions would have to wait to hunt and we had a near two hour drive ahead of us to get back to camp as we had tracked to the far reaches of the concession. A good portion of the ride home was a light show that easily rivaled the Washington D.C. 4th of July fireworks I grew up with. Flash cubes of light and streaks of lightning went in all directions across the sky. Just like the fireworks, there were plenty of oohs and ahs.

About half way home we slowed down to a crawl as we could just make out the silhouette of a couple elephants crossing road ahead of us. Suddenly a bolt of lightning lit up the area, revealing for a brief moment, a full breeding herd of about 20 elephants traveling in a line including a couple very small babies which quickly were cloaked again in darkness. This moment was pure magic!

Ironically, while so many are concerned about avoiding rain on safari this was our one big weather inconvenience yet it was a definitive highlight of the trip. Luckily this group of people embraced the wilderness and power of nature and knew this was a special event which would last inside them. The hot chocolate with Amarula back at camp could not have tasted better.

Other Selinda Camp Highlights:

• Dicks and I tracking a mother leopard and cub; seeing in the dirt how they played together and then being so close on the tracking that we heard the mother make a call to her cub a short distance away
• Seeing the leopard and her six month old cub
• Beautiful herd of roan antelope
• lions feeding
• Bushman walk with Dicks teaching his survival skills
• Lion/buffalo and lightning
• Four wild dogs- unfortunately after our group disbanded and I stayed on for another night

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