Use your time wisely while we wait for the world to open up and in particular for our favourite safari destinations to re-emerge on the radar.
Now’s the perfect time to fine tune your game spotting skills so you can make the most of every moment. Check out these tips and memorize these mantras from the experts:
1. Your Guide is an All-Knowing Power
If you only do one thing while trying to improve your chances of spotting wildlife, let this be it – Listen and learn from your guide. These professionals have spent countless hours studying, tracking, thinking about and getting to know the exact animals you’re hoping to find.
Not only are they professionals but they’re absolutely passionate about what they do. For them, this isn’t a job, it’s an all-consuming interest. You can rest assured they’re doing many hours work behind the scenes – simply because they want to.
If they can’t find the best sightings on any given day, no-one can. Period.
2. Take Heed of the Bush Clock
Even the people in Africa work according to their own definitions of time, so don’t expect any different from the wild animals. When you arrive at a waterhole at the crack of dawn, they have no idea that they’re supposed to be there – having their daily drink.
They may drink later, or earlier, or not at all. The weather plays a large role in animal behaviour.
When it’s ninety degrees out, you’ll find the best sightings where all good creatures should be – in the shade no matter what time of day it is.
Likewise, windy weather will see frightened prey species huddled together for fear of not hearing their nemeses approaching.
Again, take the lead from your guide. They’ll know best where and when you can expect to enjoy sightings.
3. Top Wildlife Spotting Tips
Use your ears and nose as well as your eyes when searching for game and look beyond the obvious.
An antelope’s alarm call or a bird’s call could signify an approaching predator. A giraffe’s gaze can give away the presence of creatures in deep cover.
You can also listen for sounds of bushes crackling or the sound of a large herbivore munching on grass.
Did you know that the smell of popcorn can mean there’s a leopard nearby? Male leopards scent glands secrete a chemical call A2-P which is also present in cooked popcorn, hence the similar smell.
On the subject of leopards, you’ll see a lot of them if you stop confining your search to the trees. Leopards only go into trees when they have a kill to protect and sometimes to sleep. The rest of the time they’re scent-marking, drinking, mating, walking, hunting, on the ground. Often, they’ll take a nap or start off their meal on terra firma too.
Practice Makes Perfect
There’s no substitute for experience when it comes to becoming a wildlife-spotting wizard. Get in touch so you can put all your newfound knowledge into practice as soon as possible.
