Where to View Game - Dennis

[Dzombo]

Hi All,

So does anyone have a copy of the book Where to View Game in the KNP by Nigel Dennis?
Basically, for those who don't, in it, he rates all the roads in the KNP on their game viewing productivity. An orange stripe is good, a green stripe is average, and no stripe he rates as poor game viewing.

So for those of you who have the book, do you agree with him?
I am not thinking about the odd one off special sighting, I guess that can happen anywhere. But more in general game viewing. Is he fairly accurate?

Thanks
Dzombo

[Flutterby]

I've got it Dzombo....actually looking at it right now!

Maybe I should post what he says, and then we can all debate it?

[Flutterby]

According to Nigel Dennis:



"The Crocodile Bridge area is probably one of the most underrated in the entire park. I have had consistently good sightings here. However, it was only when I started to assess the routes in the region for this guide that I realised that almost every road warranted either a good or excellent rating! As well as having a high density of general game, there is an excellent chance of seeing all of the Big Five in this area."

"The Gesanftombi Dam attracts large numbers of game. By mid-morning there are usually herds of zebra, wildebeest and impala milling around, along with plenty of giraffe. Many rate the H4-2 tar road through to Lower Sabie as one of the most productive in the entire park."

"The S28 Nhlowa road is a good choice, as there is a fair chance of seeing cheetah and white rhino along this road."

"The S25 Crocodile Rives road is another prime route. Leopard are likely to be seen along this road in the early morning and late afternoon, and lion are very plentiful along the entire route....A short track (S27) branches to the left, leading to a Hippo Pool. Here a field ranger is on duty daily to escort visitors on the short walk to view the hippos close-up."

"A short detour to Gayisenga water hole on the S26 is likely to yield elephant."

"Biyamiti Bushveld Camp is situated about 25 kilometres west of Crocodile Bridge.....The S139 is accessible only to visitors staying at Biyamiti. This is one of the most productive roads in the park for leopard, and there is a very good chance of seeing the rest of the Big Five as well."

What do you think?

[Bushcraft]

I have to agree with all of it FB, as I have seen all that he mentions where he says one would find it, but also 4x cheetah on the H4-2 and there's a pack of hyena often spotted on the S25.

[Dzombo]

Forgot I started this thread

Flutterby. I see what the books is trying to say.

But my question is this.
Dennis rates certain stretches of road good,average or poor (orange, green or no colour).

Do people agree with this? In general viewing terms? (not the one off special sighting)
Or have people found this rating to be not that accurate? Is it reliable?

Or perhaps things/game movements have changed since the book was written?

[Flutterby]

According to Nigel Dennis:

Roads lined with orange = Excellent Route
Roads lined with green = Good Route

The orange doesn't show up too well. The H4-2, S25 S139 and S102 are lined with orange.



Who agrees with this?

[Dzombo]

According to Nigel Dennis:

Roads lined with orange = Excellent Route
Roads lined with green = Good Route

The orange doesn't show up too well. The H4-2, S25 S139 and S102 are lined with orange.



Who agrees with this?

I am not familiar with this section of Kruger, so can't comment from experience.

[Flutterby]

Me too, I'm afraid!!

[Lisbeth]

I am going there in December, so I am copying! Please continue

[Richprins]

I have the book, and it's very subjective, IMO! Times change, and sightings reports may or may not support the mapping in the short term.

In general the advice is fine for a general input, no genius required there?

For example, I would rate the S-26 - S-108 - H5 as useless, over 20 years of MY experience!