kybob Loc: Versailles, Kentucky

I am in the process of planning a trip to Africa and was looking at Pangolin Photo Safaris for the Great Migration in the Masai Mara. Has anyone any experience with them? Everything I can find seems everyone have loved the experience. My wife is concerned about being eaten by either a loin, truck tipped over by a rhino or elephant and that is just in the truck and not to mention at night back a camp.

ricardo00

Well don't let your wife read about Paul Templer, the African Safari guide partly eaten by a hippo (hippos kill more people in Africa than lions). Sorry haven't gone with Pangolin but have heard good things about them. My wife and I have been to Africa several times and lived to tell about it. Had lions surrounding our vehicles multiple times and they never seemed interested in us as a meal though there are reports of lions attacking humans. We did almost run into a rhino (who I am sure would not have been happy) when our driver was racing to something he heard on his walkie talkie and rounded a turn with the rhino in the middle of the path. Personally I always felt safer in the bush then in a taxi in NYC or Rome, etc.

ricardo00

More thoughts on Pangolin and the Great Migration: First, any trip to Africa for someone who hasn't been is likely to be one of their most memorable (if not the most memorable) trip they can take. But personally, I am not a big fan of going for the great migration type trip. The wildebeest are very unpredictable and when they make a run for the river, it is very hard to get photos plus all the drivers race to get their cars in the best position (from what I have heard). Personally, that would not be my choice. I would much rather do one of the other trips.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

Went to Africa in 2020. Dream of a lifetime and want to go back yesterday! Tell your wife to back up and reconsider. You are much more likely to get rolled over in your truck on any highway in the States than you would be in Africa!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Now that's a strange description of what happened to him. "It's okay, Mrs. Templer, he was only..."

jonsailhob

Just returned from Overseas Adventure Travels’ Ultimate Africa trip and were well pleased. Animals are close, but seem uninterested in people in a safari “Jeep”.

jonsailhob

Just returned from Overseas Adventure Travels’ Ultimate Africa trip and were well pleased. Animals are close, but seem uninterested in people in a safari “Jeep”.

ronichas Loc: Long Island

I completely agree with your suggestion. I have been to Africa 3 times, Tanzania, Namibia and Kenya. I loved them all but I think Kenya was my favorite. We did try different locations for the migration across the river but it never worked out. We did pay for an off road pass in Kenya, which was a huge bonus. We watched the 5 cheetah brothers sleeping for a few hours. When they finally got up and went for a kill, one of the brothers got a kill and all the guides in trucks surrounded him. The others couldn't even get past the trucks. Since we had an off road pass, we were able to open a spot for the other 4 to see where the one with the kill was. Some of the guides are just not wildlife friendly and will try to disrupt the animals.

I was with Federico Veronesi, a very well known young Italian man who lives in Nairobi. He has his own tent at the private mara bush camp and his own customized truck. I have remained friends with our guide, Arnold, for the past 3 years. He works for Sunworld safaris. He knows exactly where the animals are, he lives there. He knows the behaviors and the locations. I highly recommend them.

There are many tours to Africa, if I were to go again, I would chose one that lives and works there, instead of one that goes a few times a year.

I have many youtube videos. Here is the link, scroll down to the Africa shows.

https://www.youtube.com/@RoniChastainNY/videos

https://youtu.be/BdJrnLtotN0
https://youtu.be/jcTm_cOO5RA
https://youtu.be/RDNmx2FWIWw

JFCoupe Loc: Kent, Washington

If you have an interest in Tanzania, check out https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=f83b2ea0cc353139JmltdHM9MTY4MTc3NjAwMCZpZ3VpZD0xZjAyNTZmOS03M2I2LTY5MzEtMGE5Yy00NDljNzI3MTY4MTcmaW5zaWQ9NTIxOA&ptn=3&hsh=3&fclid=1f0256f9-73b6-6931-0a9c-449c72716817&psq=african+nature+photography&u=a1aHR0cHM6Ly9hZnJpY2FuYXR1cmVwaG90b2dyYXBoeS5jb20v&ntb=1

Angelbert Panteleo is an awesome tour organizer and guard. He knows and respects the animals. I went with him in late April 2019 and we saw large portions of the migration, but well in advance of the river crossing. We spent several days in the Ngorongoro Crater and then three areas of the Serengetti.

philo Loc: philo, ca

Hope you enjoy your trip with OAT. I will be going on the same trip in two weeks. All packed and ready to go.

Properframe Loc: US Virginia

I have used Pangolin on the Chobe River. They have experienced guides and it is photo centric. The lead for the group was Steve Perry and if you have the respect for him that I do you can allow some of that to graft onto Pangolin as he chose to use them. I would highly recommend the organization.

psievers

She should not worry. In have been to the migration. It is a phenomenal adventure. They to book a hot air balloon ride.

Alafoto Loc: Montgomery, AL

It is very rare that tourists are eaten by a loin in these days. I think she need not worry about that. The loins in Africa have been thoroughly domesticated.

Travel in good health and enjoy your trip.

Rocky Beech

I think you have a choice of tours with Pangolin. You can go by boat that is really well set up for photographers with articulating camera mounts so you can sit in shade under a covered roof. That way the loins would have to swim to get to you and they don't like water. They also have photo equipment that you can borrow. I would love to go if someone could donate a trip.