SANParks.org Forums

Thanks for the advise WFG and BB. I will be there the night of the 3rd with my torch and will be very careful not to hurt any of the critters eyes.
I love Talamati.
I sat it that hide 2 years ago, taking endless amounts of pictures of a herd of Sable that decided to spend the morning there.
I remember walking back for lunch and this German film crew almost ran me over trying to get to the hide. They were running towards the hide screaming "Ze Sable are fighten!".
I saw them walking back 2 minutes later. No fight I take it.
Can't wait to be there again.

I will be staying at Talamati for the first time in November in a C04 bungalow.
Which of these units do you think has the best view of the river bed?

Sorry to burst your bubble, but none of them. you can walk along the fence ( inside the camp) and see the riverbed (which i think only runs in summermonths....?? ) You will nonetheless enjoy your stay. It is a beautiful place!!!!

We love this camp.

Its a 5 to 10 second walk to the fence from nearly every bungalow.
From there we have seen Large male Kudus, Waterbuck and Elephants.
Also Warthog, Baboons and vervet monkeys.

Some special memories are having breakfast outside, with a Vervet monkey sitting on a branch about 2 meters away.
Then there was having coffee on the stoep, with a large herd of elephants about 15 meters away, just on the other side of the earlier mentioned fence.

There is more action from the Talamati hide than any other.
Spent hours there last week watching the bush wake up.
I have pictures of Baboons, Impala, Zebra, Wildebeest and Giraffe all in one shot, with the plains around the camp full of game.

Sounds like years of game viewing and visiting, no, we only been to Talamati 3 times.

Only negative This year the road leading to Talamati was in a terrible condition, the worst I have ever experienced anywhere in the park.
We deflated tyres and drove 20kms an hour and it was still a very uncomfortable drive.

The night Drive, or sunset drive from Talamati will be brilliant.

I notice the one unit type GC6D is advertised as having no verandah.

Are these one of the newly revamped ones and how much do you lose by not having the verandah, in other words is there still some area where one can sit outdoors, especially if the weather is not good?
Thanks

Elsa, we stayed in number 4 and it still had the verandah. We had a chance of looking at number three and five and these had them too.
Unless works have been proceeding in the last year things should be the same.

Elsa,

please have look onto the map of Talamati - Same it the "lucky" No. 13 in which we stayed in February. Inside it is still relatively newly revamped compared to the other units. BTW where are the 4 bedded units gone?

Anyway it does have a verdandah but same is not covered but there is a table and 4 chairs outside close to the braai but you also have the possibility to eat inside. From the so called verandah you have a direct view into the bush as the fence is close by -We booked same again for our next year trip already.

No 13 burnt down in 2001 and was refurbished then.

Elsa, Unit 4 has a bedroom with a double bed plus 2 single beds in the lounge area. Loads of space and a big bathroom!!

Does anyone know if night drives are offered at Talamati Cap?

If so, is it recommended?

Tks

I did a sunset drive at Talamati and can highly reccommend it. We saw Sables, Elephants, huge herd of Buffs, Boomslang, Black Mamba (I was the only one who missed it ), Night Adder and some more. We had a brilliant guide and the drive was simply wonderful. I'm not sure if they also do night drives but I think so

I don't think that Talamati offers Night Drives. However, I have done 3 Sunset Drives at Talamati and I would recomend them highly.

Its an awesome area, good guides and usually very good sigtings on Sunset Drive along with Great Views.

Between the 3 Sunset Drives we have seen, a pride of Lions on a kill, Rhino, Elephant, Giraffe, and some really special sightings like Side Striped Jackal, Serval, White taled Mongoose and 2 herds of Sable.

They do offer Night drives.
I have done already one.
But to be honest I haven´t seen a lot at all, the problem the vegetation was quite dense
But I have to state to spot game is always a question of luck.
You can never be sure if you spot something good or not.
Maybe I had just tough luck.
I don´t know actually.

We stayed at Talamati October 2010 and had problems with the baboons. Like breaking into the chalets and backs of cars even while we were packing.
We are going with a baby this time in a couple of months. Is there still a problem?

Hi Umtali, I am sorry to say that the baboons are still a serious problem at Talamati and unfortunately managed to teach the monkeys the same tricks.
We spent some time there in mid-June and had more problems with the monkeys than the baboons.
The baboons however did move back in to 'their' tree the last day of our stay.
Remember to always close the door with the pin and leave the wooden pole in the window.
The personnel 'can not do anything' as apparently the 'tourists' like the animals in the camp.