Locating and Approaching Wildlife: Our Guide Practices at Timon Safaris
1. Comprehensive Training:
- Our guides undergo rigorous training to understand animal behaviour and habitats. This knowledge helps them anticipate where wildlife might be found based on time of day, weather, and season.
2. Use of Natural Signs:
- Animals leave various signs of their presence, from footprints to droppings. Skilled guides can interpret these signs to track and locate wildlife, ensuring a rich viewing experience.
3. Limited Use of Communication Devices:
- Our guides stay in touch using radio or other communication devices. If one direction spots a particularly elusive or exciting animal, it might share its location. However, this is done discreetly to avoid disturbing the animals and overcrowding the area.
4. Approach Slowly & Quietly:
- Once an animal is spotted, our guides approach slowly, ensuring the engine noise doesn’t stress the animal. We always prioritize the well-being of the animals over getting a closer view.
5. Maintaining Safe Distances:
- Respectful distances are kept to ensure animals don’t feel threatened. Our guides use their knowledge to determine safe spaces, considering the species and its current behaviour.
6. No Off-Road Driving:
- To protect the delicate ecosystems, we avoid driving off designated tracks. This ensures we don’t damage plant life or disturb nesting sites.
7. Observing Behavior:
- A significant part of approaching wildlife involves watching and interpreting an animal’s behaviour. If an animal shows signs of stress, like sudden movement or vocalizations, the guide will either retreat or maintain the current distance.
8. Silence is Golden:
- Guests are advised to remain silent and avoid sudden movements when near wildlife. This helps not startling the animals and allows for a more natural observation.
9. Ethical Practices:
- We never use baits, sound lures, or other means to attract wildlife. All encounters are natural and unforced.
10. Continuous Learning:
- Animal behaviour and best practices for approaching wildlife evolve. Our guides participate in continuous learning programs to ensure they’re up-to-date with the latest research and ethical standards.
At Timon Safaris, we believe in offering authentic experiences that honour the natural behaviours of the wildlife we observe. Our guides are not just trained to locate and approach animals but also to instil a sense of respect and wonder in our guests, ensuring a memorable and ethical safari experience.