Eminently Eve
Spotting animals during a game drive is definitely not always the easiest thing to do. When I visited Hwange National Park almost a decade ago, I did not spot a single elephant… How is that even possible when elephants are said to be “overpopulated” in this park?! I was highly disappointed in myself & that created a strong desire to get better at this skill. Sure enough with time, I could spot more & more animals during a game drive.
Four years later however, I started Eminently Eve & found myself in yet another predicament. I would share different game parks we have in the country but when people visited them they would report that no animal was observed. I tried to trace back my steps to figure out how to help change that but it proved to be difficult. I realised then that the skill had come to me gradually, mainly from creating more #IntimacyWithNature time, coupled with my curious mind regarding animal behaviour & wildlife dynamics. So it took me an additional two years to figure out exactly the steps I take during every game visit to increase my chances of spotting animals in the bush so that I can hopefully, effectively communicate them to you. So here goes:
1. It’s about how our actions make the animals feel… not vice versa.
How we approach animals & present ourselves will determine whether the animals feel comfortable enough to stay in the open, continuing with their daily routines (giving us a chance to spot them) or if they feel safer hidden in the thick bush (in order to protect themselves from us). Behaving with no restraint and not blending well with the surroundings are the most definite ways to make us stick out & cause the animals to keep their guards up. Therefore, when you visit a game park next time, remember that it is about how your actions make the animals feel & not vice versa. (Specific actions being referred to are stated below).
2. Avoiding music, shouting or yelling.
The best way to spot animals is if we blend in with their natural environment. Their senses are heightened therefore they will know of our presence from quite a distance, at which point they will quietly take cover in the thick bush. By the time we get to where they are, we will just drive past them. So if you really want to spot animals, you may want to seriously consider doing away with any form of unnatural and/or abrupt noises.
3. Best season to spot wild animals in a game park in Zimbabwe – dry season (winter)
I know that most of us here in Zimbabwe like to travel in December & April. However, if the goal is to spot more animals then the August holiday or anytime just before the first rains would be the best time to go for a game drive. This is because during Winter (the dry season) most vegetation & streams are dry. Therefore, food & water are scarce for animals. The bush is also not as thick as it is during Summer (wet season) because most trees lose/shed their leaves to reduce water loss. This means that animals are going to be gathering in large groups in the few remaining water sources & also the patches of vegetation that are still palatable during the dry season.
During summer (wet season), most streams are flowing and so food & water are easily available to the animals in all corners of the park. Which then makes it harder to spot animals. (In the next article I will share natural places in Zimbabwe to visit during summer where other fun activities are offered which award you with immense #IntimacyWithNature time besides game viewing).
4. Best time to spot wild animals in a game park in Zimbabwe – Early morning to around 7:30am & late afternoon 4pm to sunset.
There are exceptions to every rule however I’ve learnt that if my wish is to increase chances of spotting many animals in a game park then an early morning game drive before 7:30am or a late afternoon one from 3:30pm to sunset are the best. This is because the temperature during these times is cooler, therefore, animals are not sitting in thick bushes trying to stay cool. They are actually feeding & visiting waterholes to drink water out in the open making it a lot easier to spot them.
5. Being patient & enjoy the process
Being mentally prepared to drive around for a while before spotting anything is something that has helped me a lot. In most cases, we can not expect to drive in & see all the animals waiting for us in a single file by the gate. I always talk about the benefits of spending time with nature; however, these benefits do not come just from spotting animals. They come from being in & surrounded by nature for as long as possible. The longer we spend with nature, absorbing the natural sounds, smells & views, the more our bodies will reap the benefits of being intimate with nature.
I hope these 5 tips will help you spot more animals during your next game drive. If I left out any tip that works for you, do feel free to comment below or in our Instagram, Facebook &/or LinkedIn post discussions. Also share if you use these tips & the outcome on the above linked social media platforms or here.
Remember to always have a little Intimacy in your life & as always I’m talking about Intimacy With Nature 🙂
