Game drive protocols
The 15min ruling has been a rule at Mashatu for many years, it’s not new and is adhered to by all guides. We ask that all syndicate guests at Mashatu understand and respect what's in place.
All vehicles have a minimum of 15 minutes on a sighting. When the 1st vehicle arrives on a special sighting, they call it in to the rest of the guides that are out with guests.
Depending on where guides are in the reserve, they then discuss with their guests the sighting and make a call to get to the sighting that’s been called in and let the first guide that called the sighting in know where they are and if they are going to come to the sighting.
Once there are 3 vehicles on a sighting and a 4th vehicle calls in to say they are at the sight and ready to come in the 1st vehicle (if it’s been on the sighting for 15mins or more) moves off.
And so it goes, the 2nd vehicle then moves off when the 5th vehicle arrives, the initial 3rd vehicle would move off when the 6th vehicle arrives etc.
Likewise, if the 1st vehicle pulls out and it wants to return to the sighting it can, e.g., if the 4th vehicle is the last vehicle coming in then after its been in for 15 min the 1st vehicle can go back in and the 4th vehicle must move out.
99% of the time guests have a lot longer than 15 minutes on a sighting as other vehicles are not usually in close proximity; hence this ruling seldom affects viewing and time for photography.
The reason for informing guests now and during guides initial guest briefing, is to ensure everyone understands that a vehicle can’t sit on a sighting all day or for hours at a time if there are other vehicles with guests in the area – everyone is treated exactly the same.
If there are only 1 to 3 vehicles on a sighting, with no other vehicles waiting to come in, then it’s at the guides discretion (in consultation with his guests) as to how long they stay on the sighting.
The above historic ruling applies to all Mashatu vehicles out on game drives.
All vehicles have a minimum of 15 minutes on a sighting. When the 1st vehicle arrives on a special sighting, they call it in to the rest of the guides that are out with guests.
Depending on where guides are in the reserve, they then discuss with their guests the sighting and make a call to get to the sighting that’s been called in and let the first guide that called the sighting in know where they are and if they are going to come to the sighting.
Once there are 3 vehicles on a sighting and a 4th vehicle calls in to say they are at the sight and ready to come in the 1st vehicle (if it’s been on the sighting for 15mins or more) moves off.
And so it goes, the 2nd vehicle then moves off when the 5th vehicle arrives, the initial 3rd vehicle would move off when the 6th vehicle arrives etc.
Likewise, if the 1st vehicle pulls out and it wants to return to the sighting it can, e.g., if the 4th vehicle is the last vehicle coming in then after its been in for 15 min the 1st vehicle can go back in and the 4th vehicle must move out.
99% of the time guests have a lot longer than 15 minutes on a sighting as other vehicles are not usually in close proximity; hence this ruling seldom affects viewing and time for photography.
The reason for informing guests now and during guides initial guest briefing, is to ensure everyone understands that a vehicle can’t sit on a sighting all day or for hours at a time if there are other vehicles with guests in the area – everyone is treated exactly the same.
If there are only 1 to 3 vehicles on a sighting, with no other vehicles waiting to come in, then it’s at the guides discretion (in consultation with his guests) as to how long they stay on the sighting.
The above historic ruling applies to all Mashatu vehicles out on game drives.