I think you mean polar bears (the fluffy white ones). They are mean, bad ass, animals and on occasion, an especially hungry or crazy one, has been known to stalk a lone hunter for quite some time or distance. The locals in the far north have a lot of respect for these bears, carrying a gun is good idea.

But that's pretty far north and only on certain areas. You'll most likely see black bears (just head to the nearest garbage dump), and you'd be lucky to see a grizzly.

Lol, too funny. I think I may have dated the same girl in college....

At some stage I think we all have!

Having not been to sub-saharan africa yet I've always wondered is everyone riding through the place camps out amongst the wildlife. Or is it more a matter of luck if you even see any as it is in most places? Especially as doing a few months trip is not the same as a weekend trail ride. Typically don't end up in the real middle of nowhere places on a big trip.

Personally I'm not too keen on camping out with packs of lions around. The Mrs showed me a lot of concern about the hyena's as she's the one that always gets out 4-5 time/ night. On the other hand, the adventure aspect of it is hard to ignore.

Getting out of the tent...
 

If you don't want to get out of the tent, take a plastic bottle with you. For the Women, you can cut a piece of the top so that you get something that works pretty much as what you get in a hospital.

In Africa's game parks, you're driving between the wildlife all the time, but as far as I know, most are closed for motorcycles. In northern Botswana and Namibia there are pretty good chances of running into elephant after the next corner. For the rest I haven't run into big animals on the road between Morocco and Namibia.

I guess traffic ought still to be more of a concern then animal life. Except maybe malaria carrying musquitos. They can be dangerous.

December last year when we wanted to leave Wadi Halfa heading south we were informed that they would not let us past the police checkpoint after 16:00 or before 7:00am because recently a German biker had been killed by a hyena. "They" said that he got off his bike to take photo's of a hyena and when he knelt down to take a low angle shot he got attacked and killed.

We left town anyway and ignored the story.

Has anyone else heard this story and is there any truth to it?

I was going from the border of Senegal into Mail (Bamako). The old Bullet was one might throbbing unit between my legs, producing a mighty 20 mph over the corrugations. Got to some point along the track and there was a police check point, by which time it was just past dusk. All cars and lorries were held back, but the police told me I could continue "no problems." Stupidly, I went on.

Riding along, bouncing around, the headlight beam going off in all directions and sometimes staying long enough in front for me to see where I was going. A dark shape the size of a Shetland pony (I had been on the road a while) ran across the road, the headlight beam picked up a set of eyes looking at me. Maybe about 20 yards ahead, off to the right of the track, the eyes about a metre and a half off the ground. All around was pitch black.

Quite frankly my guts dropped. I hadn't seen anyone or anything for ages, and now this. Though a little chuckle did happen a few miles later as I though back to my original idea of pitching camp when darkness came.

Another hour of riding in the dark and a weak headlight approached, jittering up and down over the track. Two guys on a 125cc Royal (they thought we were riding the same bikes!) stopped, turned and escorted me back. The pillion had a rifle.

Since then I've always thought that was a lion or tiger I saw. Well, it is Africa! But a few months back hysteria finally subsided and it was 99% likely to have been a hyena. It had close-set eyes you see...

Dude!! If you managed to see a tiger in Africa, I salute you!!

I n all seriousness, kudos to you for taking on that trip on a Bullet!! Obviously did the job. Lets hope my Ural can manage it too!

As for the advice and great anecdotes: keep'em coming,. I'm a sponge for your collective knowledge!!

Naive tourists
 

In 2005 we arrived by ferry into Wadi Halfa, Sudan and were forced to wait 2 nights for our landy to arrive by barge. Not happy with paying €7 per night for the local "hotels" we decided to trek to the edge of the village and bush camp - with nothing more than a mat to sleep on. Found it very hard to sleep what with all the local dogs going mental - even at one stage a dog ran over us. Only realised after we left that they were probably defending us from hyenas.

Two months later in the Chalbi desert in Kenya after a gruelling 10 hr drive we stopped to make camp at about 5.30pm with a group of other traveller friends. Before I realised it, I discovered the girl in the group had gone on a walk on her own. To our relief she returned 30 mins later and we thought nothing of it until an hour after sunset we shone a high powered lamp around our camp. Just 20m away were 4 hyenas!

Starting ot get the picture!
 

OK. I'm getting the impression that whilst one should have a great deal of respect for wild animals, as far as camping goes it seems that hyenas are the most likely if not the biggest threat. I imagine its because they are opportunists rather than hunters.

Lots of loud metal stuff to clang together and possible a heavy lump of wood for a crack on the muzzle!!

Gods must be crazy 2
 

Use the wood on your head to make yourself look taller to the hyenas
-ala Gods Must be Crazy 2
If you haven't seen it, it's very instructional if you are a small lost bushman child being bothered by the smelly creatures.

Opinions...........
 

When you'll be in a game area you will know how to act.


Originally posted by Xanthos:

"Salties in Australia and grizzlies in North Canada are the only species recommended to attack unprovoked." - lots of predators will attack if they see you as prey or you upset/corner them etc

"During daylight you can even walk through an East African game park though it's populated like a zoo. The games will show you the proper distance to keep by lifting their heads but lyons. So, keep 50m distance to any bush. Most accidents happens with buffalos, as they do not give proper warning. In late afternoon walking around is not as appropriate as pretators are hunting." - utter nonsense! Walking in any wild life area unless experienced and armed is tkaing your life in your hands. Game/predators do no necassarily give any warning of attack! And thats if you see them, remember that physically humans are one of the weakest species out there and almost certainly the slowest!!

Quote:
""The ranger isn't scared of wild lions at all saying they don't see humans as food. He's scared of lions who have been in contact with humans in the past as they don't respect humans." - what tosh, wild lions see any animal as prey, even Elephant. The contact with humans depends on the type of contact.

Give all animals wild or otherwise the respect they deserve, any large animal or predator should be given a very wide berth.

My opinion from experience of living in Africa for several years, and from friends and acquaintances who live and work with animals and or wildlife - common sense also.

Only saw that movie a month ago. Totally forgot about that. Classic footage though.

Found this on ADVrider on bear encounters. Made a little mistake with foot/ drink storage.

A night in the woods, - ADVrider

*gasp* That's it! That's the bear that was following me last week! I was able to finally shake it in downtown traffic, but it had me worried as it followed me for a good twenty minutes. It was probably my own fault, though, as I had my picnic basket strapped to the back of my bike.

Then "bear with me" takes on a whole new meaning.