African Safari

Question:

I hear that Amboseli (the nature reserve in Kenya next to Mt. Kilimanjaro) is beautiful and green due to totally out-of-season rains, perhaps associated with a storm system off Madagaskar. This makes it more attractive to travellers to Kenya over the coming weeks, because it is not so dusty and not so barren. Hans-Georg — No mail, please.

Response:

Ok, Its time to figure out how much money to take. I’m not planning on using ATM’s. Be taking a load of Travels Checks….figure in $100 dominations with maybe a few $50’s. And a bit of cash. I keep reading about having to pay in USD’s. I plan to stay in budget to moderate….depending on were I’m at. I’ll be carring Visa for thoses places that will take it (air travel, lodging if i wish to treat myself) (and take the hit on the surcharge)…. But it sounds like I need $50 for my visa, USD for safari’s, boat trips, and some moderate and upper hotels. And cash to get out of the country. I figure I’ll be in Tanzania and will expect them to take the shilling….but you might know better. I’ll be there for four weeks and would like to hear how much cash I’ll need to get about and have some fun. Also a rough dollar per day would help. Its starting to sound like Cuba were I had to carry all cash. Give me you dollar and sense ideas Thanks, BAC

Response:

Ok, Its time to figure out how much money to take. I’m not planning on using ATM’s. Be taking a load of Travels Checks….figure in $100 dominations with maybe a few $50’s. And a bit of cash. I keep reading about having to pay in USD’s. I plan to stay in budget to moderate….depending on were I’m at. I’ll be carrying Visa for theses places that will take it (air travel, lodging if I wish to treat myself) (and take the hit on the surcharge)…. But it sounds like I need $50 for my visa, USD for safari’s, boat trips, and some moderate and upper hotels. And cash to get out of the country. I figure I’ll be in Tanzania and will expect them to take the shilling….but you might know better. I’ll be there for four weeks and would like to hear how much cash I’ll need to get about and have some fun. Also a rough dollar per day would help. Its starting to sound like Cuba were I had to carry all cash. Give me you dollar and sense ideas Thanks, BAC

Response:

>I hear that Amboseli (the nature reserve in Kenya next to Mt. >Kilimanjaro) is beautiful and green due to totally out-of-season >rains, perhaps associated with a storm system off Madagaskar. >This makes it more attractive to travellers to Kenya over the >coming weeks, because it is not so dusty and not so barren.

Whereas Zanzibar has been a washout all week, just got back today and Stone Town was still very wet, roads flooded etc. We lost the windows from the hotel room the night before last (4th) in a truly amazing storm! Exciting to watch and listen to but we were really glad that there was a break to allow us to fly out to Dar by cessna, something I wasn’t looking forward to if it continued. On a positive note, the farms on Zanzibar will fare better this year than last so good news for the locals who suffered from below average rainfall and crop yeilds last year. —               .–~~,__                 `-,,,  ,_      ;’~U’                                    _,-’ ,’`-__; ‘–.                     (_/’~~      ””(;  

Response:

Can’t recommend a total sum but just be aware that they don’t like $100 bills at times. It is not all and not everywhere but smaller denominations are generally better as long as the bills are not old or worn.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Ok, Its time to figure out how much money to take. I’m not planning on using > ATM’s. Be taking a load of Travels Checks….figure in $100 dominations with > maybe a few $50’s. And a bit of cash. I keep reading about having to pay in > USD’s. > I plan to stay in budget to moderate….depending on were I’m at. I’ll be > carrying Visa for theses places that will take it (air travel, lodging if I > wish to treat myself) (and take the hit on the surcharge)…. > But it sounds like I need $50 for my visa, USD for safari’s, boat trips, and > some moderate and upper hotels. And cash to get out of the country. > I figure I’ll be in Tanzania and will expect them to take the > shilling….but you might know better. I’ll be there for four weeks and > would like to hear how much cash I’ll need to get about and have some fun. > Also a rough dollar per day would help. Its starting to sound like Cuba were > I had to carry all cash. > Give me you dollar and sense ideas > Thanks, > BAC

Response:

Ya, I’ll be getting new, crisp bills but don’t, want to carry a lot of cash. At places that want dollars…If I pay with TC’s will they give me change back in USD’s I know that I won’t get as good a exchange rate….but I’m not up for caring a couple thousand in cash to pay my way. At places that take Visa how badly do they nick you % wise?

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Can’t recommend a total sum but just be aware that they don’t like $100 > bills at times. It is not all and not everywhere but smaller denominations > are generally better as long as the bills are not old or worn. > Ok, Its time to figure out how much money to take. I’m not planning on > using > ATM’s. Be taking a load of Travels Checks….figure in $100 dominations > with > maybe a few $50’s. And a bit of cash. I keep reading about having to pay > in > USD’s. > I plan to stay in budget to moderate….depending on were I’m at. I’ll be > carrying Visa for theses places that will take it (air travel, lodging if > I > wish to treat myself) (and take the hit on the surcharge)…. > But it sounds like I need $50 for my visa, USD for safari’s, boat trips, > and > some moderate and upper hotels. And cash to get out of the country. > I figure I’ll be in Tanzania and will expect them to take the > shilling….but you might know better. I’ll be there for four weeks and > would like to hear how much cash I’ll need to get about and have some fun. > Also a rough dollar per day would help. Its starting to sound like Cuba > were > I had to carry all cash. > Give me you dollar and sense ideas > Thanks, > BAC

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Ok, Its time to figure out how much money to take. I’m not planning on > using ATM’s. Be taking a load of Travels Checks….figure in $100 > dominations with maybe a few $50’s. And a bit of cash. I keep reading > about having to pay in USD’s. > I plan to stay in budget to moderate….depending on were I’m at. I’ll be > carrying Visa for theses places that will take it (air travel, lodging if > I wish to treat myself) (and take the hit on the surcharge)…. > But it sounds like I need $50 for my visa, USD for safari’s, boat trips, > and some moderate and upper hotels. And cash to get out of the country. > I figure I’ll be in Tanzania and will expect them to take the > shilling….but you might know better. I’ll be there for four weeks and > would like to hear how much cash I’ll need to get about and have some fun. > Also a rough dollar per day would help. Its starting to sound like Cuba > were I had to carry all cash. > Give me you dollar and sense ideas > Thanks, > BAC

My experience comes from less touristic parts of Tz. You usually have to pay national park fees and some hotels in dollars. At most places euros are ok, too. You can pay expensive things like rental cars or hotels in dollars or euros, but for most situations it is a good idea to have tz shilingi. Of any currency you should have small values (<=2$), change is difficult. Wages in rural areas are 1$ a day! You can change to Tz sh at every bank, but you’ll find banks only at bigger towns. As much as i remember they accept traveler cheques there, too. Plastic money is of no value outside tourist centers. We took all of our money with us in cash, ~2000 Euro per person and 4 weeks. Your comparison with Cuba is, well, iteresting. I hope you are aware that the average income at tz is 160$/year. Enjoy your trip!   Mathias mathias.kussinger ~at~ kifaru.de Complex problems have simple, easy to understand wrong answers

Response:

Don’t know how badly they nick you % wise. However, I recommend using credit cards for emergencies only. Last time I was there I used it twice. Once at a top class safari lodge and the other a medium expensive hotel. When I looked at the credit card bill a month later there was a charge in ZAR, a country I had not  (and never have) been to. Off course copying my credit card details could also have happened on home turf, but everything points towards Africa. I was credited for the amount, but have just learned the lesson only to use cc in emergency. Just my opinion anyways.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Ya, I’ll be getting new, crisp bills but don’t, want to carry a lot of cash. > At places that want dollars…If I pay with TC’s will they give me change > back in USD’s > I know that I won’t get as good a exchange rate….but I’m not up for caring > a couple thousand in cash to pay my way. At places that take Visa how badly > do they nick you % wise? > Can’t recommend a total sum but just be aware that they don’t like $100 > bills at times. It is not all and not everywhere but smaller denominations > are generally better as long as the bills are not old or worn. > > Ok, Its time to figure out how much money to take. I’m not planning on > using > > ATM’s. Be taking a load of Travels Checks….figure in $100 dominations > with > > maybe a few $50’s. And a bit of cash. I keep reading about having to pay > in > > USD’s. > > I plan to stay in budget to moderate….depending on were I’m at. I’ll > be > > carrying Visa for theses places that will take it (air travel, lodging > if > I > > wish to treat myself) (and take the hit on the surcharge)…. > > But it sounds like I need $50 for my visa, USD for safari’s, boat trips, > and > > some moderate and upper hotels. And cash to get out of the country. > > I figure I’ll be in Tanzania and will expect them to take the > > shilling….but you might know better. I’ll be there for four weeks and > > would like to hear how much cash I’ll need to get about and have some > fun. > > Also a rough dollar per day would help. Its starting to sound like Cuba > were > > I had to carry all cash. > > Give me you dollar and sense ideas > > Thanks, > > BAC

Response:

Question:

We are planning a trip to southern Africa. As part of the trip we are considering to rent a 4×4 and drive from Jo’burg to Victoria Falls. We can only affort to set aside 8 days for this. Can aynone comment on any dos and donts? fx. "Too dangerous at the moment. Go to Namibia instead" "Make sure you spend a whole day in Xtown? great place" "Not an interesting route." "Visit campsite X"

Response:

> We are planning a trip to southern Africa. As part of the trip we are > considering to rent a 4×4 and drive from Jo’burg to Victoria Falls. We can > only affort to set aside 8 days for this. > Can aynone comment on any dos and donts? > fx. > "Too dangerous at the moment. Go to Namibia instead" > "Make sure you spend a whole day in Xtown? great place" > "Not an interesting route." > "Visit campsite X"

First of all, 4×4 not needed, tar all the way. Get a good aircon sedan…much cheaper. Zim is bad….go via Botswana and Zambia..same distance. Go north on N1 and go into Botswana via Martins Drift crossing. Go as far as say, Palapye. Via Francistown, Nata to Kasane, plenty of accommodation there…suggest Chobe Safari Lodge.  You are now in big game country, stay a couple of days. Game drives into Chobe National Park (Best section can be done in your own car) and take a river cruise. Cross into Zambia via Kazangula Ferry (Over the Zambesi) The road then is a bit pot holed, but ok.  Livingstone is about 2 hours with lots of accommodation.  View the falls from that side.  Some say it is not as good as the Zim Side but its nice and friendly. 8 days is just fine.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> We are planning a trip to southern Africa. As part of the trip we are > considering to rent a 4×4 and drive from Jo’burg to Victoria Falls. We can > only affort to set aside 8 days for this. > Can aynone comment on any dos and donts? > fx. > "Too dangerous at the moment. Go to Namibia instead" > "Make sure you spend a whole day in Xtown? great place" > "Not an interesting route." > "Visit campsite X" > First of all, 4×4 not needed, tar all the way. Get a good aircon > sedan…much cheaper. > Zim is bad….go via Botswana and Zambia..same distance. > Go north on N1 and go into Botswana via Martins Drift crossing. Go as far as > say, Palapye. > Via Francistown, Nata to Kasane, plenty of accommodation there…suggest > Chobe Safari Lodge.  You are now in big game country, stay a couple of days. > Game drives into Chobe National Park (Best section can be done in your own > car) and take a river cruise. > Cross into Zambia via Kazangula Ferry (Over the Zambesi) The road then is a > bit pot holed, but ok.  Livingstone is about 2 hours with lots of > accommodation.  View the falls from that side.  Some say it is not as good > as the Zim Side but its nice and friendly. > 8 days is just fine.

By the way, 8 days is definately not enough time for Namibia

Response:

> We are planning a trip to southern Africa. As part of the trip we are > considering to rent a 4×4 and drive from Jo’burg to Victoria Falls. We can > only affort to set aside 8 days for this. > Can aynone comment on any dos and donts? > fx. > "Too dangerous at the moment. Go to Namibia instead"

I drove up to the lake last week, No problems, met 3 other people from Jo’burg also had no problems. Just don’t travel with a lot of forex on you( the exchange rate has plumeted from 800 to 500) in a couple of months. Maybe a sign of better things to come ) Richard I drove up in a little Fiat. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> "Make sure you spend a whole day in Xtown? great place" > "Not an interesting route." > "Visit campsite X"

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> > We are planning a trip to southern Africa. As part of the trip we are > > considering to rent a 4×4 and drive from Jo’burg to Victoria Falls. We > can > > only affort to set aside 8 days for this. > > Can aynone comment on any dos and donts? > > fx. > > "Too dangerous at the moment. Go to Namibia instead" > > "Make sure you spend a whole day in Xtown? great place" > > "Not an interesting route." > > "Visit campsite X" > First of all, 4×4 not needed, tar all the way. Get a good aircon > sedan…much cheaper. > Zim is bad….go via Botswana and Zambia..same distance. > Go north on N1 and go into Botswana via Martins Drift crossing. Go as far > as > say, Palapye. > Via Francistown, Nata to Kasane, plenty of accommodation there…suggest > Chobe Safari Lodge.  You are now in big game country, stay a couple of > days. > Game drives into Chobe National Park (Best section can be done in your own > car) and take a river cruise. > Cross into Zambia via Kazangula Ferry (Over the Zambesi) The road then is > a > bit pot holed, but ok.  Livingstone is about 2 hours with lots of > accommodation.  View the falls from that side.  Some say it is not as good > as the Zim Side but its nice and friendly. > 8 days is just fine.

I agree about Botswana, but I would still go to Viv Falls from Chobe distance is about the same, and the view of the falls is more spectacular. Richard. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> By the way, 8 days is definately not enough time for Namibia

Response:

Question:

We have never been to Africa and I would like opinions, please.  We plan to spend just 10 nights in South Africa, not including travel time to/from the USA. Our only available dates for this year fall between June 21 and Aug 23, right in the middle of winter.  This is going to be a very expensive trip and maybe the only time we will ever get to visit SA.  If these dates are not good I would rather delay the trip for a year.  My question: What are the best months to vacation in South Africa and are June/July/August poor choices? Looking at various websites the "must sees" seem to be Cape Town and Krueger.  Even better than Krueger would be a three day private reserve safari perhaps to Sabi Sabi or one of the others.  I think it makes sense to fly there directly so I am thinking 4 evenings in Cape Town, 3 in the Krueger area.  That leaves 3 somewhere else.  Any ideas? Does it make sense to do the Garden route drive in June, July or August? Thank you all for your help.

Response:

May to September are the winter months in South Africa. In the South (Cape Town and Garden Route) it is the rainy season and generally cold and wet and rather unpleasant. In the northern areas (Kruger and Johannesburg) it is not the rainy season but it is also cold. In my opinion it is not desirable to visit SA in those winter months. The best time is December to April. There are some lovely warm winter days but it is not the norm. You have however correctly identified the best spots in terms of "must sees" and if cost is not an important option then private game reserves are probably a better bet. Incidently I live in Cape Town but become a snowbird to Miami from April To September. Feel free to ask for more detailed info and you may contact me at my email address. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > We have never been to Africa and I would like opinions, please.  We plan to > spend just 10 nights in South Africa, not including travel time to/from the > USA. > Our only available dates for this year fall between June 21 and Aug 23, > right in the middle of winter.  This is going to be a very expensive trip > and maybe the only time we will ever get to visit SA.  If these dates are > not good I would rather delay the trip for a year.  My question: What are > the best months to vacation in South Africa and are June/July/August poor > choices? > Looking at various websites the "must sees" seem to be Cape Town and > Krueger.  Even better than Krueger would be a three day private reserve > safari perhaps to Sabi Sabi or one of the others.  I think it makes sense to > fly there directly so I am thinking 4 evenings in Cape Town, 3 in the > Krueger area.  That leaves 3 somewhere else.  Any ideas? > Does it make sense to do the Garden route drive in June, July or August? > Thank you all for your help.

Response:

Question:

Hello everybody, I’m planning to spend a month in southern africa this summer. I really want to do a walking safari (from camp to camp or something like that, not a 2 hour morningwalk…) and it looks to me that south luangwa park zambia is the place to do it, as the tour I’m on ends in Lusaka. Is there somebody that can recommend me a good company that’s good value or can tell me if it’s better to book in advance through internet, or book on the spot? I have approx a week in the beginning of august. Thanks! Jan

Response:

> Hello everybody, > I’m planning to spend a month in southern africa this summer. I really > want to do a walking safari (from camp to camp or something like that, > not a 2 hour morningwalk…) and it looks to me that south luangwa > park zambia is the place to do it, as the tour I’m on ends in Lusaka. > Is there somebody that can recommend me a good company that’s good > value or can tell me if it’s better to book in advance through > internet, or book on the spot? I have approx a week in the beginning > of august.

Zambia seems to specialise in this sort of thing, though they’re pretty expensive. In a brochure I’ve got here, there are four different walking safaris in Zambia. The nearest to what you describe is "…..then into the heart of the Luangwa to a choice of three bush camps: Kakuli, Luwi or Nsolo. Each takes only six guests and specialises in walking safaris….these bush camps are linked by bush trails, so can be combined to create a delightful walking safari." (this is part of a bigger safari, but its just an example, the company specialises in tailor-mades. I haven’t done this (so can’t help with your other questions) but I’ve used the company which send me the brochure six times, and don’t think they’d link up with a less than perfectly reliable company. Slainte Liz — Virtual Liz at http://www.v-liz.co.uk Kenya; Tanzania; India; Seychelles; Namibia "I speak of Africa and golden joys"

Response:

> Hello everybody, > I’m planning to spend a month in southern africa this summer. I really > want to do a walking safari (from camp to camp or something like that, > not a 2 hour morningwalk…) and it looks to me that south luangwa > park zambia is the place to do it, as the tour I’m on ends in Lusaka. > Is there somebody that can recommend me a good company that’s good > value or can tell me if it’s better to book in advance through > internet, or book on the spot? I have approx a week in the beginning > of august. > Thanks! > Jan

It will be very hot in August. I can recommend Sunvil who organised our trip to Zambia last year. Robin Pope seems to be the main ‘camp to camp’ walking safari outfit (can be booked via Sunvil). We stayed at Remote Africa Safaris places – Tafika is their ‘home base’ (they do half-day walks from there, and night drives); then you can walk to one of their bush camps and stay a night or two and walk on to another one for another night or two.  The bush camps are in an area where there are no roads, so you have to walk!  However, they are, in a direct line, only about 20 mins from the main camp – but you take several hours over it! I can thoroughly recommend Remote Africa, but they arent cheap and may not be what you are looking for. re the heat – we were there in early July and it was getting too hot to want to be out walking at mid-day – they told us that as the season progresses, you finish up getting up at 4.00 am to walk – but I think that is sept/oct. If you are already going to be in Lusaka then Remote Africa can arrange your travel to and from the camps. I dont know what the chances of being able to get anything ‘on the spot’ – the lodges tend to be small, and the flights on smallish aircraft so it might be dodgy. see www.remoteafrica.com and http://www.sunvil.co.uk/sites/sunvil/ — Rita Daggett

Response:

> re the heat – we were there in early July and it was getting too hot to want > to be out walking at mid-day – they told us that as the season progresses, > you finish up getting up at 4.00 am to walk

Tx for this info. When I looked up the info for the OP, I thought one of the Zambia safaris there might be a possibility for me, but was baulking at the srs. The heat means I won’t give it another thought! Slainte Liz — Virtual Liz at http://www.v-liz.co.uk Kenya; Tanzania; India; Seychelles; Namibia "I speak of Africa and golden joys"

Response:

was getting too hot to want > to be out walking at mid-day – they told us that as the season progresses, > you finish up getting up at 4.00 am to walk > Tx for this info. > When I looked up the info for the OP, I thought one of the Zambia safaris > there might be a possibility for me, but was baulking at the srs. The heat > means I won’t give it another thought!

It was cold at night and morning tho – we started some of the walks with fleeces on ! I think temperature-wise it would be OK in July/august (esp if you didnt do day-long walks); I think the trouble in Sept/Oct is that it stays hot ALL the time, even at night. The camps werent full when we went so maybe they wouldnt charge a single-room supplement – better to have one person than none? — Rita Daggett

Response:

> was getting too hot to want > > to be out walking at mid-day – they told us that as the season > progresses, > > you finish up getting up at 4.00 am to walk > Tx for this info. > When I looked up the info for the OP, I thought one of the Zambia safaris > there might be a possibility for me, but was baulking at the srs. The heat > means I won’t give it another thought! > It was cold at night and morning tho – we started some of the walks with > fleeces on ! I think temperature-wise it would be OK in July/august (esp if > you didnt do day-long walks); I think the trouble in Sept/Oct is that it > stays hot ALL the time, even at night.

The one I was thinking of only had a little bit of walking. I’m not very keen (for myself) on the idea of walking safaris. You don’t seem to get as near to most things, and I can’t imagine the rest of the company being delighted at having to wait for me to set up tripod etc.! I like doing a few bird walks on a trip, I’m not so keen on the tracks and signs stuff. It’s always very interesting, but afterwards I can’t remember any of it, so can’t label my slides. CRAFT Club hitting hard, I’m afraid.  :-( > The camps werent full when we went so maybe they wouldn’t charge a > single-room supplement – better to have one person than none?

Maybe. I was hoping for that last year, but was surprised a couple of times when four weeks from the departure date, a few trips had ‘only one place left’ but were still going to charge the single supplement (in each case that meant seven in the vehicle rather than six, which is a bit of a bummer anyway) The only time I’ve been in a full lodge or camp in July has been Treetops, The Ark or Mountain Lodge, and they haven’t been full on every visit. Sometimes in the smaller camps we’ve been on our own, or just one other couple. I’m really p***** off with trying to organise a trip for one. It’s sooooooooooo much easier for two. Slainte Liz — Virtual Liz at http://www.v-liz.co.uk Kenya; Tanzania; India; Seychelles; Namibia "I speak of Africa and golden joys"

Response:

Hi Jan, July/ August is not that hot in Zambia–I’ve been walking there in 2002 and 2003.  You will probably start early– perhaps 6 am, and walk until lunchtime. Robin Pope Safaris offers excellent walking safaris, where you walk from camp to camp.  A friend of mine did this last August and LOVED it.  And they did get quite close to lots of animals…including a lion.  Quite thrilling (but don’t count on it. I have never been this lucky.)  South Luangwa is perhaps the BEST place to do this in Africa, so don’t miss the opportunity if you are there.  The guides and rangers are really experienced with walks. (One other tourist who had done a little walking in East Africa said that the arrangement in Zambia– with a guide, armed ranger and tea carrier was a far safer way to do this than the more limited/lax arrangements available in other countries.) RPS is expensive, but very much worth it, if it is in your price range.  They are superb.  If you can’t do a full walking tour with them, they also offer lots of walk options if you are staying at their camps even for a couple days.  The walks will probably be about 4-5 hours in the morning, afternoons perhaps only 2-2.5 hours since you can’t walk after sundown.  Then you can join a drive for the rest of the evening before dinner.  Also can do a long walk to transfer between Tena Tena and Nsefu, two of the best camps in Zambia.  If you are in the US, consider booking this through Wilderness Travel in Berkeley, CA…RPS does all their walking tours in South Luangwa. Wilderness Travel does small groups with set departures, but that makes the prices a bit better. And RPS probably has the best guides and organization in the valley. If this is out of your price range, take a look at Wildlife Camp. They offer morning walks on Zambia Conservation Society land, right across from the Park. Accomodations are quite cheap (you can even camp for about $10 a night, or rent a chalet for $35), and the walks are good. A group that went the day AFTER my walk surprised two lions on a kill!  And they offer an overnight at their bushcamp– you leave early in the morning, walk to the bushcamp, arriving about lunchtime.  Take an afternoon break, a shorter afternoon walk, then stay at the bushcamp overnight.  Walk back to the main camp the next morning by a different route.  This whole 1.5 day excursion, is $100, all inclusive.  It was a wonderful experience, at a very reasonable price.  Not in the same class as an RPS walking, but a good value.  I must say, I found their drives not so great however– the vehicles are always really crowded, and they have a long drive to get to the entrance to the Park. One more option– email Flatdogs, and see if they can arrange a significant walk in the Park for you.  (Flatdogs has excellent chalets for about $35, or you can camp (again, for about $10)…Good game drives, too, for $20/$25 per drive; they are right next to the park entrance, and the vehicles were more comfortable and not quite so crowded. You would probably have to hire a private guide and ranger to get a significant walk this way, but it may still be cheaper than the RPS price. If you have enough time, and want to hedge your bets, you might consider perhaps 3 days at each!  I love this area, and highly recommend it!

Response:

Jan, I forgot to give you the websites: www.wildlifecamp-zambia.com www.flatdogscamp.com and I think www.RobinPopeSafaris.com will get you to RPS

Response:

Question:

For work in the Serengeti and other parts of East Africa, is radio still the most economical, effective means for communications between vehicles and with bases, or have cell/SAT phones started to make cost-effective inroads. Which technology do most field researchers use today? What are the trends? Thanks in advance for any help. Steve

Response:

>For work in the Serengeti and other parts of East Africa, is radio still the >most economical, effective means for communications between vehicles and >with bases, or have cell/SAT phones started to make cost-effective inroads. >Which technology do most field researchers use today? What are the trends? >Thanks in advance for any help.

At least one safari operator, Safari Makers, has switched entirely to cell phones. — Photos and travelogues from Africa and Southeast Asia: http://www.exile.org

Response:

>For work in the Serengeti and other parts of East Africa, is radio still the >most economical, effective means for communications between vehicles and >with bases, or have cell/SAT phones started to make cost-effective inroads. >Which technology do most field researchers use today? What are the trends?

Steve, short wave radio is the classic way. They come as car-based boxes and as walkie-talkies. Range is perhaps 10 kilometers, depending on terrain structure and weather. In some areas cell phones work, but for example in Maasai Mara, Kenya, the transmitters in the lodges are throttled to limit their range to very few kilometers. (I think this is very stupid, particularly since it costs more to install many throttled transmitters and since it can cost lives.) Other places, like even the popular Amboseli in Kenya, are not yet covered at all. The other way is the satellite phone. Thuraya is the cheapest choice. They use one geostationary satellite, soon to be augmented by a second one. The other more expensive and not necessarily better choice is Iridium. Their advantage is worldwide coverage. Thuraya is an Asian-African thing. Whoever can afford it, has one of these, because it’s a security measure. But they are not normally used for everyday communications because of the still relatively high per-minute-price (like around $1.50 per minute for Iridium, I think). I see people use them for the Internet connection though, usually at below 10 Kbit/s data rates, good enough for a few small, but important emails. Hans-Georg — No mail, please.

Response:

>For work in the Serengeti and other parts of East Africa, is radio still the >most economical, effective means for communications between vehicles and >with bases, or have cell/SAT phones started to make cost-effective inroads. >Which technology do most field researchers use today? What are the trends? >Thanks in advance for any help. >Steve

Probably it depends most on whatever is most available in the area you’ll be, and how remote you are. Most of the researchers I know of working in Ethiopia and northern Kenya use satellite phones. Visit Backpacker’s Bulletin Board www.chatarea.com/backpackers

Response:

> >For work in the Serengeti and other parts of East Africa, is radio still the >most economical, effective means for communications between vehicles and >with bases, or have cell/SAT phones started to make cost-effective inroads. >Which technology do most field researchers use today? What are the trends? > Steve, > short wave radio is the classic way. They come as car-based > boxes and as walkie-talkies. Range is perhaps 10 kilometers, > depending on terrain structure and weather.

That applies to walkie-talkie, but certainly not to the built-in radio sets that most minibuses in Kenya use nowadays. The range of these things is *much* larger and they can easily talk from Masai Mara to their head office in Nairobi or to a collegue in Nakuru. The annoying thing is that they are doing that all the time. — Johan W. Elzenga            johan<<at>>johanfoto.nl Editor / Photographer      http://www.johanfoto.nl/

Response:

>> short wave radio is the classic way. They come as car-based > boxes and as walkie-talkies. Range is perhaps 10 kilometers, > depending on terrain structure and weather. >That applies to walkie-talkie, but certainly not to the built-in radio >sets that most minibuses in Kenya use nowadays. The range of these >things is *much* larger and they can easily talk from Masai Mara to >their head office in Nairobi or to a collegue in Nakuru. The annoying >thing is that they are doing that all the time.

Johan, thanks for the good information. Yes, you probably mean the ones with the looong whipping antennas on the minibusses. Hans-Georg — No mail, please.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->> short wave radio is the classic way. They come as car-based >> boxes and as walkie-talkies. Range is perhaps 10 kilometers, >> depending on terrain structure and weather. >That applies to walkie-talkie, but certainly not to the built-in radio >sets that most minibuses in Kenya use nowadays. The range of these >things is *much* larger and they can easily talk from Masai Mara to >their head office in Nairobi or to a collegue in Nakuru. The annoying >thing is that they are doing that all the time. > Johan, > thanks for the good information. Yes, you probably mean the ones > with the looong whipping antennas on the minibusses.

Yes, those are the ones. In Kenya it seems there is hardly a company without them anymore. — Johan W. Elzenga            johan<<at>>johanfoto.nl Editor / Photographer      http://www.johanfoto.nl/

Response:

> > thanks for the good information. Yes, you probably mean the ones > with the looong whipping antennas on the minibusses. > Yes, those are the ones. In Kenya it seems there is hardly a company > without them anymore.

They were generally using them in Tanzania when we were there in ‘98; the following year only a very few companies seemed to be using them in Kenya, but we were told the drivers were campaigning for them. Most/all were using them by last July. Liz — Virtual Liz at http://www.v-liz.co.uk Kenya; Tanzania; India; Seychelles; Namibia "I speak of Africa and golden joys"

Response:

>They were generally using them in Tanzania when we were there in ‘98; the >following year only a very few companies seemed to be using them in Kenya, >but we were told the drivers were campaigning for them. Most/all were using >them by last July.

Liz, that’s probably because with them they believe they can now take even higher risks of getting stuck. Hans-Georg — No mail, please.

Response:

> >They were generally using them in Tanzania when we were there in ‘98; the >following year only a very few companies seemed to be using them in Kenya, >but we were told the drivers were campaigning for them. Most/all were using >them by last July. > that’s probably because with them they believe they can now take > even higher risks of getting stuck.

Oh, you cynic Slainte, Liz — Virtual Liz at http://www.v-liz.co.uk Kenya; Tanzania; India; Seychelles; Namibia "I speak of Africa and golden joys"

Response:

Question:

This week BBC1   have been showing Big Cat Diary  from the Masai Mara. It`s great to see the big cats, and the presenters, Simon King, Jonathan Scott and Saba Douglas- Hamilton  are doing a good job. There is a great screen saver too. Go to: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature for details. Pat. — Pat Anderson

Response:

>This week BBC1   have been showing Big Cat Diary  from the Masai Mara. >It`s great to see the big cats, and the presenters, Simon King, Jonathan >Scott and Saba Douglas- Hamilton  are doing a good job. >There is a great screen saver too. Go to: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature >for details. >Pat.

Indeed it is great though the rotten swines keep leaving each days editing with a cliffhanger making one eager to catch up with the news next day. I for one, can’t wait to find out what happens to the leopard cubs trapped in a cave by baboons…. —               .–~~,__                 `-,,,  ,_      ;’~U’                                    _,-’ ,’`-__; ‘–.                     (_/’~~      ””(;  

Response:

> This week BBC1   have been showing Big Cat Diary  from the Masai Mara. > It`s great to see the big cats, and the presenters, Simon King, Jonathan > Scott and Saba Douglas- Hamilton  are doing a good job. > There is a great screen saver too. Go to: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature > for details. > Pat. > — > Pat Anderson

I missed what happened to the lioness and her two cubs.  Did the new males kill them?   Or did Simba ride to the rescue? Phil

Response:

> I missed what happened to the lioness and her two cubs.  Did the new males > kill them?   Or did Simba ride to the rescue?

The lion cubs are still alive. The question now is if Bella’s two leopard cubs survive the visit of a group of baboons…. Arnoud

Response:

>>This week BBC1   have been showing Big Cat Diary  from the Masai Mara. >It`s great to see the big cats, and the presenters, Simon King, Jonathan >Scott and Saba Douglas- Hamilton  are doing a good job. >There is a great screen saver too. Go to: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature >for details. >Pat. >Indeed it is great though the rotten swines keep leaving each days >editing with a cliffhanger making one eager to catch up with the news >next day. >I for one, can’t wait to find out what happens to the leopard cubs >trapped in a cave by baboons….

I agree!  I`ve sent an email  to Saba telling her  I can`t wait to hear the fate of the  cubs. I think Saba is a natural  for the job. I found  a video recording I made years ago   when she and her sister were  very young. At the time the  family were at Lake Manyara, where her father was working with elephants. Pat — Pat Anderson

Response:

it’s on now and what awesome photography and editing. — Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Response:

>I think Saba is a natural  for the job. I found  a video recording I >made years ago   when she and her sister were  very young. At the time >the  family were at Lake Manyara, where her father was working with >elephants.

Pat, by the way, more recently they (at least Iain and Saba) were working with elephants again in Samburu. They have GPS collars on one or two elephant bulls, if my memory serves me well. The plan was to be able to watch little dots criss-crossing the map on a web site. Haven’t looked at that site for some time though. Similar things have been done in Amboseli as well. Hans-Georg — No mail, please.

Response:

> > This week BBC1   have been showing Big Cat Diary  from the Masai Mara. > It`s great to see the big cats, and the presenters, Simon King, Jonathan > Scott and Saba Douglas- Hamilton  are doing a good job. > There is a great screen saver too. Go to: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature > for details. > Pat. > — > Pat Anderson > I missed what happened to the lioness and her two cubs.  Did the new males > kill them?   Or did Simba ride to the rescue?

Tonight’s cliffhanger: The pride found the two tiny cubs without the mother and are sniffing them out. Their fate is in the balance… (Did they say whether the cubs are Simba’s? Simon said he thought Bibi had been exiled from the pride because her cubs were such a different age, but I’ve seen very mixed age prides, but maybe not that extreme. BTW – anyone know when it was filmed? My bet is October. Liz — Virtual Liz at http://www.v-liz.co.uk Kenya; Tanzania; India; Seychelles; Namibia "I speak of Africa and golden joys"

Response:

> BTW – anyone know when it was filmed? > My bet is October.

According to the Radio Times it was September (all of Sept! so there’s been some ‘constructive editing’) I was surprised at amount of rain at that time of year and number of wildebeest – presumably they are on their way back to the Serengeti? — Rita Daggett

Response:

>> BTW – anyone know when it was filmed? > My bet is October. >According to the Radio Times it was September (all of Sept! so there’s been >some ‘constructive editing’) >I was surprised at amount of rain at that time of year and number of >wildebeest – presumably they are on their way back to the Serengeti?

The sheer numbers of wildebeest  was amazing!  It really is the greatest show on earth. I`ve  only been to the Mara once, in 1998  and then there were more zebra actually crossing  the river than wildebeest. Would you believe whilst we were watching the river crossing, and I was emotionally  affected by  the whole scene, crocodiles poised etc, the driver tapped me on the shoulder saying, "I`ve got bad news for you, Princess Diana is dead!" Pat — Pat Anderson

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I think Saba is a natural  for the job. I found  a video recording I >made years ago   when she and her sister were  very young. At the time >the  family were at Lake Manyara, where her father was working with >elephants. >Pat, >by the way, more recently they (at least Iain and Saba) were >working with elephants again in Samburu. They have GPS collars >on one or two elephant bulls, if my memory serves me well. The >plan was to be able to watch little dots criss-crossing the map >on a web site. Haven’t looked at that site for some time though. >Similar things have been done in Amboseli as well. >Hans-Georg

Hans Georg, Iain   has a charity based  at Samburu called "Save the Elephants". Saba works there with him  when she isn`t working  on wild life filming for the BBC, who she joined in 2002. Her sister, Dudu (what a choice of name!) is also  involved in  the production of films here in Britain. If you do a search on google.com  for "Save the Elephants"  the information is there. Pat — Pat Anderson

Response:

>Iain   has a charity based  at Samburu called "Save the Elephants". Saba >works there with him  when she isn`t working  on wild life filming for >the BBC, who she joined in 2002. Her sister, Dudu (what a choice of >name!) is also  involved in  the production of films here in Britain. >If you do a search on google.com  for "Save the Elephants"  the >information is there.

Pat, thanks! Haven’t looked at their web site in a while, but looked it up again now. Great site, to be found at www.save-the-elephants.org. They misspelled Timbuktu and I fired off a mail to let them know. Let’s see if they correct the spelling. The only member of the family I’ve ever met was Saba, briefly, in Amboseli. But of course I keep seeing Iain on photos and in films. Would like to meet him one day. A good movie is the IMAX one, Kingdom of Elephants, available on DVD. Recommended. I have it and keep showing it to people. Hans-Georg — No mail, please.

Response:

>Tonight’s cliffhanger: >The pride found the two tiny cubs without the mother and are sniffing them out. >Their fate is in the balance…

Liz, unless their mother is a member of the same pride, their chances of not being killed are very low. Can’t see the series, unfortunately, but it will probably be shown in Germany at some later time. Hans-Georg — No mail, please.

Response:

I am not a viewer of this series, but I was wondering. The people who watch obviously love wildlife. Apparently, there are some lion cubs in danger from baboons and/or another pride of lions. All this is being filmed. What are the feelings? Should these cubs actually be allowed to be killed by other animals when they are being filmed and you would think that the filmmakers could intervene and save the cubs? Just what are the ethics involved in filming endangered wildlife? Not the normal killing of unendangered animals such as lions killing their food, but the happenstance killing of some sort of wildlife that is less common, more endangered while it is being filmed and the filmmakers could interven in some way to alter the end result?

Response:

> I am not a viewer of this series, but I was wondering. > The people who watch obviously love wildlife. Apparently, there are some lion > cubs in danger from baboons and/or another pride of lions. > All this is being filmed. > What are the feelings? > Should these cubs actually be allowed to be killed by other animals when they > are being filmed and you would think that the filmmakers could intervene and > save the cubs?

They could, but the ethical film-makers should not intervene in a natural event. > Just what are the ethics involved in filming endangered wildlife? Not the > normal killing of unendangered animals such as lions killing their food, but > the happenstance killing of some sort of wildlife that is less common, more > endangered while it is being filmed and the filmmakers could interven in some > way to alter the end result?

I’m sure it happens. There was a few years back a seminar for wildlife photographers with a session on ethics. The lecturerer started by asking how many of them would throw a person to a crocodile to get good footage, and of course they all thought this was ridiculous. They were then asked who would introduce a fly to a spider’s web for a film and most of them said they would, then the discussion was, where should the line be drawn. I personally would like to think that all documentaries are ‘true to life’ but I know that it isn’t always so – and not always for ‘bad’ reasons. The only time a photographer should intervene would be if they knew for certain that s/he is influencing events. On our first safari, there were many minibuses in a closed circle around a leopard in Samburu. Somehow, a dikdik got into the circle, and the leopard went after it. I was pretty upset, because I thought us being there had given the dikdid an unfair disadvantage, but in the event, it managed to get out between (or possibly under) two minibuses, but the leopard couldn’t follow. I don’t like to get too anthropomorphic, but he gave us some pretty dirty looks. Liz — Virtual Liz at http://www.v-liz.co.uk Kenya; Tanzania; India; Seychelles; Namibia "I speak of Africa and golden joys"

Response:

> >Tonight’s cliffhanger: >The pride found the two tiny cubs without the mother and are sniffing them out. >Their fate is in the balance… > Liz, > unless their mother is a member of the same pride, their chances > of not being killed are very low.

They said that she was of the same pride, but had been ‘exiled’ (I don’t think that was the exact work they used) because her cubs were so much smaller than the others. I was quite surprised at that. > Can’t see the series, unfortunately, but it will probably be > shown in Germany at some later time.

I’ve been trying to get my pupils interested, but they’re more likely to watch that Aussie bloke who holds his children over crocs.  :-( Liz — Virtual Liz at http://www.v-liz.co.uk Kenya; Tanzania; India; Seychelles; Namibia "I speak of Africa and golden joys"

Response:

>I am not a viewer of this series, but I was wondering. >The people who watch obviously love wildlife. Apparently, there are some lion >cubs in danger from baboons and/or another pride of lions. >All this is being filmed. >What are the feelings? >Should these cubs actually be allowed to be killed by other animals when they >are being filmed and you would think that the filmmakers could intervene and >save the cubs? >Just what are the ethics involved in filming endangered wildlife? Not the >normal killing of unendangered animals such as lions killing their food, but >the happenstance killing of some sort of wildlife that is less common, more >endangered while it is being filmed and the filmmakers could interven in some >way to alter the end result?

This too could be a great debate. As I  understand it filmmakers  do not intervene  as  what happens is part of nature, or the natural order. The trio  we have as presenters are all experienced, for instance, both Saba and Simon were born in Kenya, although Simon left  in 1964. Jonathan Scott has lived in Kenya for twenty five years. It must be painful for them as they get to know these big, beautiful cats, if anything  does happen to them. Pat — Pat Anderson

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Iain   has a charity based  at Samburu called "Save the Elephants". Saba >works there with him  when she isn`t working  on wild life filming for >the BBC, who she joined in 2002. Her sister, Dudu (what a choice of >name!) is also  involved in  the production of films here in Britain. >If you do a search on google.com  for "Save the Elephants"  the >information is there. >Pat, >thanks! Haven’t looked at their web site in a while, but looked >it up again now. Great site, to be found at >www.save-the-elephants.org. >They misspelled Timbuktu and I fired off a mail to let them >know. Let’s see if they correct the spelling. >The only member of the family I’ve ever met was Saba, briefly, >in Amboseli. But of course I keep seeing Iain on photos and in >films. Would like to meet him one day. >A good movie is the IMAX one, Kingdom of Elephants, available on >DVD. Recommended. I have it and keep showing it to people. >Hans-Georg

Hans Georg, I met Oria briefly in Nairobi whilst I was with a friend. I  send Saba an email now and again and she has me on a mailing list to inform me when something she`s involved with is going to be on TV. Glad you liked the website   and I`ve  noted  about Kingdom of the Elephants. Pat — Pat Anderson

Response:

> I met Oria briefly in Nairobi whilst I was with a friend. I  send Saba > an email now and again and she has me on a mailing list to inform me > when something she`s involved with is going to be on TV. > Glad you liked the website   and I`ve  noted  about Kingdom of the > Elephants.

I’m sure I read that Iain and Oria take visitors on one of the these fantasic-looking but out of my budget homestays? Or was that a while back? I’ll see if I can find the book I read it in. Liz — Virtual Liz at http://www.v-liz.co.uk Kenya; Tanzania; India; Seychelles; Namibia "I speak of Africa and golden joys"

Response:

> > BTW – anyone know when it was filmed? > My bet is October. > According to the Radio Times it was September (all of Sept! so there’s been > some ‘constructive editing’) > I was surprised at amount of rain at that time of year and number of > wildebeest – presumably they are on their way back to the Serengeti?

The greeness was completely fooling me. I suppose that in September, the wildebeest are in the northern sector and north of the park, and head south again in October. Anyway, I’m just off to watch tonight’s episode which I taped… Slainte Liz — Virtual Liz at http://www.v-liz.co.uk Kenya; Tanzania; India; Seychelles; Namibia "I speak of Africa and golden joys"

Response:

writes – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I met Oria briefly in Nairobi whilst I was with a friend. I  send Saba > an email now and again and she has me on a mailing list to inform me > when something she`s involved with is going to be on TV. > Glad you liked the website   and I`ve  noted  about Kingdom of the > Elephants. >I’m sure I read that Iain and Oria take visitors on one of the these >fantasic-looking but out of my budget homestays? Or was that a while back? >I’ll see if I can find the book I read it in. >Liz

Liz, Go to google.com   and do a search for Olerai  House, Naivasha. There is so much info.  and lovely photos of the house etc,  that you can see different aspects on different sites. Looking at that idyllic  place today makes me wish I was  there! There is also  a company in Kenya called Bush Homes of East Africa. www.bush-homes.co.ke Didn`t you stay at  a house in Naivasha once, Loldio?   As you say, Olerai would be very expensive. Pat — Pat Anderson

Response:

> Can’t see the series, unfortunately, but it will probably be > shown in Germany at some later time.

Hans-Georg, BBC radio and TV programmes are now broadcast in the clear (no card needed) from the Astra digital satellites at 28.2 degrees east. I get them in Western France. If you have an existing digital satellite receiver you are probably getting all the German channels from Astra1 at 19 degrees east. All you need is an "H to H" mount (horizon to horizon) that sits behind your satellite dish and moves it to look at other satellites. The beauty of this system is you get all the free channels that your dish can pick up from many satellites. I use my system to try to learn languages. If you haven’t got digital satellite there are some very inexpensive systems available via a "Google" as well as comprehensive listings of all the available programmes at www.satmania.com I’m sitting here in the UK listening to Jazz Radio from Berlin…    :-) HTH — besters..           Ned           ===

Response:

> Liz, > Go to google.com   and do a search for Olerai  House, Naivasha. There is > so much info.  and lovely photos of the house etc,  that you can see > different aspects on different sites. Looking at that idyllic  place > today makes me wish I was  there! > There is also  a company in Kenya called Bush Homes of East Africa. > www.bush-homes.co.ke > Didn`t you stay at  a house in Naivasha once, Loldio?   As you say, > Olerai would be very expensive.

I found the book and saw that it was Olerai. Compared to other places in the book, like Borana, it seemed slightly less expensive. Yes, we stayed at Loldia on our last trip because we’d left it too late to get into Lake Naivasha Country Club. It’s a really fantastic place to stay; the staff were great. This year’s nightly rate for Loldia is "from

Question:

Can anyone recommend the best chimpanzee safari trips available in Tanzania??? I’m currently looking around but the cost seems a bit prohibitive….. Regards, Mike

Response:

> Can anyone recommend the best chimpanzee safari trips available in > Tanzania??? > I’m currently looking around but the cost seems a bit prohibitive…..

AFAIK, there are only two main centres, Gombe Island and Greystoke on Lake Victoria, but both are very expensive because of logistics and limited accommodation. Forexample, I have one to hand which costs

Question:

Are you thinkign of taking a safari this cominf year? let 2004 be the year you visit Africa , contact me with your requirements and I will find you the ideal safari

Response:

I just retuned from an amazing safari with an amazing company. i used zara travel and spent 2 weeks with them. one on mt kilimanjaro and one in serengeti/ngorongoro crater/lake manyara/and native bushmen. they used perfect clean and new equipment and were very professional. we saw a number of breakdowns and i am glad it wasnt us. i would recommend them. in the immediate moshi/arusha area in tanzania there are (i heard) over 125 travel ‘companies’. just like anything else do your research. it took me about 10 months to choose them.

Response:

>I just retuned from an amazing safari with an amazing company. i used >zara travel and spent 2 weeks with them. one on mt kilimanjaro and one >in serengeti/ngorongoro crater/lake manyara/and native bushmen. they >used perfect clean and new equipment and were very professional. we >saw a number of breakdowns and i am glad it wasnt us. i would >recommend them. in the immediate moshi/arusha area in tanzania there >are (i heard) over 125 travel ‘companies’. just like anything else do >your research. it took me about 10 months to choose them.

I also went on a trip recently, covering a number of the same locations – if interested, details are at http://www.africahoneymoon.com

Response:

Question:

I’m going to Ethiopia in mid/late-January for work, and I’m planning on taking a couple weeks off before then to relax somewhere in East Africa. I’d be very interested in visiting Zanzibar or Seychelles (preference is for Zanzibar), or maybe Mombasa.  All these places seem to be ideal for just lounging around, taking in beautiful scenery and swimming in the ocean. Does anyone have any experience in these places early January?  I hear mixed reports about the weather.  It seems to be the rainy season for Seychelles–is it a bad time of the year to visit Zanzibar?  And is there enough to do there besides lounging and swimming?  My travel partner doesn’t dive, so it’d be great if there were nice places to take walks, see sights, etc.  What about food?  We’re both fairly experienced travelers, and have lived in various parts of Africa. Many, many thanks for your help. Regards, dave

Response:

> Does anyone have any experience in these places early January?  I hear > mixed reports about the weather.  It seems to be the rainy season for > Seychelles–is it a bad time of the year to visit Zanzibar?

Sorry can’t help with this part of your question. A brochure I have to hand has it as OK to visit in Jan, but not Seychelles >  And is there enough to do there besides lounging and swimming?

Oh yes. > My travel partner doesn’t dive, so it’d be great if there were nice places to > take walks, see sights, etc.

Oh yes. Stone town is very interesting. Other parts of the island have various attractions: historical, spice tours, etc. Great snorkellng at Chumbe Island (very easy if you can swim) Visit the Zanzibar Red Colobus at Jozani Forest > What about food?  

No problem. Lots of choice in Stone Town. A dinner at Emerson and Green aka "New Emerson" is a **Must**. I’ve got some pix & info of Zanzibar and Chumbe Island on my website starting at: http://www.v-liz.co.uk/safari/tanzania/zanzibar/zanhom.htm The Bradt Guide to Zanzibar will give you lots of ideas. Lots to fill a fortnight in Zanzibar; but have you thought of doing a safari on the Tz mainland? – mid-Jan the calves start to be dropped in the Serengeti. Liz — Virtual Liz at http://www.v-liz.co.uk Kenya; Tanzania; India; Seychelles New Aug ‘03: Namibia "I speak of Africa and golden joys"

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I’m going to Ethiopia in mid/late-January for work, and I’m planning >on taking a couple weeks off before then to relax somewhere in East >Africa. >I’d be very interested in visiting Zanzibar or Seychelles (preference >is for Zanzibar), or maybe Mombasa.  All these places seem to be ideal >for just lounging around, taking in beautiful scenery and swimming in >the ocean. >Does anyone have any experience in these places early January?  I hear >mixed reports about the weather.  It seems to be the rainy season for >Seychelles–is it a bad time of the year to visit Zanzibar?  And is >there enough to do there besides lounging and swimming?  My travel >partner doesn’t dive, so it’d be great if there were nice places to >take walks, see sights, etc.  What about food?  We’re both fairly >experienced travelers, and have lived in various parts of Africa. >Many, many thanks for your help. >Regards, >dave

Liz has given you some good advice. Regarding weather in  Mombasa and Zanzibar in January:  It`s the hot season of course. Usually fine with the occasional shower. We had  downpours  after the New year in Malindi on more than one occasion  but  it didn`t last long. Pat — Pat Anderson

Response:

i take it your travel partner is a man than?

Response:

Question:

We are 2 Italian guys (32 and 37 yo), we are arriving in Kenya on the 19th of December 2003; on the 21st we are going to lodge safari, we are searching for people in order to share the price of it; we are going to Amboseli, Aberdare, Nakuru and Masai Mara for a total of 8 days. Please Hope to get many emails Angelo.

Response:

>We are 2 Italian guys (32 and 37 yo), we are arriving in Kenya on the >19th of December 2003; on the 21st we are going to lodge safari, we are >searching for people in order to share the price of it; we are going to >Amboseli, Aberdare, Nakuru and Masai Mara for a total of 8 days. Please >Hope to get many emails

Angelo, there isn’t much to share, actually. At least not from a financial point of view. Hans-Georg — No mail, please.

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it is not true, there is a lot to share; the company in Kenya I am in contact with, just told me that the more people join the safari, the lower will be the price for each one; that is why I am searching for people thanks Angelo. Hans-Georg Michna ha scritto: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->We are 2 Italian guys (32 and 37 yo), we are arriving in Kenya on the >19th of December 2003; on the 21st we are going to lodge safari, we are >searching for people in order to share the price of it; we are going to >Amboseli, Aberdare, Nakuru and Masai Mara for a total of 8 days. Please >Hope to get many emails > Angelo, > there isn’t much to share, actually. At least not from a > financial point of view. > Hans-Georg > — > No mail, please.

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>it is not true, there is a lot to share; the company in Kenya I am in >contact with, just told me that the more people join the safari, the lower >will be the price for each one; that is why I am searching for people >thanks

Angelo, if this is so, then I have to retract my statement. I hope they told you how much lower the price would be. I never doubted it would be a bit lower, but perhaps not by much. Hans-Georg — No mail, please.

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> >it is not true, there is a lot to share; the company in Kenya I am in >contact with, just told me that the more people join the safari, the lower >will be the price for each one; that is why I am searching for people >thanks > Angelo, > if this is so, then I have to retract my statement. > I hope they told you how much lower the price would be. I never > doubted it would be a bit lower, but perhaps not by much.

The price for the flights and accommodation will be the same (until you get over about 12 people, or maybe 16), the cost of the vehicle/driver/petrol will be shared. That isn’t a big proportion of the total. Remember also that the more people in the vehicle, the less room everyone has, which is a big consideration if they are photographers with a reasonable amount of kit. Also, with over seven people in a normal safari minibus, not everyone will have a window seat, and the seventh person will be sitting next to the driver will not have access to the roof hatch. Obviously, everyone should rotate being in this seat. Anyway, bear that in mind, and safari njema. Liz — Virtual Liz at http://www.v-liz.co.uk Kenya; Tanzania; India; Seychelles New Aug ‘03: Namibia "I speak of Africa and golden joys"

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Liz ha scritto: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> >it is not true, there is a lot to share; the company in Kenya I am in > >contact with, just told me that the more people join the safari, the lower > >will be the price for each one; that is why I am searching for people > >thanks > Angelo, > if this is so, then I have to retract my statement. > I hope they told you how much lower the price would be. I never > doubted it would be a bit lower, but perhaps not by much. > The price for the flights and accommodation will be the same (until you get > over about 12 people, or maybe 16), the cost of the vehicle/driver/petrol > will be shared. That isn’t a big proportion of the total. Remember also that > the more people in the vehicle, the less room everyone has, which is a big > consideration if they are photographers with a reasonable amount of > kit. Also, with over seven people in a normal safari minibus, not everyone > will have a window seat, and the seventh person will be sitting next to the > driver will not have access to the roof hatch. Obviously, everyone should > rotate being in this seat. > Anyway, bear that in mind, and safari njema. > Liz > — > Virtual Liz at http://www.v-liz.co.uk > Kenya; Tanzania; India; Seychelles > New Aug ‘03: Namibia > "I speak of Africa and golden joys"

I have already booked and paid my flight, and I dont pay hotel cause a friend of mine will host me, she is pure Kenyan! the only expensive thing is the safari, and if I can lower even only the price of vehicle/driver/patrol it will be just so good for me and my firend. That is why we are searching for other people. GO to this website: www.tamasha-afrika.co.ke the guy who is organizing my safari is a friend of my friend and I trus thim when he says the price can be lowered, and after all you can see it on his website as well. Thank you very much Angelo.

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> I have already booked and paid my flight, and I dont pay hotel cause a friend of > mine will host me, she is pure Kenyan! the only expensive thing is the safari, > and if I can lower even only the price of vehicle/driver/patrol it will be just > so good for me and my firend. That is why we are searching for other people.

ah – so you’ll be staying at your friend’s house and just going for day trips into the park? In that case you will save money *if* you can find someone to share. But it’s not so attractive for others. Usually when on safari you stay in the parks for ambience and so that you can have the best game viewing in early morning and late afternoon. If you’re staying in or near Nairobi, and you haven’t already found others to share with, you could try posting at the Thorn Tree Cafe at the New Stanley Hotel: in fact, maybe your friend could post there for you a few days before you arrive. Liz — Virtual Liz at http://www.v-liz.co.uk Kenya; Tanzania; India; Seychelles New Aug ‘03: Namibia "I speak of Africa and golden joys"

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>www.tamasha-afrika.co.ke

Angelo, thanks for the web link. I find the following table there (a bit distorted here in plain text, but still readable). Prices are Per Person Sharing 2 Pax 3 Pax 4 Pax 5 Pax 6 Pax Single R S High Season 960USD 912USD 864USD 816USD 768USD 120USD Low Season 862USD 820USD 776USD 734USD 690USD 90USD Low Season   01/04/04 to 30/06/04 Single R S = Single Room Supplement High Season  (01/07/03 to 15th/12/03) AND ( 04th/01/04 to 31/03/04) The savings probably come from sharing the car. Makes sense, but as I suspected, the savings aren’t overwhelming. Still, you’d save some. Hans-Georg — No mail, please.

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