The Africa Thread (Arsenal related........kind of!!)

[canadagooner]

A warning...

Province of Inhambane
Ministry of Fish and Wildlife
MOZAMBIQUE

WARNING:
Due to the rising frequency of human-lion encounters, the Ministry of Fish and Wildlife, Inhambane Branch, Mozambique, is advising hikers, hunters, fishermen, and any motorcyclists that use the out-of-doors in a recreational or work-related function to take extra precautions whilst in the bush.

We advise the outdoorsmen to wear little noisy bells on clothing so as to give advanced warning to any lions that might be close by, so you don't take them by surprise.

We also advise anyone using the out-of-doors to carry "Pepper Spray" with him or her in case of an encounter with a lion.

Outdoorsmen should also be on the watch for fresh lion activity, and be able to tell the difference between lion cub sh!t and big lion sh!t. Lion cub sh!t is smaller and contains lots of berries and dassie fur. Big lion sh!t has bells in it and smells like pepper.
:)

[Publius]

This ran in today's Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/28/AR2007032801876.html

[Rick B]

Nice...the soon to be wife and I are heading to Madagascar for our honeymoon in October--stopping in Victoria Falls, Chobe in Botswana/Namibia, and J'burg along the way. Our first trip to the continent and we are ridiculously excited.

Which camps are you staying in? Are you doing Chobe and Okavango or just Chobe? When you are in Vic Falls, make sure you got to Ilala Lodge for dinner. It's opposite the Sandman Hotel - serves lots of different game and is one of the best restaurants in Southern Africa. Croc soup followed by Impala steak was my last meal there - absolutly amazing!!!

[Shibby13]

Rick are you going to all 3 Dispatch dates? I'll probably go to the Friday or Saturday show let me know.

[V Funk]

Which camps are you staying in? Are you doing Chobe and Okavango or just Chobe? When you are in Vic Falls, make sure you got to Ilala Lodge for dinner. It's opposite the Sandman Hotel - serves lots of different game and is one of the best restaurants in Southern Africa. Croc soup followed by Impala steak was my last meal there - absolutly amazing!!!

Due to a shortage in time (and Madagascar being our primary destination), we're just going to be in Chobe--staying at Chobe Savanna Lodge (http://www.desertdelta.co.za/Chobe_National_Park_Lodges-travel/chobe_savanna_lodge_botswana.html) and the less than exotic but functional Chobe Safari Lodge (http://www.chobesafarilodge.com/index.html). Next time (and I'm confident there will be a next time) we'll budget the time/money to hit up the Delta.

Will definitely take you up on the restaurant tip. We haven't decided where to stay while in Victoria Falls, though. The hotels are at such low occupancy, I'm kinda tempted to just show up at the Victoria Falls Hotel or the like and see what kind of rate we can get (would like to keep the prices low in VFA).

You done the bungee jump? Definitely on the must do list for me...

[Rick B]

Due to a shortage in time (and Madagascar being our primary destination), we're just going to be in Chobe--staying at Chobe Savanna Lodge (http://www.desertdelta.co.za/Chobe_National_Park_Lodges-travel/chobe_savanna_lodge_botswana.html) and the less than exotic but functional Chobe Safari Lodge (http://www.chobesafarilodge.com/index.html). Next time (and I'm confident there will be a next time) we'll budget the time/money to hit up the Delta.

Will definitely take you up on the restaurant tip. We haven't decided where to stay while in Victoria Falls, though. The hotels are at such low occupancy, I'm kinda tempted to just show up at the Victoria Falls Hotel or the like and see what kind of rate we can get (would like to keep the prices low in VFA).

You done the bungee jump? Definitely on the must do list for me...


Well if you haven't booked a place to stay there and you are staying on the Zim side rather than the Zambian side - Ilala Lodge is really nice in as well. The restaurant overlooks lovely gardens and I have eaten breakfast there watching elephants mucnch their breakfast on the lawns. Don't be fooled into thinking that October is low occupancy though..........It's not. It's one of the most popular times to visit that part of Africa.
As for the Victoria Falls hotel - well if you just want to say you stayed there- maybe. But really and truely it isn't all it used to be. My view on that is that it's more like a city hotel than a lodge and whilst in Africa staying in Lodges are much better.

Savanna is beautiful. In fact thats where I booked my mother into when she had her honeymoon in Southern Africa a few years ago. And there isn't anything wrong with Chobe Safari Lodge either. You'll enjoy the position on the river there. In fact that was my first choice for the trip in June, however it was fully booked hence I ended up at the Garden Lodge. I stayed at Chobe Safari Lodge 3 years ago and had a really nice time.

http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=150350514&albumID=0&imageID=2288993

I think that answers your question about the bunjee jump..............:p

[ArsenalTexan3]

Only been to South Africa, but my what a place that is. It is on my lists of places to go while I'm in the Uk for four years. Absolutley amazing.

Loved eating ostrich steak.

[DallasGooner]

Only been to South Africa, but my what a place that is. It is on my lists of places to go while I'm in the Uk for four years. Absolutley amazing.

To go while in the UK? They finish the bridge to it already? :D

[ArsenalTexan3]

To go while in the UK? They finish the bridge to it already? :D

Yeah, you didn't hear the news? The Green party wants a bridge built while the communist party(yes they have them in Scotland). They project it will be finished by 2018.

Nah, easier to get a flight down south and no jet leg.

[jatm516]

Don't know if yall have seen this (interesting article and pics from May's National Geographic on Zambia), but I thought yall might enjoy it.

http://www7.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0705/feature4/index.html

[antifan]

Don't know if yall have seen this (interesting article and pics from May's National Geographic on Zambia), but I thought yall might enjoy it.

http://www7.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0705/feature4/index.html
Thanks Ash, i hadn't seen that. My subscription to National Geographic expired about a quarter century ago. ;)

[jatm516]

Thanks Ash, i hadn't seen that. My subscription to National Geographic expired about a quarter century ago. ;)
well that is your loss then! ;)
JK

Actually my daughter was doing research for a science report type thing. So that's how I saw it, but I actually do enjoy the magazine and buy it every now and then.

I readily admit to being a complete nerd though. When I was my daughter's age I actually wrote to NASA and asked them to send me MORE reading material on the planets and comets and stuff. If that wasn't a clear sign to my parents that I was a disturbed child I don't know what is. LOL

[Detlef]

I told Rick B that there was a fascinating documentary on Mobutu last night on the Sundance Channel. If you get a chance to see it, you should. Pretty interesting. is Billy all packed for Zimbabwe? :confused:

[jatm516]

I told Rick B that there was a fascinating documentary on Mobutu last night on the Sundance Channel. If you get a chance to see it, you should. Pretty interesting. is Billy all packed for Zimbabwe? :confused:

Billy won't even be close to packing for Zimbabwe until about an hour before he has to catch his plane. :rolleyes:

[topcatcole]

Just saw this thread. Looks like an awesome trip.

[red & wite army]

Wow, reading this thread was strange to say the least...

My perception of Africa seems completely different to the people on here, and I live in South Africa.

It would seem that a lot of the tourists are going to game reserves and the like. Funnily enough, in all my years, I have never even been to a game reserve, and probably haven't seen half of the 'Big Five' animals.:o

The weather is great, and there are great parts, but my family is really restricted by crime....and more of them are getting attacked. My cousin was hit over the head with a gun last month, and my other cousin had a gun shoved into his face last year, as he was getting into his car. Thats just the people close to me.

WHat I'm saying it that it is highly enjoyable when on holiday in Africa, but if you believe that is real life...then you are wrong.

[Publius]

Wow, reading this thread was strange to say the least...

My perception of Africa seems completely different to the people on here, and I live in South Africa.

It would seem that a lot of the tourists are going to game reserves and the like. Funnily enough, in all my years, I have never even been to a game reserve, and probably haven't seen half of the 'Big Five' animals.:o

The weather is great, and there are great parts, but my family is really restricted by crime....and more of them are getting attacked. My cousin was hit over the head with a gun last month, and my other cousin had a gun shoved into his face last year, as he was getting into his car. Thats just the people close to me.

WHat I'm saying it that it is highly enjoyable when on holiday in Africa, but if you believe that is real life...then you are wrong.

What you say is fairly typical of South Africa's reputation, whether fair or not, and I'm afraid it will have a massive impact on foreign travel to South Africa for WC 2010.

[Rick B]

Wow, reading this thread was strange to say the least...

My perception of Africa seems completely different to the people on here, and I live in South Africa.

It would seem that a lot of the tourists are going to game reserves and the like. Funnily enough, in all my years, I have never even been to a game reserve, and probably haven't seen half of the 'Big Five' animals.:o

The weather is great, and there are great parts, but my family is really restricted by crime....and more of them are getting attacked. My cousin was hit over the head with a gun last month, and my other cousin had a gun shoved into his face last year, as he was getting into his car. Thats just the people close to me.

WHat I'm saying it that it is highly enjoyable when on holiday in Africa, but if you believe that is real life...then you are wrong.


Remember that I am not going to SA!!! We are going to Zimbabwe where crime is far far less of a problem.................!!

I know what you mean, many friends are saying the crime is too much. Some of my Zim friends are now looking elsewhere after moving to SA. It's a serious situation and one that I worry about for the WC. Thats why when I do my trips for the WC they will be from Zim......................and only in South Africa for a short time for the games.

[red & wite army]

Is the crime far less in Zimbabwe? Other then the farm killings and serios financial problems I haven't actually heard much positive news from the country, so I'm interested to hear news.

As for the WC in 2010. I actually get the feeling that the crime will be less. I believe that there will be so many people milling around that a 'group protection' will almost be created. Of course I'm only guessing, and I still believe the crime will be bad, as tourists will be in a holiday mood and will mill into the wrong places. Statistics say that 50 people are killed in South Africa a day. I'm sure there will be muggings, not sneaky ones. And I just hope that the tourists do hand over their stuff when asked, because there will be no hesitation to stab on behalf of the mugger. Yes, a killing of a tourist aswell will probably occur.

I was actually hoping not to still be in the country by then, but government subsidies in Varsity fees makes it alot less costly - although staying in the country can have far costlier consequences.

ANYWAYS, that is South Africa, and NOT Zimbabwe - I hope I haven't scared people off Africa, I just wanted to give a different perspective.;)

[Rewinder]

I don't understand why this is a trip to Zimbabwe and not South Africa(too lazy to read the thread). I used to live in SA for 8 years, and as red&white said - while its great for a holiday, its completely different when you live there. Even if you live in the best neighborhoods you still have to deal with the crime a lot.

It will be interesting to see what happens during the world cup, because unless you stay alert 24/7 and in a large group, you will be in danger. The government is also not very good at dealing with the problem, so tourists will probably be encouraged to only visit a limited number of designated areas.

On the other hand is there any weight in the news that wc2010 will be taken away from SA? I heard that they haven't even begun to build half of the stadiums, and how will people travel between cities? JHB to PTA is easy enough, but to get anywhere else they will need to fly.