Do's&Dont's
Sep 30th, 2006, 07:44 PM
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Do's&Dont's
I am really on the home strech now, we leave VERY early the morning of Oct 3rd. I'm all packed, got my malaria meds, fully charged batteries for...everything! I guess my last question is are there any tips that a first timer like me should know? Or better yet, how do I avoid being the typical American tourist(even though I'm Canadian). I will use common sense(like try to keep my camera out of other guest way etc...)but have there been things that you have noticed other newbies doing that is just plain annoying? I'll try not to shout/scream with joy the first time I see a real animal, I won't wear black to attract the mossies, I won't be the slow poke in the morning and hold up the game drive start time. I know most of the guides will speak English but how do you say please and thank you(we will be in Bots/Zimbabwe then CT)? Any other tips?? I am beyond excited at this point! Thank you all so much for your help and expertise. I feel really prepared for this 'adventure'.
momofmany
momofmany
Sep 30th, 2006, 08:54 PM
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don't walk around or leave the tent at night without a guard.
don't say "here kitty kitty" to the lions or try to pet them.
take some pics of yourself.
keep your shoes upside down at night so the bugs don't crawl in. shake them out in the morning just in case.
share the "good seats" in the vehicle with others in the group.
enjoy it all, don't sit out on anything.
be generous.
and remember elephants are bigger in person than on the t.v.
don't say "here kitty kitty" to the lions or try to pet them.
take some pics of yourself.
keep your shoes upside down at night so the bugs don't crawl in. shake them out in the morning just in case.
share the "good seats" in the vehicle with others in the group.
enjoy it all, don't sit out on anything.
be generous.
and remember elephants are bigger in person than on the t.v.
Oct 1st, 2006, 03:48 AM
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Hi Momofmany,
What's annoying to other tourists differs from what's annoying to staff. If someone you're sharing game drives with walks around at night and gets eaten it just means you get more space in the vehicle and something interesting for your trip report – camp staff would find it more problematic. From my tourist point of view what's most important is to be on time for game drives and not to be bored, impatient or “scared of everything”. I wouldn't mind someone shouting/screaming with joy the first time they see a real animal as long it's something they can't contain and if they after that make an effort not to be loud.
I haven't been to Southern Africa, but I think that in Botswana you could say “Thank you, Sir/Madam” in Tswana: “Ke a leboga, rra/mma”.
Have a wonderful trip!
What's annoying to other tourists differs from what's annoying to staff. If someone you're sharing game drives with walks around at night and gets eaten it just means you get more space in the vehicle and something interesting for your trip report – camp staff would find it more problematic. From my tourist point of view what's most important is to be on time for game drives and not to be bored, impatient or “scared of everything”. I wouldn't mind someone shouting/screaming with joy the first time they see a real animal as long it's something they can't contain and if they after that make an effort not to be loud.
I haven't been to Southern Africa, but I think that in Botswana you could say “Thank you, Sir/Madam” in Tswana: “Ke a leboga, rra/mma”.
Have a wonderful trip!
Oct 1st, 2006, 04:07 AM
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Just go and feel the joy of being yourself - no rules - let the wind blow thru your hair, shreak with delight and do many happy dances.
Don't worry about appearing to be too American even though your Canadian
I did actually find that the Africans and Seychellians that I met along the way, actually liked Americans - how about that?
My only tip would be to try to learn a bit of the local language, even if it's just hello or thank you. This is something you can study on the trip over.
Enjoy!
From a typical American tourist;
Sherry
Don't worry about appearing to be too American even though your Canadian
I did actually find that the Africans and Seychellians that I met along the way, actually liked Americans - how about that?My only tip would be to try to learn a bit of the local language, even if it's just hello or thank you. This is something you can study on the trip over.
Enjoy!
From a typical American tourist;
Sherry
Oct 1st, 2006, 07:03 AM
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A desire not to be annoying is your best insurance against being annoying. Just common sense, as you mentioned, and awareness of others and should serve you well in the bush, just like in Canada.
Thank you = mah ZWEE tah
in Shona (maybe for Zimbabwe)
Thank you = KEE ah lay BO kha
in Tswana(for Botwswana)
Thank you = ngee yha bon gah
in Zulu (maybe for South Africa)
Swahili just seems so much easier in rolling off the tongue. But discussing the local language is a nice topic of conversation for you and your guide. I find I must write down phonetically any new words I learn or I immediately forget them.
One annoying thing is when people bounce around and reorganize themselves and their gear when the vehicle is stationary at a photo stop.
And now some humorous advice and truth is stranger than fiction advice:
Don't ask, "Are them good eatin'?" in reference to any game.
Don't stand up and cheer for the predator should you witness a hunt, as one woman did in another vehicle. (Can you believe it?)
Don't wear high heels on any walking safaris. (That same woman)
Don't demand that palm boughs be placed beneath your feet for your every step so that you are protected from any insects crawling on the ground. (A different woman)
Don't tell the guide where to look for leopards because if you were a leopard that's the kind of tree you'd like to nap in. (yet another woman)
And tell your husband not to offer unsolicited assistance to any females trying to zip on or off their zip-off trousers. (A man did this to me while his WIFE was sitting next to me in the vehicle, despite my protests. It prompted the driver to stop and order him back to his seat and away from my thighs and zippers! That strange man and unfortunately his family--which was lovely--never shared a vehicle with me again.)
Thank you = mah ZWEE tah
in Shona (maybe for Zimbabwe)
Thank you = KEE ah lay BO kha
in Tswana(for Botwswana)
Thank you = ngee yha bon gah
in Zulu (maybe for South Africa)
Swahili just seems so much easier in rolling off the tongue. But discussing the local language is a nice topic of conversation for you and your guide. I find I must write down phonetically any new words I learn or I immediately forget them.
One annoying thing is when people bounce around and reorganize themselves and their gear when the vehicle is stationary at a photo stop.
And now some humorous advice and truth is stranger than fiction advice:
Don't ask, "Are them good eatin'?" in reference to any game.
Don't stand up and cheer for the predator should you witness a hunt, as one woman did in another vehicle. (Can you believe it?)
Don't wear high heels on any walking safaris. (That same woman)
Don't demand that palm boughs be placed beneath your feet for your every step so that you are protected from any insects crawling on the ground. (A different woman)
Don't tell the guide where to look for leopards because if you were a leopard that's the kind of tree you'd like to nap in. (yet another woman)
And tell your husband not to offer unsolicited assistance to any females trying to zip on or off their zip-off trousers. (A man did this to me while his WIFE was sitting next to me in the vehicle, despite my protests. It prompted the driver to stop and order him back to his seat and away from my thighs and zippers! That strange man and unfortunately his family--which was lovely--never shared a vehicle with me again.)
Oct 1st, 2006, 08:06 AM
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In addition to what Lynn said....while at Phinda, i was in a vehicle with people...we were watching a cheetah family tear thru and gorge themselves on nyala. One of the ladies wanted to leave and go find buffalo!!!!
Hmmmm.....that's a no, no!!!!
But then, i hope you dont have anyone nutty like me in your jeep.....
Hari
Hmmmm.....that's a no, no!!!!
But then, i hope you dont have anyone nutty like me in your jeep.....
Hari
Oct 1st, 2006, 08:42 AM
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I can't emphasize enough how great it is to take a few moments to learn a few words in the local language. I think more than anything it is a sign of respect.
On my last journey to Zambia I remember going through customs on arrival in Lusaka and after my papers were stamped I just said thank you very much in the local dialect to the clerk and walked away. I was about 10 yards away when a woman came running after and said the clerk wanted me. I thought "damn what the hell is wrong". The clerk smiled and she looked up to me and started to speak to me in Nyanga. I told her I only knew a few words and did not understand her and she smiled and asked where I had learned them and wished me a happy stay in Zambia. I could tell she was not used to tourists using any Zambian words.
The memory trick I use to remember these phrases is to create a vivid visual links to the phrase and the more bizzare and unusual the images the better.
For example thank you very much in Bemba is "natotela sana" My image for this phrase is a mens tie knot attatched to a teller sitting in a sauna. Knot+tie+teller+sauna (teller in Bostonese = tellah)
On my last journey to Zambia I remember going through customs on arrival in Lusaka and after my papers were stamped I just said thank you very much in the local dialect to the clerk and walked away. I was about 10 yards away when a woman came running after and said the clerk wanted me. I thought "damn what the hell is wrong". The clerk smiled and she looked up to me and started to speak to me in Nyanga. I told her I only knew a few words and did not understand her and she smiled and asked where I had learned them and wished me a happy stay in Zambia. I could tell she was not used to tourists using any Zambian words.
The memory trick I use to remember these phrases is to create a vivid visual links to the phrase and the more bizzare and unusual the images the better.
For example thank you very much in Bemba is "natotela sana" My image for this phrase is a mens tie knot attatched to a teller sitting in a sauna. Knot+tie+teller+sauna (teller in Bostonese = tellah)
Oct 1st, 2006, 10:01 AM
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Green Drake - love the cue - I won't forget that phrase EVER, although the image may make me smirk when I say it 
sweaty little man wrapped in a sauna towel with a very tight tie knot around neck, counting money behind the teller bars.
natotela sana;
Sherry
sweaty little man wrapped in a sauna towel with a very tight tie knot around neck, counting money behind the teller bars.
natotela sana;
Sherry
Oct 1st, 2006, 12:26 PM
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mom, just the fact that you're asking this question tells us you'll be a considerate safari-goer. But it's a fun topic. Lynn, you've had the doozies!
GreenDrake, I loved your tips. Can you do one for thank you in Tanzania and Namibia?
GreenDrake, I loved your tips. Can you do one for thank you in Tanzania and Namibia?
Oct 1st, 2006, 02:41 PM
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Clematis - trick is to think like an 8 year old!!!
Thank you very much- Swahili
Ahsante Sana
Ah - Sahn - Teh- Sana
Images in my mind left to right:
finger in light socket - AHHHHH!!!!
finger belongs to Santa - Sanh Teh
Santa just coming out of sauna - Sana
Thank you very much- Swahili
Ahsante Sana
Ah - Sahn - Teh- Sana
Images in my mind left to right:
finger in light socket - AHHHHH!!!!
finger belongs to Santa - Sanh Teh
Santa just coming out of sauna - Sana
Oct 1st, 2006, 03:02 PM
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momofmany,
You sound like a very considerate, sensible person, so I doubt whether this bit of advice is relevant. However, it might be useful to others: avoid philosophical argument with guides or camp managers about conservation (or any subject which can involve passionately-held beliefs, though on safari it's conservation which appears most likely to come up).
We had a walking safari marred because a client kept trying to draw our guide into debate about elephant culling as we trekked through the bush. It was evident at dinner the night before we started walking that he and the guide had opposing views, and that's where the matter should have rested. But no, the client had to make an issue of it, and unfortunately, the guide let himself be goaded into responding on a couple of occasions. The client's wife was almost as bad as her husband. It was an extremely disruptive, distracting argument: I found myself disobeying the most important rule of walking in the African bush by separating myself from the group and walking ahead. I should have told them to shut up. This couple were the only truly obnoxious people that I've been forced to share more than a little safari time with. There have been one or two others but it was easy to avoid them by getting into another vehicle.
John
You sound like a very considerate, sensible person, so I doubt whether this bit of advice is relevant. However, it might be useful to others: avoid philosophical argument with guides or camp managers about conservation (or any subject which can involve passionately-held beliefs, though on safari it's conservation which appears most likely to come up).
We had a walking safari marred because a client kept trying to draw our guide into debate about elephant culling as we trekked through the bush. It was evident at dinner the night before we started walking that he and the guide had opposing views, and that's where the matter should have rested. But no, the client had to make an issue of it, and unfortunately, the guide let himself be goaded into responding on a couple of occasions. The client's wife was almost as bad as her husband. It was an extremely disruptive, distracting argument: I found myself disobeying the most important rule of walking in the African bush by separating myself from the group and walking ahead. I should have told them to shut up. This couple were the only truly obnoxious people that I've been forced to share more than a little safari time with. There have been one or two others but it was easy to avoid them by getting into another vehicle.
John
