Kavey,

Sounds like a great little appetizer before the main course that you and your significant other will enjoy together!

What kind of camera do you intend on using for the Kenya trip?

While my camera, a Sony Cybershot F-707 Digital Camera, has been satisfactory for my first two trips, with an upcoming birthday, I have asked Santa, errr...Scared To Death, for a new Sony Cybershot F-828 Digital Camera. Instead of 5.0 Megapixel, it has 6.0 Megapixel and instead of a 5x optical zoom, it has a 7x optical zoom. Plus, I have been missing my lens cap since near the beginning, and I just cannot see going on like this for any longer!

One of the best parts of the whole African safari experience is having the photographs printed out and then, especially, framed! Never know what you are going to get, and just hope for the best.

Have a great time!

Kavey:

Sounds absolutely fantastic!! Please take copious notes in the photography workshops and bring them back to share with us all.

We'll all be thinking of you.

Have a marvelous time.

Jan

Kavey: I have printed out your itinerary so that I can follow your journey virtually minute by minute. To reiterate what Jan wrote, know that we will be thinking of your in your beloved Africa and we cannot wait to hear all about it!

Thank you folks!

I'll try and take notes but I suspect that I'll have my hands full taking photographs most of the time.

I will, of course, pass on everything I learn.

Rocco I'm taking my film camera, a Minolta 505si something or other, it's a small and light SLR and I use two lenses with it, a Sigma 28-135mm and a Sigma 100-300mm. Alongside that I'll take my older (and heavier) Minolta SLR body as a backup and my digital camera (Minolta Dimage 7i).

No coincidence that both SLRs are Minolta as that means lenses are interchangeable but when buying the digital we looked at several in the category. We wanted an extensive optical zoom, manual control as well as automatic and a number of other options, and the Minolta, at that time, fit best.

And of course that means I'm taking the X Drive, the batter chargers and several bags of film!!!

Susan
Should I look for your namesake or was that in another area? I forget now!

Yes, please. Liz named the most beautiful cheetah in the world after me in the Mara, and I would like to think there is a lion out there with my name "on it" as well!

I meant should I try and find Susan the cheetah!

But perhaps there will be a lion to name after all!

Kavey - a great itinerary, rather amazing. Do take notes as you can, but we'll be looking for pics. Can't wait till you both return. Happy travels.

Kavey and Susan-
It was a cheetah. She was the only one in the area and everyone who came back had pictures of her. She had 3 cubs and Isaac will know who she is. He was aware that I had named her as he was about the giraffes. He won't forget because I am sure no one has EVER gone through a naming ceremony out loud and not been embarassed about it. LOL! I told you guys I would and I DID!!!

You certainly did. I went into your ofoto album again earlier and checked out the pics of Pete and I.

I asked my agent if Isaac is still at Governors - he replied and said he'd looked at his list of guides assigned to our group for the stay and Isaac's name wasn't listed but that he might, of course, still be there but not assigned to us, in which case I may be able to find him once there!

Yes, you did find the most beautiful cheetah in all of the Mara for me! Thank you, Liz. Funny, I did the same thing as Kavey a few days ago and revisted your photo album. Kavey and Pete were indeed most impressive. Kavey, even though did me such an honor, I would still like a lion named after me .....

Kavey-
Isaac may be on his time off before the Wildebeest season, or he may be on rotation to work with the Jonathan Scott group this year. Each year a number of guides are selected to work solely with the Big Cat Diary while the animals are active and they stay with them the whole season. The guides like it because they are given 'special thanks' when the season is over. That is not to say that your guide can't stop by the vehicle where Isaac is and chat for a minute. I'm sure he is still with Governor's. He started with them at a different location and worked his way to where he is now.
Susan- I say go for the lion if that's what you want. BUT, when Susan the Cheetah meets Susan the Lion, ??????? Think about it sweetie.

Kavey, this is a fantastic itinerary. I can't *wait* to see the photos from you!!!

Oh Susan, Liz has a very good point, I don't know that I could stand the thought of Susan fighting Susan.
Maybe I should name the lion for your middle name, Lynne?

Clem, I may not have time to get them posted before the big trip as I'll have less than a month at home (including work and weekends with friends) before leaving on the big trip.

But since the contract I had agreed for work in July has just been cancelled today (I'm so disappointed and cross too) I shall at least have time free in July to post all the pics.

Liz and Kavey: You are fogetting how brilliant Susan the Cheetah is. She knows to stay far away from lions and to avoid them at all costs! But, yes, Kavey, you can call one Lynne on my behalf! Oh, I can't wait for photos. Liz, I am, yet again, going to look at yours! Kavey, make sure you take copious notes on every aspect of your trip! Oh, I am soooo excited! Eight days and counting Kavey!!!!

Susan I can't tell you how much I appreciate your excitement - it's SO good to have someone to share it with...

I am conscious of boring friends about it so am trying not to mention it too much but I really am utterly hysterical about it.

I ordered a new lowepro rucksack for my camera gear yesterday - I always wanted one and I finally decided to get it - it arrived today - the mini trekker classic - and I love it! Cameras are all ready with spare batteries.

Also I spoke on the phone to the artist Jonathan Truss about that aspect of the trip and we chatted a while - seems like a lovely guy.

Tonight I went to an art gallery in London with a friend - I was invited by Illona at Steppes Africa, my travel agent for the big trip. The show was of bronzes by Bruce Little - all of African animals - I loved the rhino and meerkat especially, and there were drink and canapes.

As I left Illona gave me my final paperwork (and invoice) plus a present of a huge hardback book of top hotels in Africa as a gift for being patient a few weeks back when they had staff off sick and a busy period and she didn't get back to me as expected on a few things. Very sweet.

The bronzes and the photos he took to work from (that were framed on the walls behind the bronzes) were beautiful!

Kavey - I read your itinerary and your days are going to be busy! Time in Africa is too short to be taking naps so that's not a problem - but where is your shower time!!?

I'm smiling as I write this - you are going to have a grand time. Lucky you!

I'm hoping just after lunch!!!

Have a wonderful time and absorb everything as if you were a sponge. Think (just once in a while) of those of us who are anxiously awaiting your report. You deserve this trip, Kavey. As one of the more thoughtful and eloquent posters on this board, it is appropriate you go on this wonderful journey and you share it with your Father. I am envious that you are going to experience a bit of Kenya with your Dad, as I had hoped to introduce my Mom to the wonders of East Africa later this year. When she suddenly died (just two weeks after agreeing to travel to Kenya and Tanzania with me) and I had to make a decision about funeral/memorial service arrangements, there was never any decision really for me to make: I knew I was going take her ashes to Africa, which I am in October. So, you see, my friend, I will be traveling with my Mother, albeit not quite the way I had wanted. That is all the more reason I am so touched by this wonderful journey you and your Father are going to share. That, and the fact that you are going to be rubbing elbows with those Big Cat Diary folks, professional photographers, etc. You go, girlfriend! Bon Voyage!

Kav, please don't worry, I didn't mean you had to post the pics asap - we'll be happy to see them whenever. *Enjoy yourself* first and foremost and live in the moment, don't spend all your time thinking about how you have to relate it back to us (just some of it).

SusanLynne, I am so sorry to hear about this, that it won't be the way you originally planned, that had to be difficult at first. But this will be beautiful. And you've just given me an idea - I think I will write this in my will, so I can end up in Africa. I can't think of a better place. That thought always kept me going whenever my small plane on Safari hit a little bump.

Thanks ladies...
Susan, as you know, I'm intending to toast you and your mother when I'm there.
Kavey