Which celebs have you encountered on safari?

Most safari places i go to isn't likely to have many celebs. But, here's a few who are famous IMO

During the 2003 cricket world cup, in Durban at the hotel restaurant - sat at the table next to the entire Indian team which included Sachin Tendulkar, Dravid and Ganguly.

Have seen the SA rugby team once at JNB airport - ofcourse, i don't know anything about rugby so had no clue

I've had a very pleasant lunch with Mark Tennant at Lebala camp - his Mike and Mark show, continues to be very popular here in India on animal planet.

Saw the Jouberts filming at Duba Plains - during the Relentless enemies filming ...... my only visit there. Didn't get to chat, however.....

Saba Douglas Hamilton - Big Cat Diary
Johnathon Scott - Big Cat Diary
Anup Shah - Photographer whose books include The Circle of Life
Richard Branson

How could i forget - in The Selinda last year, met the director/producer of The Lion King (forget her name - the lady from California). They had organized a grand bush dinner one evening!

Garth Thompson, author of the Gides Guide to Guiding

Last July we met Boris Diaw of the Phoenix Suns and his mother and brother at Selinda.

All the time! I am amazed at how many famous people are interested in photography. I seem to get involved in leading a private safari at least once each year. Good times.

I wouldn't know Maria Bello either. So perhaps I've been surrounded by celebrities and just never knew it.

#1
On my way to volunteer at Ngamba, a Jane Goodall Chimp Sanctuary, I coincidentally ran into Jane Goodall at Heathrow. She was pulling a wheeled carry-on and was walking by herself. I called her name as we passed and she stopped. I thanked her for stopping, mentioned it was an honor to meet her, and told her I was headed to Ngamba. She responded, "Give everyone my love." I knew everyone included the chimps. There was a presence about her, even under those ordinary circumstances.

#2
It was a bear safari, but I ran into Jeff Corwin and his family and crew while they were shooting in Brooks Falls, Alaska. There are always tons of of bears there and I've never seen it empty except for about 45 minutes after a bear brawl until things settle down.

For the several hours his crew was there, the weather had turned bad with whipping winds and only two small bears were briefly visible. Later that day, the bears were out in force. Such bad luck, but I think they returned at a later date.


#3
This is second-hand, but pretty funny, I thought. Two young ladies I met had just arrived at their first safari destination--Vumbura. They were learning how to use their binoculars. One of them had the binocs to her eyes and was scanning the horizon and naming what she saw, "Zebra, elephant, giraffe," when she paused and called out, "Susan Sarandon." Her spotting skills were good and she correctly identified the subject.

A twist to this question--Maybe some of you reading this ARE celebrities, not that you'd divulge it.

When I was in Swakopmund, Namibia two years ago, Brangelina were down the road awaiting the birth of their baby.

I didn't see them - and didn't care to - but there was a lot of local excitement over their stay.

Sat next to Cynthia Moss on small 4/seater returning from Amboseli. It was our 1st safari and only the 3rd day into our trip. We chatted briefly, but the flight was so short, we were landing soon after. My BF (sitting next to pilot) wondered with whom I was conversing and hadn't the slightest idea who she was. Had to educate him.

No other "name" since.

In 2005 we met Prince Harry as we were leaving Horseback Safari camp in Botswana. He was just arriving, so we only got to speak with him for a few minutes. He offered his hand and said "Hi, I'm Harry"...very normal. We heard later that he was tossed off his horse during a gallop through the Delta. Fortunately, it's a 'soft landing' as it's happened to me, as well! On the same trip we met Donald Sutherland at baggage claim and exhanged a few words. Well, we go for the animals, so these brief encounters aren't nearly as thrilling as tracking leopard at night ; )

I'm with your BF. Who'se Cynthia Moss? Kate's sister?

sunshine -

She's the "elephant lady."

Not on safari, but I sat next to the All Blacks while flying from HK to Mumbai (then Bombay). At first, I had no idea who they were, but since I was sitting amongst them, I was also asked to sign autographs, which I obligingly did. Some kids now have my signature on a rugby ball.

I saw GW bush once, while on a game drive.

Got a great pic of him.

http://www.xposers.lunarpages.net/Jochen/IMAGES/FULLSIZE/N016/28.jpg

Ciao,

J. (quickly takes cover)

For those who know S.African celebritites, my son and I shared a vehicle at Duba Plains with Kate Turkington in 2001. Kate is a well known radio personality with the longest running radio program in SA as well as a writer of travel articles about Africa. It still remains as about the best couple of days I ever had as she was just a wonderful, fascinating and warm person. We have even kept us with her now and then by email and phone. It was she who turned us into birders as she could identify nearly every bird at Duba as quickly as the guide.
A funny celebrity meeting was going from Duba to Mombo the next year. We had heard that Daryl Balfour (the photographer) was going to be coming on the plane we were taking. My wife hadn't a clue who he was but when I told her the wheels set in motion. When he got off the plane she asked if he would mind taking a picture of our family with her camera...going so far as to explain to him how the camera worked in case he was unfamiliar with it. So we now have a Daryl Balfour family portrait!
We also flew with the All Blacks as they were going to a match...but as Americans without too much rugby knowledge it had little meaning for us but the rest of the plane applauded and sang to them.
I am actually thankful that there have been a paucity of celebs on my safaris as I really think it may possibly detract a bit from the experience.
Oh yes, the celebrities I did not get to meet that I would have loved to are Honey, Bella, Chui and some of their friends
Regards,
Eric

We were in Botswana about 10 years ago and returning to our hotel one day we noticed quite a bit of commotion and saw the then Miss Universe (Miss Botswana) a few feet away. Later on a camp drive we spotted her again and my other half blew a wolf whistle. She turned and smiled. Off to Namibia in a few weeks but hoping to see 2 of the big 5 five we missed out on the last trip.

Pixelpower, your photos are always commendable and this one is no exception.

pixelpower - I find your posting of the photo disgusting. I will no longer reply to any questions you may have nor provide you with any help that I might other wise have offered. FWIW.

That also applies for atravelynn and any one else that would like to volunteer.

tom

Lynn: I concur on Pixel's phots ..... i've seen some fabulous bird photos, but, his mammal pics are brilliant too!!!!

Hey Tom,

A wildlife picture disgusts you?? Isn't wildlife what you're here for? Oh no wait, I forgot. This forum is about celebs now...

Seriously; I cannot see why you can disagree with my opinion. Even from a scientific viewpoint, the image matches:

1) we are apes
2) he is one of our "great leaders"
3)... ergo: he must be a great ape!

Ciao,

J.

PS; Hari, Lynn: thanks!

PP - this forum is not for political discussion nor viewpoints. Is it? There are many other places to do this.

It is easy to degrade any political party, religion, ethnic group, nationality, gender, even professions with photographs or cartoons. But in my opinion this is not the place to do it. However, seems you and a few others think it is ok here.

So, if you would like to continue it, would each of you please post here your email address. And, your nationality, gender, religion, ethnicity, political affiliation, and mothers name, and I will email back to you degrading cartoons/photographs chosen especially for you.

tom

You know Tom, separating politics from wildlife is not that easy.

Politicians set hunting quotas, politicians choose the type of preferred tourism (mass-lowcost like Kenia, or lowvolume-highcost like Botswana), politicians decide where park boundaries end, politicians decide who gets in and for how much, ... and so on.

And SOME politicians (let's call 'em the biggest apes, shall we?) even want to relax the protection status of the elephant.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE3DD173CF934A15751C0A964958260

I agree with you that politics should not be on this forum ...with the exception of politicians that endanger the very thing we come here to discuss about.

My full name is Jochen Van de Perre, I'm Belgian, email: pixelpower@telenet.be, not religious, no political affiliation, and my mother's name is Linda.
(just curious what pic you come up with, give it your best shot, I can take it, I got thick skin)

Don't know why human beings are so easily provoked?

Compulsory reading for those who admire George W. Bush and former presidents of the Almighy United States: Perilous power by Noam Chomsky&Gilber Achcar.

pixelpower - Awesome picture and the resemblance is uncanny

cary999 - What exactly about the picture offends you? Denigration of your 'Great Leader'?

Just to clarify the record, its the first President Bush referred to in the New York Times article (not the current President). I believe there was also an episode in the mid-1990s when several well known US politicians lobbied to expand the lion hunting quotas in Botswana (I don't recall who they were or what party they were from, but there were some threads about it at the time).

Whilst I'd agree that politics (and jokes involving politics/ political figures) are probably not the wisest content for a forum with such a wide-ranging readership there's also a lot to be said for not over-reacting!

Anyway, I don't recall meeting any unexpected celebrities/ experts on safari.

We did see the Jouberts filming leopards when we were last at Little Mombo but I wouldn't class that as a meeting.

Other than that the only "celebrities" and/or experts I've met are ones who were signed up to attend the trip:
Jonathan and Angela Scott (photographers)
David Shepherd (wildlife artist)
John Craven (UK journalist/ presenter with partic. interest in wildlife)
Mark Carwardine (zoologist, conservationist, photographer, author)
Jon Truss (wildlife artist)
Derek Solomon (African birding specialist)
Prof John Parkinson (astronomer)
Randal Keynes (descendant of and expert on Darwin, author)
Christopher Ralling (BBC producer of Darwin documentary)
Nick Garbutt (wildlife photographer)
Fateh Singh Rathore (ex-field director of Ranthambore)

@thit_cho

Damn I came across the wrong article then.

There's was a similar story recently, involving Bush Junior.

Like father like son...

Guys, let's leave the politics behind. All you are going to do is either receive pats on the back or virtual daggers in your eyes over this type of conversation, and in the end you haven't changed anything. Please move the conversation to another location, far far away.

Only myself.

I've been lucky, haven't seen or been unfortunate enough to have to be around one.
Then again, I don't look around at who else is around and do not care. I probably wouldn't recognize any anyway other than if there was a big commotion and that would really turn my "safari" into a bad experience.

I even try to stay away from the normal tourists as much as possible.

WayuU
I'm in the same boat in that I wouldn't recognise many celebrities. I was visiting friends at the weekend who were reading two of those celebrity gossip magazines. I didn't recognise the names or photos of more than half the people featured! Not a clue!

There have been numerous threads where people debate and degrade african leaders for their behaviour and policies. Well, sometimes the chickens come home to roost......illegal wars, torturing through the use of waterboarding in Guantanamo........

Whilst I do not condone the Mugabe regime, some of his actions in human rights dont differ to much from those of the US.

I have met a couple of people:

Oprah when she was here for the very first 46664 concert, we arranged a trip for her book club and her stay in Cape Town.

Foreigner when they campe to South Africa, I was with CCAfrica and they stayed at Londolozi and I went with and got back stage passes to the concert.

Used to work with Mark Tennant so know him well. Have done a trip with Mad Mike and speak to him regularly on the phone.

Went to Royal Malweane and Elton John was staying in the Elton John suite and he joined the lodge for dinner.

Met Bono when he was at the Westcliffe having drinks in the bar.

That in my list!

Speaking of Bono, on my only trip on the Concorde, I sat next to U2's manager -- I don't recall his name, but he's well known and was very friendly. I didn't know it was him until a few weeks later when I saw him on TV, and it clicked b/c he had been reading stuff, that we discussed, about a hotel project in Dublin (that turned into the Clarence).

This post is becoming totally sickening,wake up and send some money to save the wild dogs, please!

Does having Shirley Temple Black be one of the neighborhood mom's count? I did travel a few houses to get there.

Speaking of the famous Kate Turkington, she was one of the writers on Fodor's South Africa 4th (Dec 2007) and Fodor's Complete African Safari Planner (Aug 2008). She is a lovely and warm person who is extremely knowledgable about safaris. She'd be tickled pink to know that she's considered a celeb!