cooncat2

I've seen the hide Mitch, and I know what it is and looks like. It seems as though they said they would be moving it but I can't recall. Perhaps it is bigger, perhaps not. I was just letting Jim know what I learned when I was there.

steeliejim

Thanks for the inputs, all.

Yeah, I am concerned about BA and Heathrow. Negotiating Heathrow was dreadful. Ah, memories.

Having to go through security AGAIN immediately after getting off the plane. Then having to take a bus out of the a/p to another terminal to connect to the next flight. Pretty screwed up IMO.


Then there are the luggage issues. Th other thing I remember is that they don't announce departure gates until 45 minutes before the plane is to leave. What's the deal with that? We almost went down the wrong walkway, and if we had, we wouldn't have had time to come back and go in the proper direction.

Nyama (or Mitch?), I tried to connect to your link (the wide angle pic) but was unable to. Not sure if the problem is at my end or not.

As for the elephant hide, I have no trouble with heights. Well, there is that time I had the irresistable--almost--urge to jump when looking over the Golden Gate Bridge railing at the water far below <g>. I do hope one can turn over without rolling off the edge. Never know what might be waiting underneath.

Jim

cw

Jim,

Cut and paste the whole url for the photo, i.e. add the ftp://.

Not knowing the gate until the last minute at Heathrow is annoying. One good thing was that one of the women at the gate checked to see if our luggage had made the transfer to our connecting flight. It was reassuring to know that it had.

Good luck with your logistical problems. I'm interested to know how it turns out.

CW

nyama

Jim, don't click on the link. Instead select and copy the whole address including (!) the "ftp://" prefix into the address line of your webbrowser.

It's good nettiquette on online forums to address people only by the name(s) they are using in their posts. Apparently some people have never learned this. So unless I sign my posts with a different name, my name is the alias name - nyama.

nyama

CW, thank you. You already posted the answer while I still was editing.

steeliejim

nyama, thanks for the posting etiquette lesson, and, how to get to the picture.

Well, we now have tickets. Yes, BA through Heathrow (sigh). At least now I know what to expect at Heathrow, and the problem I had with the fishing rod last year, I expect, was due more to it's oddball size rather than BA/Heathrow inefficiencies. At least, that's what I'll choose to think for a bit of peace of mind. Won't make that mistake this time around. Of course with the BA carryon baggage restrictions, I'll be pretty much limited to carrying on my camera gear and not much else.

Jim

steeliejim

Oops, the carry-on restriction isn't quite as bad as I thought. From our itinerary:

"Passengers departing from or transferring through the UK, may only take ONE piece of hand baggage max dimensions 56cm x 45cm x 25cm (22in x 18in x 10in)."

nyama

Make sure that you don't exceed any weight restrictions. Carry-on checks at Heathrow aren't of easy nature.

Patty

BA no longer has a weight limit on carry on bags. They only stipulate that you must be able to lift it into the overhead unassisted. This is for BA mainline. Comair and other affiliates have their own limits.

nyama

Wow! These are great news for all people with heavy photo equipment. Thanks, Patty.

cooncat3

Nyama - You did address me as Sharon and not Cooncat. At any rate I apologize for my poor netiquette.

SteelieJim - Glad to hear all the plans are shaping up! And yes, Patty, that is great news about the baggage at Heathrow. I heard a horror story from someone who traveled thru there last May - she had to ditch her camera bag and stuff all her photo gear into her carryon. She was NOT a happy camper!

nyama

cooncat3, you should look at the last word of your first post on this thread - wasn't this 'Sharon'? Whatsoever, apologies granted.

cooncat2

Steelie Jim - I'm sure you weren't concerned, but I've heard from Jules this morning. The hide has been rebuilt and it is bigger and fancier than before, she says. I'm sure it will be great!

Keep us posted on the rest of the plans!

HariS

Hi Cooncat,

How fancy is the new hide?

Rgds,
H

nyama

Jules's answer to me:
"We have indeed had to rebuild the hide this year – your hide shot would be fine – it's in the same place and roughly the same size (a bit bigger, sturdier and much nicer generally actually)."

HariS

Nyama,

Afrigalah will put that hide to good use for his photography for his up coming trip......

Hari

cooncat3

<sigh> "Yes we rebuilt it and yes it’s bigger (and fancier) than before." Over and out for me on this one.

nyama

Cooncat, looks like you got the more polished sales version.

Hari, Afrigalah certainly will. Personally, I found Elephant Hide the least attractive of the four Shenton hides (beside the great sleep-out experience). My favourites are Hippo Hide and Carmine Bee-eater Hide, fantastic for photographers. Mwamba's Last Waterhole Hide also must be great earlier in high season (John, are you listening...?). During my stay in beginning of October the 'last waterhole' already had dried up and there wasn't much action around.

HariS

Oh! wait.....i just remembered, i think he spends most of his time at Mwamba not Kaingo. So, i think he will miss the re-built hide.

Hari

africaddict

I can say with certainty that we'll look forward to checking out ALL the hides (including the booked 5***** Ele Hide ;-) )when we get there in 6 days time.
I'm travelling light...5 kg's clothes and 17kg's Camera gear!
Cheers
Marc