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

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.

oh yeah, have a GREAT time! You're going to love it! Travel safe, write when you get back...enjoy!

momofmany,

I was just as excieted as you are, and just as anxious.....just go have a good time. Enjoy!!!

Hari

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!

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 #o 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

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.)

I got so involved in my advice I never wrote to have a great time, which I am certain you will.

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

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)

don't forget to spend some time watching the not so famous animals: puku, kudu, scrub hare etc. they are exciting to see and watch, even if they're not the Big 5.

Don't worry about your hair or make-up.

Have fun!!!!

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

Thanks again, your tips are funny and appreciated. Off to leans some key phases....

momofmany

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?

nyamera: I liked the "annoyance is in the eye of the beholder" example.
green drake--good (and funny) tip.
lynn--poor lynn!

These are great hints from the upside down shoes to the language tips!

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

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

John,

Didnt the guide ask for silence or minimum talking during the briefing prior to the walking safari?

Yes, that's very inconsiderate of them...

Hari

I don't recall, Hari. On my walking safaris, the briefings have tended to concentrate on what to do and what not to do in the event a dangerous animal is encountered...and, of course, the importance of staying together with the guide. Most of the time, you don't even think about talking because you have to save your breath for the walking, except when you stop for a break or to look at something interesting.

John

Ok, John. I guess guiding also involves a huge amount of patience and tolerance to deal with different people!!! not easy.

Hari

I am inclined to disagree with the last advice. If ever we are to grow then surely we must engage others with differing opinions to ours. Having guided many folk on safari, the most heated debates are often the most rewarding, so if it were me I'd say: "bring it on".

That allows me to add that you should know something of the flora and fauna that you might see, a guide appreciates a client who is there because they actually want to be there and are interested.

Don't ask silly questions, such as: "have you ever used your rifle?". or "Do gnus hunt in packs?", or "Can a giraffe lie down?" etc...

Yes agree that local lingo is appreciated, but there is no better way than standing out like a ponce than repeating common phrases without being able to take it further, what is appreciated is a notepad and pen to learn the sentence beyond "thank you and have a nice day!" Actually skip the "Have a nioce day bit", Africans generally give that empty term a wide berth.

Mkh,
I got to disagree in theory and gut feeling with you on this one. I feel that if someone makes at least some effort to assimilate it will do a couple things;

1. encourage them to take it further to learn more - that is how people learn new languages.

2. sometimes when in line getting goods etc. a simple thank you is all that's needed or wanted to keep the line moving - not everyone has the need for a full conversation. I do believe the locals do appreciate some effort.

If someone calls you a ponce for that, then I personally would wonder who after all is the ponce.

As far as a heated debate, there's nothing like it, so long as it's agreed upon by both parties and done over a cool one. When out on a bush walk, however, I say keep your opinions out of it unless fitting - in other words, shut the hell up.
Thus, one more reason for a private safari!
Just my humble opinion;
Sherry

On a bush walk, there's no point talking about issues like culling and the pro's and cons....that's something that can be done at the lodge. Yes, i like travelling with knowledgable co-travellers on my safari too....but, not those who are excessively talkative on the drive....there's a fine line!!!

Hari

I also disagree with mkh. if you don't know if giraffes lie down, if gnus hunt in packs, or any other "silly" question, how will you find out unless you ask?

Giraffes do indeed lay down but for extremely long periods which can seem like an eternity :S-

particularly if lions are close.......

Not sure if this is already covered...If you have a camera that beeps to confirm focus, please disable that beeping sound. I had it "On" the first day of my safari and it annoyed me.

In the interests of strong debate :), I'll repeat and emphasise the description I deliberately gave the argument I experienced: <i><b>disruptive and distracting</b></i>. I cannot imagine any guide, whether in a potentially dangerous situation or even in the safety of a vehicle, wanting to be distracted from the job in hand. As a client, I certainly don't want him or her to be distracted. I don't even want to just wonder if he/she maybe is. On walking trails, it's particularly important. I was distracted myself, and I'm experienced enough to know the guide eventually realised what was happening. The problem did not arise on subsequent days. As Hari says, keep such discussions to camp where others can escape them if they want to.

John

I was going to let this go, but decided it's also worth saying that asking a guide if he/she has ever used their rifle is not necessarily a silly question (and as others have already said, nor are the other questions).

As it happens, the guide in my story had been forced to use his rifle only the year before, to kill a cow elephant which charged his group and seriously injured one of his clients. I don't recall if the guide was asked, or volunteered the story while briefing us (I know it was true, because I later read an account of the incident written by the injured client). What's relevant is that the story underlined the importance of following the guide's instructions. If asking a guide about his rifle helps reinforce those instructions, that's fine by me. Ironically, the argumentative client, our guide's distraction, and my own, could easily have led to another tragedy.

John

As for &quot;dumb&quot; questions for the guide, if the person asking is sincere and interested, I don't look on it as dumb. I hope my &quot;dumb&quot; questions have been viewed in a similar manner.

On safari I just got back from, I told a guide regarding a woman guest that just had to talk, said I, &quot;On a game drive I want to hear only you (guide) talk and nature talk. The other talk can wait for the bar or dinner.&quot;
regards - tom
ps - working on trip report

Have a wonderful time. Our first time was last December and we are going again this January. It is addicting in the best way! Take the time to take it all in. The big five are amazing, but so are the little things and I was so glad that my guide pointed them out. The birds, the beatles, and lizards -- all facinating to observe. If you come across local children, take a photo with your digital camera. You will not see bigger smiles and looks of amazement as when you show them the photos. They love it! Travel safe and have the time of your life!

Wow you guys are great! Such great tips and lots of good info. We leave tomorrow and I hope to return with wonderful tales of our experience. I have become the 'expert' of our small group thanks to many months of reading on this very board. I have daily emails from our group asking last minute questions and thanks to you all I can answer with confidence. Whatever I forget to bring I will do without, it will just give me the excuse to 'bring it next time'.

Thanks again,

momofmany

I'm so excited for you. Have a wonderful trip.

momofmany,

I know you'll have a great trip. Bon voyage!

tom,

Welcome back. Looking forward to your report.

John

Tom,

Welcome back. Look forward to your trip report. Also, hope you found your Big Cat diary dvd's at the camp store.

Hari

Hi Hari,
Thanks. I'm working on a trip report, gonna take a while (but will probably beat Jasher to the finish line :-) ).
I looked for the Big Cat Diary at Lil Governors camp but they did not have any DVDs, period. They did have a few books, one on Queen the cheetah, which the BBC called Kike (can you guess why?). In fact the BBC Big Cat Diary/Week was there filming at Governors. They were there all of September. We saw Jonathan Scott in a BBC Land Rover at a sighting of Honey and her (were five) three cubs, the latest cheetahs. Got photos, of all :-)
But back to DVDs, I got Big Cat Week before I left from Amazon UK. Plays fine here in USA after you remove the (stupid) region code from the DVD player.
regards - tom

Tom,

Thanks....some amazing sightings!!! excellent!!!

Hari