Quick Poll: How many of you bring/are bringing a cell phone on safari?
Aug 1st, 2007, 07:27 PM
#42
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And apparently I'm not the only person who experienced that horror - camps have already begun to establish phone rules. Here is a good example, read the last paragraph on this page: http://www.africanbushcamps.com/gene...mps-and-lodges
Aug 1st, 2007, 07:40 PM
#43
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And even if people handle their calls in a very discreet way, and you don't hear any ringing...
In South Luangwa I met a traveller who always talked about the latest world news at the dinner table - apparently he always had a call to the outside world after the afternoon game drive.
My God, some people really don't know how to make a break...
In South Luangwa I met a traveller who always talked about the latest world news at the dinner table - apparently he always had a call to the outside world after the afternoon game drive.
My God, some people really don't know how to make a break...
Aug 1st, 2007, 08:32 PM
#44
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I agree. Leave the cell phones off during the day. When I do make a call, I walk away to a very private location. This is usually after dinner, away from guests. I know what it is like to hear a cell phone ringing in a tent near me, and it sucks.
Aug 1st, 2007, 10:20 PM
#45
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2 reasons for bringing my cell phone to the bush
1. to stay in contact with my kids at home
2. last time we were stranded at the border in Botswana (somebody forgot to book our transfer), so my cell phone came in very very handy !
but I do agree that the ring of a cell phone in the bush is not the nicest sound.
My husband took his blackberry.
1. to stay in contact with my kids at home
2. last time we were stranded at the border in Botswana (somebody forgot to book our transfer), so my cell phone came in very very handy !
but I do agree that the ring of a cell phone in the bush is not the nicest sound.
My husband took his blackberry.
Aug 2nd, 2007, 03:46 AM
#46
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It's bad enough that anyone in the world can ring a bell next to my bed in the middle of the night.....
The last thing I need is a phone ringing while on safari. Phones stay home and business stays home. There's no reason for me to have to be in constant contact anyway, not being a paranoid as many others (nor overthinking my own importance).
If need be, I will stop in an internet cafe periodically.
The last thing I need is a phone ringing while on safari. Phones stay home and business stays home. There's no reason for me to have to be in constant contact anyway, not being a paranoid as many others (nor overthinking my own importance).
If need be, I will stop in an internet cafe periodically.
Aug 2nd, 2007, 04:10 AM
#47
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I take a phone but its switched off while boarding in London and remains switched off till I get back, unless I need to use it (and that might be to book a hotel or sort out an emergency). I leave details with friends and family about where I am going to be and how they can get in touch if they really need to.
I hate being a slave to a phone in London, leave along on holiday.
I hate being a slave to a phone in London, leave along on holiday.
Aug 2nd, 2007, 04:20 AM
#48
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Bill H,
Great memory...........
The SIM card was actually $1.25 US and I put $40.00 US (50,000 TzS to top off).
Used it everyday with mostly excellent reception and still had 15,000 schillings left when we returned.
But, again.....great recollection.
Great memory...........
The SIM card was actually $1.25 US and I put $40.00 US (50,000 TzS to top off).
Used it everyday with mostly excellent reception and still had 15,000 schillings left when we returned.
But, again.....great recollection.
Aug 2nd, 2007, 04:27 AM
#49
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Panecott & Sandi - I thought among all the billions I was the ONLY one without a cell phone!! I now can confirm there at least 3 of us that don't own a cell phone. You think there may be 1 or 2 more of us possibly hiding in remote caves in Borneo that also don't own one?
Aug 2nd, 2007, 05:05 AM
#50
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GreenDrake -
Yup, in a cave somewhere.
We might be surprised how many millions there may be similiar... Nah, no way... these things are ring-a-dinging in the most remote places. A shame, but for emergencies.
Sitting in front of this 'puter is more than enough for me.
It's so nice and I much refer to be "unconnected" and not reaching out to touch someone anywhere!
Yup, in a cave somewhere.
We might be surprised how many millions there may be similiar... Nah, no way... these things are ring-a-dinging in the most remote places. A shame, but for emergencies.
Sitting in front of this 'puter is more than enough for me.
It's so nice and I much refer to be "unconnected" and not reaching out to touch someone anywhere!
Aug 2nd, 2007, 05:36 AM
#51
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We took one, more for when we got back home than while we were away - just so we could ring the son who was collecting us from the airport when we arrived - we only live a short distance from Schiphol and so we arranged it so that my son didn't have to pay to park.
We did switch it on a couple of times, just in case there was a message from home, always had reception. We sent one text message just to say we'd arrived safely but for most of the 10 days it was switched off.
We did switch it on a couple of times, just in case there was a message from home, always had reception. We sent one text message just to say we'd arrived safely but for most of the 10 days it was switched off.
Aug 2nd, 2007, 07:21 AM
#52
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I'm not sure why there seems to be so much hostility towards those bringing cell phones and BlackBerries, provided they're used in a private place and don't impact other travelers (i.e., certainly not brought along on game drives!).
I will be bringing both on my trip to Southern Africa in a few weeks. Not because I'm "paranoid," "self-important" or think that I'm "indispensible," but because in my job, it is very common to get a call out of the blue from a client about a project that's laid dormant for months and suddenly needs immediate resolution, or a case that been inactive and suddenly sprung back to life. Certainly others can fill in while I am out of the office, but if I am the one the client has been working with, it may take a quick email or two to send someone back in the office in the right direction.
Trust me, I would love to have the luxury of a completely technology-free vacation, however, I consider spending a few minutes a day checking my messages a small trade off for a great vacation - after all, my job is what allows me the luxury of taking such a trip in the first place!
I will be bringing both on my trip to Southern Africa in a few weeks. Not because I'm "paranoid," "self-important" or think that I'm "indispensible," but because in my job, it is very common to get a call out of the blue from a client about a project that's laid dormant for months and suddenly needs immediate resolution, or a case that been inactive and suddenly sprung back to life. Certainly others can fill in while I am out of the office, but if I am the one the client has been working with, it may take a quick email or two to send someone back in the office in the right direction.
Trust me, I would love to have the luxury of a completely technology-free vacation, however, I consider spending a few minutes a day checking my messages a small trade off for a great vacation - after all, my job is what allows me the luxury of taking such a trip in the first place!
Aug 2nd, 2007, 07:55 AM
#53
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Hlg22 - As one of the 3 non-owners of a cell phone in the world, I actually agree with everything you have said. If people choose to bring them and use the common sense that you and Andy Biggs employ, I sure as hell don't have any problems.
I also agree there are lots of reasons in today's business world that cause people to stay connected and these are not related to paranoia and self-importance.
For example, my best friend is involved in a start-up business where key decisions involving investor funding can not wait or be easily handled by others in a small start-up. These kind of decisions can make or break the company. On our fly-fishing trips he brings a laptop, cell phone, etc., but uses them discretely and would never be on the river with cell phone turned on where others would be disturbed.
BTW can anyone tell me if WWII has ended???
I also agree there are lots of reasons in today's business world that cause people to stay connected and these are not related to paranoia and self-importance.
For example, my best friend is involved in a start-up business where key decisions involving investor funding can not wait or be easily handled by others in a small start-up. These kind of decisions can make or break the company. On our fly-fishing trips he brings a laptop, cell phone, etc., but uses them discretely and would never be on the river with cell phone turned on where others would be disturbed.
BTW can anyone tell me if WWII has ended???
Aug 2nd, 2007, 09:00 AM
#54
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<font color="green"><i>nyama said:
waynehazle, I guess other people already find it very annoying on the road to Manyara.</i></font>
Just to redeem myself a little, my wife, my parents and I were in our private car, driving from Nakuru to our lodge in Naivasha (mistakenly said Manyara) while on the highway my wife wanted to spend 2 minutes on the phone letting her mom know she was alive. We had already been away a week and not called. That was the sole call she got for the entire trip.
I would not dial in the middle of a safari to chit-chat.
And no WWII has not ended, keep fighting...
waynehazle, I guess other people already find it very annoying on the road to Manyara.</i></font>
Just to redeem myself a little, my wife, my parents and I were in our private car, driving from Nakuru to our lodge in Naivasha (mistakenly said Manyara) while on the highway my wife wanted to spend 2 minutes on the phone letting her mom know she was alive. We had already been away a week and not called. That was the sole call she got for the entire trip.
I would not dial in the middle of a safari to chit-chat.
And no WWII has not ended, keep fighting...
Aug 2nd, 2007, 12:28 PM
#55
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Andy, I think it's pretty obvious isn't it that my responses, and other similar ones, are referring to holidaymakers who take their phones on vacation safaris.
It's absolutely a different situation if you are at work when on safari. In that case I'd very much expect you to maintain communication with your home base and with suppliers/ clients etc.
It's absolutely a different situation if you are at work when on safari. In that case I'd very much expect you to maintain communication with your home base and with suppliers/ clients etc.
Aug 2nd, 2007, 01:41 PM
#57
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waynehazle - apologies, your first post was misleading.
GreenDrake - I can ensure you, there are definitely more then 3 non-owners of cell phones on this planet...
and btw, WWII is almost over - there is still some fighting in Benidorm and other such nice places when Britons and Germans meet, but these conflicts are only of local nature and more about the best places at the pool/beach... ;-)
GreenDrake - I can ensure you, there are definitely more then 3 non-owners of cell phones on this planet...
and btw, WWII is almost over - there is still some fighting in Benidorm and other such nice places when Britons and Germans meet, but these conflicts are only of local nature and more about the best places at the pool/beach... ;-)
Aug 2nd, 2007, 11:49 PM
#59
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There's nothing wrong with mobile phones on safari...they're another measure of how soft we have become.
I'm another non-owner. Even rarer, I'm a past owner. I used to have one, a few years ago, but found it enabled people to intrude into my life too much, so I threw it in the river. I hadn't been using it properly. My wife is very persuasive, so I will probably be a mobile phone owner again
...but it will not be turned on except to check for messages and to make a very rare call. Perhaps five minutes a day. It will never go on safari with me, and I will never use it while in company.
I can't understand why people on safari need to tell their loved ones they are still alive, or ask whether granny has had a heart attack. What difference does it make? Granny wouldn't want you to give up the trip of a lifetime, would she? Oh hell, would she? Some granny! And if you've left your TA and operator's contact details with your kids, they can find out easily enough if you are alive...if they want to.
Small business owners with nobody back home to hold the fort...well, perhaps a slightly different matter. But I know some very successful business people who've been going on safari for nearly 30 years. How did they cope back in the 80s?
I've seen and heard enough mobile phones going off in cinemas, restaurants, churches, at weddings and even at funerals, to have a thorough mistrust of anybody who wants to take one on safari.
To sum up, I can understand and accept the need for some people to have <i><b>very</b></i> discreet use of phones on safari, but forget about WWII, it will be WWIII if somebody uses one in my safari vehicle.
John
I'm another non-owner. Even rarer, I'm a past owner. I used to have one, a few years ago, but found it enabled people to intrude into my life too much, so I threw it in the river. I hadn't been using it properly. My wife is very persuasive, so I will probably be a mobile phone owner again
...but it will not be turned on except to check for messages and to make a very rare call. Perhaps five minutes a day. It will never go on safari with me, and I will never use it while in company.I can't understand why people on safari need to tell their loved ones they are still alive, or ask whether granny has had a heart attack. What difference does it make? Granny wouldn't want you to give up the trip of a lifetime, would she? Oh hell, would she? Some granny! And if you've left your TA and operator's contact details with your kids, they can find out easily enough if you are alive...if they want to.
Small business owners with nobody back home to hold the fort...well, perhaps a slightly different matter. But I know some very successful business people who've been going on safari for nearly 30 years. How did they cope back in the 80s?
I've seen and heard enough mobile phones going off in cinemas, restaurants, churches, at weddings and even at funerals, to have a thorough mistrust of anybody who wants to take one on safari.
To sum up, I can understand and accept the need for some people to have <i><b>very</b></i> discreet use of phones on safari, but forget about WWII, it will be WWIII if somebody uses one in my safari vehicle.
John
Aug 3rd, 2007, 01:51 AM
#60
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John
It took me a long time to accept that I had to get a mobile phone at all and in the end I only capitulated because I became self-employed in a job where I work at different client sites most days. I realised I had to be available on phone during the day to a certain extent as it's not realistic to win/ book work by email alone in my industry.
But as far as I am concerned I am the one in control and do not allow calls to intrude into my life willy-nilly as some do. For example, my phone remains switched off nearly all the time. I switch it on a few times a day, during breaks, check any voicemail and, only occasionally, make any calls that cannot wait until I am next working from home. Anything that can wait does wait and anything that can be dealt with by email is dealt with by email.
Socially, I'm the same. The phone is switched on when _I_ find it useful to be contactable or when I want to make calls. Otherwise it remains resolutely switched off.
Thereby I gain the advantages of being able to make calls easily wherever I am, being able to receive (and respond to the most urgent) messages wherever I am but do not suffer the disadvantages of having my planned activies/ time interrupted on someone else's schedule.
The mobile phone, when it's use is controlled by it's owner, can be a really very useful tool, both for business and social life.
But I think far too many people become a slave to their mobile rather than the other way around.
It took me a long time to accept that I had to get a mobile phone at all and in the end I only capitulated because I became self-employed in a job where I work at different client sites most days. I realised I had to be available on phone during the day to a certain extent as it's not realistic to win/ book work by email alone in my industry.
But as far as I am concerned I am the one in control and do not allow calls to intrude into my life willy-nilly as some do. For example, my phone remains switched off nearly all the time. I switch it on a few times a day, during breaks, check any voicemail and, only occasionally, make any calls that cannot wait until I am next working from home. Anything that can wait does wait and anything that can be dealt with by email is dealt with by email.
Socially, I'm the same. The phone is switched on when _I_ find it useful to be contactable or when I want to make calls. Otherwise it remains resolutely switched off.
Thereby I gain the advantages of being able to make calls easily wherever I am, being able to receive (and respond to the most urgent) messages wherever I am but do not suffer the disadvantages of having my planned activies/ time interrupted on someone else's schedule.
The mobile phone, when it's use is controlled by it's owner, can be a really very useful tool, both for business and social life.
But I think far too many people become a slave to their mobile rather than the other way around.
