We're back from our Adventure!!
Aug 1st, 2006, 04:58 AM
#21
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Well, that's the last load of washing done - now to find homes for the extra stuff I brought home. I just needed to get the unpacking and washing done as I ABSOLUTELY HATE, HATE, HATE unpacking. As to being back, I can't believe it myself that it's all over - the time just flew by.
Darren, We had no problems petting the cheetah and spent quite a lot of time with her. She took a fancy to hubby and kept licking him, She even took a shine to his cap and tried to steal it off his head
. We got some fantastic photos. Robert was a really lovely guy - I can't believe he is a volunteer and doesn't get paid! He took us around the enclosures but we didn't go in to the orphanage with the cages. There were LOTS of school kids there (it was Saturday) and he said the place was tiny and it would not be comfortable. He also said that some people get a little upset because the animals are in little cages so we took his advice and didn't go in.
Climbhighsleeplow, we asked for one of those little heaters but never got one I'm afraid. I was really considering asking for one for the room, they are SOOO cold - even the bedclothes felt damp
.
Imelda
Darren, We had no problems petting the cheetah and spent quite a lot of time with her. She took a fancy to hubby and kept licking him, She even took a shine to his cap and tried to steal it off his head
. We got some fantastic photos. Robert was a really lovely guy - I can't believe he is a volunteer and doesn't get paid! He took us around the enclosures but we didn't go in to the orphanage with the cages. There were LOTS of school kids there (it was Saturday) and he said the place was tiny and it would not be comfortable. He also said that some people get a little upset because the animals are in little cages so we took his advice and didn't go in.Climbhighsleeplow, we asked for one of those little heaters but never got one I'm afraid. I was really considering asking for one for the room, they are SOOO cold - even the bedclothes felt damp
.Imelda
Aug 1st, 2006, 08:04 AM
#23
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Imelda-
If that was Shannon taking a fancy to Declan's hat, I can tell you why! When we were there, Jim put his Tilley hat on her and took lots of pictures for John and ALex Tilley's stores here in Canada. Their walls are plastered with photos of people all around the world in Tilley hats - BUT they don't have one of a cheetah wearing a hat - now they WILL! Fabulous photos - I have one where Shannon has the hat on, she's looking back at one of the others (Misa I think) and her expressison says very clearly
"How do I look?"
If that was Shannon taking a fancy to Declan's hat, I can tell you why! When we were there, Jim put his Tilley hat on her and took lots of pictures for John and ALex Tilley's stores here in Canada. Their walls are plastered with photos of people all around the world in Tilley hats - BUT they don't have one of a cheetah wearing a hat - now they WILL! Fabulous photos - I have one where Shannon has the hat on, she's looking back at one of the others (Misa I think) and her expressison says very clearly
"How do I look?"
Aug 1st, 2006, 10:51 AM
#24
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Okay I have to ask you Leely, Darren, Imelda... If the "boss' doesn't like people getting in with the cheetahs - except obviously (from the KWS Web site) visiting heads of state and the like, is this going to last? And I know it may be inappropriate to ask, but why doesn't she like it? Is it because there is money passing hands unofficially and she doesn't like that, or something to do with the cheetahs? And do you know who else gets in? I ask because my wife has seen one of Imelda's posts and is insisting that I arrange this while we are there in December. If the latter is the reason, this kind of access is probably not going to last and I'd personally be more than a little uncomfortable anyway...although my wife would very probably not feel the same way. ;-)
Aug 1st, 2006, 11:09 AM
#26
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I'd seen a few photos of cheetah hugs posted elsewhere prior to hearing about it on Fodors. I just assumed that a small amount of money changed hands.
If it's somehow officially frowned upon, I'll skip it.
If it's somehow officially frowned upon, I'll skip it.
Aug 1st, 2006, 11:53 AM
#27
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my sister in law currently lives in Nairobi and is stateside visiting. We will be visiting them in Nov/Dec and I asked her about the "cheetah hugs", from reading about it on this website. they have done the cheetah hug and she felt it was not a big deal and that anyone can go in the cage and hug the cheetah. My 12 year old nephew mentioned that they take your picture and you can pay extra for the photo.
Aug 1st, 2006, 03:21 PM
#28
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Kennedy didn't really seem to know himself why the KWS Orphanage "boss" didn't approve of the cheetah visits. He was getting the information second-hand from the guys who worked/volunteered at the Orphanage. The news was kind of a surprise to him actually. He said that he wanted to talk to her in person to get a clear explanation of what is and isn't allowed. Kennedy is a good man and doesn't want to be doing anything wrong. He also doesn't want to make promises to clients that he can't keep.
The boss' disapproval could be for a variety of reasons: worry about the safety of visitors (while I was petting one of the cheetahs, a loud truck drove by and startled it into jumping up and running across the cage, which nearly gave me a heart-attack), worry about stressing out the cheetahs with too much human contact, the fact that KWS is not regulating or directly profiting from the visits, or backlash from residents angry that only foreign "Muzungu" are allowed this special privilege.
I have to disagree with joeyi's sister in law. Maybe they have special times set up for all people to visit the cheetahs, but it's not like the door to the cage is open for anyone to walk in and see them whenever they want to. If it's not a "big" deal, it is at least a "medium-sized" deal. They let in one family right after us because they had been watching us, but I'm sure there were dozens of school kids there who would have also loved the opportunity that was denied to them.
We paid the entry fee to the orphanage, but we did not pay the KWS extra for the cheetah visit. We used our own cameras for video and photos. We did tip the guide for the hour (or so) he spent taking us around the orphanage and talking to us about all the animals.
The boss' disapproval could be for a variety of reasons: worry about the safety of visitors (while I was petting one of the cheetahs, a loud truck drove by and startled it into jumping up and running across the cage, which nearly gave me a heart-attack), worry about stressing out the cheetahs with too much human contact, the fact that KWS is not regulating or directly profiting from the visits, or backlash from residents angry that only foreign "Muzungu" are allowed this special privilege.
I have to disagree with joeyi's sister in law. Maybe they have special times set up for all people to visit the cheetahs, but it's not like the door to the cage is open for anyone to walk in and see them whenever they want to. If it's not a "big" deal, it is at least a "medium-sized" deal. They let in one family right after us because they had been watching us, but I'm sure there were dozens of school kids there who would have also loved the opportunity that was denied to them.
We paid the entry fee to the orphanage, but we did not pay the KWS extra for the cheetah visit. We used our own cameras for video and photos. We did tip the guide for the hour (or so) he spent taking us around the orphanage and talking to us about all the animals.
Aug 1st, 2006, 06:02 PM
#30
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Oh, and I did not mean in any way to suggest Kennedy might be anything less than upright - but in cultures like Kenya even the upright cut corners from time to time; I wouldn't NECESSARILY think it a bad thing if a little money had changed hands - it really does depend on the context whether such payments can be seen as a bribe or an "advance tip".
Aug 1st, 2006, 11:04 PM
#31
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Paul, definitely do it if you still can in Dec! It was the most awesome experience of my life - and I too disagree with joeyi's sister-in-law - it WAS a big deal to us! We did the same as Kumasawa - took our own cameras in, no one was there to take pictures for us with a camera, but one of the handlers did offer to take pictures of us with the 'girls' with our cameras. We too paid the entry fee to the orphanage, and tipped Noah, our guide who took us all around the whole orphanage.
If there is a problem, Kennedy will find out, and he will let us know - but if you can - do it! It was worth it and I'll bet your wife will love you forever for taking her there!
If there is a problem, Kennedy will find out, and he will let us know - but if you can - do it! It was worth it and I'll bet your wife will love you forever for taking her there!
Aug 2nd, 2006, 04:54 AM
#33
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I'm going to check with my SIL again. Maybe they happened to go on a "lucky day" or it's different for locals or maybe there is a new "boss" KWS. when i asked them about hiring a guide to pet the cheetahs when we're there, they about laughed at me. and i did not mean to imply the cage was open and anyone could enter. There was someone there letting them in and it sounded very organized.
Aug 5th, 2006, 06:52 AM
#35
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Hi Guys,
Sorry for going AWOL and not having my '2 cents' but I've been away for a couple of days again.
To shed a little more light on the Cheetah petting - we were taken into a small enclosure out of sight of the general public to pet the cheetah and she was taken in to it before we got there from the outside enclosure. I got the impression thet they didn't want others to see us doing the cheetah petting as everyone would then want to do it. The keepers 'hinted' that we were priveliged to pet the cheetah (guess they were looking for a good tip!) and thet it was a 'once in a lifetime' oportunity. Speaking of tips - this is the only place I was really unsure of what to give tipwise as Robert had to share with the keepers.
Kennedy told me that he had contacted the 'boss' about our visit and from what I could make out initially she was OK with it but then she stopped returning his calls just before our visit so he just went through Robert (I think). On the day of the visit I also got the impression that they didn't want to run into the 'boss' while I was 'petting' either though.
Lynda, That's really funny about the Tiley hat - you'll HAVE to post a photo! I'm not too sure which cheetah we were petting but I don't think it was Shannon though. I'm afraid I was SOO excited to be petting her name didn't stick! I know she is in the orphanage since she was only a few weeks old though. She was REALLY interested in Hubbys hat though and she also seemed to like the taste of my ear
One thing, the Cheetah ABSOLUTELY LOVED being petted so I wouldn't worry about it distressing her... you should have heard that purring!
Imelda
Sorry for going AWOL and not having my '2 cents' but I've been away for a couple of days again.
To shed a little more light on the Cheetah petting - we were taken into a small enclosure out of sight of the general public to pet the cheetah and she was taken in to it before we got there from the outside enclosure. I got the impression thet they didn't want others to see us doing the cheetah petting as everyone would then want to do it. The keepers 'hinted' that we were priveliged to pet the cheetah (guess they were looking for a good tip!) and thet it was a 'once in a lifetime' oportunity. Speaking of tips - this is the only place I was really unsure of what to give tipwise as Robert had to share with the keepers.
Kennedy told me that he had contacted the 'boss' about our visit and from what I could make out initially she was OK with it but then she stopped returning his calls just before our visit so he just went through Robert (I think). On the day of the visit I also got the impression that they didn't want to run into the 'boss' while I was 'petting' either though.
Lynda, That's really funny about the Tiley hat - you'll HAVE to post a photo! I'm not too sure which cheetah we were petting but I don't think it was Shannon though. I'm afraid I was SOO excited to be petting her name didn't stick! I know she is in the orphanage since she was only a few weeks old though. She was REALLY interested in Hubbys hat though and she also seemed to like the taste of my ear
One thing, the Cheetah ABSOLUTELY LOVED being petted so I wouldn't worry about it distressing her... you should have heard that purring!
Imelda
