sundowner

Rocco - I don't know how to post a link to that video so I sent it to your hotmail email.

Roccco

Sundowner,

Thanks...I got the e-mail!

Now, what would have happened had the crocodile clamped down? Would we have seen a crocodile being pulled out of the water, and letting go in its mid-air fright? Crocodile bites in themselves are not usually fatal...it is the drowning and spinning while clamped down on flesh that usually kills victims. I think I could handle a little croc bite, providing it let go once we bounced back into the air. While the video you shared was great, just think how great it would be had the croc held on for a second and then been pulled completely out of the water before letting go, falling back to the water and swimming off!

sundowner

Why don't you see if you can test that theory?

Don't you think that if the croc had a good grip it would pull the guys head off?

If anyone else wants to see the video, send me your email address at jimcindyw yahoo.com. Insert the "at" sign.

jasher

>> Don't you think that if the croc had a good grip it would pull the guys head off?

My thoughts exactly...have to say this has put me off bungee-jumping a bit.

Cheers,
Julian

Roccco

While the video definitely is something to think about, the danger from crocs (and hippos) remains far higher while canoeing. Wasn't there a trip report here a few months ago from someone whose canoe was attacked by a hippo? There were even photos of the punctured canoe.

The animals while on safari that most scare me are:

1. Elephants
2. Hippos
3. Lions
4. Snakes
5. Buffalo

Crocs don't even make the top five, because in most cases, they are very shy and jump into the water before one may approach within 10 meters.

Roccco

I apologize if this sounds completely elitist, but do you think my odds of getting the very best possible vehicle & guide are increased due to the itinerary I have selected?

Have any of you East Africa veterans run into other visitors at the same lodges who are with the same ground operators? If so, was there any noticeable difference between your guide & vehicle and the others guide & vehicle.

This is probably a question for ATR, but would I get a completely forthcoming response?

You go out and get your Mercedes serviced, and chances are that there is an Espresso machine with complimentary espresso/coffee, complimentary pastries, perhaps a complimentary loaner vehicle, maybe even a free shoe shine.

However, you take in your Toyota and chances are that you will have none of the same services.

I guess I have already overanalyzed my trip to death and made all the possible changes that were available. As a result, now I am really reaching for new material!

jasher

Hi Rocco,

Yes, it is elitist, but you already knew that

In my experience (admittedly in Southern Africa rather than East Africa, but I would be surprised if there was a huge difference) the amount you pay has less to do with whether you get the best guide than whether you are a repeat client. A lot of people come once and drop a large sum of money, but the real moneymaker is the people who return to the same places year after year. I've been on both sides of that particular fence, and have found that being a repeat client makes a huge difference.

There is, of course, the delicate balance one strikes between satisfying repeat clients so they keep coming back, and inspiring first-time clients to become repeat clients...

Cheers,
Julian

Leely

Rocco,
I am hoping that the level of service one (my party) gets is based on how charming one is.

But you're probably right. Sigh...

Although perhaps you and Alexsandra typically get excellent service not because of the high style in which you travel but because you're both absolute dears?

Roccco

Leely,

Some of the best service I have received has been while traveling in shoulder season at last minute rates to Zambia in June 2004. I begged and pleaded for them to have mercy on my wallet for this trip. Yet, it must have been my charm well at work considering the service and mostly private game drives that I did receive! Either that or the other guests did not want to share a vehicle with such a peasant.

These last few months have been very kind to me and I am just pleased that I was in a position to be able to follow through with this safari...remember, just a couple months ago I was trying to get out of it...partially because I wanted to go to India with Alexsandra in February, but also because it was nearly double the cost of any safari I had ever done before and I wasn't sure I was going to be able to cough up the money so quickly. Well, I may be missing a lung, but cough it up I did, and I am 30 days from departure!

matnikstym

Leely~I think I'm anything but charming, but the service we received on our safari was outstanding at both places we went (forget stanley safari lodge, they just plain sucked). The lodges depend on word of mouth and everyone at the camps were treated like they were the only guests, family or long lost high school friends, especially at Chongwe where a couple of nights there were 22 people there, yet we were made to feel like we were the most important people in camp. Hell, we're just middle class Americans from Hawaii blowing through an inheritance yet from an outsiders view, you'd think we were Dubyah's relatives!

cooncat2

<<you'd think we were Dubyah's relatives!>>

But lucky for you and us, you're not. Right?!

bat

. . . and are you sure that would elicit a heartfelt welcome in Africa?