WildDogs

Crikey everyone. Breathe...(ever heard of road rage?)

The medium makes it feel more personal than the message sender intends.

Petlover, it is brilliant that your sister is interested in traveling to Africa, and I know you’ve asked advice here because you respect the people in this forum enough to think we can help. That’s lovely. Thank you.

There are a lot of places in Africa I know your sister will love and Africa would also enjoy meeting her.

I think the reaction you’ve had is because you have asked about Botswana in particular. It is a bit like saying you’d like a cat as a pet and then leaping to decide you’d like a Tiger.

Botswana is a rare and endangered species and we all just want to do what’s right for her and protect her, and I can see that is something you’d want to do as well, and I have absolutely no doubt that your sister would also want the same.

The reason for this is that Botswana is in a very precarious place right now. She is utterly wonderful, and all the best things you could wish for. However she has a potential black hole looming in her economy as the diamond mining that has supported her economy and kept life stable for the past 30 years is about to run dry. The fear is that a knee-jerk reaction would try to fill this black hole by trying to pull in more tourists than the delicate ecosystem can withstand. And so ends the amazing place we all know and love. And the black hole the country faces actually gets bigger not smaller. With this is the combined threat of what is a currently superb government but under the immense pressures they will face in front of this black hole, combined with a lot of other issues I don’t have time to go into here, falling to temptation that the trappings of power have so far been resisted. The fear is such an amazing place could fall to someone like Bob (the guy next door) = and so ends the amazing place we all know and love. And there breaks all our hearts into a million pieces. And why you’ve had the response you’ve had.

In a very tiny nutshell (and I’m sure at risk of making massive sweeping statements and pissing everyone off Petlover even more than you did originally) I think that’s the point.

You have very innocently asked reasonable questions, but unfortunately when it comes to endangered species that innocence can seem quite threatening, because people see it as being (and please don’t get offended at my use of this word) ignorant. And we fear ignorance because it means people make mistakes that they would never mean to make if they had any idea what the consequences would be. But its no fault of their own because they you don’t know what they don’t know, which is fine.

So, as you’ve come to this forum to get advice, I think, if I can speak on behalf of the forum, please listen and hear the objective essence of points being made.
The government in Bots are facing some of the biggest tests they have ever faced. And I believe that makes us all very worried because we love the place so much, we're concerned.

But coming back to your question originally. Africa, like every continent, has a lot to offer everyone. I'd highly recommend she visits a variety of places to get a good feel of Africa - like any continent if you only visit one country you only get a snapshot, and I'm sure as it is her first visit she'd love to get more of a general feel? I’d strongly recommend she visits Namibia, for example, and South Africa. If your sister is set on Botswana, that's terrific, and the Batswana people will love to meet her I'm sure, but just as much as I loved camping in the bush cooking my own dinner over my fire, your sister is looking for something else, and let’s not see Botswana as a one-trick pony.

Why Botswana?
Is it Game or landscape that is of interest?
Does it have to be October? If she's prepared to wait, I'd recommend she goes earlier in the dry season when it is much cooler (June is v cool) so she'll be less affected by the heat than in October. If however her health requires an urgent visit and it has to be October, then so be it – but she will need to know it will be VERY (piping) hot in October.

If it has to be Botswana I would recommend as a great bush experience to get up-and-close to wild life but also have the other things she will need the Savute Elephant Camp in the great Chobe National Park.

If your sis goes to only one place however, given your very brief description of her needs, I’d really recommend she stays in Kasane at the Cresta Mowana Lodge. You can find out more at http://mowana.abcd.za.org/

I took a day trip from there and it was a very lovely place.

Here she will get a fantastic feel for the wildlife experience in Botswana, have sunset cruise along the Chobe river, where she can get close to massive herds of Game drinking at the water’s edge and have a really amazing experience. Kasane itself is great although I think everything your sister might need will be in the Lodge.

It might not suit some people but I think your sister will really love her time at this place in this hotel as part of an overall Africa Itinerary.

Otherwise, she could visit Gabs (Gabarone). If you or your sister don’t ever visit Botswana, you can ‘in your mind’ if not in reality - read The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency to follow the steps of Mma Ramotswe – I’d highly recommend reading this anyway. http://www.randomhouse.com/features/...smith/no1.html

all the best,

WD

HariS

What difference does it make? sure you can go in the winter when you don't need AC, but, you will want central heating, right?

What next?

My point is, choose options that match your requirements....and there are plenty of options across Africa. Just don't be set on Option A or Option Z. Good luck picking a good travel agent that can assist in helping you with your options....

Hari

bots

Ac or Not just bring your sister to Africa she will love it.

sniktawk

It is quite remarkable, the new definition of rude must be having a differing view to somebody else.
I must be more careful!
I am suffering from the same problem as Cybor, please forgive me.

rickmck

It's not having a different view that is rude, it's the manner in which that view is expressed.

520

I've been reading the Africa forum for almost a year now--and occasionally participate. People--especially Hari--were very helpful when I was planning our trip to Capetown, Botswana, and Namibia last fall.Some of the information on the forum didn't always fit with our experiences during our visit. It is always so ver subjective. Petlover has been to Africa five times--she is not an inexperienced traveler--it's not unreasonabale nor ignorant of her to ask about what conveniences her older sister might be able to have on a visit to Botswana. It doesn't seem that should require a complete lesson in the history and current political situation of the country--just a cordial response that most of the tented camps don't have a/c. We found the two camps (Lebala and Nxbega) much more luxurious than we anticipated--yet I doubt anyone would describe them as such. But it certainly isn't like doing a homestay in the hills of Vietnam. Context and expectation has a lot to do with judgment. I did a 16-day safari in Kenya in 1981 and stayed in a tented camp that was a tent--with a toilet, which I was very grateful to have--it wasn't luxurious in any sense--but it really wasn't primitive camping either--but the Botswana camps would certainly measure as luxurious comparatively. The real point is that someone coming to this forum seeking information and asking for it in a reasonable and thoughtful way should anticipate getting responses that reflect those values.

DonTopaz

Perfectly stated, <b>520</b> -- bravo.

Ericka

IMHO, the Okavango Delta is one of the most magical places on earth and well worth a visit. There are some great accounts of the area on this forum. It's not about the big five, it's about everything else that makes Africa special - birds, frogs, insects, lovely expanses of wetlands, mekoros, etc.

The accomodations are tented and do not have air conditioning. However, the tents can be quite luxurious and are a definite plus to the experience!!! Check out Jao Camp to get a feel.

I agree with another poster; that you should find a cooler month to go with your sister and make the Delta a priority.

ShayTay

Hari, the &quot;Chicago&quot; comment was to point out that a location can be cold in winter and hot in the summer... Chicago is that way and so is Botswana, at least at night. Your comment about central heating seems to indicate that you don't understand that some people cannot function in hot weather, perhaps because of thyroid or other health problems. I don't want Botswana to be overcommercialized, either, but I also don't want to exclude people from going because of health problems that could be accomodated.

Then, there's the problem of the prices for the Botswana camps... can the &quot;average Joe&quot; ever hope to go there? It's getting harder and harder! I'd hate to see it become a destination only for the wealthy.

HariS

Hi Shaytay,

Thanks for pointing this out......perhaps, it's best for me to not make generalizations anymore!

Yes, i agree Bots is getting more and more &quot;popular&quot;
Rgds,
Hari

HariS

Oh, just saw this... Rizzuto....you back from Kenya? hope your trip was good and look forward to a brief report after you settle down....

atravelynn

Petlover,

Can your sister go anytime of the year? If so, just pick a time when no A/C is needed from MomLiz's links. Keep in mind even in the coldest months when temps can be chilly in the morning and late evening, the midday conditions can be quite hot. But the tents are usually quite cool and comfortable and you can take shower to cool off.

If it is extremes that your sister cannot handle, then the delta may not appeal to her. Since you have experience with South Africa, that may be a better bet.

pixelpower

By now it seems that the forum is licking his wounds as it sop often does, hence the numerous &quot;we understand&quot; and &quot;ignore the rude&quot; remarks.

So maybe I should just shut up ...unfortunately that's just not me... I hope not to offend anyone, but if I do; just remember: I'm just sharing my vision.

Having said that...

Petlover wrote:
&gt;&gt;&gt; Yes, she has health issues and if the weather is hot she must have A.C.

If that is the case, then Hari DOES have a VERY valid point; she should not impose her needs on a lodge, as it IS a slippery slope.

I'll share a prime example of such behavior which I encountered myself in botswana; an American woman who was so obese that she needed an oxygen mask at night, which in turn needed electrical power. Without the mask, she could die.

She did not check beforehand if the lodge had electrical power 24/7. It didn't. Yet, there she was, complainig about it (her whole family was).

Net outcome; they had to keep a diesel engine running all night. What was management to do? It was already past ten when she found out power was out at night. They could not relocate her.

Funny detail 1; everyone sleeping in tents (read; those looking for the real African experience including the right sounds at night) were kept awake all night, while she and her family were sleeping in the brick wall &quot;luxury&quot; bungalows.

Funny detail 2; the next morning she was discussing wildlife conservation issues at breakfast, carrying a plate in her hand that was so full of stuff. It looked like mount Vesuvius. Her thumb was buried underneath the food.

Now, I'm not saying your sister is like that, petlover! Hey, to be honest, it'd be quite a challenge to match that woman!

But what I'm saying is; if her medical condition is that bad, she should pick a destination her body can handle.

I mean; if wealthy yet unfit people would ask (a lot, not just once) to be able to climb mount Everest ...then the market forces will eventually install an elevator or something. But as a wealthy individual, is that the &quot;footprint&quot; you want to leave at such place? To have ruined it's unspoilt state?

I hope you see my point...

Ciao,

J.

cybor

hey pixel,
Watch it, that was me you were referring to..............

Not really.

Actually, I think I know the woman you speak of, she follows me around and always sits next to me on the not so wide bodied planes and in the theatre. She generally has a cold and spills things on me, as well.

As for Everest, too late, a cousin of mine happens to be a very large out of shape rich writer dude, who's sponsors spend hundreds of thousands to get him to the top.
He doesn't carry a thing, uses O2, has helicoptors waiting and pretty much has everything else except an elevator.
Ain't adventure fun.

atravelynn

Pixelpower,

Your story is appalling.

Lynn

HariS

The one MAJOR difference is that, petlover is trying to do all the research possible in trying to deceide what holiday meets the particular health concerns of his sister.

Pixel power: your fellow co-traveller was VERY ignorant in going to a far off place without doing the appropriate research, which could have potentially done a lot of harm to her. I wouldn't necessarily blame the travel agent in this case, as she may not have mentioned her health concerns to them.....that's actually very disrespectful of everyone else, co-travellers and hosts!

HariS

typoisrespectful TO everyone else....

pixelpower

Hari, Lynn,
According to the guides &amp; staff this kind of thing happens more than anyone would believe.

Anyway I was just trying to get my point across; asking for AC in the delta is pure powaqqatsi.

HariS

Pixel: Agreed! it's a sad situation....i.e.,people complaining all the time.

Busylizzy

&quot;Pixel: Agreed! it's a sad situation....i.e.,people complaining all the time...&quot;


That's why mankind developed language... because of our deep inner need to complain. )

Petlover you have a valid concern, especially seen in the light of your sister's medical condition...btw there are many beautiful AC equipped camps in the Okavango Delta to choose from.