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03/31/2004 04:06:24 PM · #1 |
AFRICA!
I'm off at last on the first of my two upcoming trips to Africa!
Tomorrow is the trip to Kenya with my dad.
For anyone interested here is the link for the site followed by my personalised itinerary. Specialist safaris are groups of 5 passengers with the expert and plus the driver. Sounds small enough to be serious fun!
//www.wildlifeworldwide.com/page?tag=festivalofwildlife
Festival of Wildlife, Masai Mara, Kenya
Friday 2nd April
06:35 Arrive Nairobi International Airport and transfer to Wilson Domestic Airport for breakfast
10:00 Air Kenya flight to the Masai Mara
11:00 Met at Musiara Airstrip and transferred to Camp
12:00 Welcome drinks and lunch – Governors’ Camp
14:00 Mark Carwardine workshop “The Art of Wildlife Photography”
15:30 Game drive
19:30 Dinner - Governors’ Camp
21:00 Jonathan & Angie Scott talk “The Masai Mara”
Saturday 3rd April
06:30 Visit to Masai Village
09:30 Breakfast
12:00 Lunch – Governors’ Camp
15:30 Digital Photography Safari with Nina Bailey
19:30 Dinner - Governors’ Camp
21:00 Mark Carwardine talk “Travels & Tribulations of a Zoologist”
22:00 Prof. John Parkinson “The African Sky at Night”
Sunday 4th April
06:30 Art Safari with Jonathan Truss
09:30 Breakfast
11:00 Wanderlust Morning
12:00 Lunch – Governors’ Camp
15:30 Photographic Safari with Mark Carwardine
19:30 Dinner - Governors’ Camp
21:00 David Shepherd “A Life of Conservation” & DSWF Auction
22:00 Prof. John Parkinson “The African Sky at Night”
Monday 5th April
06:30 Photographic Safari with Mark Carwardine
09:30 Breakfast
11:00 Angie Scott & Nina Bailey workshop “Digital Wildlife Photography”
12:00 Lunch – Governors’ Camp
14:00 Jonathan Scott “Big Cat Diary Filming”
15:30 Game drive
19:30 Gala Dinner - Governors’ Camp
Tuesday 6th April
06:30 Game drive
09:30 Breakfast
11:00 Game drive (time permitting)
12:00 Lunch – Governors’ Camp
14:00 Game drive to the Airstrip
16:00 Air Kenya Flight to Wilson Airport
18:00 Dinner at the Rusty Nail Restaurant
20:30 Transfer to Nairobi International Airport
23:40 Depart on Kenya Airways KQ 102
(Wednesday 7th April arrive home)
Pete (Ganders) is not going so he'll no doubt be able to watch my Free Study entry dive throughout the week...
Have fun folks and take care, looking forward to boring my buddies here with the resulting images from the trip.
PS I'm taking my film SLR cameras as my main equipment plus the Dimage 7i just for the digital workshop and digital safari.
:D
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03/31/2004 04:14:15 PM · #2 |
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03/31/2004 04:18:21 PM · #3 |
That is the coolest thing ever!
Have a great time. |
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03/31/2004 04:28:10 PM · #4 |
Kavita - you will have a great time! Looking forward to all those photos!
Safe journey
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03/31/2004 04:33:32 PM · #5 |
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03/31/2004 04:53:57 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by Kavey:
AFRICA! |
Have a great trip, Kv.. The first of two, too.. S'alright for some (he says, in CA).. :-D |
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03/31/2004 04:56:41 PM · #7 |
Wow -- I have a feeling we're going to see LOTS of pictures of this one (at least I'm hoping we do!). Happy travels!
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03/31/2004 08:36:19 PM · #8 |
Rob, she's not speaking to you.
Have a great time! |
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03/31/2004 08:41:41 PM · #9 |
Any room in your luggage? Bon Voyage.
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03/31/2004 09:49:15 PM · #10 |
I am going in september to kenya I can't wait either, I posted this before but others may be interested
The trip in september has a national geographic photog on in too, will be good to get info and help from! |
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04/01/2004 12:05:37 AM · #11 |
| Can you tell I'm turning green with envy? Have a great, get lotsa pics, and come home safe. |
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04/01/2004 02:47:55 AM · #12 |
Sounds great Lynn... have you decided what camera you're taking?
I'm at client site right now as I'm training a class till 12 and then dashing home ready for my dad to pick me up.
Will miss my Pete when I'm away but I think, for THIS trip, I can cope!
Thanks folks.
As it's only a few weeks after I get back that I leave I might not get photos up before the big trip, in which case I'll have even more to share in July when I'm back from that.
But I will report back on the trip itself and what the specialist safaris were like etc.
CIAO!
Kavey
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04/01/2004 03:01:21 AM · #13 |
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04/01/2004 03:07:07 AM · #14 |
Does it look like I've gone yet?
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04/01/2004 03:47:27 AM · #15 |
I'm planning on going to Kenya for two weeks in July. Two weeks sound like a lot of time, I hope I don't get bored of hanging out with lions and elephants all day. Hehehe.... I hope you have a great time and can't wait to see the pics when you get back. Heck, I even think we should have a safari get together!!! LOL
June
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04/01/2004 07:45:39 AM · #16 |
Juneisy
If you haven't yet booked I'd pop along to //www.fodors.com/forums and search and post for info in the Africa board. It's a great resource and really helps in planning the best possible trip!
Good luck!
Ciao!
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04/08/2004 04:44:39 AM · #17 |
I'm back and had a marvellous trip (took 18 x 36 exposure rolls of film) and just wanted to check in and say Hello (and thanks to those who commented on my March Free Study) and jump up and down and so on!
If anyone wants to know more about the trip, rather the boring people here, just drop me an email. Or visit //www.fodors.com/forums and see the thread in the Africa forum called First Annual Festival of Wildlife, Masai Mara, Kenya.
Kavey
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04/08/2004 05:39:02 AM · #18 |
Originally posted by Kavey:
If anyone wants to know more about the trip, rather the boring people here, just drop me an email.
Kavey |
Oh no. Please continue to bore us... Actually, I've been following this thread and am anxiously awaiting your photos.
It seems that you had a great trip, you lucky @!***@! |
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04/08/2004 06:22:04 AM · #19 |
Aaw thanks!
Well this is (an abbreviated version of) what I posted yesterday on that other site:
I'm BACK! Landed just a few hours back and then dad drove me home before going on to Luton. Spent morning catching up with Pete who has now had to pop to work.
It really was all too wonderful for words and exceeded my highest expectations.
A friend has already asked if I met Jonathan Scott, as you might know, his presence as one of the experts was one of the driving forces behind my desire to go.
Yes we did see him but so much more than that - it wasn't just a case of meeting the experts during their specialist lectures, workshops etc but also a case of them sharing tables with us at all meals (rather than sitting off on their own or not attending) and chatting to us during the few breaks between activities.
So! What else?
I not only met Jonathan and Angie Scott but also chatted to them several times and have an entry in my little memory book (of peoples messages abd signatures) by the man himself.
I discovered when finally finding out which of the two had taken which images in their books that it's HER images that I love the very best though of course I like Mr Scott's stuff too!
The Wordlife Worldwide staff (who organised and ran the whole thing) were great and also very friendly. We got to know them well and I enjoyed chatting, joking etc with them all.
The itinerary changed a lot because Mark Carwardine was forced to cancel 2 days beforehand when his doctor assessed an eye problem as much more serious than Mark thought and very strongly recommended against flying after the emergency operation he performed. So Ian McNeill (Nina Bailey's husband & business partner), who was there on holiday, was drafted in and the itineray changed for everyone. (See //www.eos-experience.co.uk for info on them).
I also adjusted my itinerary further as I realised what I enjoyed most and wanted to do more of. Hence I did do some photographic specialist drives but actually did 3 art safaris instead of the 1 I had booked for.
Also met and chatted lots to David Sheperd and have much much much more to say on that later.
Spent most time (in terms of experts) with Jonathan Truss who lead the art safaris and who is a lovely bloke. He was very encouraging and had me painting and sketching (apallingly badly) for the first time in a very very long time. Also one of the most entertaining people I have met for a long time. It was just wonderful sitting and painting in 3 varied locations or simply watching the real artists at work.
Went on a game drive with the camp manager who was able to take us to see "Kike" the cheetah (form Big Cat Diary) - and surprise surprise - she STILL has her three cubs with her - practically adults!!! But following that sighting (which we had crossed the river to see - when it was so low we drove over dry rocks to cross) we were stranded on the wrong side (about 12 of us) when the river suddenly rose (following strong rains the previous nights the waters of which were finally making their way down into the river) and were flown back to camp!!! David Sheperd was with us and it was all tremendous fun. He said the elephant sighting we had IN camp the previous day was the BEST ele sighting and interaction he had seen in all the years he's been visiting Africa and it was very clear he meant it. Likewise when he saw Kike and her cubs in that golden light and thought about the paintings he would create, he was in tears. Really.
An adventure!
Game viewing far far FAR exceeded my expectations!
Didn't see a leopard (though other guests did) but was more than delighted with the sightings I had which included two cheetah brothers, lots of marsh pride lions (I am soooo sorry I forgot to ask after Solo), some non marsh pride lionesses with 7 cubs, more eles than I believed possible including a one week old baby! And plenty else too.
Personally didn't spend much time with experts on birding, african sun and bush walks though still shared some meals and chats with them too.
I have to say that sleep and rest was in scarce supply - lots of late nights, very early starts (and yet my body woke me up earlier than necessary even then) and very very very very full days. That first day, after working the morning of the 1st, then travelling and flying overnight, transferring airports, waiting for 2 hours in the hangar, flying to Governor's, checking in, going straight out on a long game drive, coming back to camp and meeting people in the bar before dinner and then Jonathan and Angie's first lecture after that - we were dead on our feet!!!!
As for Governor's - well it's a nice enough camp and was PERFECT for this special festival. Staff and service was excellent and driver/guides good. Setting also wonderful and lead to some incredible unbelievable sightings. Tents were nice enough BUT I hated their decision to offer only kerosene lamp light in the tents - most guests were finding it very hard to SEE anything in enough detail except during the middle of the day. Did go twice to Little Governor's which also has a lovely setting but similar issues. However, I surprise myself by saying I would book to visit Governor's again (even though their camps are bigger than my usual favourites) because the viewing was so excellent.
Oh, there was an auction in aid of David Sheperd Conservation Foundation and I bid on a balloon safari. I think because most who wanted to do it had already booked and paid in advance I won it for Ă‚ÂŁ50 and enjoyed that on my last morning!
Last day was also tiring with my balloon flight, a long game drive, lunch and goodbyes, then the flight to Nairobi and a long sting in a restaurant there for a last dinner, then the LONG LONG LONG process of checking in at the airport and passing through the myriad security checks... and flight home and then the drive in rush hour London.
I don't know why I'm not asleep right now. Infact I think I shall take a wee rest after I post this!
I don't know when I can get photos or more info posted yet but I'll try.
Kavey
If you have any specific questions, let me know.
To be honest the photographic safaris and various photographic workshops etc were not huge learning experiences for me - they were aimed at those who really didn't already know much either about regular photography (aperture, exposure, spot metering etc) or about digital photographt (resolution, compression, technology etc).
It was nice having an expert in the vehicle in terms of occasional tips to meter off the grass in this or that situation but really they were similar to the standard game drives with an expert as one of the passengers.
I took 18 rolls and will try and get them developed ASAP.
Kavey
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04/08/2004 08:10:24 AM · #20 |
| It sounds like a great trip. I can't wait to see the photos from your visit. |
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04/08/2004 08:27:21 AM · #21 |
Wow KV! You should have quite a time. Will look forward to your pics!
Enjoy!
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04/08/2004 08:47:49 AM · #22 |
Kavey, I am green with envy. Your trip sounds incredible and I can't wait to see the pictures. This makes me want to stop spending any money, eat only macaroni and cheese and save for a trip myself.
Thanks for posting some information on your trip. |
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04/08/2004 09:12:02 AM · #23 |
Tina
I have to say that it was my dad who very generously paid for this trip - he had originally emailed asking my sister and I and my mum whether we thought he should go on this trip he'd just found out about.
We said that of course he should go if he felt he'd enjoy it.
Mum said she wasn't really interested and copied and pasted the trip blurb my dad was referring to into her reply.
Well I saw the list of experts, particurly the Scotts, and replied with a "Swoon - you're going to meet Jonathan Scott?" at which point my dad asked if I'd like to go with him since mum wasn't keen!
Well you can imagine how quickly I replied.
It was also really special to be able to spend this kind of time just me and my dad.
We didn't go on the same specialist activities but, of course, we were together for most meals and caught up regularly throughout the day.
I'll try and take the films in ASAP.
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04/08/2004 09:16:25 AM · #24 |
Tina
I never finished my post... what I was going to add was that something about Africa just grabs ahold of your heart and never lets go - we (hub and I) went on a trip to Botswana and Namibia back in 2001 and have been saving since then for a return trip which is finally about to happen - we're going away for 2 months on May 5th and taking in South Africa, Botswana and Namibia.
I can't claim that we've had to scrimp to the extent that others might - we've been lucky to have a couple of successful years (we're self employed) but we have certainly made a lot of decisions about priorities. We would like a digital SLR but that money will pay for another week in South Africa. I'd like a new bathroom (ours is an early 70s bright turquoise suite with walls tiled in turquoise too and an offcut of unfitted carpet on the floor) but that money allows us to ensure all our accommodation in South Africa is ensuite rather than hostels with shared bathrooms down the hall. It would be great to get the garden done (I've been wanting to do a complete makeover including a lot of hard landscaping for a long time and have a design ready) but the cost of that pays for the luxury weeks in Botswana.
We're going to renew our wedding vows there too and I know it's going to be a magical trip.
I am a very lucky girl indeed and I promise you I don't take it for granted.
Message edited by author 2004-04-08 09:18:49.
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