Comments for ecoAfrica's Blog http://www.ecoafrica-travel.com Travels through Africa Tue, 13 May 2008 22:49:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 Comment on Elephant options in Africa by Andy Lee http://www.ecoafrica-travel.com/2008/05/02/elephant-options-in-africa/#comment-13789 Andy Lee Sun, 11 May 2008 15:12:44 +0000 http://www.ecoafrica-travel.com/2008/05/02/elephant-options-in-africa/#comment-13789 What a difficult and sensitive issue! It is so full of political potholes, money sinks, and other drafty areas that there is almost never a clear path. Obviously there is a softer, gentler answer than culling, and I would like to think we are in a place socially where that response would fit all needs, but it simply doesn't. :( Francois, you are still #1 in my books for keeping on the backs of the boys who think it's all about $$. The June adventure sounds truly amazing! Lots of love, Andy Lee What a difficult and sensitive issue! It is so full of political potholes, money sinks, and other drafty areas that there is almost never a clear path. Obviously there is a softer, gentler answer than culling, and I would like to think we are in a place socially where that response would fit all needs, but it simply doesn’t. :( Francois, you are still #1 in my books for keeping on the backs of the boys who think it’s all about $$. The June adventure sounds truly amazing! Lots of love, Andy Lee

]]> Comment on Is it only about “the Big 5″? by Rae Ann http://www.ecoafrica-travel.com/2008/02/17/is-it-only-about-the-big-5/#comment-11704 Rae Ann Tue, 15 Apr 2008 03:09:19 +0000 http://www.ecoafrica-travel.com/2008/02/17/is-it-only-about-the-big-5/#comment-11704 Well, first, thank you for clearing up just what is meant by THE BIG 5. I'd been looking at various tour sites to begin research on a trip I plan to take in a few years and they all mentioned the Big 5 but never elaborated. My first thought was the big cats - but that's because I love them, big or small. Amazing predators with amazingly different social structures from one species to the next. For me, I could care about the rhino or buffalo and would prefer not to meet an angry hippo in a river. But when I go, I'd like to see the cats - lion, leopard, cheetah and any smaller cats roaming the savannah (those closer in size to domesticated cats and still wild interest me because I don't know enough about them), mountain gorillas, antelope, zebra, elephants, giraffes and even those cackling, tenacious hyenas. Maybe from afar you can show me crocs and hippos, wildebeest and buffalo. I'd also like to know more about the birds of Africa. My aunt and uncle have been big bird watchers since I was small so I'm curious what feathered friends survive the wilds of Africa. Well, first, thank you for clearing up just what is meant by THE BIG 5. I’d been looking at various tour sites to begin research on a trip I plan to take in a few years and they all mentioned the Big 5 but never elaborated. My first thought was the big cats - but that’s because I love them, big or small. Amazing predators with amazingly different social structures from one species to the next.

For me, I could care about the rhino or buffalo and would prefer not to meet an angry hippo in a river. But when I go, I’d like to see the cats - lion, leopard, cheetah and any smaller cats roaming the savannah (those closer in size to domesticated cats and still wild interest me because I don’t know enough about them), mountain gorillas, antelope, zebra, elephants, giraffes and even those cackling, tenacious hyenas.

Maybe from afar you can show me crocs and hippos, wildebeest and buffalo. I’d also like to know more about the birds of Africa. My aunt and uncle have been big bird watchers since I was small so I’m curious what feathered friends survive the wilds of Africa.

]]> Comment on About by The ecoAfrica Ladies http://www.ecoafrica-travel.com/about/#comment-10361 The ecoAfrica Ladies Fri, 28 Mar 2008 11:50:38 +0000 http://www.ecoafrica-travel.com/about/#comment-10361 ... and we will continue working on him until he gets the zest for life!!The most fun Bertus has, is writing quirky views of his female colleagues, thats now aside from being a lazy lizzard. And what a pleasure it is to work with 7 beautiful ladies, hey Bertie!!! … and we will continue working on him until he gets the zest for life!!The most fun Bertus has, is writing quirky views of his female colleagues, thats now aside from being a lazy lizzard. And what a pleasure it is to work with 7 beautiful ladies, hey Bertie!!!

]]> Comment on Powerdown in South Africa by Calvin Lacock http://www.ecoafrica-travel.com/2008/01/22/powerdown-in-south-africa/#comment-7423 Calvin Lacock Sat, 23 Feb 2008 19:42:01 +0000 http://www.ecoafrica-travel.com/2008/01/22/powerdown-in-south-africa/#comment-7423 Ah Ralph, Every now and then , i google the people back home and some of them have blogs already... All very interesting points made. I know for sure that the whole Sa community here think that the end of the world is starting to happen in SA due to the ESKOM supply issues. I am just wondering what all these Diesel generators are going to do to the fuel price / supply in SA in the medium term. Cheers , Calvin in London p.s : Pity Prof Liesbeth Botha left the US .. ? Ah Ralph,

Every now and then , i google the people back home and some of them have blogs already…

All very interesting points made. I know for sure that the whole Sa community here think that the end of the world is starting to happen in SA due to the ESKOM supply issues. I am just wondering what all these Diesel generators are going to do to the fuel price / supply in SA in the medium term.

Cheers ,

Calvin in London

p.s : Pity Prof Liesbeth Botha left the US .. ?

]]> Comment on Powerdown and travel by Kristin http://www.ecoafrica-travel.com/2008/01/24/powerdown-and-travel/#comment-7134 Kristin Tue, 19 Feb 2008 16:16:40 +0000 http://www.ecoafrica-travel.com/2008/01/24/powerdown-and-travel/#comment-7134 I think that the word has been getting out but people need to take it head on starting with themselves. I think that the word has been getting out but people need to take it head on starting with themselves.

]]> Comment on Man-eaters of Eden by John Dovey http://www.ecoafrica-travel.com/2007/12/20/man-eaters-of-eden/#comment-7026 John Dovey Mon, 18 Feb 2008 12:27:49 +0000 http://www.ecoafrica-travel.com/2007/12/20/man-eaters-of-eden/#comment-7026 Hi, Thanks for the good review. The South African edition of this book is available from http://www.justdone.co.za/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/31 John Hi,
Thanks for the good review. The South African edition of this book is available from http://www.justdone.co.za/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/31

John

]]> Comment on The thing about African wilderness trails by Ralph Pina http://www.ecoafrica-travel.com/2007/11/10/the-thing-about-african-wilderness-trails/#comment-6790 Ralph Pina Sat, 16 Feb 2008 08:11:07 +0000 http://www.ecoafrica-travel.com/2007/11/10/the-thing-about-african-wilderness-trails/#comment-6790 Potentially, yes. That's why the training of trails rangers is so important and why it's important to know that the ranger guide is appropriately qualified, for example, to <a href="http://www.fgasa.org.za/training.php?training_id=4" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Field Guides Association of South Africa Level III SKS Dangerous Animals (Special Knowledge and Skills)</a> or equivalent. I can happily say that all the guides that I have walked with have been extremely careful and concerned both for human and animal safety. None has succumbed to any pressure from visitors, and the best make it clear what the rules of the bush are before embarking on the trail. Potentially, yes. That’s why the training of trails rangers is so important and why it’s important to know that the ranger guide is appropriately qualified, for example, to Field Guides Association of South Africa Level III SKS Dangerous Animals (Special Knowledge and Skills) or equivalent.

I can happily say that all the guides that I have walked with have been extremely careful and concerned both for human and animal safety. None has succumbed to any pressure from visitors, and the best make it clear what the rules of the bush are before embarking on the trail.

]]> Comment on Save Shark Bay by rob http://www.ecoafrica-travel.com/2007/08/20/save-shark-bay/#comment-6297 rob Mon, 11 Feb 2008 14:13:06 +0000 http://www.ecoafrica-travel.com/2007/08/20/save-shark-bay/#comment-6297 Thanks for listing our site within your URL! Cheers Rob SSB.ORG Thanks for listing our site within your URL!

Cheers

Rob
SSB.ORG

]]> Comment on The thing about African wilderness trails by Clarissa Hughes http://www.ecoafrica-travel.com/2007/11/10/the-thing-about-african-wilderness-trails/#comment-6283 Clarissa Hughes Mon, 11 Feb 2008 10:13:59 +0000 http://www.ecoafrica-travel.com/2007/11/10/the-thing-about-african-wilderness-trails/#comment-6283 Leon, you raise a valid point, something I’ve been uncomfortable about for a long time. As any guide will tell you the pressure is on to deliver. Whether it is a close up photo of an elephant or a lion, the client comes to Africa to see big game. When I guided in Botswana and we did walks on Chief’s Island, I always used the excuse of not having a weapon to avoid walking closer to potentially dangerous game. But that only worked because I could promise the clients that we would see the very same game from the vehicle, and up closer, later in the safari (if we hadn’t done so already). But how many guides will do that i.e. stand up to the clients in a way that they don’t mind? Most people grow up with “the customer is always right” and the pressure really is on to deliver. A particularly illuminating example of just how unfair humans can be when they make a mistake was this incident that happened in Zambia a few years ago. Two Zambian Wildlife officials were walking home in the dark through a national park. They came across a herd of elephant and one of the men was killed by an irate matriarch. The next day an elephant was shot in retribution. No-one knew if it was the one. And no-one acknowledged that the men were breaking the national park rules by walking at night. So I tend to agree with you. Walking in big game country is potentially as dangerous to the animal as it is to the human. Leon, you raise a valid point, something I’ve been uncomfortable about for a long time. As any guide will tell you the pressure is on to deliver. Whether it is a close up photo of an elephant or a lion, the client comes to Africa to see big game. When I guided in Botswana and we did walks on Chief’s Island, I always used the excuse of not having a weapon to avoid walking closer to potentially dangerous game. But that only worked because I could promise the clients that we would see the very same game from the vehicle, and up closer, later in the safari (if we hadn’t done so already). But how many guides will do that i.e. stand up to the clients in a way that they don’t mind? Most people grow up with “the customer is always right” and the pressure really is on to deliver.
A particularly illuminating example of just how unfair humans can be when they make a mistake was this incident that happened in Zambia a few years ago. Two Zambian Wildlife officials were walking home in the dark through a national park. They came across a herd of elephant and one of the men was killed by an irate matriarch. The next day an elephant was shot in retribution. No-one knew if it was the one. And no-one acknowledged that the men were breaking the national park rules by walking at night.
So I tend to agree with you. Walking in big game country is potentially as dangerous to the animal as it is to the human.

]]> Comment on Powerdown in South Africa by Leon Marais http://www.ecoafrica-travel.com/2008/01/22/powerdown-in-south-africa/#comment-5389 Leon Marais Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:41:56 +0000 http://www.ecoafrica-travel.com/2008/01/22/powerdown-in-south-africa/#comment-5389 Yes, all the salient points. Minds must change through this short-term load-shedding crisis so that on the other side we're using less in the way of resources. Yes, all the salient points. Minds must change through this short-term load-shedding crisis so that on the other side we’re using less in the way of resources.

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