So.... We're going to Kenya then

[Skywatcher]

Carpe Diem

Carpe trip to Africa :mental:

Going in August - its just South of the Equator so we can say we have been to a new continent and a new hemisphere

Staying at the Voyager hotel - for all the Star Trek :geekon:

Safaris run close by, there is a Animal enclosure close by where you can feed Giraffe and Giant Tortoises ( sorry Josh) as well as a butterfly place. Hotel has its own reef :mental: glass bottom boats etc etc, Indian ocean, monkeys that come and sit on your balcony.

:mental: , I am going to have to buy a DSLR for no other reason than the birds and wildlife.

The site at Nyali has a few swahili words to learn including Hakuna Matata and Asante Sana,

We are going to live the Lion King

Excited? Just a bit :D

[uscwest]

Wow. Trips to Africa from the US are SOOOOOO expensive these days that we couldn't even begin to consider it. I hope you have a great time. This is my dream (come on lottery.)

[lozzy]

Congratulations on booking, I would love to go there, maybe next year.
Plenty of pics will have to be taken please.

Can I ask who your going with?

[Skywatcher]

We are going with First Choice - much cheaper than the Virgin holidays, same hotel

John, this will work out cheaper than our Disney Stay by some way, and we are having the Premium seats which are way way cheaper than Virgin.

9 Hour flight, but what an adventure it promises to be.

[Keith]

Mega congrats! I hope to do the same one day soon :yes:



:mental: , I am going to have to buy a DSLR for no other reason than the birds and wildlife.


canon 7D :D

[Skywatcher]

I feel a thread in gadgets and gizmos coming on I have to admit, more specifically on lenses - have to make use of my 2 canon lenses I have.

OOoo they use British 3 pin plugs

Visa has to be pain in US dollars - bit odd

Can take stuff to a local orphanage :thumbsup:

This is probably going to be a dream come true

Oh ;) and I will see the Southern constellations for the first time as well - maybe if I forgo clothes I can take my scope

[Slowhand]

That`s great news Chris, you will have a ball. :thumbsup:
Whichever camera you choose though, make sure to get an air tight bag to contain the camera when you are travelling to the game reserves.
The roads are very dusty and with the dust being so fine it really caked my camera even though I put it in it`s case inside a zip up camera bag!

[Claire]

:mental:

[MystikPiglit]

Wow, how exciting! I bet the boys are thrilled.

[Dawn]

Injections. :eek:

[Johnie]

This is so exciting! I cannot wait for the trip report!!

[Dawn]

He hasn't finished the last one yet despite saying if he didn't do it we could ban him. :unimpressed:

[Isafari]

Wow, I have wanted to go to Africa for a very long time. DH wanted to go to Florida. We went for his choice first and haven't been anywhere else since discovering WDW.

I got my name because I wanted to go on safari

You'll all have an amazing time...........lions!!!!!!!!!!!

[Skywatcher]

Fair point Dawn but we did have a few other things going on :yes: and yes there will be injections and malaria meds but this will be worth it. Excited about all the small wildlife not just the big game.

[Dawn]

But...injections. :thud:

No way will Steven consent to that for any holiday in the known universe. :lol:

[Beccaberry]

:mental:

:WOW: how exciting!!!

[MystikPiglit]

No way will Steven consent to that for any holiday in the known universe. :lol:

:lol: I'm with Steven on that one.

[Skywatcher]

:lol:

[MystikPiglit]

What is the temperature likely to be when you go?

[Britchick]

I feel a thread in gadgets and gizmos coming on I have to admit, more specifically on lenses - have to make use of my 2 canon lenses I have.





good lad!!

now what lenses do you have?

[Skywatcher]

Should be about 85 f not too bad as it is their winter.

Only relatively cheapy lenses Brit but I do have 2 already and it seems bonkers not to use them

[Britchick]

Should be about 85 f not too bad as it is their winter.

Only relatively cheapy lenses Brit but I do have 2 already and it seems bonkers not to use them


still want to know:tongue: i think i've worked out that i'm a prime girl, am thinking of going for a wider angle lens next. looking at a sigma 30mm- really good write ups. A good zoom would be advantageous on safari! canon does a nice selection of 70-200s- i have the 70-200 f4 L which is very good quality for the price - took me a while to get the shots i wanted but i'm learning- it's not the lens it's me.

The 7D has got some cracking reviews, still waiting for some sample shots from Keith!

[Keith]

still want to know:tongue: i think i've worked out that i'm a prime girl, am thinking of going for a wider angle lens next. looking at a sigma 30mm- really good write ups. A good zoom would be advantageous on safari! canon does a nice selection of 70-200s- i have the 70-200 f4 L which is very good quality for the price - took me a while to get the shots i wanted but i'm learning- it's not the lens it's me.

The 7D has got some cracking reviews, still waiting for some sample shots from Keith!

It's wonderful when you get to the stage where you appreciate primes :yes:

a good zoom would be great for safari, I wouldnt get one without Image stabilisation though so my choice of the really good lenses would be
70-200f4 IS (since the 2.8 is a bit expensive)
or possibly even better for safari 100-400IS

The 7D is the best APS-C camera that Canon do, it's streets ahead of the 40d/50d etc. I still prefer my 5dMKII because I prefer full frame really but I accept that it's because I'm weird :) the 7d would be ideal for most non-weirdos :)

[Britchick]

i think i read somewhere that they're bringing out a new 70/200 2.8IS so maybe worth looking out for deals. I wish I'd got the IS but it was double the price. :thumbsdown:

[mumof2]

omg how exciting! i'm so pleased for you all :wiggle:

[Keith]

i think i read somewhere that they're bringing out a new 70/200 2.8IS so maybe worth looking out for deals. I wish I'd got the IS but it was double the price. :thumbsdown:

they have indeed brought out a new 70-200 2.8IS And in most places it's listed at about £2800!!!!! now, the 70-200 2.8IS is my most favourite lens on any camera system, ever. Did I say, ever. Ever ever :lol: but even I can't bring myself to pay 2800 for a new one when the old one is utterly brilliant.

Sadly not too many deals on the old one either because as I say, it's so darn good that they can sell them all without discounting anyway

[Britchick]

whoa! glad to see you get the lens hood and tripod collar with it free :yes:lol

[Skywatcher]

Er.... Some of this kit is more than the trip cost :lol:

[Keith]

Er.... Some of this kit is more than the trip cost :lol:

oops :unsure: easy to get carried away with lenses :lol: we'll have to reply with better suggestions in the gadgets forum :D

[Britchick]

Er.... Some of this kit is more than the trip cost :lol:

only some, not all :tongue: you sound like Jon!

PS you go the same day i can book my flights!! yay

[Tink]

Oh gosh. That is so wonderful! We've wanted to go forever. Herself was talking about it over the weekend. We fear aging. :sigh:

Have an absolutely wonderful time! It's so great that you can bring things to the orphanage!!!

We'll need all sorts of photos, ok? Loads, and loads, and loads!!!!

[Skywatcher]

It's a deal. :D haven't been this excited for years.

[Ursula]

Hope you have a great time, look forward to those pics X

[Britchick]

That's why we need to make sure he has the right lenses! Lol

[*Bambi-Belle*]

Fantastic news.:wiggle:


I'm not sure how close you are to a local town or if you are planning to go on many excursions, and you will probably know this already but there is a huge shortage of school supplies, things like pens, pencils, crayons and note books. Most hotels will encourage you to go on excursions to the local schools in the area. It might be worth taking some supplies for you and your boys to hand out to the local children.


Liam has received a list of things to pack as gifts for the school he will be attending in Tanzania. He was shocked last year when the exchange student who came here didn't have shoelaces for his shoes. We made him up a little care pack for him to take home with him. It was very strange for my two to see this boy cry with joy over such simple things as a cheap Asda Geometry math set, socks, water colour paints, a pencil case and the likes.


We did it in Egypt too. Our guide told us that the children who try to sell you stuff are working for bigger adult gangs and don't get a share in the money, but they can't go to school as they need their own pencil and note book to attend. If they don't have these they can't attend :cry2: so it's better for them to be given a pencil rather than money.
My FIL also used to give his socks to the beach sellers in Kenya before he came home. What I mean is he would buy cheap socks to wear on holiday and then wash and give them to the beach sellers at the end of his trip.


LOL listen to me going on,:embarassed: I hope you all have a fab time and get lots of fab photos to share with us.:biggrin: I would love! Love! Love! to do a real safari. Oh! and the food will be fab. I take it it's an all inclusive hotel? Have you checked it out on tripadvisor yet to see if their food is authentic? You will now be able to tell if Boma and Jiko serve the real thing and are authentic to the origins of real African flavours. Heeheeheehee! Boma mmmmmmmmm *drools*:drool2::biggrin:

[Skywatcher]

We are definitely going to take a load of school supplies :yes:

No way I can afford a 2000 pound lens Brit - maybe you or keith could loan them though :D

[Britchick]

We are definitely going to take a load of school supplies :yes:

No way I can afford a 2000 pound lens Brit - maybe you or keith could loan them though :D


neither can i! i can dream though :yes:

[kazzaqld]

This sounds amazing! What a fabulous experience for all of you!

I am very jealous! :yes:

You will wave when you get to my hemisphere won't you! :wave:

[josh.p.]

:thud: PICS PICS PICS PICS PICS I'm *so* excited for you, this is mine and my Mum's dream. We are both going to live it through your pics so you best get a good camera :rotfl:

[Disneybumble]

I'm delighted for you all . There is now no excuse for the "harambe" trousers to be worn.

[Skywatcher]

I'm delighted for you all . There is now no excuse for the "harambe" trousers not to be worn. :laugh:

Just been sending emails to the lady who is sorting out our Safari - it sounds absolutely mind blowing - :mental: so many animals the lodges in the game reserves look like 5* hotels they have swimming pools with views over watering holes and rock hyrax's in the bedding - one has elephant damage in its garden area :mental:

How am I going to sleep for the next 6 months :mental:

[Tinkfan]

:wave: Just caught this thread, what an experience for you and your family. You must keep a journal there of the boys reactions to everything. Can't wait til your trip report. :worship:

[Slowhand]

How am I going to sleep for the next 6 months :mental:
Make sure you do get loads of sleep before you go.
Remember that you will have to be up and ready for your safaris at some unearthly time each morning! :lol:

[Skywatcher]

we are going for 2 weeks but only doing a 2 night/3day safari so we will get plenty of sleep before and after