Articles
Quirky Questions about Safaris
Travelers coming to Africa for the first time are often worried about their safety, health and the reputation of their tour operator. Even today, Africa is still an unfamiliar destination for many travelers, however, as with other tour operators who sell safaris, Rickshaw has heard its share of odd and quirky questions about going on safari.
This month we’d like to share some of these head-scratching questions and don’t worry, if you have asked these question too, we won’t tell:
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There is power in the tent, but where do I plug my hairdryer – I can’t go into the wilderness without my hair styled.
In this safari tent, which had generators providing light for some hours of the day, there is no plug for hairdryers – now try to explain this to someone who is adamant to dry her hair, not realizing that within 5 minutes of driving that dust and wind will not worry about her coiffed hair which she also covered with a hat. Go figure. By the way, some camps do have dryer outlets but many don’t.
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Can I use the restroom while on safari?
We’d like to say yes, but the answer is usually a ‘No’. Before we enter the park gate, there are restrooms which one can use, but once inside the Park, that may be an issue. We would not recommend you ask the driver/guide to stop in the middle of nowhere to attend to your nature call, but if push comes to shove, the driver/guide will find a safe spot for you to crouch close to the vehicle, all the while keeping an eye out for “wildlife”. Don’t forget to carry your wet wipes.
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Why don’t they just have cable cars so we don’t have to trek to look for the Gorillas?
Double Head scratch here – Our consultant, with a very straight face said “Maam, this would not be viable in this dense forest as the whole idea is to preserve these mountain gorillas and for you to view them, for a short while, in their natural habitat. Besides they move around the forest so it would just not be practical to have these cable cars all around the Forest”.
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Are there a lot of bugs around the campsites?
Well we could say ‘no just wildlife’, but it’s Africa, and you’re going on safari and much like other countries, we too have bugs of all descriptions, some that bite and some that don’t. Our suggestion would be to pack some insect repellent which you can use to keep the “bugs” away.
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Do you have lions in the City?Yes, we all live in mud huts surrounded by lions. Well, no we wouldn’t say that to folks who actually think that. But it just goes to show that some people don’t do their homework before coming to Africa. Of course we don’t live in huts, but yes some people do, perhaps outside the city, and they aren’t necessarily surrounded by lions or any other wildlife. In this case, they were asking about Nairobi.
