Anyone been to Africa?

[Teacher Terry]

I took my kids to zoos yearly when little. I understand a dangerous animal needs to be killed and that the locals might not understand. That’s one reason they are sawing off the tusks of Rhinos to protect them. The 2 poachers that got eaten were professionals.

[The Cosmic Avenger]

Also, some nonprofit zoos, like the National Zoo in DC and the Bronx Zoo in NYC have huge habitats that are not as stressful on the animals, and they not only educate, they also do rescue and preservation as part of their mission. Ideally they wouldn't exist either, but IMO there's a world difference between those and for-profit roadside "zoos" where everything is in a cage just barely big enough for the animal to survive.

[H2ODude]

Quote:

Originally Posted by audreyh1 How long a flight is it?

Don't know about that one but we've done the ATL to Johannesberg, ~16 hours, several times. Would not do again, prefer to stop in Amsterdam, adjust to time, and then go south. 16 hours is miserable, especially during hurricane season as you get the turbulence crossing the Atlantic equator. Unless you like turbulence.

[kgtest]

You don't say. Were Zoo's or the concept of "zoo" always a negative thing, or is there anything positive...with the education the staff and students receive on perhaps an animal that might have deceased in the wild?

I know when I was travelling in NZ I went to an endangered Penguin site. The penguins they had in the "zoo" or observational area were "supposedly" likely to be killed or die outside of the care these folks were offering as rehabilitation. I guess it was a wildlife rehabilitation place, not a zoo...probably a difference.

[Rianne]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kgtest You don't say. Were Zoo's or the concept of "zoo" always a negative thing, or is there anything positive...with the education the staff and students receive on perhaps an animal that might have deceased in the wild?

I would agree, depending on the animal. Beluga whales, giraffes, elephants and certain large cats, I just cannot agree. Disney's animal kingdom is humane. Hundreds and hundreds of acres for the animals to roam. They at least have some semblance of the wild. I saw a black panther in a zoo and it was circling over and over in a small cage. I'd rather die.

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

Yes, I have been to South Africa (Jo-burg). I will not go again and I do not recommend it to anyone else.

[Sunset]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed_The_Gypsy Yes, I have been to South Africa (Jo-burg). I will not go again and I do not recommend it to anyone else.

Can you elaborate, as in were you on a cruise, or a vacation, or sent to work there ?

How long were you there and what was it that you didn't like ?

[DektolMan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed_The_Gypsy Yes, I have been to South Africa (Jo-burg). I will not go again and I do not recommend it to anyone else.

We just got back from a safari and spent a total of 3 nights in Johannesburg. People were friendly and tours we took were great.



You could go to NYC or Chicago and have a bad experience also.

[brett]

We only spent a night in J'burg. We flew in, stayed at a hotel not far from the airport. Got picked up in the AM for our Kruger safari (it was wonderful). Came back for a night, flew to Vic. Falls, then on to Chobe etc. It was a great experience.

On the way back we flew to Port Elizabeth and picked up a rental car. Spent time touring (it was beautiful), staying in small B&B's. Dropped the car off in Cape Town and spent a few days there prior to flying to Rome.

It was one of our best trips. We plan to go back to Africa.

[Nemo2]

From what I've heard, Jozi is getting worse by the day.

In 1983 my late wife & I walked down to a Zulu witch doctor's store, low ceiling, herbs and dead animals abounded.

Left, onto a busy street, noticed we were the only whites in sight....we didn't care, nor did anyone else. Today? I don't think so.

(Last time I was there, 2010, it was just an overnighter en route to Botswana, and we basically went from the airport to the hotel to the airport.)

[brett]

We did not even consider spending time in J'burg. Our flight times/schedule did not give us the opportunity.

There were times when touring by car that we could have been at home in Alberta because some geography was so similar. We came over a hill and came across a combining crew. Five John Deere combines, some swathering gear, and associated haulers. For a moment we thought we had been transported home.