"Let's not forget the people"

[Amarula]

Here is an excerpt from an email that I received today:

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I have recently written an article that I thought was important to write, and for vacationers to Africa to read. It is entitled "Let's not forget the people" and discusses the fact that we, as vacationers, should not forget to see the people who are making this all possible for us, and not just look at the animals on safari. It is a very socially conscious article and I am trying to get it under the eyes of those who understand its opinion and also those whose opinions it could sway.

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When on Safari let’s not forget the people!

The SUV picks you up at the door of your lodge just before dawn and sleepily you climb aboard. The guide, who is likely to be grinning from ear to ear, greets you cheerfully and talking a mile-a-minute, heads out the gate. For a while you drive along a tarred road, then turn onto a dirt track and after some minutes, through the gates of the game park. You have entered that magical world where nature still rules… and where you dare not step out of the vehicle for fear of your life! Here you rely upon the guide to locate the concealed animals and explain to you what you are seeing… and to return you safely to your lodge at the end of the morning.

Who is this guide? Where does he fit into your African experience?

Continued...

Please feel free to discuss this article and I will advise the author that he is welcome to keep track of this thread.

[piglet]

Thanks for the article . So true how easy it is to forget the people of the area . The impact it has both in benefit and sacrifice . But more importantly I think is that why safaris are important . Gaining an understanding and insight of the cultures of people is just as much a tourist opportunity .

[sociolingo]

Thanks for this. Most helpful. When we were living in The Gambia we saw a lot of 'bad' tourism - on both sides. Most people who visited the Gambia didn't meet local people outside the hotel at all, apart from the beach bums and fruit sellers. It is so sad.

[kbb]

Man its soooo wierd. Africa seems to have a permanent chip on its shoulder.
When you go to Spain/Greece/Oz etc do you stop and think about the waiter who just served you ?
I have recently retruned fm a trip to New Orleans, I dont recall ever trying to imerse myself in any of the taxi drivers lives - and i dont imagine they wanted me too either

Its bordering on the pathetic ...

[Amarula]

I don't know so much kbb - Africa is different and culturally it is well worth being able to see the differences. It is fantastic if those working in the industry are accommodating and open to share themselves with visitors from other countries.

When I first read the article I immediately thought of the doorman at the Victoria Falls Hotel many years ago - not sure if he is still there and can't remember his name, but have found a few pictures of him on the net - he became a minor celebrity in his own right amongst tourists and actually became a selling point for the hotel at one point because he went out of his way for the guests. He also decorated himself with the gifts, usually badges, that he was given by his new friends and was often so full of them he could hardly move... looking on the net, it looks like he set a standard for those who followed in his footsteps.



Odwell the famous doorman at the Victoria Falls Hotel displays his collection of buttons on his attire
Above picture source: From this photographer's portfolio which proves the point about how well worth seeing and learning about the indigenous people around the world is, purely from a visual perspective...

Another similar representative of the locals that I found on the net:
Source: http://royallivingstone.suninternati...ller/#more-177

[D.Gurgy]

Anon 14:52 and Cindy,

I felt similar to the two of you maybe not EXACTLY the same, but similar. Genny and I were skeptical. I have to agree with this

[ICE]

Say what?

[bren]

I seem to agree with KBB. If a tourist paid to come to africa, their main priority and reason would be to see the animals. Thats what I have gone on holiday for to see the animals and not worry about the humans. There are humans where I come from and I will see them all the time, anywhere in the world, whereas there are only a certain type of animal in Africa and a certain type of animal in Australia. When I go to Australia I will want to see the Kangaroo and the kuala bear and not the people that look after them.Hope you get my point