New Members Introductions

I live in London and right now I have 3 cats (in my life time I have 6 in all). I love wildlife and have been aware of so much going on, good and bad, good in terms of knowing so many people out there look after animals and their welfare, bad in the sense that cruelty such as poaching of tusks from elephants and rhinos, and starving farmed tigers to death in China for for tiger bone wine etc, and all the other stuff I come across on facebook that tells me evil must be eradicated to save these poor animals and we are their voice. I am going back to see the rescued elephants next month in Thailand, where I have financially helped substantially to bring these working elephants out of slavery. Then in September I am booked to travel to Kenya with Bornfree Foundation Group and Kuoni where I will be visiting David Sheldrick Wildlife Orphanage (I have 5 orphaned baby elephants adopted) in Nairobi and the ivory burning site, Amboselli National Park and learn about the Amboselli Elephant Research Project (AERP) and understand the elephants and the ecosystems, stay at Elsa Kopje Lodge in Meru where George Adamson built his first site with Elsa the Lion, visit Lake Navaisha - The Ol Pejeta Conservancy including visits to the White Rhino Sanctuary and the famous Chimpanzee Sanctuary founded by Jane Goodall, and the final stop is to Maasai Mara. All very exciting and in 2013, my African adventure bucket list includes the Mfuwe Lodge in Zambia where Wonky, Wellie and her elephants pay their annual visit. I have a youtube channel and I will be posting videos after my Kenyan trip at my Youtube channel called: ALLABOUTSONGS. I don't think I can add my a full link here until 7 days later for my youtube channel.

AAS
Cheers

Welcome to WAA Allaboutsongs. Great that you've found us.

We've plenty of sections and lots of interesting topics, so I hope you enjoy looking round the site.

That's some wonderful trip you're doing in September. We also foster 4 eles and 1 rhino (I think at the last count) and have visited DSWT in Nairobi several times - such a wonderful place.

I'm mad on Africa too, the Mara, the north around the Laikipia area and I can tell you all about Wonky and her family at Mfuwe Lodge as I visited there last November, what an amazing experience that was.

This is my link to youtube for a quick slide show of Mfuwe Lodge. My first attempt at a slideshow


We've a section on WAA where we post photos of our safari so you'll find lots of great photos there. Anne-Marie was in the Mara last September as was Doogs.

If you've any photos we'd love to see them, and if you need help with anything please ask any of us.

Lai

Welcome allaboutsongs. Your trip later this year sounds wonderful. I visited the DSWT in September last year and it was just so wonderful. I've posted some photos in the Members Safari Trips area. You will love it. We foster 7 eles and 1 rhino

I hope you have a wonderful visit to Thailand next month, and well done for helping them out. Have you got any photos you could share from any previous visits?

AM

Welcome! Your trip in September sounds wonderful. I would love to visit Meru so look forward to hearing all about it! And I recently read Bwana Game by George Adamson so would love to see the places he mentions in the book.

Mara Mad

Welcome allaboutsongs to WAA. Sounds like a brilliant year your in for, and some fantastic experiences. We have seen some wonderful photos, and heard about the expereinces of some of our members visits to DWST some are in Safari section, and there are other posts on Dwst, and Bles in Africas Big Five. Looking forward to hearing more about your trips, and hopefully see some of your photos. If you need any help finding anything, or posting photos on the Forum, just shout, and one of us will help
WS

Hi all,
I am still finding my feet with using the response route so I hope I am in the right place. I didn't understand what the "Quote" button is about and when I tried to respond using the quote button, it said it would only allow 50 quotes, hence I am replying here ....
@ Laikipia: Thanks for posting the Youtube slideshow. I enjoyed the photos' subjects and the slideshow plus music and I think you have accomplished very well in terms of photography and as this was your first attempt on the slideshow, another compliment to you. javascript:emoticonp('')

I have a youtube channel and my youtube name is Allaboutsongs. I will post some old photos when I can find my way round here. javascript:emoticonp(':arrow:') Re David Sheldrick Wildlife Orphanage (DSWT), I met Dame Daphne Sheldrick a few months ago and have a few photos taken with her. She is a first class lady commanding my full respect. BTW, DSWT is hosting a Harambee Gala Dinner javascript:emoticonp('') in London on Friday 28 September 2012, and I will be attending with 5 other supporters. Hope your be able to make it too, or share the link with your friends, I couldn't share the link yet, but if you put in google - Harambee gala dinner, the DSWT link will appear in the results page.

AAS

Good morning AAS

Glad you liked the slideshow - I'm going back to Mfuwe Lodge this November and then to north Kenya over New Year so will no doubt be taking another few thousand photos

WS is great at explaining everything to do with the forum and the buttons so I'll leave it to him

Have you bought Dame Daphne's book yet? I've just got my two copies, one being a b'day present and one for me I know Anne-Marie has just about finished reading hers. I went to a talk she gave at the RGS in London and yes Pete and I are going to the dinner in September, it should be wonderful. I've posted the link.

http://thedswt.org.uk/gala2012/

Really looking forward to your photos and will check out youtube shortly.

Lai

Found your youtube channel - lots to check out

https://www.youtube.com/user/ALLABOUTSONGS?ob=0&feature=results_main

SM has a lot to do with BLES so she'll enjoy looking through your videos.

Lai

ps thanks for your comment on my youtube page - as you probably realised, I am not all that techie with youtube and posted the slideshow on there so I could share with WAA and friends. I've no idea how to do anymore than that!!!

Hi AAS,

I have a funny feeling we know each other through BLES. Think we got to speak about 2 words at the BLES party in July last year. Always loved your BLES vids and revisit from time to time.

This is the link on the forum to my last vid I made for Evelyn and Katherine - might give you a clue who I am
https://wildaboutanimals.forumotion.net/t591-boon-lott-s-elephant-sanctuary-bles#16810

Great Great Great to have you with us. We cover so much on the forum and we can never get enough updates on DSWT and Africa etc.- not to mention local wildlife issues as well. We cover something for everyone.

Take care.

SM

Just a quick reply if I can remember everything ... and sunny morning to ALL of you

Dame Daphne Sheldrick's book - no I haven't bought it yet, I will try and buy it at some point.

I will take lots of photos in Kenya and hope to post those and videos on youtube a, so it will be easy for all of you to watch.
It's wonderful to hear Lai you are going with Pete to the DSWT Gala dinner. I will be there with family and friends too. And knowing you are revisiting Mfuwe Lodge is reassuring as I really want to go there next year if at possible.

In the Mara, I am staying in the Governors Camp as the Little Governors is fully booked. The other lodging in Kenya are: Sweetwaters Tented Camp in Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Loldia House in Lake Navaisha, Amboseli Serena Lodge, Nairobi Serena Hotel on arrival in Nairobi and the first stop is a visit to the DSWT elephants in the afternoon, Elsa Kopje Lodge in Meru. After 7 days, I will post the links giving some info of the lodges.

NB if SM is a 'she' then I may have a clue ....


Have a great day everybody ...
AAS

Hi again allaboutsongs

As Lai mentioned, I had almost finished reading Dame Daphne's book, I have now finished it and it is such a fantastic read. Remember if you buy it, to get it directly from the trust so all proceeds go to them. I was lucky enough to meet Dame Daphne in Sept 2010 at the RGS. Isn't she the most remarkable lady!!

I would love to go to the gala dinner in September, but not sure what to do, expecting my first baby on 31st August, and not sure if I'll be up for leaving him/her at that point. I'm hoping tickets will still be available closer to the time. Got my invite pinned to my fridge door!

I stayed at Governors while in the Mara, although Little Governors is a lot more intimate, I had no trouble with the size of Governors. We never really saw that many people (and we were there in Sept). I would definitely stay there again.

Regarding your visit to the DSWT, are you going to the public mudbath? As a foster parent you can go in the evening too, you need to book this with the trust. And of course there is the private visit as well.

Hi AAS
As Lai said if you need any help navigating round the Forum, please just ask, or you can PM me by clicking on my name, and then contact, then Private message.
The qoute button, if you click it brings up the post you are looking at, at the time, and then you can reply to thar particular comment, it prints both the quote, and your answer, but it's not really used very often. You are fine replying on this thread, and when you are used to it we can direct you to the other topics that interest you.
There is a section on the forum, that explains how to upload your photos, so when your ready, just let us know, and I'll send you the link. You will be able to post links, after 7 days to your videos, and anything else.
Great to have you on here
WS

Hi Anne-Marie,
I will be seeing my adopted elephants - Orwa, Sonje, Kathika, Naipoki and Ishaq-B. ( I also gifted Sonje to a friend in America for a year). As my entire trip itinerary is prepared by Bornfree Foundation, the visit to DSWT will be only for our Group of Bornfree supporters and it will be in the afternoon, and the place will be quieter, as we know morning hours the place is frantic with tourists. We will also be able to take our adopted elephants back to their stables for their evening sleep. I hope the visit will include a mudbath before they retire to bed. The full itinerary is on the Bornfree website but I can't provide the link for 7 days being new.
If you go to the Bornfree website, type in the search box the word "holidays" - Holidays (page) would come up. Scroll down and click on the link that says - "itinerary for this special trip here".
The holiday is run by Kuoni and Ananea Responsible Travel, and as soon as we arrive in Nairobi, we will be met by the Bornfree local representative who will look after our group throughout the holiday period. I have myself extended my trip to the Mara.

Yes I will get the book from the Trust if I were to buy it. I can ring the Trust in the UK and order it.
As regards dinner, this occasion is unique and Dame Sheldrick is the host. She is dynamic and works hard for the elephants at her age, and you will cherish the occasion for life when you know you were there to celebrate with her and her supporters for the African elephants in her charge.
oh I managed to post the photo !!! yay
AAS

AAS here's the link to your holiday

http://www.kuoni.co.uk/en/holiday/africa/kenya/kenya-tours--climbs/tours/pages/kenya-born-free-safari.aspx#/

it's look wonderful - what a great time you are going to have.

Lai

@ Doogs, you will have such a wonderful time in the Mara and the 5th time!! Where are you staying?
I have a friend who stayed at the Mara Bushtops and loved it and she is booked to go back there twice this year.
@ WS, I figured out now it is simpler to use the Post reply button :)
and to Lai, thanks for providing the Bornfree Kenya itinerary link

AAS

One of the places we are staying at in December for a few nights is Joy's camp. It's built on the site of Joy Adamson's tented home in Shaba National Reserve. We've never been before but it looks like a great place.

Lai

Hi AAS your trip sounds wonderful. You will be having the private visit as well which is just fantastic one on one time with the eles both myself and Lai have done this and it really is wonderful.

I really wish I could say for definite I could attend the dinner, but I have no idea how I would feel leaving baby at 2 weeks - 4 weeks old. :baby1: :baby1:

That's such a dilema for you Anne-Marie and really you won't know until the very last minute. It's not that easy for you to get there either timewise so best not to think too far ahead, if you can both make it then wonderful if not I am sure there will be another opportunity.

Lai Pai

You probably know this AAS but the Bushcamp Company send out a weekly 'Did you know' e-mail which is always great to read. This Wednesday it was about the lions visiting the lodge, right outside one of the rooms ......

You might want to sign up for the e-mail if you haven't already.

http://www.bushcampcompany.com/

Lai

Doogs, fantastic idea. I've just dropped Harriet and Rob an email at the trust to ask those questions.

Hi All, my name is Lori and I am an Africa Addict. Over the past 30 years I have traveled to eleven of the continents countries; I lead tours there for Jane Goodall and other clients, and am currently writing stories and posts about my passion for wildlife and Africa on my site: AfricaInside.org
I recognize many of my friends on this site: Rekero Camp, Sheldrick, Jackson...so I am happy to be here and look forward to exchanging posts with all of you.

I stayed there 3 years ago. It is wonderful. Exotic, great food and service and surrounds a small marsh next to a swimming pool so there are lots of birds. But the wildlife was scarce. Great area though, off the regular tourist path so not a lot of trucks etc.
Lori