Steve

I would not allow what happen to you on 9/11/2001 - being in Alaska outside of communication happen to me.

I need to know if there is a major global event - 9/11, Lehman 2008, 1987 crash, 2014 thanksgiving oil collapse happening.

Today smartphones and WhatsApp is the best way to communicate in Africa. In 10-20 years it may be the only way as satellite company don't upgrade SARS and relay station.

Simplest rule is if there are people there are cell phones. Only place sat phones will be low density areas - Alaska, North'america, Brazil etc.

If one has an issue with them bring them up with ph at smart of safari or at booking. Cause I will bet you camp will have as many phones as people.

Hell even in Amazon with zero cell phone signal - native Indian has cell phones - use them mainly as cameras.

Mike

Like anything, there is a time and a place for it. Cell phones are very useful just like the rest of technology and advancements, i.e. Vehicles, airplanes,optics, etc. They can all be used properly to make life better or be abused to make others miserable.

As leaders we should all work ourselves out of a job by training and empowering our employees. But then again if you leave for a long time and are not needed, some business models would say the position should be eliminated.

Whatever your thoughts, enjoy your vacation and never forget that courtesy costs nothing.

Safe travels.......LL

Stuck here in Africa Sky as flights to Florida are cancelled. I am on my ipad.

quote:

Originally posted by Steve Ahrenberg:

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Steve,

Michel Mantheakis in Tanzania, Mokore Safaris in their areas in Zim and Mozambique and Johnny Du Plooy on the luangwa all have WiFi in some pretty remote areas. Like it or not it is the trend for clients to want to keep in touch and for safari operators to keep up on issues and inquiries daily. I recently had a client have some issues in camp and between the client, myself and the safari operator it was worked out. Without the WiFi the safari might have turned out quite differently.

Mark

Having wifi in camp doesn't mean I need to use it. That's really my point.

If I had a PH on his phone (excessively), I would ask him politely to stop its use.

I'm a bit dumbfounded at the desire to not "disconnect" ones self while on safari.

To each his own but I don't understand it.

+1

I have read this post with interest. I am one of those that cannot disconnect while I am gone. My boss is not a hunter or an anti-hunter. Because we have limited staff we don't have double or triple coverage on everything. If I was gone a week then I would not have many issues but when going to Africa for 14 days or so I have to check in, deal with items, etc. It just part of the deal.

I don't own a business or work for myself other than some side jobs so I have to play by the rules of those I work with and for.

The clients I work with on the side are also not hunters or anti-hunters but they also do not comprehend being gone for 2 weeks. They want their questions answered and where I am nothing but a subcontractor they will go elsewhere if I do not help them when they need help. It is what it is no more no less but without my side contracts there are not any hunting trips so I play the game as it is so I can go to Africa every once in a while.

He was going to be hunting in the same area two weeks later and said he would keep an eye out for it. I took that to mean that if he saw it and it was still alive that he would shoot it.and get the hide to me, if it was dead, just another reason to go back again and try for another.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

quote:

Originally posted by #1 of 13:
Was your friend sleeping with the PH? How else could he have known that he was on his phone 24/7. He also seemed to get the job done or are you more upset that you can't post on AR while hunting due to no WIFI. Thanks for ruining my chances of him looking for my wounded Giraffe.

How can he look for your wounded giraffe if it was not your hunt??

Having just returned from RSA on Monday, I have to say cell phones never became an issue during my hunt. You would see them around the breakfast table and the evening campfire while everyone was chatting, but they never impeded on the hunt. Having a toddler at home, being able to be connected when in camp was a big bonus for me. My PH was in the same situation. Neither of us had an issue with the other using a phone sparingly to keep in touch with family.

Before having a kid, I had no problem being off the grid and cell phone-less. After a kid, I don't think I could do it for more than a few days.

I've read with interest some of the horror stories of PH's abusing the use of cell phones. I count myself lucky as this has never presented a problem for me. The PH I've used for my four Namibian safaris (Jan du Plessis of Sebra Hunting Safaris) only uses his cell phone during non hunting times, such as driving to another area outside of his home ranch, or during a lull in the hunt, such as a lunch break. At the end of the day when we're back at Jan's ranch, he has wi-fi and he'll quickly check emails, but when dinner and drinks are being served, he puts his cell phone away. There's nothing like having a cold Tafel Lager while puffing on a Cuban Montecristo and rehashing the day's events over a mopane fire. It helps that Jan's beautiful wife Mariesje is a gourmet cook and we know we're going to have a great meal in short order. I always giggle when we're driving on a dirt road near Kamanjab and pass a Himba tribesman on a donkey cart chatting on his cell phone. This is a guy who lives in a hut made of sticks and mud, but he's using a cell phone. I use my I Phone to take pictures and when back at camp to check emails and post pictures to my hunting buddies back in Alabama. Being retired, I don't have to worry about work related matters.

Hunting in Romania the cell phone is everywhere.

I personally used it as a cell phone ($10 a day Verizon plan - coverage everywhere), internet, whatsapp, camera, translation, pictures to aid in translation, compass, map, altimeter, flashlight, dim light to walk around in the dark, and probably more uses I cannot think about now.

I saw it used to organize drives, recovery, record my hunting license, coordinate pick up etc

What a remarkable device for weighing ounces.

Only place I did not see people on it all the time was at a cafe on dej that was full of students - they were smoking and talking. All the old people were on their phones.

Mike

I have twice had tracker's phone ring while in a stalk, once on hands knees with herd of blue wildebeest 50 yrds away, this year while tip toeing onto a heard of zebra!

It has definitely gotten worse. The last safari it was not the PH. The PH was having to stop and have a chat with the tracker who was suppose to be spotting animals but instead was texting.