> things to watch out for?

Lions, tigers, rhinoceros, elephants, and especially vuvuzela.

Did you say Zuzu's petals?

Probably safer than the US Gulf Coast right now.

My brother took his HC7 there last summer, no issues.

Are you going to South Africa or Somalia? Big difference?

Hi Laurence,

When I've gone to Kenya or Tanzania in the past, I checked with my insurance company to ensure that I was insured while on the trip. My policy covers my equipment, but one thing I had to be sure of is where it was covered. They got back to me and I had to purchase an extra option for my policy. It wasn't too expensive and they told me I could drop after I got back if I wasn't going out of the country anytime soon again.

So, in other words, talk to your equipment insurer. That is going to be your safest bet.

j razz

Vuvuzela now that name rings like a bell even hours later


Laurence you have to get insurance from your local brokers you won’t get this side unless you are a local

No jokes my friend you have to keep your gear with you or lock it up in the hotel safe, don’t leave it in your hotel room
I had stuff swiped in a 5 star hotel while doing interviews and there are plenty of other crews around its tv crews and folks loading unloading it’s hard to keep track. What I do is in the hotel while I am filming and setting up I get the hotel security to keep an eye on my stuff, a bit of an impudence but they must also take responsibility

Do research and ask the local concierge or trustworthy folks on the areas where you will be filming the vast majority are very safe, but some ares are bad news
A mate of mine was held up gunpoint in the middle of a shoot in Hillbrow South Africa and all the gear and cams are now shareware
There is more wild life in the city than bushveld

If you are by any chance shooting Robert Mugabe giving himself a high five, or Julius Malema please share the clips these guys are hysterical.

But by far and far it’s a magic place and you will enjoy, if you are in my area please, please stop by.

Welcome to Africa BRU.

Rory

I have been going to SA for 12 years (never stopped and saw Rory though, but next time I am).

I stayed at the Hyatt Regency in Randburg in 1999, got up Sunday morning, walked out the door to find police and detectives talking to guests and staff because of the dead guy in the room across from me. Murder was suspected. Last seen alive talking to someone in the hotel bar. My in-laws have been robbed countless times. Never leave anything on the front seat of your car or it will be gone (night time, day time, driving, parked, whatever). Watch out at the ATMs. Lots of scams going on there.

But I love South Africa and have visited a lot of places there. I was actually right around the corner from Rory last April, but had forgotten that he lived in SA.

Here is a picture of my wife with South Africa President Thabo Mbeki in 2004. I took the picture with a Kodak's APS Advantix film camera.

Harold I don’t see the pic of you and your wife I think it’s been stolen

Next time you are here please give me a call, e-mail

Hyatt nice hotels but very sad about the crime, ATM = Attack Tourist for Money
In the past the mental disposition by the government was that Poverty causes crime and so had a very lax attitude with offenders
Now they realize that crime causes poverty No Tourism No Investment so they are coming down hard and fast on cases that involve tourists
In fact it’s a high priority on their agenda the results have been positive.