'Africa' birthday present help - any suggestions?

[Ari]

PH has come up gold for present suggestions in the past so I'm hoping for another.

My partner has always wanted to visit South Africa and go on safari. She has a (very!) significant birthday coming up so we're going to go for it and have booked a trip, leaving (for various reasons) about a month after the actual birthday.

Now the trip is the big thing for her birthday, but I still want to get her something for the actual day. Something that reflects the trip and that she can keep (ie not something consumable). And it needs to be not too expensive, since the trip is the expensive bit - maybe up to £200?

Any thoughts all?

[Ari]

That's a really good suggestion. If we didn't have a pair already it'd be spot on.

Good thinking though.

[Ari]

Bill said:

You'll need two pairs, unless one of you has eagle eyes. If she has an SLR a good (ish) telephoto lens is essential. (Or a 50-200/300 that will allow her to keep the same lens on and avoid lens changes in a dusty environment.)

Or two SLR cameras, one wide, one telephoto...

[Ari]

lord trumpton said:

What about a wood carved lion or a voodoo mask -that's the usual st that people buy. Or a fake tag heuer watch perhaps?

This isn't going quite as well as I'd hoped!

[Ari]

[quote=Shake&Bake]Take her to http://www.waterfordestate.co.za/ enjoy one of hte wine tasting menus, we chose the wine and chocolate pairings. It was superb. Then choose your favourite wine, buy a case and have a bottle a year for the next... You won't regret it, we went with friends and visited one or two other vineyards in the locality but this one is a step above all others. Not an expensive day out either. If you do end up going there, I'd love to know how you got on.
[/quote]


You've not quite grasped the point of this have you..?

[Ari]

The Moose said:

Where in SA you going?

Flying in to Cape Town, then hiring a car and following the 'Garden Route' along the south coast. Think we end up at Port Elisibeth.

Then fly to Johannesburg and then back to Blighty.

[Ari]

lord trumpton said:

What about designing a simple tattoo that you can both have done to commemorate the visit and the birthday occasion? Obviously tattoos are not everyones cup of tea...

That's a good idea, we could have them on our neck next to Tyrone and Chlamydias names and dates of birth.

[Ari]

Ari said:

You've not quite grasped the point of this have you..?

I though that buying a nice case of wine and bringing it home, would have been ideal. That would mean, having a nice bottle of wine to savour, for the next 12 years on your anniversary. You could also perhaps, use them as a countdown, to the next trip back to SA, and a nice nostalgic reminder of the time you spent there. But you could always get a fridge magnet I guess, you old romantic, you.




Allow me to highlight the slient points of my original post that I fear you may not be grasping.

Ari said:

PH has come up gold for present suggestions in the past so I'm hoping for another.

My partner has always wanted to visit South Africa and go on safari. She has a (very!) significant birthday coming up so we're going to go for it and have booked a trip, leaving (for various reasons) about a month after the actual birthday.

Now the trip is the big thing for her birthday, but I still want to get her something for the actual day. Something that reflects the trip and that she can keep (ie not something consumable). And it needs to be not too expensive, since the trip is the expensive bit - maybe up to £200?

Any thoughts all?

So nice though your idea is, and thank you for it, short of a time machine it's not going to work...

Also, I've no idea why the quote formatting isn't working with your posts, hence having to italicise rather than quote, sorry 'bout that.

[Ari]

captainzep said:

Always wanted one. Had a yellow "highway maintenance" one in mid-80s. Anyway sort of appropriate and PH at the same time...


http://www.thetoycabin.com/britains_9594_safari_la...

I do quite like that suggestion!

[Ari]

Thanks for your suggestion anyway, it was a good one had the dates been the other way around (and if we drank wine..!)

[Ari]

The Moose said:

Nice trip. Did something similar not that long ago. Lovely part of the world. If you end up is Mossel Bay, I've got a great hotel recommendation.

Thanks. She's phenomenally well organised though, so we have everything pre-arranged (apparently. I just need to show up with my spare pants )

[Ari]

Gingerbread Man said:

Have done Cape Town to PE. You could do the worlds highest bungee jump as it's from one of the bridges enroute. Simon's town (?) Penguins near Cape Town is good.

I could...

The penguin beach is on the itinerary.

[Ari]

schmalex said:

If you are going on a safari, how about looking to adopt a lion cub in the reserve that you are going to? Present her with the certificate etc on her birthday and then arrange to meet the actual cub when you are there?

Failing that, a trip to a witch doctor for some FGM?

That's a great one! (The lion one, not the FGM. What is FGM?)

[Ari]

bramley said:

Jewellery with tanzanite. Only found in Tanzania, Africa, albeit the east.

Like that too, thanks.

[Ari]

Landlord said:

hat's a cracking idea, IMHO.

My "joke" suggestions all involved BBCs of some sort so I'll spare you the effort of reading them and leave you with that seed (oops, there's one).

Well she is very fond of Will Smith...

[Ari]

I'm so glad I asked...

[Ari]

bramley said:

Jewellery with tanzanite. Only found in Tanzania, Africa, albeit the east.

Have you seen how fricking much that stuff is...!??