Wild Africa Trek- lanyard for iPhone

[mindeola]

We leave tomorrow for our trip and I am just now realizing that we need a lanyard of some sort if we want to bring our phone on the Trek. When I googled it, tons of online places have them. Anyone know of local stores that might have them? I will start calling some , but thought I would ask if any of you have found them in a big box store. We have a few days in St Augustine first, so I have time to buy from a store.

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

I brought something like this along to WAT for my phone https://www.amazon.com/SafeWays-Waterproof-Compatible-iPhone-Samsung/dp/B00O2ASKJ2 and I bought it at Walmart.

Even with that, I was still heavily encouraged to leave it in a locker, so I did. They took plenty of photos and I had no regrets.

 

[frisbeego]

I did not have a lanyard when I recently did WAT. I have a simple case on my phone (that I got through D-tech). WAT provided a lanyard that looped through the hole at the bottom of the case. That gets attached to your vest, and then you store the phone in a pocket on the safety vest.

Unsolicited advice: Consider whether you really need the phone. The guides have a real camera and take lots of pictures. They'll even take any pictures you request, e.g., "That rock is pretty. Please take a picture." I brought my phone to take video, but honestly, nothing was really video-worthy. I used it once, and then just left it in the pocket. The pictures the guides took turned out great. They're free. They're not part of Photopass or Memory Maker. Again, they're free (or included in the WAT price). They give you a link and password to a website, and you can download them from there.

 

[kpearl]

I did the WAT tour in September and I bought a waterproof sleeve with a lanyard off EBay for super cheap. But the morning of I decided to leave it in the locker because our guides had a really, really nice camera with a long lens and captured everything for us. (animal encounters, suspension, bridge crossings, even personal shots while having lunch with the savanna behind us). You get a code at the end of the trek to visit the page with all the photos uploaded (about 24-48 hrs after the trek) and you can download them for free for about a yr after.

That's just my 2 cents! Some people did bring their phones and cameras with neck straps so feel free to do whatever you'd like They do give you a lanyard that you can clip through the bottom of a phone case (where your charger goes in) or just get a waterproof sleeve as long as it has a lanyard or a carabiner to hook to your vest. You should be good to go! Have fun, it was a blast and you learn so much

 

[RebelHawk]

They provided us with a strap that I looped through my phone case and that was attached to a vest clip. Not the best angle but you can just see the clip in this photo (taken by our guide with their camera). And was mentioned the guides will take TONS of photos of both you and all the animals you'll be seeing. And their camera is way better than a cell phone.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I will agree with the PP's. The photographs they take for you are much better than the ones on your phone plus it allowed us to be "in the moment" and not worry about getting a photograph.

The ones crossing the bridge are priceless and they tell you where to stop for a picture.

 

[mindeola]

Thanks for all of your insights! I plan to leave mine in the locker, but hubby wanted to take his new phone. I knew they took tons of pictures, and I do like the idea of just being in the moment and letting them be the photographers. Can't wait!

 

[Hisgirl]

yes, I agree with the leave the phone in the locked locker. The pics they take are going to be by FAR way better than anything we can take and they take tons of photos! We just got back today and did this trek yesterday. it was fantastic but whoa...that rope bridge! Holy Moly! I did fine but the guide said they've had folks have panic attacks midway through!

 

[michelepa]

I disagree with most posters here.

I went with DD in august and didnt take my camera because of many posters stating how many pics the CM's take.

It was just us and a family of 4 on the first trek of the day and the CM's didnt take many at all of us. I regret not taking pics myself.

 

[wolf29]

My sons and I also did the WAT last August. While they do take numerous photos, some of the best of our entire trip are the photos that I took, especially a few that I was able to shoot during the lunch stop. I would absolutely not leave my camera behind should we ever do the tour again.