phuketrichard wrote:not everyone likes salt water

True, but then maybe the Maldives are the wrong place?

Rutiger wrote:

Pools are no safer:

My first reaction is the same as GM - like WTF, how special are you ? This is already paradise. However, it could be dangerous to swim in the sea after nightfall, so you need a pool, because you are in fact special. (See the prices for places like that.)

This video is from SA, but we stayed in a place on the Zambeze river where we had a pool, but couldn't swim there at night because of hippos and crocs. They are worse than sharks because they will walk from the river to the pool if it's not fenced off. All those beautiful photos of African tourist resorts and safari lodges on the water's edge forget to tell you that you have to be mindful of hippos and crocs.

Can I say +1 for SV - ok it's not breath-takingly beautiful, but no hippos, crocs or sharks, day or night ?

Anchor Moy wrote:All those beautiful photos of African tourist resorts and safari lodges on the water's edge forget to tell you that you have to be mindful of hippos and crocs.

Hmm, all the Lodges I have been to in Africa, and there have been a few, were very serious about guest safety. In SA even some of the fenced Lodges won't let you walk alone at night.

hanno wrote:

Anchor Moy wrote:All those beautiful photos of African tourist resorts and safari lodges on the water's edge forget to tell you that you have to be mindful of hippos and crocs.

Hmm, all the Lodges I have been to in Africa, and there have been a few, were very serious about guest safety. In SA even some of the fenced Lodges won't let you walk alone at night.

I was looking at online photos of some African resorts on the Zambeze, which make it look so exotic, yet so safe and civilized - distorted, cosy images of Africa.

Yes I know, once you get there they will tell you to be extremely careful, especially at night. Hence the rules about no swimming after dark, wandering around alone etc.