Don't forget the potjie for the Pig Trotter Stew... hehe

Getting there

Well... the last few days have seen a flurry of purchases with the credit card wanting to melt after the abuse its had at he many camping and 4X4 stores scattered around the Western Cape. Never the less i have come out on top.... with most of the necessary equipment purchased and ready to go!

After some serious amounts of research and speaking to the wizened traveling community both Hennie and I opted for the reliability of the Engel!

The Fridge and the Engel...... :)


Debs and I spent some time learning from the professionals as to the intricate skill of putting stiches into wounds. Thanks to Dr Jack Derman for the tutorial! We bought some fresh pigs trotters, gave them a slice or 2 and learnt 2 different stitching techniques.... so dont fear one of us slices a limb.... a couple of stiff whiskies and a few stitches will sort it out!

Debs' wall map

I don't have a 4x4 to show off... so I have maps all over my wall to compensate

The BEAST!

This is what we'll be towing the Landie with (hehehehe)

New kid on the block

Hennie and Ang's new wheels, wiff new tyre pant, roof rack, roof-top tent, ladder and gas cylinder holders!

Spelling!

Hey guys. Apologies for the spelling in the Zambian blog below! I just copied and pasted the info from another site!

Zambia

Hey Guys! Some info on the park fees in ZAMBIA. Also a website with some helpful info on Zambia:

http://www.freewebs.com/luangwablondes/index.htm

Zambian Park Fees

Park entrance : per person per day(prices 2007) . Kids under five for free. Till 13 years half price. Always cash payment in US$
Sometimes (eg South Luanga) traveller cheques are accepted


South Luanga: 30 US $
Lower Zambezi: 30 US $
North Luanga: 25 US $
Mosi-oa-Tunya: 10 US $
Kafue: 15 US $
Lochinvar: 10 US $
Sumbu: 10 US $
Kasanka: 10 US $
Other parks: 5 US $


Fea for the car:

if zambian registred: 12.600 Kwacha per day

otherwise (SA) : 15 US $ per day
Camping feas in park:

Zambian registred car: 18.900 Kwacha per person

Other: 5 US $ per person.
For more info:
Zambia Wildlife Authority
Private bag 1
Chilanga
Zambia
Tel: 00 260 1 278366 of 278129 of 278524
Fax: 00 260 1 278366 of 278299
Web: http://www.zawa.org.zm/park_fees.htm

We're learning Swahili!

We all need to start learning some Swahili which will make life a lot smoother and friendlier for all involved. I'll make some cards / pages with the basic words and phrases, and animal names with pictures, so that we can share them so long.

I found a cool program with talking flashcards, to help us learn the basics. It can be downloaded here: Download FREE Swahili language helper

For a few talking samples, go here.

For quizzes go here.

Vaccines

Hi team
These are the vaccines that are recommended. Please find out which ones you've already had and check if they're still valid!
I've put rough prices next to some, plus there's normally a consultation fee of about R120 but I think this can be shared if you go in a group.

I'm going to go to M-Kem which is up the road from my work (Durban Road Bellville), but another reasonable one is the Kenilworth Medicross Travel Clinic @ 67 Rosmead Ave (021 683 5867) - you'll need to book an appointment in advance. We should aim to get these done in January, as some of them need "top-up's" in a few months time (Hep). There is also a combo Hep A + B (R180) which is cheaper than having both separately but I think you have to go back for top-ups, and if you've already had one (A or B) then you won't need the combo.

Yellow fever R195
Required for all travelers arriving from a yellow-fever-infected area in Africa or the Americas
Hepatitis A R170
Recommended for all travelers
Typhoid R155
Recommended for all travelers
Cholera R??
Recommended by Al for us
Polio R150 (incl Tetanus)
One-time booster recommended for any adult traveler who completed the childhood series but never had polio vaccine as an adult
Hepatitis B R85
For travelers who may have intimate contact with local residents, especially if visiting for more than 6 months
Rabies R??
For travelers who may have direct contact with animals and may not have access to medical care
Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) R??
Two doses recommended for all travelers born after 1956, if not previously given
Tetanus-diphtheria R150 (incl Polio)
Revaccination recommended every 10 years

Visa info

Here's a list of our countries, and the nationalities that DON'T need a visa for that country:

NAMIBIA
Exempt: Australia, Belgium, United Kingdom, Canada, Denmark, Netherlands, Germany, Ireland, New zealand, Norway, Sweden, USA, South Africa, France, Switzerland
BOTSWANA
Exempt: Australia, Belgium, United Kingdom, Canada, Denmark, Netherlands, Germany, France, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, USA
ZAMBIA
Exempt: Ireland, South Africa
TANZANIA
Exempt: Ireland (lucky me, I got one of those! I KNEW I was meant to go to Zanzibar hehehe)
KENYA
Exempt: South Africa
MALAWI
Exempt: Australia, Belgium, United Kingdom, Canada, Denmark, Netherlands, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, USA, South Africa
MOZAMBIQUE
Exempt : none
ZIMBABWE
Exempt: France, Ireland, New Zealand.

Test Run

This weekend I took the beast for a bit of sand test driving... performed tremendously i am pleased to report!

Set Dates

Right, after much discussion, some to-ing and fro-ing we have the dates set and the team looks good to go!

JUNE
15	Leave CT
16
17
18	Sossusvlei
19
20	Windhoek
21	Etosha
22	Etosha
23	Etosha
24	Etosha
25	Restock
26	Khaudom
27	Khaudom
28	Khaudom
29	Caprivi
30	Caprivi
JULY
1	Caprivi
2	Caprivi
3	Livingstone
4	Vic Falls
5	Vic Falls
6
7
8
9
10
11	Lusaka
12	South Luangwe
13	South Luangwe
14	South Luangwe
15	South Luangwe
16	Bangweulu
17	Bangweulu
18	Bangweulu
19	Bangweulu
20
21
22
23	Lake Vic
24	Lake Vic
25	Serengeti
26	Serengeti
27	Serengeti
28	Serengeti
29	Ngorogoro
30	Ngorogoro
31	Ngorogoro
AUGUST
1	Kili
2	Kili
3	Dar
4	Dar
5	Zzb
6	Zzb
7	Zzb
8	Zzb
9	Coast Line
10	Coast Line
11	Coast Line
12	Coast Line
13	Coast Line
14	Coast Line
15	Coast Line
16	Coast Line
17	Beira
18	Gorongosa
19	Gorongosa
20	Nyanga
21	Nyanga
22	E Highlands
23	Lake Kyle
24	Ruins
25	Harare
26	Antelope Park
27	Antelope Park
28	Antelope Park
29	Kruger
30	Kruger
31	Kruger
SEPTEMBER
1	Swazi
2	Swazi
3	Hluhluwe
4	Hluhluwe
5	Durban
6	Transkei
7	Transkei
8	Transkei
9	Transkei
10	Transkei
11	PE
12	Garden Route
13	Garden Route
14	Garden Route
15	Home

Route

Here it is.... in graphical form.
I will put up the 4 set dates later........

Roles

Right, we have had meetings..... we have given ourselves time to think and we have ended up with a route that will be awesome. Now all we need is the final details worked out and a few final confirmations and next thing we know we will be ready to go - I mean Gary is married so anything is possible!

So.... it seems better to split up organization into countries and not roles... so here goes:

Al - Zambia, vibe and sponsorships, Logistics, Lead vehicle
Dallas - Medical Kit, Languages, Games, Mozambique
Ang and Hennie - Namibia, car paper requirements and letters of invitation, Towed vehicle
Gary and Nats - Tanzania from border to Dar
Justin and John - Sponsors
Richard - GPS's, SA, Distances

What needs to be covered in each country is - Language, Fuel and logistics, Food, Suggested accommodation, Health orgs, route, distance, budget

Then we have other portfolios that will be all encompassing:
Debs - 1st Aid
Suza - Entertainment
Nats - Food
Gary - Mechanics
Hennie - Customs
Al - sponsors


Awesome!!!!!!!!!

Al

I'm going to Africa and I'm taking...

... my new Oregon Scientific Vibra Alert Two-Way-Radio. twin pack walkie talkies!!

NEXT MEETING TUESDAY 2nd OCTOBER

Right, time to finalise route!

7:30pm at Al's place..... bring your route and your list of equipment you currently have!

Brilliant!!!!!

i am perplexed as to why my name is debrawedding........

"Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the slowest gazelle, or it will starve. It doesn't matter whether you're a lion or gazelle - when the sun comes up, you'd better be running." - Anonymous

The beginning....

Well, the earth as we know it was created in 6 days.... and that is how we started. 6 like minded people, all with a lust to explore the most intriguing continent on earth in one room... brainstorming ideas and deciding who will take ownership of what. Some pivotal points were decided upon:

• Climb Kilimanjaro
• Mix both the explored with the unexplored
• Ensure we are prepared enough for most eventualities and under prepared enough to allow for serendipitous events
• HAVE FUN NO MATTER WHAT
• Explore areas we may never get to again in our lives
• Attempt to determine whether smuggling a staffie all the way through is at all possible

Lots of ideas were thrown around, some concerns viced but in the end the next target was decided upon. EVERYONE to submit a preferred route by 30th September for a vote in the next meeting as well as a list of what equipment we do have thus far.

Below are the fruits of our initial mental labour... slightly red wine smeared but boerewors fueled!

Good times team!