POTN Safari around South/West Africa - we are baaack :-)

Ok so starting sunday 26/8 should be good enough since we will arrive in the morning monday ?

Sure ... as you probably know Windhoek doesn't have a Malaria problem so that approach will be fine IMO. In fact, as discussed previously, the problem areas are a band across the northern parts of each country and main risk is December/January to around April. We will be at negligable risk, which is why I ain't packin' a net.

Oh, the reason I choose breakfast is because evening time one may have wine or beer with dinner and the two, in my experience, don't go well together!

Does the nights get so cold it is necesary with some light clothe to sleep in ? For example the when we camp ?

I am packing a couple of t-shirts just in case ... it can get cold once the sun goes down. A fleece is essential for the early morning drives, tho' we will be enclosed so shouldn't be too bad.

tommykjensen wrote in post #3713815
Does the nights get so cold it is necesary with some light clothe to sleep in ? For example the when we camp ?

It looks like it gets cool in the evenings. The sites that I've checked show anywhere from 50-60 F (10-15 C) as nighttime lows. I have a long sleeved nightshirt packed and if I get cold I can always throw on my fleece sweater over the top. I think with the sleeping bags and tents we will be fine.

We were in Namibia first few weeks in June and stopped off at Waterberg Plateau before heading for Etosha. We went on an organised early morning game drive in an open topped Toyota rather than in our own vehicle. The sun was starting to come out as we set off around 6.30am. I had just shorts and a fleece expecting it to warm up very quickly ... I don't know if I have ever felt so cold in my whole life. Two hours of hell! It really can get very cold so be prepared. The nights and days are very different.

This what the guide wore and he's shivering as you can see ... and you can also see the sun-shine. That is my ass climbing in too

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I dunno if I ever showed my Namibia shots ... these were taken 2001. Mainly used with a Kodak 3mp/3x zoom P&S back then. Some of the more distant ones also taken with a SLR and 300mm but very poor film scans via my local Jessops and I didn't know how to use it anyway. Luckily I also have some much nicer prints from that trip.

Click and yer might even see some shots of yours truly Seems a long time ago.

Though I have never had to take anti Malarials two things to bear in mind:-

If it is advised to take them with a fatty drink it is probably best to observe that as some drugs need specific conditions to aid their absorption into the bloodstream & likewise if drinking alcohol (above certain levels???) is prohibited this could be due to the drugs efficacy being reduced by the alcohol

Lastly, and this I have read about is the need to ensure you keep taking them after you return for the advised period. This like all medicines is to ensure that the (in this case) the parasite could still be in the blood and needs to be killed even if you are back at work. There have been reported/documented cases of folk returning from malarial areas who religiously took the tablets but stopped on the last day because they thought they were safe, they ended up hospitalised with malaria days after they got home!

Be safe and enjoy ~ pictures please

Very good advice.

just remeber once we are out side of the old USA none of ours will work any more.

condyk wrote in post #3714100
I dunno if I ever showed my Namibia shots ... these were taken 2001. Mainly used with a Kodak 3mp/3x zoom P&S back then. Some of the more distant ones also taken with a SLR and 300mm but very poor film scans via my local Jessops and I didn't know how to use it anyway. Luckily I also have some much nicer prints from that trip.

Click and yer might even see some shots of yours truly Seems a long time ago.

Cool shots - and an FYI - the big tree Jenny is standing in front of in NZ is called Tane Mahuta (King of the forest) and it is a kauri tree.

holland_patrick wrote in post #3715691
just remeber once we are out side of the old USA none of ours will work any more.

That's true, but we might need them to find each other in DC or if there is any problem with connections or something.

I've got everybody but Jake's number. As soon as I get his I'll send a list out in PM.

tommykjensen wrote in post #3713236
Ok so starting sunday 26/8 should be good enough since we will arrive in the morning monday ?

My medication says to start a week before getting to the location, but I'm on the weekly pill..

tommykjensen wrote in post #3712737
Oh boy just tried to pack my bag and without the books I will bring the weight including the bag itself came up to 16 kg the airline does allow 20 kg but I really don't want to have that much.

I just managed to get more stuff than I intend to take into my makeshift rolling camera bag.. But weight will always be tricky. Now I need to have a run at the checked bag.

I had a chat with my Aunt Brenda from Seattle.. the only other traveler in my family her latest trip was Morroco.. and the next one will be Turkey.. seriously one of my favorite people... even if I am related to her. Anyway, lots of cool advice and general support from her. She had a look at our thread and I think some of her reservations about my going have been appeased.. Now, she just wants pictures and email as often as I can. She's sending me a travel pillow, money belt and some links to online stores to look at for other misc. ideas.. She did say that no matter where she's gone. Whether it was China or Italy she has always, always had atleast one case of diarhea... But, she's impressed at how well thought out and planned everything is. (She's a librarian that's a big compliment) and that this looks better than a lot of the paid tours she's been on..

In other news.. I had a serious cleaning fit this morning.. all of my glass (and Dave's) have been shined up. My sensors have all been prettied up.. I'm currently transferring stuff to my external HD to free up my laptop.. and have thought about doing a pre-pack trial run... But, not sure if that's going to happen today...

oh, and i'm taking Abby-girl to the rodeo on Thursday.. dang child can talk me into anything..

sari