GAPS2 Africa II 2008 - experience a trip of a life-time!

Cape Point

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Vaccination shots

I had to visit my surgery this morning for a blood test, got talking to the nurse about holidays and she reminded me that my last lot of shots (4 years a go) were now out of date, not all of them but important ones like typhoid and Hep B etc.

Just thought I'd mention it.

Valid reminder, Paul. We both updated our vaccinations a month ago - got also yellow fever shot, just in case. - Now we could go to the darkest Africa as well.

mellowd wrote in post #5503743
Cape Point

Cheers mellow ... man, that is a long way. Thank goodness we now have planes rather than having to do it by Donkey

paulhillion wrote in post #5522478
I had to visit my surgery this morning for a blood test, got talking to the nurse about holidays and she reminded me that my last lot of shots (4 years a go) were now out of date, not all of them but important ones like typhoid and Hep B etc. Just thought I'd mention it.

Yup, good reminder. I need to check mine. They were Ok last year.

Olli wrote in post #5522648
Valid reminder, Paul. We both updated our vaccinations a month ago - got also yellow fever shot, just in case. - Now we could go to the darkest Africa as well.

Oh well, if we wake up one morning in a kalahari and you guys ain't around we'll know where you've headed

Just a quick reminder that payment due end of the month ... 'though I'm sure y'all ain't forgotten Olli's payment is en-route by the magic of international bank transfer. No cost at his end Tommy but may be one at this as a currency exchange/transfer involved. Will let you know and then you can choose that route or Paypal. Paul and Helen, just a straight bank transfer is best to avoid Paypal fee's.

I'm also wondering what guide type books you all have as previous experience says no point taking more than one copy of each. Also, 1 bird and mammel identification book per car is enough. Of course, you can take personal copies if you want to. Just adds weight to your bags.

It's useful to have 2-3 different guide books amongst us because while the route and stopovers are set it's sometimes the little local journeys and activities that are interesting and useful to know about and no single guidebook ever tells you everything. Also advise if you want to buy just get recent versions.

A few days ago I got my reminder from the vacination center I used last year because if I get the second hepa A it will cover me for 25 years.

Dave, will we get near any malaria areas this time ?

I will check which books I have in the weekend.

Re books, I have the following...

Southern African Wildlife (Brandt Visitor's Guides)
Birds of Southern Africa (Sasol)
Lonely Planet 'Botswana & Namibia'
Lonely Planet 'Cape Town' City Guide
DK Eyewitness Travel Guide 'South Africa'

Dave, will sort out the bank transfer within the next few days. I know you say end of month but whilst it's sitting in the bank there's the temptation of lenses, bags, hyperdrives, memory cards etc etc

tommykjensen wrote in post #5523252
Dave, will we get near any malaria areas this time ?

No, we're Ok this time.

paulhillion wrote in post #5524800
Re books, I have the following...

Southern African Wildlife (Brandt Visitor's Guides)
Birds of Southern Africa (Sasol)
Lonely Planet 'Botswana & Namibia'
Lonely Planet 'Cape Town' City Guide
DK Eyewitness Travel Guide 'South Africa'

The Bots and Nam you can leave home. You got good wildlife books there and with my two will probably cover us fine. Anyone into reptiles might wanna bring a guide book but not essential at all. The City Guide you have will be good and the Eyewitness one I'll leave to you to bring or not. I have that one too and it's good for the cities with great maps but close to useless for the more remote places we'll be at.

paulhillion wrote in post #5524842
Dave, will sort out the bank transfer within the next few days. I know you say end of month but whilst it's sitting in the bank there's the temptation of lenses, bags, hyperdrives, memory cards etc etc

Gotcha. BTW, I picked up a SH 1D mk II N at a fair price and should arrive early next week. Was gonna get a 40D to go with the 5D but was impressed with Pete's at the weekend when we went to shoot some Owls and Hawks. In some ways the 40D might be better, but I'm thinking after the trip I'll sell the N and should get my money back on it. Like free hire I'd just lose on the 40D given current prices.

Ok I'll bring along the Brandt wildlife, Sasol Birds & LP Cape Town books.

Good news about the 1DN and yes your thinking on selling afterwards is spot on - I sold my 1DN for pretty much what I paid for it where as I had to virtually give my 30D away once the 40D was released.

Whilst in Cape Town I'd really like to do a pelagic and also a shark trip. I'm thinking that we should maybe contact the respective companies to book spaces, or at least make enquiries on available dates/spaces? I've been advised to do this by a friend of a friend I was chatting to last night, he's used 'Cape Town Pelagics' on a couple of occasions and strongly advised to pre-book.

Is anybody else interested in either of the trips? My wife gets sea-sick just looking at a boat but she may do the shark trip.

I'm interested, Paul. Any understanding about the costs?

My wife also prefers to stay on the solid ground, so might be the the ladies will select optional program if the rest of us will do a pelagic.

Neither are at the top of my list at the moment but I could be interested in the pelagic trip. I am aware of the postings some folks made, that I linked to a while back, about sometimes small boat size and too many people and rough conditions so if you are asking it would be good to get a firm indication around what we might expect. I like the idea of the trip but don't like the idea of being in a small boat in big waves and throwing up for several hours

I shall contact them and report back.

BTW, if you really want to think of new angles to shoot, look at "Africa" by Michael Poliza. Probably the best Africa wildlife book I have seen.

paulhillion wrote in post #5567317
I shall contact them and report back.

a couple of links I found while checking out the birdforum for places to visit in Hertfordshire - one thing led to another Click and Click and Click (see cape town section. I'm feeling a bit more enthusiastic about it now

buddy4344 wrote in post #5570497
BTW, if you really want to think of new angles to shoot, look at "Africa" by Michael Poliza. Probably the best Africa wildlife book I have seen.

Cheers Buddy. Have never seen that book before.