LeonW

And a collector of Geocoins with a problem is the kind of person that delete all his e-mail mentioning geocoins. Like me.

RedGlobe, jy is welkom om 'n tonteldoos in Pretoria te plaas. Ek sal een op jou plaas dan bêre - spot net. Maar regtig waar jy is welkom, ek het 'n idee om 'n ander rustiger area te gebruik as rusplek vir TDVII. naby Cullinan.

Thanks to Fish Eagle, CrystalFairy and others for obtaining the special permission.

Hi DavidMac, From St. Lucia to Johannesburg Airport is 604km along the N2 - so that should not be a problem for a group of younger people. Remember also that the speed limit here on the N2 (and National roads in usual) is 120km/h , so that should be exciting for you guys used to 100km/h. The Kruger National Park speed limit is 50km/h on the main roads and 40km/h on the gravel roads. But it would be wise to calculate the effective speed there at a formula of 20km/h for stopping to view animals is a reality that breaks all well laid plans.

I lost my respect for the magazine GetAway, for such an article should have been spot on - all the background for recearch and CrystalFairy were available for consultation. How could I ever believe the magazine now to plan a trip where info is critical? Let us see what retraction or correction is in the process of being printed.

Eish...

Hi DavidMac So much to see and do in eight days! Rather stay the night at the Airport Hotel if you land at 9pm. Driving at night, is the one thing that all will agree is not safe for a foreigner. Get a rental cellphone at the Airport to cover your needs in South Africa, or just buy some Pay as you Go Airtime with the SIM card - local cellphone number. Enquire about that from Vodacom ( http://www.vodacom.co.za/welcome.do ) or MTN ( http://www.mtn.co.za/ ) service providers. Remember that the distances are very long and that a reasonable stop-over if departing from Johannesburg in the morning would be the town "Sabie" - S25 05.847 E30 46.845 - Next night could be the town Phalaborwa - S23 56.306 E31 08.431 - so that you could enter the Kruger National Park from there and proceed downwards. The best areas for game viewing would be between Letaba - Olifants Camp - Satara - Skukuza - Lower Sabie - and Berg en Dal. You will then be on the doorstep of "Fish Eagle" in Nelspruit. You should get the current Southern African Topo & Rec. Version 1,5 by ordering the "African Series2007 DVD" with the maps from AVNIC - and install that to your GPS'r in the meantime - it would be so much more useful than the Basemap and useful for geocaching. (As the map is to be replaced by a newer the price of the old has been reduced. Link: http://www.garmap.co.za/default.asp ) Their contact details are: Avnic Trading (North Riding HQ) +27 11 704 6147 Corner Minis No 2, Northlands Business Park, Newmarket Road, North Riding S26.03565 E27.95392 I am sure that "Fish Eagle" would have a real treat for you! These suggestions are only that, and your preparation and planning is half the fun.

I do agree that it would be better to get a guided tour/driver for South Africa as the security aspect is important. A guide would know of the areas to avoid and he would also be able to guard the vehicle while you look around. It has not yet come to my attention to be on the lookout for guided tour operators with dubious intentions, although they may exist. One of the biggest magazines about travel in Africa would be - http://www.getaway.co.za - and it would help to browse their site. Here is another link to a Tour operator - http://www.outlookafrica.co.za/ - My advice would be to stay out of Zimbabwe, and Soweto; I won't take my family to either. Keep a walking pole like MSR, Leki, Black Diamond etc. with you to fend off baboons when walking in the National Parks Rest Camps and to impose a more formidable appearance. The "Guide" is the best defence - I support it. Surely other Geocachers will give their input, and I will also inform you of other options if possible. Please don't be alarmed about South Africa, it is beautiful, and some thought to security will go a long way... Geocaches to seek is what we would love to inform you about. My favourite for the Kruger National Park area, near to the Blyde River Canyon would be "Lowveld View - GC11H2Z" one of Fish Eagle's caches. Greetings Leon

Ad is on page 112 and it looks like it is official for it is on Geocaching listed as the Event. For that entrance fee of R280,00 = only two adults, My children will be another R100,00 added. Get 3 x Getaway magazine = R81,00 off, morning and afternoon snacks and refreshments. Organized by CrystalFairy is what gives it credibility for me. Will attend, know where we will end up in the race!

Ek kry so 'n nare gevoel op my maag.

At the bottom of page 99 it says, details - page 98 opposite; but that is just one big advert for shock absorbers. Where can we get the info on entering? The fee is not totally unreasonable but if it is sponsored then I would like to know what do the sponsors pay for? Free breakfast, coffee, braaivleis, expensive and I mean really expensive cars/bakkies as prizes?

Dankie Ollietande vir die terugblik op ons geskiedenis. Ek sal graag 'n "Tonteldoos VII" wegsteek in die Pretoria area, en ek is seker dat RedGlobe nie sal faal om ook een weg te steek nie. Kontak my gerus indien jy 'n spesiale versoek het. Alhoewel geplaas in Engels is my "Gold Receipt - GC146B7" in lyn met jou eg Afrikaanse skat. Groetnis LeonW

Thank you erik88l-r for your past and future interest in South African Geocaching. Strangely I always thought you were a born and raised South African for the understanding of local difficulties, and needs you approved. You will always be in our hearts fondly. Congratulations Andy & Lindy, we do look up to your leadership and approval. I can honestly say that you are the only man that I followed up the mountain for your leadership and enthusiasm is seldom seen in South Africa today. Leon Wilken

Now I get it Wazat, sorry I were a bit slow-ish

Sorry to throw this cat between the pigeons erik88l-r, but there is no such thing as a spell checker, it is a Spelling checker. Spelling is used by people / geocachers, spells by Harry Potter. (But you do know that for sure... )

Two of my favourites are "Tribute to MP cachers" GCYHTC, by Warthog; and "Lowveld View" GC11H2Z by FishEagle.

@Wazat, you forget that I would have had to sit in the Free State next to the old broken windpomp in the searing heat, freeeeezzziiinnnngggg cold for 3 years before that first geocache was placed on the other side of the world. Don't know how I missed the birth of geocaching except to say I am not the responsible one @Gerald, your critique of Garmin not being able to deal with "Another Map-set like T4A" is misplaced, rather target T4A for not doing it right, the Garmin device and its authorized maps are working correctly, isn't it? Using T4A is at your own risk, Garmin is not to blame - they are not the suppliers of T4A maps.

That is why I stick with Garmin. In 1997 they replaced my GPS45 with a GPS45XL - I will not forget...

Count us in - looking forward to the events. No-4x4-Yet

Congratulation to Neville and Wazat on the FTF - you both are very dedicated to the "Addiction."

Hi Cincol, safe journey and enjoy the current wet weather in South Africa. Also the caches.

Congratulations RedGlobe on 500!

Same here, I also did the drunken bee dance till I realized that there must be an easier way. Strangely I still get fellow geocachers that think I am joking trying to explain the civilized way of calibrating.

Hallo Cincol, The owner of the " Big Five South African Geocoin" is - NotBlonde - and he is the topic originator "Join us in Facebook" a few topics down from your posting: http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=175922 Contact him to enquire about his beautiful coin, I am proud owner of two for my stash. Read the following link about his coin and the surprise when it was already produced. http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php...eocoin+Big+Five The "Huskies Geocoin" is also a beautiful coin - contact the "Huskies" through the forum's PM.

Thanks for that heads up, I will have to be vigilant as "RedGlobe" is very successful at being FTF, especially in that area. Check out the new caches in Hartebespoortdam area.