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Ralph & Angela's travels
The Practicalities of African Camping
Hordes of readers have asked for some info on the practicalities of life on this trip (actually they haven't asked anything of the sort and come to think of it we haven't got hordes of readers) but here goes anyway.
The Landrover Discovery and the Afrispoor Mongoose 4x4 trailer cost us around £16,000 and I guess we've spent a further £3-£4K on insurance and equipment including spares, tools, lighting, bedding, cool boxes, kitchen equipment, a gazebo (yes a gazebo) and chairs. Generous gifts from work colleagues, relatives and friends have helped reduce the need to buy things like torches, fans, first aid items and all those things you see at airports and would buy if you could afford to! We are carrying around 2 cameras, a camcorder, 2 pairs of image stabiliser binoculars (easily our most useful items) and a laptop.
Thanks to the electrical skills of Roger De La Harpe we have the ability to use 12 volt (i.e. cigarette lighter connections) and 220 volt in the Landrover which means we can run lighting, the laptop and re-charge camera batteries off the car if we need. The trailer has 2 batteries, which charge when we tow. This keeps the trailer fridge (which can be used as a freezer) cold whilst we travel, and we then plug it in to the mains at campsites to save the trailer batteries.
Thanks to the use of various multi plugs/4 ways, we can have the fan heater (no way are we camping in winter here without it), interior lights, exterior lights, spotlights and the fridge going. We're hoping it's coincidental that South Africa has been experiencing some power shortages since we've been here!
We cook on the braai provided in camp, we use a small braai of our own as a fire for warmth, and we can cook using the 2-burner stove in the trailer. A 60 litre water tanks means we don't need water in camp, thought it's usually available and safe to drink.
Food wise we alternate between braai meats (the lamb, pork and chicken has far more taste than UK meat but I would kill for an Aberdeen Angus sirloin steak right now) and one-pot surprises like savoury mince with butternut squash. The most difficult things to get in the national parks (except Kruger) are fresh vegetables, fruit and salad items.
Regarding the finances we are trying to live within the £960 per month (nett after agent's fees) we get from renting out our house in the UK. With the national and Kwa Zulu Natal parks charging around £10 per night for a camp pitch (including unmetred electrics), we are keeping within our budget.
The primary cost other than food, drink and Angela's weakness for sweets, is fuel, and the Discovery, especially when towing the trailer on sand roads, has a thirst like a camel that's just crossed the Sahara (having forgotten to have a drink before leaving). Despite the craving for petrol, everyone tells us we have one of the best vehicles on the continent for driving in sand areas like the Kalahari and Namibia.
Being in one of the remotest areas of Southern Africa has not stopped HM Inland Revenue from being in contact regarding our 2006/7 tax returns; incredibly they gave Angela a tax rebate! We have no idea what is going on in the UK, which is perfect, though I am keeping an eye on Man United's progress to the 2006/7 premiership title when I can. Encountering fellow Brits is an extreme rarity here, which is just how we like it.
We've opened a South African bank account, primarily so that we can have a Garage card (a debit card for fuel). You can only buy fuel in South Africa (and neighbouring countries) with a garage card or cash; they do not accept credit cards. We were warned that South African bank charges are some of the highest in the world, they weren't kidding! Nedbank debited nearly £50 equivalent from our account before it opened! I'm sure there must be a charge for entering the branch but I lost the will to live after page 14 of the Nedbank customer charges leaflet.
Finally, to answer the question uppermost on everyone's mind, no we don't get up in the middle of the night, climb down the ladder from the roof top tent and walk to the ablution block in sub zero darkness. The inventors of "his and her" urine containers with screw caps that Angela bought in the UK should be in the Queen's next Honours list. We've noticed that you can buy a single use plastic bag with gel/crystals here in South Africa, which is literally and metaphorically taking the piss given the price of them!
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