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Packing camera gear for a long journey

Now that I’ve upgraded from P&S to DSLR with multiple lenses and tripod, packing camera gear takes more thought than it used to, like throwing it in my purse or pocket.

01 658 New camera gear & book Yarnell AZ (1024x768)

What gear should go

For a long international journey it’s important to think about how much bulk and weight you want to carry.  While at the same time you know there will be many outstanding photo opportunities not to be missed.  Give a thought to what kind of photos you like to take—landscapes, architecture, wildlife, flowers or people—to decide what camera or lenses would be best.  I’m pretty much a landscape photographer with as much wildlife thrown in as I can focus on yet also like to take macros of flowers and bugs.

Too much or not enough.  So far the Nikon list includes the 18-200mm and 55-300mm lenses, digital remote and three camera batteries with charger, plastic bags, cleaning cloths, a 4GB, 8GB and 2-16GB SD memory cards that will fit in all three cameras.  Yes I’m also taking the waterproof P&S and the Fuji for backup.  I’m packing some extra AA Lithium batteries for the Fuji because I had a hard time finding them last time I was in South Africa, and their batteries can be slightly off-size from those in the US.  Don’t ask me why.  I’m thinking about not taking the tripod because I don’t use it that much, but if I leave it behind know I’ll want it.

02 Cords (1024x768)

Then there’s all the cords.  What a snaky mess that can be.  But I rubber band them and color-code with tape as needed.  Nothing more frustrating than trying to figure out which cord goes to what.  And don’t forget chargers for all the techi-toys plus if traveling internationally think about backups that could be difficult-impossible to replace.  Also consider that many countries, like South Africa, don’t operate off 110 like the US, so I have a power converter that will go in my checked suitcase.

03 665 Carry-on bag Yarnell AZ (1024x768)

Wrap and pack

You certainly want to be sure all your gear arrives safely and in tack.  Fortunately, and due to my obsession with thrift stores, I found a sweet carry-on case for only $10. And it has wheels and a handle which is good as I’m sure to pack it heavier than I really want hanging off my fragile shoulders.  There are many options for camera bags so pick the one that works best for you.

04 669 Carry-on bag with camera gear Yarnell AZ (1024x768)

Every piece of gear should be wrapped or in a protective cover, camera body separate from lenses.  Use that extra T-shirt or pair of socks you thought to put in your carry-on just in case your checked bag gets lost.  Or think bubble-wrap to pop in celebration that all parts survived the journey.  Leave no space for jiggles that allow banging things together.  Tape lens caps on for added protection.  You don’t want to spend time replacing photography gear rather than using it.

05 670 Carry-on bag with netbook Yarnell AZ (1024x768)

Except for the tripod, all the camera gear fits neatly and padded in one divided compartment.  Plus my netbook easily slips in another compartment.  The waterproof P&S fits in the carry-on and the Fuji will be in my shoulder bag.

 

Keep it with you, keep it safe

NEVER put your camera in your check-on bag.  Do you trust a stranger to be careful with your gear?  What if your luggage is lost?  If the carry-on is over weight, take out the camera body and possibly a lens and put it around your neck to be returned to the carry-on when able.  If you bring one, depending on size, the tripod may have to go into your checked bag.

Plus just in case any of your gear is lost or stolen have all model and serial numbers stored in at least three places, one of them back home with a friend.  You might even think about insuring expensive personal belongings.

 

Photo storage

Storing all those precious photos depends on how long you’ll be traveling.  Memory cards are small so take plenty of them, more than you think you’ll need.  If you’re carrying a laptop dump your photos onto it daily and think about a back-up external drive as well.  You could even burn CDs.  If your gear is stolen, memory cards and CDs stored separately could save your photo memories.

06 Carry-on bag (768x1024)

Looks like I’ve got all the photography gear needed for my trip to South Africa and a safe way to pack.  I could dream for an even bigger lens, but then how would I carry it.

camera gear, packing, travel 23 Comments

South Africa transportation options

01 SA flag

While researching options for transportation within South Africa I’ve discovered several luxurious, my ideal, and budget modes of conveyance.  Having traveled there before I know it’s safe in most places, even as a solo female.  Preferences are personal and financial choices.  I tend to be a middle of the road traveler, not quite straddling the center line.  So I usually go for somewhere between my ideal and budget.

 

By plane because a cruise takes too long

I bought airplane tickets for my two month journey after several months of searching for the best deal.  This time Kayak came through.  Prices varied up to a $500 difference.  Had to work the return flight around Easter, a school break with many people traveling, and my birthday just five days before.  Johannesburg here I come.

02 SA tickets 2

From the USA to South Africa, 10,111 miles, has me leaving one day and arriving the next.  Time to dig out the support stockings so my feet don’t swell up like last time.  The first leg of only 3.5 hours from Phoenix to JFK/New York shouldn’t be too bad even on a narrow body Jet Blue.  Thank goodness for the luxury on South Africa Air’s wide body for the next 21.5 hours.  A pillow and blanket await on the seat for an overnight flight plus a personal kit including washcloth, toothbrush and eye mask.  Once in flight a free and tasty dinner is served and before landing free breakfast.  I saw many options upon ticket purchase from Asian to Vegan, or meat, all at no extra cost.  My last experience felt like eating at a good restaurant with a safety tray.  On top of that, they serve free alcoholic beverages.  Yea,you read right, free.  That does not happen in the USA in economy.

I hope to sleep after dinner is cleared and wake up relatively refreshed in Johannesburg in the morning.  Knowing long flights usually mean heavy jet-lag I’ll try to go with the destination time zone and not just go to sleep immediately after arrival.  Arriving in Johannesburg at 8:30am will give me plenty of time to retrieve luggage, go through customs, eat and settle in somewhere.  It’s sure to be an early bedtime but I want to be up and about in the morning.

Major airports are located in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town with many other options along the coast and inland.  That could be convenient if my journey doesn’t end back in Joburg where my return flight is booked from.

 

Driving makes sense, just takes a lot of dollars

Once I get there how should I get around?  I’m not a backpacking traveler any more due to bad shoulders from carrying too much for too long.  Yet I love to camp and so do many in South Africa with over 700 caravan parks—campgrounds—to choose from.  Being a 20-year veteran of the RV lifestyle my ideal would be to travel in a campervan, not a big motor home or towing a trailer.  May be a way to fill a teenage fantasy VW bus, or Kombi.

03 lekker campervan

I’ve only found two businesses that rent a van-like camper, Wicked Africa and Lekker. These 2-berth campers provide the basics for cooking, food storage and sleeping.  Perfect, except for the expense of longer than a one month hire.  Comparing those prices with renting a little car cuts expenses in half even buying some camping equipment once I get there.

The roads were in good condition right before the 2010 Cup except for some construction.  And even then less than I see here in the States.  Many of the National roads charge a toll but in some cases the free pre-National roads run                                                 Lekker VW campervan nearby and through communities and landscapes at a slower pace.  My own pace.                                                                                                       

04 wicked africa campervan

     Can you see me rolling down the road in one of these unique paint jobs from Wicked? 

 

 

 

 

Public Transport

The best budget option for getting around would be by bus and taxi.  Minivan-taxis are the most common local transportation everywhere I went in South Africa, even the one I literally bumped into, while it was parked and no one was hurt.  They can be more than overly crowded and not my preference especially with luggage.  Bus options include Greyhound or Bazbus which caters to backpackers with a hop-on/hop-off option and stops at hostels.

My preference includes stopping absolutely wherever I want, within safety, and choose my own route.  But other affordable options make travel possible on your own chosen budget.

 

Leave the driving to them and enjoy the view         06 Lion Night ride Kruger NP Mpumalanga ZA (800x771)

OK, having just said I want to drive, I do see the advantage of letting someone else do the driving, at least once in a while for photography reasons alone.  Although I am known for photog-driving that’s only possible with the small Fuji I had to buy after loosing my P&S to the Indian Ocean.

South Africa seems a land of tours, city, townships, safari and walking.  So many as to be overwhelming and my list will certainly be longer than the time I have.  I’ve found South Africa Tourism very helpful during my research for this journey.

Tours will add some expense to the journey yet I believe a few will be worthy for the information from a local guide.

 

Over the long haul

South Africa has an extensive rail network, commuter and long distance.  There’s the famous and luxurious Blue Train which I find a bit expensive.  However the more economized “Purple” train called the Shosholoza Meyl (meaning pleasant experience) Tourist Class follows the same route over 956 miles (1530 km) in two days.

purple train

Tourist class trains consist exclusively of sleeping cars (2 & 4-berth compartments) and a restaurant car serving full meals, snacks, beer and wine. The sleepers even have hot showers at the end of the corridor.  Economy class trains consist of sitter class seats and sometimes a restaurant car.

The only “long” train ride I’ve taken, almost 40 years ago, couldn’t have been more than a couple hundred miles from Chicago to Carbondale, Illinois.  So I’m considering the Purple train from Cape Town to Johannesburg at the end of my journey.  It’s almost the same price as the three hour flight but  in my case, not in a hurry.

So my ideal choices are plane, train and campervan although I’m not sure that’s what I’ll end up with.

How would you choose to travel in South Africa?

06 Pilgrims Rest camp Mpumalanga ZA (1024x768)

March 2010 Pilgrims Rest camp Mpumalanga

South Africa, travel 29 Comments

Where to explore in the Johannesburg area, culture and caves

As I am headed back to South Africa I’m researching what to explore in the Johannesburg area and discovered I can learn about the culture and visit caves.

01 a154 Johannasburg airport South Africa

During the last visit two years ago I may have landed in Johannesburg but immediately headed north to Pretoria with my friend, fellow blogger and nature lover Joan.  I hardly felt like I’d left my US home with the familiarity of Mcbusinesses and suburban residential areas.  Other than hunting down the correct electrical conversion box to charge my camera and netbook we visited the gardens around the Union government buildings, the Voortrekker Monument plus explored The Cradle of Humankind Museum.  Yet I’m sure there are other places to explore.

Johannesburg

I hear the traffic is terrible in Johannesburg but that’s true of every major city in the world.  And although I’m not really a city gal could learn a bit about this provincial capital of Gauteng considered the wealthiest province in South Africa.  And while Joburg, as it’s called for short, is not one of the three capital cities it is the seat of the Constitutional Court which has the final word on interpretation of South Africa’s post-Apartheid constitution.

Tours are offered at Constitution Hill, formerly the site of a fort and later used as a prison.  Plus the court itself opens to the public to attend court hearings (probably not my thing) or view the gallery of over 200 artworks.

I’m definitely interested in the Origins Centre, a museum about the oldest people on the planet, the San (Bushman) and their rock art.  Would be wonderful to know something about these people before visiting some of the rock art sites near the Drakensberg Mountains.

And I read that the views over the city from the Carlton Center observation deck are outstanding as this is the tallest building in Africa even if only half the height of the Willis Tower in Chicago.

But the best tour I’ve discovered so far, and I think you’ll agree, includes a little beer drinking while visiting the South African Breweries World of Beer.  I’m a bit of a light weight but wouldn’t mind a sample or two, or….

Soweto

Another place to tip a few while eating something fresh off the Braai (BBQ) and enjoying some unique “kwaito,” a form of hip-hop South African music is the recommended Soweto township.  I’ve heard a lot of good things about the cultural food found in townships near Jonker in Port Elizabeth so I’m really curious.

Not all about food and fun, Soweto, named in 1963 for SOuth WEstern TOwnships, has a long history of strife with over 100 years of oppression.  Soweto caught the world’s attention in 1976 during an uprising of mass protests against a government policy to enforce education in Afrikaans instead of English.  An independent municipality since 1983, Soweto was incorporated into the City of Johannesburg in 2002.  Now it is a popular tourist destination with sites such as Kliptown (where the Freedom Charter was drawn up), the home of former President Nelson Mandela, restaurants and shopping malls.

Pretoria

02 a163 Pretoria SA (1024x299)

During my last visit Pretoria felt like any-big-town USA, lots of streets, buildings and people.  Maybe if I’d been there in the spring when the Jacaranda trees line the streets with their purple colored blooms it would have been more appealing.  As one of South Africa’s three capital cities, serving as the executive (administrative) and de facto national capital, there has to be something to explore, but my research hasn’t turned anything up yet.

Sterkfontein Caves

03 Cango Cave Little Karoo West Cape ZA (800x600)

I caved twice in South Africa.  Sudwala Cave was a short walking tour with Joan that wet my appetite for the longer Cango Caves which included some crawling and tight squeezes.  Yet Sterkfonten is where some of the oldest humanoid fossils have been found and is the most famous of 13 excavated fossil sites in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site.  I visited the museum and would like to explore that whole area more.

Pilanesberg National Park

045 The Big 5 Kruger NP ZA 3-2010 (1024x768)

I need to renew my Wild Card, like the US National Parks card, so why not start off with the nearby Pilanesberg National Park.  Having seen the Big 5 and more at Kruger doesn’t diminish my desire to see more wildlife.  The park area features a rugged landscape in an eroded alkaline volcanic crater plus well-watered valleys making it a preferred site for human settlement for thousands of years.  Yet this habitation caused the degradation and depletion of wildlife populations.  Once proclaimed as a reserve in 1979 the land was restocked with game and is now considered the most popular public game reserve in South Africa.  Could be because of its close proximity to Johannesburg which is where I’ll start my journey through South Africa.

I’ve barely left the computer for weeks researching and getting more excited every day.  Yet I’m also antsy to go, travel, get out of the house.  And I don’t leave until February.  Hope you’re not tired of hearing about South Africa because I’m learning a lot.

Have any more suggestions about what I can explore in the Johannesburg area?

Johannesburg, South Africa, travel 27 Comments

Lijit

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