Nairobi to Cape Town & Kruger too: Plains, Wines and Automobiles (4WD) & yes Cats!!!

[lovetravellingoz]

Re: Nairobi to Cape Town & Kruger too: Plains, Wines and Automobiles (4WD) & yes Cat

Looking out God's Window.

Most people walk up hill a bit further and do the rain forest walk. But we walked a bit further again, and higher, to walk around the top and have the views for just ourselves.

Berlin Falls

The next morning we drove on to Bourkes Luck Potholes.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Re: Nairobi to Cape Town & Kruger too: Plains, Wines and Automobiles (4WD) & yes Cat

Enjoying our drive on the curving roads with we finished off at World's End and The Rondavels. Though the drive to airport afterwards was still very scenic.

The Three Rondavels

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Re: Nairobi to Cape Town & Kruger too: Plains, Wines and Automobiles (4WD) & yes Cat

And then in a rush it was over. Our hire car returned and thena quick 45 minute flight from Hoedspruit (HDS) to Johannesburg (JNB) propellor driven De Havilland DHC-8-400 Dash 8Q DH4.

We flew from JNB back to Sydney in a Qantas 747 on the top deck to Sydney and then on to Melbourne.



We arrived back at sunset with cloud over Melbourne lapping like a sea upon a beach.

Our six week adventure was over. Africa was a great experience, and exceeded our hopes and expectations. Which is not to say that some days were not long and hard, for they were. One also needs to be cautious as well, as crime is rife (there is a massive number of extremely poor people in africa and unemployent is very high) and evident by the ever present security measures. Some tourists never leave "the bubble" and so are not aware of it. But there are just so many, many great things about Africa and hopefully this trip report has revealed some to you.

Memories that will last a liftetime.

My wife rates it as our best journey yet, and I cannot disagree.

We once had a travel photo-journalist neighbour and one of his favourite sayings was that "travel is food for the soul". Well, we supped long and deeply of Africa, and our souls are replete!

 

[OATEK]

Re: Nairobi to Cape Town & Kruger too: Plains, Wines and Automobiles (4WD) & yes Cat

Great TR. My brother lived in Tanzania on and off for about 20 years, and your pictures remind me of his adventures.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Re: Nairobi to Cape Town & Kruger too: Plains, Wines and Automobiles (4WD) & yes Cat

Great TR. My brother lived in Tanzania on and off for about 20 years, and your pictures remind me of his adventures.

My pleasure. I am glad that you enjoyed it.

 

[love_the_life]

Re: Nairobi to Cape Town & Kruger too: Plains, Wines and Automobiles (4WD) & yes Cat

Thanks for the TR. I remember visiting Blythe's last time we were there. It was spectacular country.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Re: Nairobi to Cape Town & Kruger too: Plains, Wines and Automobiles (4WD) & yes Cat

Four weeks post-trip now and last my Malaria Tablet now taken (one needs to take the daily tablet for 4 weeks after your departure). So the last vestige of my trip apart from memories and pic has now gone.

Just on vacinations:

For Africa this is something that you should consider well in advance.

What you will need to take can vary widely depending on which regions and/or countries you visit as well as time of year. There are also vaccinations that you do not necesary have to take, but which can be desirble depending on your circumastances., mode of travel etc.

With Malaria there are a number of options and you will need to consider for what suits you best.

With some such as Yellow Fever, you need proof of vacination in order to enter/ re-enter some countires. So even if the risk of catching it may be low, you will need the Certifiate to travel.

 

[love_the_life]

Re: Nairobi to Cape Town & Kruger too: Plains, Wines and Automobiles (4WD) & yes Cat

We had doxyclycline as an anti-malarial (100mg per day) and we only had to continue it for 2 weeks. Malarone is even less I think. Interesting that you had to have 4 weeks of medication.
Four weeks home; does it feel like it was so long ago now that you travelled?

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Re: Nairobi to Cape Town & Kruger too: Plains, Wines and Automobiles (4WD) & yes Cat

We had doxyclycline as an anti-malarial (100mg per day) and we only had to continue it for 2 weeks. Malarone is even less I think. Interesting that you had to have 4 weeks of medication.

Well I am an Engineer and not a Doctor but yes we also took Doxyclycline. Continuing it for 4 weeks post-trip was what was prescribed for us. We selected a medical practice that specialises in travel vaccinations and Dr Google also typically had "The drug is taken in a dosage of 100 mg per day during exposure and continued for four weeks after the traveler returns home".

Four weeks home; does it feel like it was so long ago now that you travelled?

Still seems like yesterday, but I have also been flat chat catching up running my own business as well as completing the planning for my trek in Nepal in December which I deliberately delayed making decisons on due to the earthquake (I book my redemption flights pre-earthquake).

I have permanently itch feet!

 

[love_the_life]

Re: Nairobi to Cape Town & Kruger too: Plains, Wines and Automobiles (4WD) & yes Cat

Interesting that you had the 4 weeks. Our doctor was also a travel one but perhaps the reason was that you had a great possible exposure as we only had 2 days at Vic Falls and a week at Kruger, and both very much on the cusp of the season. No doubt it is gapped to be finished the doxy as it is a pain to remember sometimes.

Where are the itchy feet leading you next time?

 

[JohnM]

Re: Nairobi to Cape Town & Kruger too: Plains, Wines and Automobiles (4WD) & yes Cat

When I first used Doxy, the regimen was 2 weeks after - and that was from a travel Dr. That was in about 2012. My GP insists that it needs to be 4 weeks after. No problem, as I don't have any reaction; just a bit of a pain remembering to take it.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Re: Nairobi to Cape Town & Kruger too: Plains, Wines and Automobiles (4WD) & yes Cat

Interesting that you had the 4 weeks. Our doctor was also a travel one but perhaps the reason was that you had a great possible exposure as we only had 2 days at Vic Falls and a week at Kruger, and both very much on the cusp of the season. No doubt it is gapped to be finished the doxy as it is a pain to remember sometimes.

I took mine with breakfast as I found that the easiest time to be systematic as where and when I had lunch/dinner was too variable.

It was 4 weeks too when my daughter was in Africa several years ago too, and she used a different practice than I did. Her post Uni-trip included 2 weeks in Southern Africa on Safari and 3 months volunteering in Togo.

As I understand the 2 week periodis out of date advice and that 4 weeks is now what is accepted to be the standard protocol from last exposure. I don't think duration of exposure matters as it is based on how Malaria works (and again I am not a Doctor!!). See extract below:

Doxycycline would therefore have to be continued for a sufficient amount of time post exposure for successful suppression of parasites that emerge from the liver. Studies have observed that5,22–24 malaria developed within 3–4 weeks post exposure. It is therefore recommended that doxycycline prophylaxis be continued for 4 weeks post exposure.

Where are the itchy feet leading you next time?

DEC 2015: Tea-house Trek in the Himalayas in Nepal. Where we were thinking of going originally, as we have been twice before, is unfortunately severely earthquake affected. So we will probably return to the Annapurna Region. Driving around Africa is not the best trek preparation and as we are only going for three weeks we will probably cap it at 3700m. Last time our highest was 5644m at Kala Patthar.

JULY/AUG 2016: In Paris, Out Rome. Will do a week or so cycling trip in France(have nnot settled where yet).In Italy we did Rome and above last time and so will do Amalfi Coast and Pompeii.

 

[love_the_life]

Re: Nairobi to Cape Town & Kruger too: Plains, Wines and Automobiles (4WD) & yes Cat

Thanks for the info re doxy. Our travel dr may need education then. Your next 2 trips sound fabulous too!!

 

[Flying mermaid]

Re: Nairobi to Cape Town & Kruger too: Plains, Wines and Automobiles (4WD) & yes Cat

We had doxyclycline as an anti-malarial (100mg per day) and we only had to continue it for 2 weeks. Malarone is even less I think. Interesting that you had to have 4 weeks of medication.
Four weeks home; does it feel like it was so long ago now that you travelled?

Doxy is generally 4, so I am surprised you were told 2? Malarone is less but I find Doxy has the least side-effects for us. I do take a pro-biotic to help with nausea. 3 weeks still to go for us, so I wish it were 2!

 

[love_the_life]

Re: Nairobi to Cape Town & Kruger too: Plains, Wines and Automobiles (4WD) & yes Cat

Thanks FM as well. We've had Malarone before as well and we had no problems with side effects with it luckily but it is not totally effective in all situations apparently. Given we did not see a single mosquito (and did not get bitten at all - we checked all over) and we smathered in Deet80, I don't think we'll in danger this time but will keep an eye out and next time will choose another travel DR.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Re: Nairobi to Cape Town & Kruger too: Plains, Wines and Automobiles (4WD) & yes Cat

Thanks FM as well. We've had Malarone before as well and we had no problems with side effects with it luckily but it is not totally effective in all situations apparently. Given we did not see a single mosquito (and did not get bitten at all - we checked all over) and we smathered in Deet80, I don't think we'll in danger this time but will keep an eye out and next time will choose another travel DR.

I was thinking that earlier on - given where and when you travelled you would have been really unlucky to have had issues! I used a " natural" insect repellent this time -Moov, which seemed to work fine and didn't cause a rash like Bushman's does for me. Wasn't summer though.