SANParks.org Forums

You guys are awesome. Is there anything you don't know!
Re the cup or pot and paper. Good idea but won't some of those thin legs get damaged when you slide the paper underneath the cup to capture the spider - especially when dealing with a daddy-long-legs! Will try the webites - am addicted to gadgets!

Just a small point. People have been known to give themselves frostbite by too vigorous application of ice . So don't apply directly to the skin and don't apply for longer than 10 mins without a break!

I would never have thought that was possible with applied ice. Here where we live we have a little immunity to ice (or so we like to think) because walking to work across the road in the early icy morning surely does produce some familiarity with deep cold. Snowy mornings even more so because if you own a camera you spend an inordinate amount of time getting to work because the early morning virgin snow with no tracks is irresistable!
Jokes aside thanks for the tip it will be born in mind if the unexpected does occur.

Sounds a bit far fetched, I know but google sports injury ice application frostbite and you'll see several reports!

I suppose it depends on how much ice is applied.

I have never had a problem, and I have sometimes wanted it colder.

Bush Baptist, are all those ice applications as a result of scorpion bites - or sports injuries?

Never been stung by a scorpion, birdie

Frozen peas are the best.

Stick to the peas and don't have chips with them BB. A report in the British Journal of Sports Medicine reported someone needing surgical excision of gangrenous tissue and split skin grafting after applying a bag of frozen chips to his foot!

The "cure" was beginning to sound more hazardous than the sting itself until a looked up scorpions in Wikipedia. I quote: "severe reactions and death from stings are very common, accounting for thousands of deaths a year worldwide, 10 times as many as snake bites. Most of the deaths attributed to scorpion stings occur in children, the elderly and the infirm in rural, agricultural areas of Africa. Fortunately I'm not old I'm, a recycled teenager.
I'll bear in mind that scorpions are more scared of me than I am of them, and I'll wear shoes, take care, keep antihistamine and frozen peas handy while not stocking frozen chips!

Do all that Birdie but most importantly, have fun!
If its any comfort, I lived in Botswana for 5 years and went bush bashing most weekends but only knew one person to be stung during that time. She said it was ***** painful and was hospitalised but suffered no other untoward effects!

Thanks for that. I fully intend to have great fun. The problem is waiting .... its a long time to December. But in the meantime I think I will look for and buy a good book on scorpions. "know thy enemy" might be a good idea. Maybe that will cure me of my new phobia

Just wondering if anyone has any specific safety tips for first-time KTP visitors? I've been browsing the forums and have picked up a few things, but we're just wondering if there's anything else we should know or if a list of tips has already been compiled?

Thanks!

Take a lot of sunscreen, and ready yourself to leave your heart behind!

I love this! We really can't wait to visit!

Definitely plan on bringing sunscreen, lots of water, hiking boots, etc. What sort of contingency plans do most regulars have in place? I think I read that some folks rent satellite phones?

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