SANParks.org Forums

Hi

2G and 3G refer to the connection speed. 2G is all I have ever picked up in the Park so far. 2G is a bit like the 'old fashioned' modems whilst 3G can be almost as good as broadband. In the UK I currently get up to 1.8 megabits but there is talk of pushing this to 8 in the near future. Not sure about SA plans.

2GB is probably 2 GBytes, refering to how much data you can download, usually per month. Unless you are into downloading films etc thats quite a bit of web browsing. Even one with quite a lot of pictures should be OK. If my maths is correct, you could even look at 6000 of my 'full size' (1800x1200) photos via the url link, which are about 250000 to 300000 kbytes in size. That will keep you going for quite a while!

Richard

For the guys using Vodacom, most of southern Kruger should already, or very soon, have EDGE (sometimes also referred to as 2.5G)…EDGE is an enhanced GPRS and gives you about a 3x faster speed than GPRS. Northern Kruger will also get this in time.
Skukuza already has 3G

Skukuza has it, and either Berg en dal ot Pretoriuskop, forgot which.
After that it's 3G to be relied on, so best get an SA card, and use that to keep costs low.

Ah! Spook cleared up my memory.

I wont give a definite "NO" to your answer but my laptop did not pick up any WiFi at Satara, Skukuza or Biyamiti.

Used the cell phone as modem and did at least get 3G at Skukuza

I'm planning a month long stay at Lower Sabie. I'm currently using Vodacom 3G to Skype my daughter in New Zealand. When I'm at Lower Sabie will I be able to do the same. GPRS interferes with the speakers so is useless for Skype purposes.

Regret to advise almost all camps are GPRS signal only fine for email and some internet but very slow.

I'll be bringing my old motorola razr and a new PC laptop from the US, I'd like to access the internet via my cell phone and GPRS.

It appears that I can download some USB drivers and connect my razr to my PC via a USB cable, I'm going to try that out now. (has anyone done this?)

What do I need to purchase when I arrive in south africa, just a Vodacom sim card, or do I need to buy some data package also?

thanks for any help you can give.

Try connecting your phone now....
You'll find out what you need, and be going over with a working situation!

And yes, I've even moderated here using my phone and a pc (well, actually using phone only as well), so it works.

I'm not sure about data bundles in SA, but! In 9 days I'll be there, and if it works with pre-paid I'll be posting here. I'll be back the first of october, is that fast enough?

And remember, to buy a pre-paid card you'll need your passport now in SA! Then again, you're supposed to have it on you at all times when you're not in your own country, so that should be no problem.

Neily

The internet cafe in Skuuza is a bit hit and miss.

There's good mobile phone reception in the camps so may be better (if you are from overseas) to buy a south african sim card for your mobile when you get to the country, get the geek in the phone shop to download the local internet connection settings to your phone an connet that way.

I usually by 250meg or 500meg per month on a pre-paid sim card and use my phone as a modem via a cable connection to my laptop to get internet access.

PM me for more info.

cheers
tony

HI there.
I have a few communication question
Are ther public phones to call overseas? If so where?
Which telephone cards can be purchased and used for this purpose?
Is there cellphone reception? If so, where?
And last, are there internet connections?
If so where?
And is it free, pricey?
Thanks.
Pinchas

Hi pinchaskut, welcome to the forum.

Public phones - at all the main camps near the shops - phone cards can be bought at the shops. All are Telkom phones and cards.

Cellphone reception at most of the camps and on some roads close to the borders of KNP, but generally not good. (except for camps - there it's fine)

Internet connections through 3G, but it can be very very slow.

Nothing to do with telephones in SA is free. Also not the internet - I think it's quite pricey - but thats subjective.

Morning pinchaskut,
As Nungu has already mentioned there are no real problems with tel communications in Kruger.
Cell phone reception is generally available in a 5-7 km area around camps. We found there was no connection at all during our transfers from one camp to another so you have to keep this in mind.
For calls towards Europe I advice you to but a SA sim card, they are cheap!, and they last a year from the date of activation, or use the public phones available in all camps.
For Internet connection I have no direct experience but know that there is one available at all the main camps.

Yep! Remember to bring your passport though when buying it (required) but then again you are supposed to have it with you all the time.

There are also Internet cafes in Lower Sabie, Skukuza and Berg an Dal.

None of the bushcamps have cell phone reception, although at Talamati there is a place just by the turn off to the camp where you can get a signal.

We never managed to get 3G in any of the camps but I did get a 3G signal at the CB end of the S28, funnily enough near the turn off for the concession lodge.

Sorry forgot to mention this one. What is acceptable is proof that you are staying in a hotel. If you ask reception they can provide you with a card proofing that you are booked there.
We got ours that way and with no further hassle.