SANParks.org Forums

binkybozo
keep meat frozen,
this is what I will do, it works every time;
vacuum pack each braai or portion. your butcher or supermarket will do this.
Freeze these packs 5-7 days before the trip.
The cooler box must be filed with 50% solid ice. plastic ice cream buckets 2 liter tipe works well and must also put in deep freezer long before trip(clear ice)
just before we left I pack the cooler box only with meat and ice then I sealed it with masking or ducting tape.
the box must be packed in the shade as you drive or put something like a duvet/blanket over it.
open only when taken meat out and seal again.
it will kept your meat frozen for at least 3-4 days .
second cooler are for daily use and keep the other stuff cold, that is also the one with the ice from the camps etc.
ps. if ice start melting let water out only when you take the meat out once a day.

enjoy the best camp

Can anyone let me know if there is cellphone reception at Balule camp - Vodacom in particular.

Thanks,
Lynda

Hi Lynda

Yes, there is. I am on Vodacom and have had good reception at Balule most of the time. Now and again, it might drop, but on the whole, no probs

I have a dumb question that I hope the Balule goers can help me with ...
If you stay in Balule without power, then how do you charge your camera's?
Also I take my laptop (which has a hopeless battery and needs electricity) to load my pics from my camera on to, so that I free up space for more photies!

How do you Balule goers manage?

I always ensure that all batteries for my camera are fully charged before staying at Balule.

There are power points available in the kitchens and picnic spots at the other camps nearby so you could recharge batteries there while having a leisurely lunch or breakfast.

Thanks Mizzbee
Is this common practice? I'm gonna be at satara with a multi-plug and 4 items to charge

Yip, zero electricity at Balule.

If you are going to stay in a camp without electricity for a while and will need to charge camera/phone batteries the simplest option is a car charger (off your cigarette lighter socket). Next step up will be an inverter - but be careful as only certain ones charge laptop batteries. They are pretty pricey.

One trip I was urgently needed to do work on my laptop and the battery was flat and only then we realised our inverter did not charge the laptop battery. We were in Balule for a week. I went to the day visitors area at Olifants to plug in and do the work that I had to. I really do not think though, Kruger will encourage this as you can imagine what it will be like if 10 people pitched up at a picnic area to 'plug in'.

Or investigate some sort of solar power generated chargers

Dear All,

It is with a level of sadness that I inform you that Balule was quite extensively damaged by the 18 January 2012 flood as the Olifants (to my best knowledge) reached record levels not previously recorded (in history of the park). Even the old historic huts have been damaged with doors washed away. Kitchen and ablutions also damaged extensively and then fence of course. Will require careful thinking and planning to restore to former glory!

Warm regards.

JOEP STEVENS

Thanks to all that replied – good to know that there is cell phone reception at Balule. I have been looking forward to camping there for ages and as much as I would love to get away from modern day trappings such as the cellphone, particular personal circumstances do not allow for this. Undoubtedly the world carried on turning before the advent of the beloved cell phone, but it also made it undeniably unworkable for some!
Just a thought!

Please , SanParks , can we have small , rustic designated & dedicated quiet camps out of cell phone reception areas ... ?

viewtopic.php?f=73&t=25390

And, SanParks, don't forget to employ additional rangers to drive from whichever main camp to those small , rustic designated & dedicated quiet camps out of cell phone reception areas when there is an family or home emergency, death in the family etc. as the closest main camp will, without a doubt, be used as the first point of contact in such cases.

Let's be reasonable people! Rather try and educate people on the use of cellphones in camps by requesting that all cells be set on vibrate or at the lowest volume as most visitors to the park's smaller camps are people looking for the rustic bush beauty and solitude.

My favourite camps are the rustic camps with Tsendze and Tamboti topping the list (although I have never camped at Balule so this may change) - but as I made clear in a previous mail, personal circustances do not allow my visiting the bush without a cell and I see absolutely no rational reason to deprive myself of the pleasure of the quieter, rustic camps

Hi All

I am contemplating changing my camping accommodation to Balule but I need to know a couple of things - if anyone in the know could please advise:

- How shady is the camp site?
- Is the camp accessible now after the floods in January 2012?
- Would you visit this camp with a 4yr old child?

Thanks - think that is about it for now

Hi Schnooks

There are shady spots in the camping area. Not all campsites have shade though. Some have lovely shade.

There is a lovely shady grassy area in the middle of the camp if you just want to lie and read on a blanket in the shade.

The camping area is now accessible and open again after the floods.

Last Q is a difficult one. It depends on the nature of your child. If you have a child that has a quieter nature and is happy to sit and play quietly, then the camp is fine. But if your child needs space to run and play and let off a bit of steam, you might find camping at Balule a little stressful.

Hi all,

Im sorry if this info is out there somewhere.

My father and friends are booked into balule huts early august (we are camping). I am trying to find out if the huts have gone, are still there but unusable and if they will be usable by early august. Looking at the reservations it seems you can book them for next week, so does that mean they are usable.

Has anyone been there recently.....

thanks
john

Last question

Are there urns in the communal kitchen at Balule with hot water? Not sure if they can be run on gas or what