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Hi to all!!

Well, I am really really excited!

After about 6 or 7 years away from the park, it is time to re-visit it in December 2012.

And all my previous visits was on film, so really a new digital experience for me, laptop, downloading, all the excitement of the days sightings every evening!

And yes, I have been to the KTP in December, and knows what to expect in terms of the heat! Saw 80% of the lions north of the second dune road to Unions End on that trip!

But Mariette, the lucky lady that will accompany me on her first ever trip to this region, have only read previous trip reports on the heat, as well as Margie Mills' experience of the heat during their research on the two hyena species.

In short, our travel log looks like this!

We will depart from Pretoria on Saturday, 22 December 2012.

We overnight in Upington. For her to experience the camels at the police staion, etc!

Sunday we will travel past Noenieput and Koopan-Suid, and stay at Kalahari Trails, with Prof Anne Rasa and her team! My first ever trip to the park was way back in 1994 if I remember correctly, the June/July holidays! Only for two days, first night at Twee Rivieren, next at Nossob and then back to Upington! And I experienced the kalahari at its coldest the night in Nossob! But saw lions on both days, and that got me hooked to the park! First sighting was at Melkvlei! Second around Dikbaardkolk!

My next visit was in January 1996, alone, in my Nissan Sentra, and that was another experience!! All the water in a normal sedan vehicle!! But I made it!

Then I moved to LandRover, and am happy ever after!

Monday the 24th, will take us to Nossob! Christmas & New Years Eve in Nossob!

The first evening of 2013 is spend at Gharagab Wilderness Camp! Been to Grootkolk before, but sounds as if Gharagab is something really unique!

Then down to Mata Mata for 3 evenings, before heading back to Pretoria, not sure if I must do the Vanzylsrus / Hotazel route on the way back!

And back in Pretoria on Sunday, 6 January 2013!

Looking forward to meeting many of you on the way, and once back, I will for sure post a full trip report with photos!

Theo

Sounds great -- and will be here before you know it

Enjoy

I was reading another post on the forum, re counting the days!

Our trip is about 210 days away!

But only being able to "work" on the planning every second weekend, and with some other weekend plans in between, it is then closer than we think!

But this weekend Mariette and myself will have a braai with two other couples, that is visiting the park for the first time in August. Just to share some of my memories and experiences with them, to tell them how I would have planned, etc. LOL!! I love sharing, its through sharing that I learn as well! And that I keep myself updated on the park!

And somewhere in June I will also sit down with Hein and his wife. They are doing their first trip to KTP in September, and Hein is really really excited!

So my friends' visits before I get to the park again, makes me really really jealous, and makes the wait sooo much longer!

But I know the two weeks will be worth the waiting!

I see you are planning to go via the old (gravel) route of Noenieput and Kooppan -Suid. We used to travel that route before the new tar road to Askam was built . Lovely road but adds about 60kn to your trip.

Looks like Nossob is the place to be this Christmas!

Ctv4, we might well cross paths. I plan to be around during that period as well

Enjoy the planning...and eventually the trip.

Ctv4 we will just miss you as we leave on 23rd, but MM we are there from 16th Dec, so if you are there, we may well meet up.

We are trying to organise another short trip, possibly in Aug....

Rookie, I'll check my Lotto ticket this morning

I am booking bit by bit. I have started at Groot Kolk, always been a dream of mine. I think I am there on the 3rd and 4th Jan. I am moving backwards as the bucks come in.

It doesn't help that I got too homesick and booked a weekend in Kruger for next month Instant gratification has always been my downfall.

My first trip to KTP was in 1994, and we travelled from Upington via Noenieput. That is why I want to do this again in December, with a special lady at my side!

In 1994 we still had to do the old dune road back to Upington, scary! But the tarred road only came about much later!

Rookie, are you leaving the park on 23rd? Sure we will then meet along the way down to TR, as I am only entering the park on 23rd

To all the others that will be in KTP over the festive season, am sure we are going to have a stunning time meeting each other!

Look out for the Landy with the Nikon stickers on the side!

Thats us!

CALL IT MY LUCKY DAY!!

Every day since I made my initial booking for KTP, I have looked at the availability of accommodation!

And I found it today!

I am awaiting my booking for Urikaruus!! I HAVE TO EXPERIENCE the abundance of lion and hyena that roam that area!

Will leave my Nossob campsite as is for that evening!

I know it is safe!

OK!! I realized this morning that I have 3 weekends left to get all fixed and in place and sorted and organized before we leave!

So this weekend I need to finish all the auto electrical work on the Landy, and the dual battery system!

And test all the old inverters, plugs, power cables, etc, etc!

I also want to pack all my reference books in a ammo box, and all the extra photographic stuff, like bean bags, window pod, etc in another box

And hopefully I can get to the tent this weekend, havent opened it for 4+ years, wonder if its still OK?

Also need to fit the new side awning to the landy!


Next weekend is shopping! All the groceries! And something special for people in KTP!

Last weekend is fitting the fridge, buying all the meat, and packing of the Landy.

I am thinking of leaving a day earlier! If all is in place, why not?


OH!! Almost forgot!! I need to but a YELLOW RIBBON for the Landy!