City Lodge questions

[jlb1036]

Rifle permits has helped me on 2 occasions, they do a great job.
for both my trips to limpopo valley safari excellent job hassel free

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

"don't know what the n1 is N of joberg..." LOL Where in Africa have you been?? The population is quite low compared to other continents, so the other travelers are quite safe! lol Are you telling me you've never been to the NW or Limpopo or Louis Trichardt or Kruger??? This is a VERY weak attempt at what I'm calling BS. I'm NOT selling anything like most, so I'm simply telling the truth. LOL

I'm not selling anyone anything either. And it isn't BS what I've experienced on the roads out in the Northwest Province. Perhaps you haven't been to the Kalahari. And my first trip to RSA I hunted in the Limpopo near Kruger as well as traveled by road. That was in 2010, was I on the N1 at the time? Maybe, I truly don't remember, but I can guarantee you it was during the day.

Now if you're going to use my words, use ALL of them. Using a portion of my words and not all of them is what is BS in this thread. I DID NOT say, "don't know what the N1 is N of joberg." What I DID say was I did not know what the N1 is LIKE north of Joburg. Meaning I really don't know and/or remember how it compares to other roads and highways in RSA.

What I do know from my own experience once again is that I'd never want to travel by road at night on the small country roads in RSA or other places in Africa. It has nothing to do with a low population, it has everything to do with large enough animals on the roads to make travel less safe. And yes there is also the occasional drunk driver thrown in.

I don't know what your experience was on your glorious and very manly trek some late night on your way to Zimbabwe. It may be that the N1 in that area is more like a major interstate and there's no concern from livestock and/or wild animals being on the road. If so, great, I'm sure it was a grand time. Are you sure all roads are like that in the country? Hint, they're not.

I've no idea how my post translated to me trying to sell something. What do you think I'm trying to sell here in this thread?

EDIT: I looked it up. In 2010 when I traveled by car to the Kruger area where I both did a tour and my hunt, it was to Hoedspruit and we traveled through Doolstrom. If you look it up on a map, the N1 is not the road to take except for maybe a short section when close to Joburg. Other than that I'm quite certain I've not been on the N1 any appreciable distance north of Joburg and as such cannot make any statement regarding what the road conditions are there.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

At least the donkey pulling the cart knows the way home in the dark, and if it's a wise old fella it also knows to stay to the side of the road!

Some are wise, many are not.

 

[fourfive8]

Driving as a non-local anywhere in Africa is for the foolish and advice to do is foolish. I’ve driven many times over the years in some of the most congested and uncontrolled conditions in Asia. Africa driving is magnitudes more dangerous and ill-advised. Anyone considering otherwise pay heed to those warning against it. If I have a reasonable choice between regional commuter flight and being driven by PH or staff, I’ll take the flight every time. Charter flights are expensive but in some cases the smart way to go even if given a choice. At night expect donkey carts without lights, donkeys, cattle, livestock of any variety, bicycles without lights, broken down vehicles sitting in middle of road, pedestrians, drunk pedestrians in middle of road, all manner of wildlife, debris in road…etc. All this with relatively little traffic which actually makes it more dangerous. Even with experienced local or PH driving, anyone recommending this, especially at night in lieu of a regional flight, is providing poor advice. Been there, done that a couple times, once in Zambia and once in RSA and have no wish to repeat. If given a choice, stay at City Lodge or wherever, get some rest and take the next day’s regional flight. In the end, do as you like….

 

[spike.t]

Driving as a non-local anywhere in Africa is for the foolish and advice to do is foolish. I’ve driven many times over the years in some of the most congested and uncontrolled conditions in Asia. Africa driving is magnitudes more dangerous and ill-advised. Anyone considering otherwise pay heed to those warning against it. If I have a reasonable choice between regional commuter flight and being driven by PH or staff, I’ll take the flight every time. Charter flights are expensive but in some cases the smart way to go even if given a choice. At night expect donkey carts without lights, donkeys, cattle, livestock of any variety, bicycles without lights, broken down vehicles sitting in middle of road, pedestrians, drunk pedestrians in middle of road, all manner of wildlife, debris in road…etc. All this with relatively little traffic which actually makes it more dangerous. Even with experienced local or PH driving, anyone recommending this, especially at night in lieu of a regional flight, is providing poor advice. Been there, done that a couple times, once in Zambia and once in RSA and have no wish to repeat. If given a choice, stay at City Lodge or wherever, get some rest and take the next day’s regional flight. In the end, do as you like….

We have a shit load of traffic on some roads now....18 wheelers nose to tail , and kamikaze long distance buses....then mixed in a combination of everything else....not nice I promise you....you concentrate 110% all the time....

 

[Philip Glass]

does Henry at Rifle Permits require your paperwork be sent Fed X or DHL to him or can it be Faxed/Emailed?

Emailed

 

[Philip Glass]

Driving as a non-local anywhere in Africa is for the foolish and advice to do is foolish. I’ve driven many times over the years in some of the most congested and uncontrolled conditions in Asia. Africa driving is magnitudes more dangerous and ill-advised. Anyone considering otherwise pay heed to those warning against it. If I have a reasonable choice between regional commuter flight and being driven by PH or staff, I’ll take the flight every time. Charter flights are expensive but in some cases the smart way to go even if given a choice. At night expect donkey carts without lights, donkeys, cattle, livestock of any variety, bicycles without lights, broken down vehicles sitting in middle of road, pedestrians, drunk pedestrians in middle of road, all manner of wildlife, debris in road…etc. All this with relatively little traffic which actually makes it more dangerous. Even with experienced local or PH driving, anyone recommending this, especially at night in lieu of a regional flight, is providing poor advice. Been there, done that a couple times, once in Zambia and once in RSA and have no wish to repeat. If given a choice, stay at City Lodge or wherever, get some rest and take the next day’s regional flight. In the end, do as you like….

Very true in some areas but Africa is a big place. I would note that Namibia would be a contrast in that it is very safe to drive yourself.

 

[Piet-Vis]

My blond, 54 kg wife drives herself everywhere, including Zambia.

I find it amusing that foreign "dangerous game hunters" are coming to Africa to hunt dangerous animals and are afraid to drive on roads that my wife travels on daily.

 

[fourfive8]

Very true in some areas but Africa is a big place. I would note that Namibia would be a contrast in that it is very safe to drive yourself.

Really? Africa a big place? Do tell.

Maybe. Same for Botswana, maybe. If you are from right side driving country, left side transition is problematic no matter country in Africa, because habits and instincts and defensive driving reflexes don’t transition quickly. Some tend to overlook the underlying reality of right side- left side driving. Oh well

Plus, if traveling solo, breakdowns can be problematic. Wildlife/domestic collision hazard potential remains high especially at night no matter the country. It is my understanding warthogs account for many serious accidents, especially at night.

If you drive enough in rural Africa, even short 100 mile or less necessities, you will start noticing all manner of vehicle carcasses scattered in the bush, stripped of useful parts and rusting into landscape.

Again and after this, outa here on this topic. Spend tens of thousands of dollars on Africa hunt and insist on the stress of driving or paying PH daily rate to drive when regional flights available??? Whatever.

 

[spike.t]

My blond, 54 kg wife drives herself everywhere, including Zambia.

I find it amusing that foreign "dangerous game hunters" are coming to Africa to hunt dangerous animals and are afraid to drive on roads that my wife travels on daily.

Piet I don't do the North Road at night or anywhere near dark ...and I think you know why....

 

[fourfive8]

Very true in some areas but Africa is a big place. I would note that Namibia would be a contrast in that it is very safe to drive yourself.

My blond, 54 kg wife drives herself everywhere, including Zambia.

I find it amusing that foreign "dangerous game hunters" are coming to Africa to hunt dangerous animals and are afraid to drive on roads that my wife travels on daily.

Comparing apples to oranges and you know it. I know better but I’ll let you advise “foreigners” on such matters.

 

[Piet-Vis]

Piet I don't do the North Road at night....and I think you know why....

Sure, every country has bad roads, and every road user certainly has roads and times they would avoid. I, for one, would rather do the North Road at night than sit in a big city traffic jam.

To make a blanket statement that one should never drive in Africa is just silly. There are millions of us normal people living here driving on the roads each and every day

 

[spike.t]

Sure, every country has bad roads, and every road user certainly has roads and times they would avoid. I, for one, would rather do the North Road at night than sit in a big city traffic jam.

To make a blanket statement that one should never drive in Africa is just silly. There are millions of us normal people living here driving on the roads each and every day

Well having done it in the dark a few times I will disagree big time on that one....yes I leave early in morning when still dark...but that's different from driving it at night...last time I didn't have a choice and only by massive luck or something I didn't end up smashed into the back of a truck broken down....if there had been vehicles coming the other way which there were plenty their headlight dazzle would have stopped me seeing it...as it was I only just avoided it....when you have a convoy of trucks coming towards you it's impossible to workout if one is overtaking or not....and had that happen as well....its bad enough when it happens in day light but at least hopefully have a chance of avoiding it....on blind bend or crest of a hill ..well that's more interesting...and happens regularly on that road...I drive it quite a lot ..yeah I agree that's one road...but as far as I am concerned there are plenty other roads that I am not interested in driving either....Namibia and Botswana probably the only 2 I would think about it...but honestly don't see the point in the dark

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Sure, every country has bad roads, and every road user certainly has roads and times they would avoid. I, for one, would rather do the North Road at night than sit in a big city traffic jam.

To make a blanket statement that one should never drive in Africa is just silly. There are millions of us normal people living here driving on the roads each and every day

The topic of driving and the roads in Africa, at least for me, but I think in general in this thread was in regards to night time driving. During the day, I can't see it really any worse than anyplace I've been or now live. At night, it's a different story in those parts of Africa that I've been which is of course limited.

 

[Hogpatrol]

My blond, 54 kg wife drives herself everywhere, including Zambia.

I find it amusing that foreign "dangerous game hunters" are coming to Africa to hunt dangerous animals and are afraid to drive on roads that my wife travels on daily.

She's a local. BIG difference.