Advice for 1st time trip to KTP

[Alvin]

Hi Morkel,
checked out your 5 day "blitzkrieg" post on Sanparks forum - fantastic sightings and pictures you posted there.
really impressed!

Hi Jade,
Thanks for the tips

[Morkel Erasmus]

Hi Morkel,
checked out your 5 day "blitzkrieg" post on Sanparks forum - fantastic sightings and pictures you posted there.
really impressed!

Thanks Alvin.

Then also check out this one:
http://www.sanparks.org/forums/viewt...2&f=27&t=55824

At the moment I am still 2 KTP trip reports behind!!!

[Alvin]

Thanks Alvin.

Then also check out this one:
http://www.sanparks.org/forums/viewt...2&f=27&t=55824

At the moment I am still 2 KTP trip reports behind!!!

also brilliant!

[Alvin]

Anyone know where one can get up to date more detailed map of the park (KTP) here in JHB ?
Are decent maps like in Kruger available at the park entrance and shops ?
What about a high res downloadable map that can be printed on A3+ ?

Thanks if anyone can advise on this.

[Gerrit Laubscher]

Alvin there is not much to put on a map quite frankly. The best is to know the waterhole locations to plan your trip on the day. I have plotted all the waterholes in the park on my GPS and it works great to make sure you keep the right pace during your day and especially during the last hours when you want to make sure you are in the camp in time ... but not too early .

There are only shops (TR has a bit more than the basics perhaps) in the 3 traditional camps (Mata Mata, Twee rivieren en Nossob). MM and Nossob is very basic - bread (not always fresh), milk, cold drinks and beer.

This park has a sepcial place in my heart so I love it just the way it is and hope that they never make it into a megaworld like Kruger.

[visagieh]

Anyone know where one can get up to date more detailed map of the park (KTP) here in JHB ?
What about a high res downloadable map that can be printed on A3+ ?

Try this PDF. You can zoom in.

http://www.sanparks.org/docs/parks_k...lagadi_map.pdf

[Alvin]

thanks guys

[Jan van Biljon]

Alvin,
I have just returned from my first visit to the KTP and can honestly say that we had a great time. You cannot compare it to KNP at all as it is a totally different and unique experience. Most of all we enjoyed the solitude and quiet. We spent two lovely days at Bitterpan and another two at Kieliekrankie where we stayed in camp to really enjoy and experience the unique solitude. You really feel close to your Creator here.

I hesitate to give advice on which is the best route to travel! I travelled from KZN via Pretoria as I needed to get to ODP to pick up a rental lens and on advice from a colleague who had recently travelled to KTP I then went via Mafikeng and Vryburg as the road between Klerksdorp and Upington is an horror. However, there are roadworks between Mafikeng and Vryburg which lead to a few stops. There is also major roadworks between Kuruman and Kathu with at least five loooooong stops. On our way back this delayed us by at least an hour. Other than that the road was fine.

A lot has been said about the corrugations in the KTP and everything that has been said is true! The corrugations are really bad in certain areas. The route between TR and Mata Mata is better than that between TR and Nossob particularly north of Kij Kij. It does become really intense and some days you are happy to get to camp!

The shops are basic and the meat sold at TR is lovely but a bit expensive.

The water in most cases tasted a bit brackish but at the main camps are usable.

The map on the Sanparks website is ok as the routes are fairly simple. There is a detailed map sold at the shop in TR for R70 odd but I bought a little pamphlet at about R15 on the animals of the KTP and this includes a decent map. There is a little book called "Kgalagadi Transfontier Park" by Peter Derichs which gives a lot of detail on the park, the routes and all the interesting history. This also has maps in it. It sells for R120 on Kalahari.com. I saw a copy in the shop at Nossob so TR may have a copy.

The staff are generally very professional and helpful and I really enjoyed the 12 nights we spent in KTP and can recommend a visit to anyone with an interest in nature. Bird watching was exceptional.

If you have not booked at one of the wilderness camps I recommend you keep on trying to get to places like Bitterpan and Kieliekrankie.

You can look forward to something special

[Alvin]

Hi Jan

Exited, cant wait (2 weeks to go!)

Got the Peter Derichs book directly from him - thanks

Seems all the routes to the park sound like a mess! So still rather undecided which to take.

[Alvin]

Hi all
I'm busy starting preparations for the trip (we leave in 10 days)
As from my signature below you will say I'm over equiped (camera gear that is!)
Obviously it's not really practical to take everything - so I'm trying to pack and am looking for advise on what to take w.r.t. the shorter focal lengths?

Clearly I'll take the 600mm and 300mm primes with (as well as 1.4x and 2x converters)
But in the shorter focal lengths (up to 200mm), I would prefer to take either a couple primes or only zooms - but rather not both?

So would you reccomend 17-40 / 24-105 / 70-200 ? - all good L glass but all only f4
(these are escentially what I'll take if I have to travel "light" - not neccesarily the case here)

or Rather 14mm f2.8, 28mm f1.8, 50mm f1.4, 85mm f1.8, 135mm f2 and 200mm f2.8 ? - all nice and fast for low light

or a combination ?

(by the way I'll have three boddies with me - 2x 1.6x crop and 1x full frame)

Here are the factors that I'm trying to balance:
- it's winter, so light is poor early morning and late afternoon (argument for the primes)
- it's dusty, so changing lenses too often could be a problem (argument for zooms)
- I already have a fortune of stuff, so don';t want to further clutter the car/bag with zoom and primes that cover same focal length
- what shorter focal length range is typcal / recomended for the Kgalagadi? (I know its wide open spaces - but often the game is nearby as well and some nice scenary as well)
- or just chuck it all in and deal with the clutter?

Any wise and constructive advise?

[Jaded]

Hi - my advice, decide on which 3 lenses you want to take on which bodies and KEEP them on - the dust there gets into everything so try to avoid changing lenses at all! Wildlife : something that can give you the range from close up to further : Landscape, nice wide angle - the clouds are awesome. Remember to take warm stuff or you are going to freeze your....off ! Enjoy

[Alvin]

Hi Jade
If I followed your advise and only took 600, 300 and 70-200
would I not be missing out bellow 70mm - or would you say not needed?

Yip - I know it's going to be f*&^*&ing cold!!

(I meant "freezing" - what were you all thinking?)

[visagieh]

H
would I not be missing out bellow 70mm - or would you say not needed?

Magic landscapes in summer storms, sunsets etc, a wider lens would be handy and doesnt take that much extra space. Star trails, or the od one I got at Nossop.

24-70

[Alvin]

I'm also thinking one needs from wide (at least 24mm if not wider?) to tele (500/600mm)
So how which 3 only if you choose from my collection?

[Morkel Erasmus]

I'm also thinking one needs from wide (at least 24mm if not wider?) to tele (500/600mm)
So how which 3 only if you choose from my collection?

I've found 14-24mm too wide for "animalscapes" but you will need it for shooting normal landscapes/startrails etc.
24-70 or 24-105 will be ideal for wider shots in the park
take the 600
take the 300 2.8

[Alvin]

Hi Morkel
Do you not think a fast lens (like f1.4/f1.8) in a 28mm/50mm/85mm will be handy
or did you find that even time of the year the light is good enough for a f4 lens?

[Riana van der Gryp]

This forum is great. We're going to KTP for our 2nd visit February next year. We visit the KNP every year but KTP is magic and very special. KNP moved down on my wish list.

Thanks for sharing your experiences and advice.

Riana

[Morkel Erasmus]

This forum is great. We're going to KTP for our 2nd visit February next year. We visit the KNP every year but KTP is magic and very special. KNP moved down on my wish list.

Thanks for sharing your experiences and advice.

Riana

Lucky you!
KTP did the same to KNP on my list...
but wait till you get the chance to see Mana Pools!!

[Morkel Erasmus]

Hi Morkel
Do you not think a fast lens (like f1.4/f1.8) in a 28mm/50mm/85mm will be handy
or did you find that even time of the year the light is good enough for a f4 lens?

Alvin if you have space for the 85mm f1.8, by all means take it! Might come in handy when 70-200 f2.8 is "too slow"
Light is generally good - you won't have too much to worry about in terms of clouds or overcast weather dotting out your golden light...

I mostly shoot f4 or f5.6 (by adding a TC to the 500 f4)...but then again I shoot a noise eater so I just push the ISO

[Alvin]

Hi Morkel

I do have a nice pair of binoculars (but only beacause I could not afford the Canon L IS ones!)

My 70-200 is the f4 IS one, not the f2.8. However if you recon the light is good even this time of the year, then maybe just go with the three f4 Zooms (17-40, 24-104, 70-200) and the 300 and 600 primes?
And chuck in a 50mm std f1.4 just in case?

You have some awsome photos of one of your KTP trips posted here http://www.sanparks.org/forums/viewt...1433&start=195. I can only aspire to get some shots like that.