Getting ready for a new Africa adventure

I'm leaving in a week and rushing around trying to decide what to take...always thinking about the "weight limits" that South African Airlines have imposed.  The big question I had was making a decision on what camera gear I'm going to take this year.  I have a new 70-300L lens but it's a f/4-5.6...I also have my 70-200 f/2.8 that I used almost exclusively last year, but both lenses with all the other gear ended up being too heavy to carry around in my camera backpack (I'm definitely not taking the camera bag that I used last year as it was way too big)...so I called Neil from RMSP and talked to him a little bit about his opinions regarding camera gear.  After our conversation, I decided that I'm taking the 70-300 and leaving the 70-200...but I'm taking my flash this year for animals hiding in the trees.  I will take my small computer for downloading images and blogging...and only one other suitcase.

I'm happy that my old roommate, Pat, will be spending two months with me at Makalali and Kariega Game Reserves.  Since he's never been to Africa before it should be exciting...especially when the first big bull elephants walks over to the car and smells him.  That's really scary the first time it happens. I just hope that no snakes fall on his head while he's sleeping...as happened to me last year.

I made 8x10 images for the Rangers at Makalali this year for Xmas presents...but I'll have them in my check-in bag so hope they actually arrive when I get there.  I probably shouldn't have wrapped them in Xmas paper, but did.  I'm looking forward to spending Xmas at Makalali this year.

So today I should be finished packing...yea!  I figured that if I didn't bring something that I needed there then I would just buy it there.  The only minor problem I ran into was that my dentist in Anchorage, AK, called and said that he'd like to do my tooth implant before I leave for Africa...so I'll fly to Anchorage the 28th...get the tooth impant and fly back to Atlanta...spend one day relaxing...then take the 16 hour flight to Johannesburg.  Pretty hectic schedule.

That's about it for now.  The next blog will be from Africa...and hopefully I'll have some new (and better) animal images for you.  Until then be safe.  Out...John