I'm planning a trip to RSA in 06 with my wife. The plan is to stay in Cape Town for several days and then take the Blue Train to Port Elizabeth for a 7 day hunt. I'm talking to Bethaven Safaris for the hunt. I've decided to take a gun (and bow)on this trip (I've bowhunted twice in Limpopo) The hunt is important but less so than insuring that my wife has the best time possible. This is her first trip. What's the weather like in March in Cape Town and Port Elizabeth? I'm looking for hints and tips from y'all to see if there are any major flaws or omissions in my planning. I'm mostly a lurker here but look in daily and have learned a great deal. I look forward to your responses.

March can still be warm and wet along the coast.

I did not know there was a train that ran Cape Town to Port Elizabeth.

It a beautiful trip if the weather is good.

Try this link to see about the Blue Train of South Africa. A video can be ordered to view at home if you have a Netflix.com account.

www.bluetrain.co.za

Ticks are a problem on the coast and adjacent areas. We moved to a rural property two years ago and it took me two weeks to contract tick bite fever. It is not pleasant.

The easy prevention is a product called Bayticol. Spray your clothing before you get dressed. Once it dries, it is odourless and the clothes will remain tick repellant through two or three washes. Spray boots, socks, jackets and caps or hats. If a tick climbs on, it will not attach.

We spray our dogs with a water base version of Bayticol every two weeks in summer and monthly in winter.

I sprayed myself with it, and still got tick-fever, so spray well, and look for ticks on your body.

Thanks for the heads up on ticks. I loath ticks. Can bayticol be purchased locally? I believe Bethaven is inland from PE but I'd still like to take precautions, my wife might get a bit shrill if covered with ticks.

You have a PM.

Les

Bethhaven is sure to have Tick Spray for you. Ask the person that picks you up, and have them stop to get some if need be.

Be sure to take some Doxycycline in the event you catch tick fever, it knocks that particular tick fever with a couple of doses...

Thanks everybody. The depth of knowledge on AR is really impressive. Hasd anybody ridden the blue train? I'm kinda curious how I'm going to store and transport my wepons while doing the tourist stuff.

You made a good choice with Bethaven Safaris.I hunted with them for 10 day's in Sept. 2004. It was my first hunt in South Africa. and it exceded my expectations.They are located about 2 hours north of PE.I did see a few tics then but not very many but I dont think Sept. is "tic season"

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Originally posted by Atkinson:
Be sure to take some Doxycycline in the event you catch tick fever, it knocks that particular tick fever with a couple of doses...

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I second this advice, it really saved the day for me.