Dear Cyclists 

Welcome to the Tour de Kruger -Tuli to Pafuri 2008 cycle tour. We are very excited to be hosting you on this exciting new route in the not too distant future.

Over the next couple of months we will be communicating with you via email. Should this medium of communication not be suitable for you, please let us know an alternative means, so that we can ensure that you receive all our newsletters. Our newsletters will cover the following topics. Please ensure that you receive them all. The newsletters will be loaded onto our website for future reference:

• 1st newsletter General information on the Tour de Kruger
• 2nd newsletter Fundraising prizes
• 3rd newsletter Final route update & cycling groups.
• 4th newsletter  Reminder check list

Please read the following pre departure information letter carefully. It provides you with much information regarding your upcoming cycle tour. 

Update on the Route
As you are aware, this year’s tour follows a new route. Much time has been spent planning the route to ensure the best cycling opportunities. As advertised the event was to start in the Northern Tuli Reserve, cycling all the way through to Pafuri. After much deliberation we have decided to amend the route now to now include the Venetia Reserve and to exclude the very mundane and not very interesting day from Beitbridge to the 3rd nights camp spot. We thought it far preferable to rather spend the cycling time in the beautiful Mapungubwe National Park and the 33 000ha De Beers Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve. This reserve is home to a wonderful diversity of plant and animal life including Elephant, Lion, Leopard, Black and White Rhino and the Endangered African Wild Dog.

Hence the second day of cycling will now end with a late brunch in the Venetia Reserve, and cyclists will be transported by coach to the third nights overnight camping on the banks of the Limpopo River.

Database
One of the past (and current) Tour de Kruger cyclists, Arnold Shapiro, has very kindly set up a Tour de Kruger - Tuli to Pafuri Website forum, for cyclists to communicate
 Please have a look at the site www.shapiro.co.za and feel free to register and post a comment and get to know your fellow cyclists before the cycle tour.

Ian Martin
This year we have Ian Martin joining us on the cycle tour. Ian has a BA Hons (Sport Science) and is a Manager/Coach for the SA cycling team for  the All Africa Games. Ian is now a Health and Wellness advisor for Standard Bank and also coaches national and provincial cyclists.
 
Ian has kindly offered to join the tour and amongst other things, to provide assistance to the cyclists in the planning phases on nutrition, training advice etc. In time Ian will post training and nutrition suggestions on the forum to assist you with planning your cycle tour. Please feel free to use the website forum to ask Ian questions on anything you made from a cyclist perspective
Visa Information 

As you know the cycle tour starts in the Northern Tuli Reserve in Botswana. Therefore valid passports are essential. There are some passport holders that will require a visa for Botswana. It is the cyclist’s responsibility to ensure that they have the necessary visas. If you are a foreign passport holder, please check on the Tour de Kruger website www.tourdekruger.com for the list of passport holders that require visas. These will need to be obtained in advance. South African passport holders do not require visas
We will be crossing back into South Africa through an informal border post at the Shashe confluence. In order to facilitate this process please note the following:

• We will require your passport information ASAP in order to submit a full manifest to SA Home Affairs to arrange for this dispensation
• Once the manifest has been submitted no changes are permitted - sorry but no substitutions will be allowed this year
• Each cyclist will need to scan and email me a CERTIFIED copy of their passport. We will make copies which will be used for the border crossing. Should we not receive these certified copies in advance, it will be the cyclists responsibility to ensure that they bring them with them to the event and hand them in at registration
• You will still require your original passport with a minimum of 6 month validity from date of departure. Please ensure that you bring these with you or else you will not be allowed to cross at the border post.

Cycling Groups:
We will be splitting the cyclists into 12 groups of approximately 15 cyclists per group. If you are specifically wanting to cycle with someone on the cycle tour, please ensure that you advise me of this ASAP and no later than the end of May, as thereafter we will start formalizing the group allocations. Please note that if you choose to cycle with someone who is not in the same cycling category as you, you will be placed in the lower cycling group. Please email me ASAP to advise me of your specific cycling requests
 
Medical Insurance
As advised on our website, a condition of entry for the Tour de Kruger is full medical insurance cover or a comprehensive travel insurance policy that will cover Emergency Evacuation
 
Emergency Evacuations
On most cycle rides and races there are accidents. Hopefully we can keep this down to a minimum. A condition of your participation is that you are fully covered for all medical eventualities - including aero medical evacuation (i.e. evacuation by helicopter or aeroplane) The nearest unit is STAR in Polokwane.  We recommend that you call your medical aid company and determine whether they will cover you for emergency evacuation by air. If they do not, then please make sure that you take out comprehensive travel insurance that includes this. If you do not have this insurance and you have to be evacuated, you will be facing bills that could be anything between R50 000 up to R150 000. Be aware that it is standard for medical aid companies to apply "flight criteria" when deciding whether to send a helicopter or ground ambulance to evacuate you. This means that no medical aid company will guarantee you access to a helicopter for any problem at any time and so you can not insist on this. In the event of an accident, our medical and ground staff will assess the situation and determine the best plan of action for evacuation, relevant to the circumstances.
 
Malaria Prophylactics
Our medical back up is being co-ordinated by Dr Simon King and his team at Africa Safe-T Medical Services. This is a medical emergency company that is based in Nelspruit to serve the whole of the Kruger area .This is what they have to say about malaria:

“We are travelling to a high risk malaria area, however we are doing so at a low risk time. Current recommendations do vary and participants need to be aware of this. The SA Dept of Health advises that travellers to this area only take malarial prophylaxis from October through to May. High risk individuals might be assessed individually. However the local Medi Clinic Travel Clinic is well connected to international resources and utilizes somewhat different recommendations. They recommend malaria prophylaxis year round. Travel in these areas at any time can never be considered completely risk free and individuals will have to weigh up the low, but nevertheless present, risk of contracting malaria against the potential down sides of medication.

If one wanted to take anti-malarials, the recommended agent would be Malarone. Malarone can be started the day before you leave and is taken daily till at least 7 days after your return and has less side effects than many of the other anti malarial prophylactics. Participants need to know that we cannot obtain any sort of prophylaxis once out here. If you particularly want to use one, you need to make these arrangements through you doctor or travel clinic before you leave.

A last thought is that if one opts not to take anti-malarials then you must see a doctor if any fever or flu-like illness develops within a month of the cycle trip and remember to tell the doctor about the travel.”
A quick note from ourselves: Please remember that the best way not to get malaria is to not get bitten. So please bring your mosquito repellent such as Peaceful Sleep or Tabard. It is also advisable to wear long sleeves and long pants in the evenings. 
Bicycle Insurance 
Cyclesure is an insurance product that specialises in bicycle insurance. They have insured all participants' bicycles at no charge from the start to the end of the cycle tour. If you are wanting this insurance, please take the following steps: 

• Go to www.cyclesure.co.za 
• On the home page there is a Tour de Kruger icon.
• Click on the Tour de Kruger icon
• Fill out all the spaces with a red asterisk. However, please fill in all the blocks regarding accessories.
• Submit the form to Cyclesure and you are covered!
• If you have any queries about the process, please phone 0861 292 537

Should Cyclesure not receive your insurance form, then they will assume that you are not requiring this insurance cover and you bicycle will not be covered.

Transport Options to get to and from the start and end of the tour
The cycle tour will officially commence at 4pm on Tuesday 05th August at Mashatu, Northern Tuli Reserve, Botswana. The cycle tour will officially end around 09:00 am Sunday 10th August at Pafuri, Northern Kruger National Park, South Africa
 Cyclists have two choices of joining the Tour:
(a)  Coach transfers to/from Johannesburg – included in this year cycle tour cost and the most efficient option
(b)  Self Drive to Pont Drift (SA, Botswana border post) where you will leave your vehicle – a return transfer will bring you back to your vehicle at the end of the tour.

Coach Transfers to/from Johannesburg
The coach will depart on the 05th August at 06:00 am from Wilderness Safaris offices, 373 Rivonia Boulevard, Rivonia. Please note that cyclists must be here by 05:30am for packing and loading of their bicycles. The arrival time in Northern Tuli will be in the early afternoon. A tea stop will be arranged enroute for the cyclists own account.
 
The coach will depart Pafuri on the 10th August at 09:00 am from Pafuri back to Johannesburg. Estimated arrival time in Johannesburg is approximately 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm.
 
If you are booking connecting flights please do NOT book for any domestic flight earlier than 8:00 pm or any international flight leaving before 9:00 pm.  Please note that unforeseen circumstances can and do happen, so it is preferable that if possible you make travel arrangements for the following day. The coach will once again return to the Wilderness Safaris offices in Rivonia.
 
There will be no parking facilities available at the Wilderness Safaris offices. You will need to arrange for transfers to and from our offices. Please note that this option is subject to availability at time of reservation so please advise me as soon as possible if you are wanting to utilize this option.

The bicycles are transported in a separate vehicle and generally arrive back later than the cyclists and then it takes some time to off load. The bicycles will be stored at the Wilderness Safaris offices for the night of the 10th August, but due to storage constraints must please be collected from our offices during office hours on the 11th August. If you are unable to do so for whatever reason, please make alternative arrangements with me prior to the event. If you are connecting onto a domestic or international flight please be sure to advise us at Pafuri and ensure that you bicycle gets loaded onto the coach and not onto the separate bicycle transfer.
Self drive to/from Pont Drift .

Cyclists doing a self drive will need to arrive at Pont Drift BEFORE 3pm as the Border closes at 4 pm and we cannot assist with any cyclists who do not make the border post in time. The distance is approximately 509 km or 5 hours travelling time. The route is on the N1 to Polokwane. From here you follow the R521 past Dedron to Alldays. Turn right and continue on the R521 to Pont Drift Border post. It is recommended that you refuel at either Polokwane or Alldays.
You will be met at the Pont Drift Border post, where you will leave your vehicle before crossing into Botswana. Your luggage will be transferred to the first nights overnight camping spot, and cyclists will need to cycle the 2.8km to the camp site.
Please note that your car will be parked in a parking area inside ‘no-man’s land’ on the banks of the Limpopo River, just north of the South African border post and will not be guarded. Whilst we will do everything possible to ensure its safety, you take this option at your own risk..

At the end of the cycle tour we will arrange for a transfer back to your vehicle i.e. Pafuri Camp back to Pont Drift at approximately 8:00 am. This transfer time is approximately 3-4 hours plus another 5 hours back to Johannesburg. Once again this transfer option is subject to availability at time of reservation, so please let me know as soon as possible if you want to utilize this option.
For those uncertain about whether to take your own vehicles or travel by coach, we recommend the coach option especially if you have to return to Johannesburg at a reasonable time on the 10th August. The reason for this is that the coach will take a direct route from Pafuri back to Johannesburg while those travlling back to Pont Drift, will add on hours to their journey due to the longer distance.

Other Transport Options At Additional Cost:
There is also an airstrip at both Mashatu and Pafuri, so charter options are available for cyclists wanting to pursue this option. Prices available on request. For a limited number of cyclists we can arrange for a transfer service for their vehicles to be driven from Pont Drift to Pafuri Camp. This will be done by local Community Members to raise money for their church. It will be coordinated by one of the land owners in the area. The cycle tour and its organizers cannot be held responsible for any damage to any vehicles. The cost for this service is approximately R750 per vehicle and all vehicles must have enough fuel to get the vehicle to Pafuri and back to Tshipse i.e. for a radius of approximately 500km.
 Please can you advise on your choice of transport as soon as possible

Registration:
Registration will be set up at the Pont Drift Border Post for your arrival and then at the Limpopo Valley Airfield on the 05th August from 12 pm to 4pm. Please register as soon as you arrive.
A cycle tour orientation will take place in the main gazebo at 6:30 pm that evening
 
Bike Preparation
This event is an OFF ROAD event and therefore suitable only for mountain bikes in good working order.
Please ensure that your bike is serviced prior to the event and any worn parts are replaced
Tyres – it is MANDATORY that all bicycles have preferably the tubeless conversion or at least tubes that have slime and tyre liners to minimize the risk of punctures.  This is very important to help make your ride as pleasant as possible.  There are lots of thorns on this ride and it is conceivable that your tyres could have 50-100 thorns in the tyres on completion of the tour. Without prevention such as liners and sealant, cyclists will get punctures and lots of them. As we are travelling through wildlife areas, we are not prepared to compromise cyclist’s safety when having to continually stop to change tubes. Please ensure that this is done PRIOR to your arrival at the event.

A good part of this tour will take place on single track. For this reason it is not always possible for back up vehicles to follow the cyclists for much for the route, hence you need to be able to do basic repairs to your bicycle i.e. fix a change and change a tyre
 
Recommended Bike Spares:
Spare sealant, spare tubes and patches
Chain Lube and degreaser:  Please bring your own lube as your will need to lubricate your chain a couple of times per day
Brake pads
Bike chain and combination lock
Multi tool
Chain Breaker and chain links
Tyre and shock pump
Any custom bike parts
Spare cleats (recommended)
Each bicycle has a different size derailleur hanger.  So please ensure that you each bring your own spare derailleur hanger as if this breaks you will not be able to continue your ride.  (see attached sample photograph of what it looks like.)

We will have bike technicians based at the overnight stops to assist you with more complex maintenance issues. Please note that this service will be based on a first come first serve basis. The service will be free of charge; however cyclists will need to pay for any spares used. We will have a variety of the more common spares available, however if you have a non-generic bike, please ensure that you bring your own spares with you.

At each overnight camp we will have a specifically designated bike park. Please ensure that at the end of each day, your bicycle is left in the park. The organizers cannot be held liable for any damage to any bicycle left lying around. The bike park will have 24 hour security; however we would recommend that you bring a bike chain with combination lock to ensure its security. Please note that the cyclists are responsible for the safety and security of their own bicycle.
For those cyclists travelling from afar, we do have a few mountain bikes available for rental if required. Please contact me for further information.

Bike Washing Service
Please note that water is a scarce commodity. Hence please keep your bike washing time down to a minimum.
We will have bike washers at each overnight camp that can assist you with your bike washing
 
Safety and Security
This cycle tour travels through some great wildlife areas and therefore may take you into close contact with wild animals. Whilst we are cycling through these wildlife areas we will have a very strict safety protocol. To put your mind at ease, the following measures will be put in place for the cyclist’s safety:

• Maximum group sizes will be approximately 15 cyclists per cycling group. Each cycling group will have an armed licensed guide at the front of their group and a guide at the back of the group.
• Cyclists may not deviate from the official route
• The cycling groups will need to stay within close proximity of each other
• The guide’s and official’s word is final! The safety precautions need to be taken seriously and strictly adhered to. Anyone found in contravention of the officials or any safety regulations will be evicted from the tour without compensation
• Strategic water points will be positioned at approximately every 15km where a support vehicle will be positioned.Please note that unlike the past Tour de Kruger, cyclists will not have the Landrovers following them on this route (due to much single track) If you are wanting to opt out of a stage you will need to cycle to the next strategic spot.
• In the event of a medical or mechanical emergency, the back guide will stay with the respective cyclist until the arrival of a support vehicle (and in turn will nominate another cyclist who will become the back guide).
• All cyclists must please ensure that they are self sufficient with hydration and nutrition between the water stops.

Accommodation
Cyclist accommodation during the cycle tour will consist of single occupancy of two man tents (except at Pafuri as per the point below) The facilities will be basic but adequate. Accommodation will consist of a 1.8m x 1.2m tent and a mattress. Each cyclist is to bring their own sleeping bag, pillow and towels. Ablution facilities in the overnight camps will consist of long drop toilets (or chemical loo’s in some of the camps) and hot water showers. The tents will be set up per cycling group, so that cyclists can easily find a vacant tent .

Pafuri Camp Option
Pafuri Camp “normally” takes 42 guests in 20 rooms.  Due to the number of cyclists, during this event, Pafuri Camp will consist of either a bed in one of the rooms, a tent on the deck of the room (with access to the room’s ablution facilities) or a tent elsewhere in the camp or environs.

These options always cause a lot of stress as all cyclists are weary and by that time wanting more comfortable facilities. In order to make this fair to all cyclists, we have decided to charge a surcharge for cyclists wanting to SECURE or guarantee accommodation in one of the rooms or on one of the room decks (versus the tented camp)

This will be available to the cyclists on a first come first serve basis at an additional cost. The additional sponsorship value/contribution will be R700 per cyclist for a bed in the main unit and R300 per cyclist for a tent on the deck. Please note that each unit will be allocated to full capacity and therefore you will be sharing the unit with other cyclists of the same gender! Tents will also be set up on the unit decks and you will share the toilet and shower facilities. Obviously we will do our best to allocate the units in such a way that you are sharing with cycling partners or friends if possible but this cannot be guaranteed unless they too pay the surcharge.

Food & Drinks 
We will be providing all your meals and road food. As far as cycling supplements go, we will have one chosen energy drink.  If you have any specific preferences, please bring your own. 

We will have either a water point or tea or brunch stops every 15 km’s. At each of these points, water and snacks will be available. In other words, this is a tour where you may end up heavier than when you started!

There will be a cash bar available at the overnight camps.  At the bar we will sell a reasonable quantity of beer/soft drinks/ whiskey /wine etc.  Please do not pack your own wines or booze as it has created delays in the past with customs guys wanting to charge duties on all of these imported goods.  This will result in border delays and in all likelihood you will have it confiscated at the border!

If you have any special dietary requirements please ensure to advise us timorously. Our purchasing is done in advance and we would hate for you to go hungry.
 
Water will be of good quality and safe to drink

Luggage & What to Pack
As little at possible!!!! Transport costs and logistics for cyclist luggage is one of the most expensive components of the cycle tour. Hence please do all possible to keep your luggage down to the bare essentials.
 

The following are the luggage restrictions for the tour:
ONE soft tog bag that includes all your personal belongings (i.e. no loose sleeping bags etc)
Your bag MUST be clearly labeled .

We suggest that you pack the following:
Kit List - this is highly recommended: 
Passports! 
Certified copy of your passport (need at least 4 copies)
Sunglasses or spare contact lenses - it will be pretty dusty
Camera
Binoculars (a small pair is preferable)
 
Camping Equipment:
Warm sleeping bag (it gets very cold early mornings and late nights) 
Pillow
Bottom sheet (if required)
Towel/s for showering  
A good quality torch or headlamp (a headlamp is recommended) Lighting is limited so this is a critical item (spare batteries are useful)
Toiletries:
Malaria prophylactics (optional)
Mosquito repellant
Sunblock and lip balm
Personal toiletries including soap, shampoo, aqueous or shammy cream 
Ear plugs in case there are snorers nearby
ANY PERSONAL MEDICATION (include blister plasters)
 
Camp Clothes:
Hat/peak/cap
Warm and cool clothes - the weather could be unpredictable with the days warm to hot and the nights are cold - Casual wear / track suits for around the campsite .
Good walking shoes, crocs or closed sandals for walking around the camps
Swimming costume     
 
Cycling Kit 
Camelbak or water bottles (very important) – minimum of 2l water carrying capacity
Helmet - compulsory
Gloves
Cycling Kit – 4 sets of clothing for each days cycling- there are no washing facilities (We will advise you if we manage to secure sponsorship for Tour de Kruger cycle shirts)  
Arm warmers for the chilly early mornings and to keep the sun off your arms during the day
Cycling shoes and socks
Heart rate monitor (if required)
Buffs are useful for protection from sun and dust
 
Included in Cycle Tour Cost:
Tented accommodation in single two man tents (except at Pafuri Camp)
Hot showers and good wholesome meals
Support  staff  and “sweeper” vehicles
Refreshment stops
Services of camp staff
Services of bicycle technicians (spares are for the cyclists own account)
Enroute services of paramedic (any medical supplies are for your own account)
Mapungubwe park fees
Kruger National Park entry fee
Return coach transfers to/from Johannesburg to the start and end of the tour (subject to availability at time of reservation)
Transfer from Pafuri Camp to Pont Drift (subject to availability at the time of reservation)
Excluded from the Cycle Tour Cost:
Visa fees (if applicable)
Malaria prophylactics (optional)
All drinks, including bottled water purchased from the bar at the overnight camps 
Medical and Travel Insurance
Cycling gear and equipment  
Cycling spares (some spares will be available on a purchase basis)  
 
Masseuses 
We will have limited massage appointments available at the camps on a first come first serve basis. Bookings and payments must be settled directly. Please note that no shows will be charged for in full, so please bear this in mind when setting up appointments.
 
Emergencies at Home
There is erratic cell phone coverage for most of the cycle route. International roaming will be required for the first 24 hrs in Botswana if required. However it will be difficult to recharge your batteries along the way, so please keep your phones turned off and turn on only as required. We will have a satellite phone for use in the areas where there is no cell phone coverage for emergencies only.  If you need to be contacted urgently, we recommend that your first option is to ask your family or friends to SMS you or else phone the following contact at Wilderness Safaris
 
Office Hours:
Kylee Bester – 011 8071800 or 0112575164
 
After Hours:
Wilderness Safaris Emergency Contact Number
082 5769173
 
This phone will be manned after hours and they in turn will be able to contact us through the satellite phone.  However please note this is for emergency use only.
 
Sponsorship
If you have managed to get sponsorship over and above the minimum sponsorship donation, please bring your sponsorship forms to registration with you .You will then be entered for some of the great prizes on offer. Every last cent helps these two charities.
 
Payment
Just a reminder that the final payment for the minimum sponsorship requirement is due by the 10th May (definitely no later than the end of May). Our bank account details are below. Please ensure that all payments are allocated with your cyclist reference number so that we can allocate your funds correctly. If you have booked the Pafuri accommodation option and it has been confirmed to you, then please submit this payment together with your final minimum sponsorship requirement
 
Account Details:
Account Name: Children in the Wilderness -Mkambati
Bank: Standard Bank
Branch Rivonia
Branch code: 001255
Account Number: 02 303 1735

If you have raised over and above the minimum sponsorship requirement, you can submit any additionally raised monies up to the end of August. At this time the accounts will be reconciled and prize winners announced
 
Cycle Tour Sponsorship Prizes
The cyclists who raise the most sponsorship over and above the minimum sponsorship value will be in line to win some very exciting prizes. Details will be advised in our next newsletter   
 
If you have any further questions regarding the event, please do not hesitate to contact me on any of the following numbers
 
Thanks and kind regards 
HEATHER WILSON
CHILDREN IN THE WILDERNESS AIMS TO CREATE A NETWORK OF LEARNING SANCTUARIES THAT UPLIFTS, CONSERVES AND CARES FOR OUR CHILDREN AND OUR PLANET

Wilderness Safaris & Children in the Wilderness
T + 27 11 257 5075 (direct)
T + 27 11 807 1800
F + 27 11 807 2110
Cell: 082 3368716

www.childreninthewilderness.com