HANDY GADGETS

1 SPACE OUT WITH A SATELLITE PHONE

You might wonder whether you really need a satellite phone, but when disaster strikes you’ll be really glad you have one. Cellphone towers are scarce in some regions and reliable reception isn’t guaranteed. A sat phone has global reach. Read up about the area you’ll be travelling in. If you’re not sure whether you’ll see at least one other vehicle per day, you need a satellite phone. Budget to spend about R10 000 on a satellite phone that comes loaded with about 50 basic units, valid for 30 days. (Units are like sat phone airtime.) Another 50 units will cost about R1 000, also valid for 30 days. Hiring a sat phone is a cheaper option – it costs about R2 000 for two weeks.

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If you’re travelling in a convoy, one sat phone is enough. Share the costs. Contact Zippisat for more information: 072 767 6578; zippisat.com

2 GET A TWO-WAY RADIO. OVER.

A walkie-talkie isn’t necessarily a kids’ toy… When you’re travelling in a convoy in the bundu, a two-way radio is a more reliable way to communicate than using a cellphone.

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If your radio uses 0.5 – 5 watts of power to broadcast a signal, you need a licence from the Independent Communication Authority of South Africa (Icasa). Smaller radios with a range of up to 5 km can be used without a licence. These two-way radios have a frequency of 403 – 470 MHz. Zartek has a range of two-way radios ( zartek.co.za).

3 FLY A DRONE

These flying cameras have become much more affordable and easier to use – some trail runners even carry a small drone in their backpack while they’re out in the veld. You can have hours of fun; some drones can record in top-quality 4 K video.

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Check the rules and regulations in the sidebar and stay out of trouble.

DRONE RULES & REGULATIONS

• You don’t need a licence if you’re just taking photos and videos to show to your friends or family. You don’t have to register your drone either. If you earn money with the photo material, you need a licence from the South African Civil Aviation Authority. • The drone may never be more than 500 m from the pilot or higher than 300 m from the ground. The pilot has to be able to see the drone at all times. • Your drone may weigh up to 7 kg. (Most drones with cameras weigh less than 1,5 kg.) The drone may not be fitted with any other accessories. • You may only fly the drone during the day, and preferably not in poor weather conditions. • The drone should always be at least 50 m from other people, buildings or roads. • The drone may not be flown within a 10 km radius of an airport. Keep clear of any no-fly zones like government buildings, prisons, police stations and power plants. • If you fly your drone over private property, you need permission from the owner. • Drones may not be used in any national park or nature reserve. If you want to use a drone for conservation purposes, you need prior permission from SANParks. • Offenders could face a fine of up to R50 000, a prison sentence of up to 10 years, or both. • Visit caa.co.za for a complete list of rules and regulations.

4 GET IN ON THE ACTION

With an action camera like a GoPro, you can take photos and videos of your kids on a foefie slide or running after your dog on the beach; you can even follow them into the water (the newer models are waterproof and don’t need an extra housing). Why not make a time-lapse video of the sunset? The options are legion. The GoPro Fusion model can even record 360-degree footage so you can give your family back home a complete view of your campsite in Mabuasehube in the Kgalagadi. Imagine grandma’s reaction when you tell her she needs to put on a Virtual Reality headset!

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Don’t throw out your camera with a zoom lens just yet. Action cameras use wide-angle or fisheye lenses – not the best for taking a photo of a leopard in a tree… Also, buy the right accessories for your chosen activities. You can attach the camera to your helmet, your chest or backpack – you can even mount it to the bumper of your car. The last thing you want is to drop your action camera while you’re abseiling, swimming or bungee-jumping!