luggage transport
03 Oct 2012 00:13 #55366
by Jvg
luggage transport was created by Jvg
Hi,
We would like to send some of our luggages to the arrival of our trekking (Didima Camp), from Johannesburg. We thought to send it by post. Do you know if the post is safe and effective? Do you know any compagny that can offer this service?
Thank you.
We would like to send some of our luggages to the arrival of our trekking (Didima Camp), from Johannesburg. We thought to send it by post. Do you know if the post is safe and effective? Do you know any compagny that can offer this service?
Thank you.
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03 Oct 2012 14:07 #55368
by ghaznavid
Replied by ghaznavid on topic luggage transport
Hi
You are going to get different opinions on this one!
South African Post Office has a bad reputation (personally I have never had any issues with them, but I would never send anything of value with them). DHL is probably the most reliable service, but they are rather expensive.
If you don't mind me asking, why do you want to post items from Jo'burg to Didima? I see that you are from Canada - maybe I am misunderstanding what you mean?
You are going to get different opinions on this one!
South African Post Office has a bad reputation (personally I have never had any issues with them, but I would never send anything of value with them). DHL is probably the most reliable service, but they are rather expensive.
If you don't mind me asking, why do you want to post items from Jo'burg to Didima? I see that you are from Canada - maybe I am misunderstanding what you mean?
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03 Oct 2012 23:54 #55375
by Jvg
Replied by Jvg on topic luggage transport
Hi,
Thanks for the info.
To answer your question, we would like to post some of our luggages as we would like to be as light as possible for the trekking. So we would like to send what is unnecessary for the trekking but that will be usefull for the rest of the travel (as the travel book or the electric adapter...).
Julie
Thanks for the info.
To answer your question, we would like to post some of our luggages as we would like to be as light as possible for the trekking. So we would like to send what is unnecessary for the trekking but that will be usefull for the rest of the travel (as the travel book or the electric adapter...).
Julie
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04 Oct 2012 05:40 #55376
by plouw
Replied by plouw on topic luggage transport
Where do you intend on hiking? It makes more sense to travel to Didima from JHB, drop of your luggage there, then arrange transport to drop you off where you intend to hike from.
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04 Oct 2012 23:47 #55379
by Jvg
Replied by Jvg on topic luggage transport
We will do the Mini Traverse. Isn't it longer to go South for the luggage and then come back North for the starting point of the hiking? (We will not have a car.)
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05 Oct 2012 06:25 #55380
by ghaznavid
Replied by ghaznavid on topic luggage transport
Ok, I follow what you mean. I assume you are starting from Sentinel car park? If you make a prior arrangement with the manager of Witsieshoek Resort (which is on your way to Sentinel car park, but know that the manager charges quite a bit for things like this), he will probably drop it off at Cathedral Peak Hotel (also make sure that arrangements are made with them)...
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05 Oct 2012 06:29 #55381
by intrepid
Take nothing but litter, leave nothing but a cleaner Drakensberg.
Replied by intrepid on topic luggage transport
Hi Julie, I understand you have some logistical challenges around this hike since you are travelling here. Hope you come right with this!
Yes, it's true that to travel to Didima first to leave your luggage there, and then back North again would be more travel. However I get plouw's point of perhaps arranging a drop-off from Didima. No doubt you have weighed up your options already.
I would not consider the SA Post Office as an option. They are not terribly reliable. You could put it on a fast track, but then you are still stuck with taking it to the post office in Joburg. And somone at Didima has to go fetch and sign for it in Bergville (the nearest town to Didima), since the post will not get delivered right to Didima (and it's also an assumption that Didima even get their mail delivered to Bergville).
A private courier company would be a better option. Unfortunately it will cost a lot more. DHL is an option. PostNet are one of their agents here. Are you staying at a hotel in Joburg? I would ask them to arrange something for you. They will probably know of a cheaper, local courier company. And this way you do not have to waste time trying to arrange it yourself.
Yes, it's true that to travel to Didima first to leave your luggage there, and then back North again would be more travel. However I get plouw's point of perhaps arranging a drop-off from Didima. No doubt you have weighed up your options already.
I would not consider the SA Post Office as an option. They are not terribly reliable. You could put it on a fast track, but then you are still stuck with taking it to the post office in Joburg. And somone at Didima has to go fetch and sign for it in Bergville (the nearest town to Didima), since the post will not get delivered right to Didima (and it's also an assumption that Didima even get their mail delivered to Bergville).
A private courier company would be a better option. Unfortunately it will cost a lot more. DHL is an option. PostNet are one of their agents here. Are you staying at a hotel in Joburg? I would ask them to arrange something for you. They will probably know of a cheaper, local courier company. And this way you do not have to waste time trying to arrange it yourself.
Take nothing but litter, leave nothing but a cleaner Drakensberg.
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30 Oct 2012 22:16 #55556
by Jvg
Replied by Jvg on topic luggage transport
Hi,
So, some news about this... I contacted our backpackers lodge in Johanesburg and they told us that there's a PostNet store near. I also contacted Didima Camp manager and they can keep a bag until we arrived, but we have to "change" a bit there address because PostNet need a physical address (no private bag or P.O. box) and Didima Camp usual address is with a private bag. As Didima Camp don't have a physical address, it's ok if we write "Cathedral Peak area". There's also a surcharge because the destination is a regional area. An other option (without surcharge) would be to send it to our next lodge, in Durban, but we would like to have our bag sooner, so we will probably pay for the surcharge.
I'll give you some other news about this when we come back.
So, some news about this... I contacted our backpackers lodge in Johanesburg and they told us that there's a PostNet store near. I also contacted Didima Camp manager and they can keep a bag until we arrived, but we have to "change" a bit there address because PostNet need a physical address (no private bag or P.O. box) and Didima Camp usual address is with a private bag. As Didima Camp don't have a physical address, it's ok if we write "Cathedral Peak area". There's also a surcharge because the destination is a regional area. An other option (without surcharge) would be to send it to our next lodge, in Durban, but we would like to have our bag sooner, so we will probably pay for the surcharge.
I'll give you some other news about this when we come back.
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11 Dec 2012 01:39 #55735
by Jvg
Replied by Jvg on topic luggage transport
Hi,
We finally sent our luggage to Durban (to the lodge were we had a reservation) with PostNet. We didn't send it to Didima Camp because the service for remote areas is not available at anytime (the day we were there, the remote area service closed at like 1PM and the shop at like 2PM). So go there early if you want to really have the choice. Otherwise, our luggage arrived in good shape.
We finally sent our luggage to Durban (to the lodge were we had a reservation) with PostNet. We didn't send it to Didima Camp because the service for remote areas is not available at anytime (the day we were there, the remote area service closed at like 1PM and the shop at like 2PM). So go there early if you want to really have the choice. Otherwise, our luggage arrived in good shape.
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