Maps & apps for GPS

For me it's been a very worthwhile investment and I use it extensively for planning and actively navigating in the Berg and in Lesotho. The actual topographic layer is based on the government survey maps from both countries concerned. The KZN Wildlife Berg hiking maps are also based on the survey maps and so you will find the topographic features to be identical with the Garmin map. And the topography is very accurate.

When it comes to Berg waypoints such as peaks, passes and caves, these are firstly limited, and secondly, often inaccurate. This has not bothered me much since I don't use my GPS to tell me which peak I've just climbed, or which pass I'm looking for . Roads are indicated where applicable, though hiking trails are not represented. The downloads available on this site are a good compliment to the Garmap topo map.

In short, if you are a map freak like me, go and buy it!

@ Stijn - thanks, sounds like fun!

@ Mike - I use an old, battered, hard-working eTrex Legend C which still does the job. From what I've seen, I'd go for a Vista HCx or a Colorado if I had to upgrade. The "H" standing for higher sensitivity, and "x" indicating that it has a removable memory chip for extra storage. The "C" indicates a colour screen. The Colorado seems to be the latest greatest, though I would not say that it is a must have. It does cost, and its advantages may not necessarily be applicable to the Berg (like the 3D/shading effect) in the short term (though I think these features will catch up).

You need Garmin MapSource for a computer to interact with the GPS. You would use the application to load map sets and GPS data in the form of tracks and waypoints. Note the GPX downloads on this site can be loaded in MapSource. If one wanted to have trails, peaks caves etc loaded as an additional layer (as interactive map features) to the topo map (as opposed to simply being saved waypoints and tracks) then there are a number of different of advanced applications available (OziExplorer, cGPSmapper, GPSMapEdit etc.) to make a custom map.

I have not seen a combination of an outdoor navigator and a fancy street navigator yet (like the Nüvi). One can of course get a basic navigation visual on Legends or Vistas by loading the Africa Road Atlas.

Looks like a handsome unit, along with a handsome price! Will keep ears open for that one. I like the 3D features, and the SD card size it comes with is nice. Just wonder if it really would tolerate the amount of knocks, scuffing and water my current one has had to endure!

What is in that GDB file? Tracks and waypoints? Convert the GDB into GPX and then into Garmin IMG using GPX2IMG:
www.gpx2img.com/
This little program is really handy and does all the dirty work for you, including getting the IMG file registered as a map layer in MapSource. From there you can load it onto your GPS.

Are you trying to get a contour layer too? OziExplorer...you'll need to calibrate the contour image with known waypionts.

You can load KMZ or KML into Google Maps: create your own map and the click on import.