Rookies - How to get started / learn the ropes

Hi TNF

I have attached a little guide I wrote a little while ago for someone, I think it should cover most of the basics.

This weekend I took a couple guys from my Action Cricket team up Rhino Peak and overnighted in caves, the one guy had never hiked a day in his life and the other had not overnighted in the berg.
The main thing they said they learnt was weight, I gave them tips but the one guy still started off with 4kg of biltong, 2 Energades and a 500ml Valpre, his wife had convinced him drinking from rivers was dangerous. On our first water collection from the river he tasted it, said it was the best water he had ever tasted & poured his Valpre out

I'm certainly not an expert but fire away with any other Qs

relevitt wrote: Not sure about berg water being safe, hence "berg tummy". One of our group of four was afflicted last year on day 2 of Northern Traverse. Lot's of livestock and they go where they like. Probably best to use some form of purification, otherwise it's a gamble.

Ja, it can be risky but generally if you are careful you can avoid it.
Lower berg water is generally fine as long as its running
Escarpment water you need to be more careful and get from as close to the source as possible, if you can see the area is often used by livestock then avoid if possible