Hi All, This second newsletter is designed (hopefully ;-) to answer a number of last minute questions people are likely to have. There is, of course, the possibility of a third newsletter, but since we are getting really close to the Indaba, I hope I'll have covered the most important issues here. Cheers, Craig ==================================================================== IndabaII Newsletter - all those little things ============================================ Contents: 1 - presentations (talks and posters) 2 - bus to the park (when and where) 3 - route to the park (for private transport) 4 - additional park facilities (shops, foreign exchange, food) 5 - things to bring 6 - weather 7 - health (malaria) 8 - contact info (as always ;-) -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 - presentations (talks and posters) Talks - The normal basic audiovisual equipment will be available. This means overhead projectors and slide projectors (back-projection screen). Special facilities can be (and have been) made for specific presentations. If you require any additional facilities, please contact us immediately, and we'll see what we can arrange. We will also provide marker pens for use will the overhead projector. Posters - The posters will be arranged at the same venue as the talks on boards and walls with felt and carpet surfaces suitable for velcro adhesion. We will provide sufficient velcro to support all the posters we know are being presented. Most common poster sizes will be supported, but we recommend portrait posters approximately 1m by 1.5m in size. -------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 - bus to the park (when and where) The main bus to the park will depart from Johannesburg International Airport at 10h00am sharp. Anyone still wanting to take the bus, but likely to miss this bus due to a late flight, and who has not already given us their flight details, must please send us their flight details as soon as possible. There will be a second bus leaving from Johannesburg and traveling via the airport to pick up stragglers. Anyone staying in a Johannesburg hotel and wishing to take this second bus from Johannesburg itself, should also contact us as soon as possible. When arriving at the airport, you will find an information kiosk in the center of the arrivals hall directly in front of the arrivals exit gate (immediately after you pass though customs check). After 8am we will provide an escort from this kiosk to the bus, which should be parked just outside the arrivals hall. There will be signs clearly marked "Indaba II" at the information kiosk and the bus. Please consider the information kiosk in the arrivals hall as the primary meeting place and point of contact. It may also be advisable to use the foreign exchange facilities at the airport to get some local 'Rands', as the facilities at the park are unlikely to be open on a Sunday. -------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 - route to the park and entrance fees (for private transport) It is strongly recommended that you enter the park at the Malelane Gate. We will provide the park wardens at this gate information concerning Indaba attendees, but a park entrance fee will still be payable. Those traveling on the bus will have the park entrance payed for them, as it is included in the bus fee. The entrance fees are based on both number of cars and number of people: Motor-vehicle (normal car) R20.00 Minibus (16 or fewer people) R25.00 Adult R10.00 Child (2-15) R5.00 baby (under 2) free Since the Skukuza Camp gates close at 18h00, please arrive at Malelane gate with enough time to travel the ~75 km to the camp (speed limit in the park is restricted to 50km/h on tar roads and 40km/h on untarred roads). To get to Malelane Gate, take the N4 east from Pretoria, through Witbank and Nelspruit. The turn off should be some 80+km after Nelspruit. From Johannesburg Drive directly to Witbank, and take the N4 from there. -------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 - additional park facilities (shops, foreign exchange, food) Skukuza camp has a general purpose, reasonably well stocked shop. Prices are understandably somewhat higher than expected in Johannesburg. There is a branch of the Perm bank with facilities for changing money. They claim to support 'all' foreign currencies, but I'd strongly recommend a well know international currency like US Dollars or British Pounds. Meals not explicitly mentioned in the program are not provided by the conference organizers (other than the usual teas and snacks). There is a restaurant available for 'a la carte' meals. Several of the rondavels/huts have self catering facilities as well. -------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 - things to bring Please bring torches (flashlights). Lighting is provided between the huts, but not absolutely everywhere. More importantly, we'd like to ask everyone, and the international guests in particular, to bring along a bottle of your favorite 'national' drink. We will have an opportunity for all to present their country in it's best flavor. -------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 - weather Please remember that South Africa has it's winter in the middle of the year. August can be considered late winter - early spring. Although our winters are certainly nothing like those experienced in Europe and North America, with sub zero (degrees C) temperatures here being unlikely except in the very middle of winter, the evenings and early mornings can be quite chilly. The days will warm up very nicely, however. Have a look at all the T-shirts in the 1995 Indaba I pictures on the WWW page. For those considering traveling elsewhere in South Africa, the weather forecast will, of course, be a little more complicated. The Cape Coast around Cape Town should have the strongest chance or rain, but with reasonably mild temperatures. The East Coast around Durban will be the warmest (almost summer all year). The Center of the country around Johannesburg is usually quite dry but often chilly at night, while the Center West is the semi-desert region and therefore has the most extreme temperatures, and is always dry. -------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 - health (malaria) The Kruger Park is in an area known for Malaria. The August period, however, is considered a reasonably safe time of the year, and many people are content to use mosquito repellent only. However, we do recommend that you rather be safe than sorry, and take some form of malaria medication. Please consult a doctor concerning recommended medications before leaving for the Indaba. -------------------------------------------------------------------- 8 - Contact Info Please use the WWW page for primary information. The latest version of the programme will be placed there. WWW: http://www.gh.wits.ac.za/indaba find all info here Email: indaba-org@hobbes.gh.wits.ac.za all queries Mail: Lesley Stephenson Structural Chemistry Indaba CEE Conference Office PO Box 327 Wits University WITS 2050 South Africa tel: +27-11-716-5091 fax: +27-11-339-7835 ==================================================================== indabaII newletter 2 21/7/97 ====================================================================