Map Providers

Get the information about routes, trips or just get plain inspiration
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iandvl
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Map Providers

Post by iandvl »

I posted this on community as well, but it's worth posting here.

I've got a thing for maps. Not GPS maps, but really, real, old-school paper maps. I'll generally start out with trip planning on 1:250,000 topo maps. After that I'll get a few 1:50,000 maps of specific areas of interest. When I've got the broader trip planned, I'll put the key points on my GPS and use that for navigation. But I'll still use the proper maps for reference.

So, we're busy planning a trip later this year, and I don't have maps for the area in concern. No issues, thought I - I'd get them from the government printers.

I spent a day walking around central Pretoria trying to get the specific maps from the government printing services. Faceless .gov employees redirected me all over the place, and I eventually ended up at the department of "Rural Development" (or some such department). Only to find the map offices were offline. I doubt they would have helped much in any case, as they apparently only had the topo-cadastral maps, which were not the maps I wanted. I pretty much decided to give up with government offices and started looking for other ways to get hold of them.

Various well-known mapping companies mentioned 21 day lead times and exorbitant costs (one place quoted me about R300 per map). But I later came across Maps 4 Africa (http://www.maps4africa.net/). Whilst the 1:250,000 topo maps aren't listed on their website, I gave them a call to discover that the do have them. Very reasonably priced, and the service is excellent. I was even notified when the courier I'd arranged did not arrive on the day they expected him to collect my packages.

To Leon and his team: Thanks massively. Appreciate the effort. It's always refreshing getting excellent service, and I'll be getting all my maps there in the future.
Ian de Villiers

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Peter Connan
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Re: Map Providers

Post by Peter Connan »

Thanks Ian

Pitty the government printers have fallen apart. That system used to work quite well!
Mag ons ons kenniskry met lekkerkry aanhoukry.
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Michael
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Re: Map Providers

Post by Michael »

Ian, I agree with you......I also like the old paper maps to do initial planning on.

I work for a mapping company and we have loads of data including all the old school paper maps and all the lates topo data. Most people dont know it, but we supply most of these other companies selling maps with the data they are using.

Send me a PM if you are wver in a situation where you cant find anything........ I might just be able to help you
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iandvl
Patrolman 1000+
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Posts: 1765
Joined: 12 Jan 2015 13:26
Full Name: Ian de Villiers
Nickname: Ian
Home Town: Garsfontein
Current 4x4: Nissan Patrol 4.5 GRX
Home Language: English
Has thanked: 446 times
Been thanked: 670 times

Re: Map Providers

Post by iandvl »

Michael wrote:Ian, I agree with you......I also like the old paper maps to do initial planning on.

I work for a mapping company and we have loads of data including all the old school paper maps and all the lates topo data. Most people dont know it, but we supply most of these other companies selling maps with the data they are using.

Send me a PM if you are wver in a situation where you cant find anything........ I might just be able to help you
Michael,

Thinus called me yesterday to tell me this. I did not know... :)

I'm pretty sorted now, but I'll ping if I ever run into difficulty.

Thanks a stack.

Ian
Ian de Villiers

Patrol 4.5 GRX
Jurgens XT65 2x0 with Super Select Zero
ORRA: H80
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