Eclipse December 4^th 2002.

It sounds like a long time away and most people aren’t accustomed to making arrangements that far in advance, but if you want to make plans to see the eclipse next year then you probably need to do so very soon. In fact it is already too late as all the accommodation in the Messina area is already booked out and most other places will probably report the same.

HOWEVER due to the foresight and ingenuity of some of the Pretoria centre members we have been offered 250 camping sites at the resort in Tshipese, near Messina. Tshipese is just inside the eclipse line and people staying there have the choice of either seeing a short totality or traveling up the road to get closer to the centre line which will have about 1 min 22 secs of totality.

Each camping site can accommodate up to 9 people and can take 2 medium sized tents, or a large one or a caravan etc.
There are respectable ablution facilities, a swimming pool and a restaurant in the resort.

If you don’t have a tent the organizers are prepared to obtain one for you.

The cost has not been finalized but it will be something like R500 – R600 per site per night.
There will probably be a discount for people booking 2 or 3 nights.

Deposits on this have to paid by the end of October, so if you are interested in booking a campsite then please let me know
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

Brian Fraser
brian.fraser@macsteel.co.za