Camping is not for everyone. While some may have their camping gear ready before every holiday comes around, others cringe just by the thought of having to sleep in a sleeping bag. But love it or hate it, with so much hype around it camping isn’t going anywhere and, no matter your age, everyone should try it at least once. With thousands of camping spots around South Africa, it doesn’t matter where you are, you’ll find your ideal spot.
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While camping can be a lot of fun, it can also be a bit of a hassle if you go unprepared. No one wants to sleep uncomfortable, struggle to get the fire going or camp in the dark, so try these 7 camping hacks on your next trip:
- Keep your tent cool with a blanket
In South Africa, the sun can be really harsh. If you can’t find a tree to camp under, it’s best to use a blanket to keep your tent cool. Simply throw a large blanket over your tent as soon as the sun rises. This will keep the heat out for most of the day.
- Use foam for a softer tent floor
No one wants to sleep on cold, hard ground! If you’re going to sleep in a tent and you don’t have a blow-up mattress, take a roll of foam with you or invest in foam tiles. These are ideal to create a softer, more comfortable tent floor and your back will love you! Luckily, foam can be rolled or folded, so it won’t take much space.
- Make a camping light with a headlight and a water bottle
Having proper light at a campsite is incredibly important. If you find that you need extra light, it’s so easy to make one with this quick hack: Simply fill a large can or water bottle with water and wrap the strap of your headlight around it with the light facing the water. Once you turn it on, it will make the water glowy and create a beautiful camping light.
- Candle shavings make excellent portable fire starters
Struggling to get the fire going? Did you know that candle shavings are excellent fire starters? Yes, these come in very handy if the wood is a bit wet. Make a bag full of these shavings at home and be a fire starter hero on your next camping trip.
- Use a shoe organiser to keep your outdoor kitchen clean and neat
These are generally not expensive, but perhaps you have one lying around the house that you haven’t used. Hang up a shoe organiser and store all your kitchen equipment inside the pockets.
- Use biodegradable trail-marking tape for hikes
No one wants to get lost while camping! This tip is especially useful if you have children. If anyone goes on a hike, give them a biodegradable tape to mark certain spots along the way. This will help them find their way back easily. Make sure they pick up the pieces as they return home!
- Take a citronella candle
If you expect a bug-free camping trip, you’re in for a surprise! No matter where you go in South Africa, you will find some sort of flying or crawling insect. To keep them away, take a citronella candle with you. It is believed that most insects do not like the smell of citronella.
Invest in quality camping gear
Knowing a few camping hacks can come in very handy, but it doesn’t help much if your camping gear lets you down. If you’re serious about your camping trip, it is worth it to buy a high-quality tent, sleeping bag, chair and cooler bag. These are the essentials to ensure you have a comfortable trip. Looking at Makro’s catalogue on latestspecials.co.za many trusted brands offer camping equipment ‘bundles’, so you can buy a few items for one price. This is ideal for your first camping trip.
While not everyone is exactly a fan of camping, it is still a fun experience to do with friends or family. No one was born a camping expert, so it does help to do a little research before you pack your bags. Knowing how to get a fire started or how to make your tent more comfortable will come in very hand once you’re far away from home.
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