Camping Offers - Affordable and Eco-Friendly Holiday Options

Camping Offers - Affordable and Eco-Friendly Holiday Options
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Sandy_Cosser]Sandy Cosser

Economic woes needn't spoil the holiday season with long faces moping at home. Camping still offers affordable holiday options for holiday makers, and caters to a number of holiday needs. Small children love the fun and excitement associated with outdoor adventures and older children may appreciate getting back to nature, but anticipate some argument when they realise that there may not be any cell phone reception. Fathers love the whole macho aspect of camping, while mothers can appreciate getting away from the drudgery of household chores and urban life.

With the evolution of tents and camping/outdoor equipment, camping needn't be the entirely rugged experience that it used to be. Those who like their modcons and comfort can relax in large cabin tents, portable showers, and luxury camping chairs and even advanced cooler bags and ice packs that keep produce fresher for longer. Die-hard campers can still revel in the satisfaction of building fires from scratch and keeping their beers cool in nearby streams.

Home Handyman magazine published a list of tips for campers to ensure that their camping holiday remains an enjoyable experience and doesn't turn into a damp, insect-ridden nightmare. Your choice of tent it very important; small two-man tents are ok for short trips, and perhaps father and son bonding experiences. But cabin tents are preferred for longer trips, and probably any trip that involves women. Always check the tent in the store before you buy it; you need to be sure that all the zips work, there are no tears in the fabric and that it is capable of withstanding any crisis or problem that may arise. And practice pitching the tent before you leave for your holiday. You don't want the first time you pitch it to be in twilight or possible rain when you arrive, and everyone is tetchy from the drive anyway.

Choose your spot carefully. You want to set up camp on a spot that is reasonably level so that if it does rain, you don't end up in the middle of a small lake. Try to be near a tree because in the great outdoors shade is golden. You also need a decent spot to build your fire. When building a fire, don't take short cuts with petrol or other dangerous flammable materials. Be patient, and always make sure that the fire is extinguished properly before you leave camp for the day.

Do not forget to pack a first aid kit, sunscreen and insect repellents. Citronelle candles are great for warding off mosquitoes and flies and for adding to the camping atmosphere. Matches are very important, otherwise it doesn't matter what you use to build a fire you'll never get it going. A torch or two and extra batteries are equally important, as are a hammer, extra tent pegs, an umbrella and a small fire extinguisher.

Follow the basic rules that you would at home. Don't leave things lying around, don't leave fires unattended, don't leave sharp dangerous objects within reach of children and, something that you probably wouldn't do at home, check for snakes. Check your shoes and sleeping bags and watch where you walk. Don't kill them just because they're there, you're in their home remember.

The most important thing about camping is to be prepared for anything; that means any weather, any accidents and injuries and any health scares. With a little bit of planning and foresight, camping can be everything that you want it to be.

Reference:
travel.iafrica.com/searchsa/952149.htm

Sandra wrote this article for the online marketers Outlook SGE [http://www.outlook.co.za]specialists in South African safaris one of the most successful companies organising safaris, catering especially to smaller groups.

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