Our safety tips for a weekend of camping
Nothing is better in the summer time than grabbing a group of your friends, packing up some snacks and heading off for a weekend of camping.
Swimming in a river or at a beach, telling stories around camp fires and giggling into the early hours in a crowded tent. There’s nothing quite like it.
But when you are travelling into the middle of nowhere, there are some safety tips you’ll need to keep in mind.
Before you leave
Pack a basic first aid kit with all the essentials you’ll need. Make sure it has mosquito repellant, plasters, antihistamines, nausea medication and imodium. Tell a few of the people who you’ll be travelling with where to find the kit and what it contains. If someone in the group has a particular medical complaint, ensure they have packed their medications.
Tell a few people where you’ll be going and when you expect to get home. This is particularly important if you are travelling to a place which doesn’t have cellphone signal.
Make sure you have exact directions of how to get there. You probably won’t be able to rely on a GPS, so ensure you have exact directions or a map.
Check the weather for the area you are going to and be prepared for all conditions – hot, cold or windy. Rather be safe than sorry.
Pack items like a whistle, matches and pocket knife so you’ll be able to cope in any situation. Also be sure to take along some extra water and food.
Once you’re there
Leave early to make sure you arrive with plenty hours of sunlight left. This will allow plenty of time for you to wrestle with your tents before you eventually give up and decide to sleep under the bakkie canopy.
Make sure to carefully choose where you are planning to set up your tent (if you were successful) – look out for sunny and shady spots, tree stumps, nests and insects.
Check in with the campsite office as soon as you arrive and let them know if you are planning any hikes or drives within the site.
Going home
Make sure you clear up everything you may have left behind. You shouldn’t leave anything behind other than your footprints.
Make sure your fire is completely extinguished by pouring water and sand over it. Never leave a site with a burning fire.
Check out at the office, otherwise they might worry about you and start a search.
Keep these tips in mind and you’ll be heading out onto the open road every weekend.