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mizzbee, I was very sceptical before I tried one. I liked them so much I bought two. I will never sleep on a blue foam mat again. The self-inflating mats are far more comfortable, the foam (and air) is much much stiffer. Ones hips don't touch the ground.

Thanks Josh. It is time to give these mats a try then.

Camping fridges works well. I got a Zero 3 way works well on gas, 12 volt and 220. national luna 40 liter weekend fride 12 volt 24 volt and 220. It last 3-4 days on a 75 amp deepcycle battery. vehicle is fitted with duel battery system and used it for 3 weeks to richtersveld and namibie. never failed me.

Camping with a off road trailer and caravan. Depending where We want to camp. use 12 volt lights running from battery if we need light. A camp fire is a must at night. Hard wood fire is the best. To start fire I ise old tee bags that I put in a bottel with parrafien. put 3-5 bags out of the bottel and your fire is lite.

Happy camping.

Am I the only one who has bad luck with the Intex inflateble matressess ?

Pumba and temoune : A good idea of old teabags soaked in parrafin for firelighting .

ndloti, I've had to patch mine twice in the last year. Fortunately its easy enough to patch and the patches work well. The hardest part is finding the hole in a (sometimes dark) tent.

I've considered the tea bag and parafin idea before, but it poses some problems with transport etc. I'm not too keen on driving around with a glass jar full of parafin.

I've also had the thought of using a pumice stone soaked in parafin, like those fire stones you can buy. What's stopped me is the hassle of having to remember to fish it out the fire afterward.

if you dont want 2to trafel with a glass bottek take the old tea bags with. Soak for 5min in parafine and use it all at once 3-5 bags at a time. You use parafine for the lamp so just take the teabags along.

If the wood is hard and large , a small amount of kindling with a small amount of charcoal (not compressed biquette type) makes a good start to a wood fire .

Storm Straps: We camped at Wilderness over the Easter weekend and the weather was fab .... though many campers were using storm straps. Then we moved onto Storms River, however this time we were staying in cabins, but just about everyone that was camping, be it caravan or tent had storm straps and they were needed. We did however see one or two gazebo casualties.
Point is, rather safe than sorry - invest in one or two for your kit, you never know when you might need one.

I have purchased a “Fire Rod” to light my fire while camping and at home. It’s easy to use and doesn’t smell like paraffin fire-lighters do.

The purchase price was approximately R140. For me it is cheaper to use than fire-lighters because I like to use a whole packet of fire-lighters per fire. I have a three pound (1.3 Kg) gas cylinder and was able to light-up six fires before the cylinder was empty. One kg of gas cost approximately R19 and to fill-up this cylinder was approximately R25...In other words I used R25 to light six fires whereas six packets of fire-lighters would have set me back by approximately R80 or so!

Theuns, shame on you using so much firelighter!
In my week at Kruger, braaiing for 6 nights I used only one 4kg back of briquettes and at most half a box of firelighter.

Where did you buy your firestick from? It seems like a good price.

After my last weekend getaway away from shops I am leaning towards your way of thinking , Theuns .

The wood was damp and required much fanning with a dustpan and lots of firelighters to get a braai fire going - still we were able to have our meat ready early enough - 9pm .

Theuns, a whole packet of fire-lighters per fire Who taught you to make a fire? You obviously did not pay attention during your years in the Boys Scouts. Have you heard about dry grass and small twigs to start with? But gas? jislaaik

Josh, what did you braai...marshmallows?


It took me some time to find one and eventually I bought one at Bouwer Broers in Voortrekker street, Pretoria. They sell bicycles and camping equipment.


Ndloti, the rod is ideal for situations like that!



Rooies, yes I went through the Boys Scouts (Voortrekkers) phase moons ago and did the dry grass and small twigs thing as well, but I like to see flames with a whole 5kg bag of charcoal or preferably two bags of wood at once! Nothing is more frustrating than a fire struggling to get going!

Braaiing meat for two every night. Sometimes with as few as 7-8 coals. I will admit one night I had to take some lekker hardekool coals from my neighbour.

Maybe I look like a pyromaniac standing next to my bonfire, but that is part of my bush experience!