SANParks.org Forums

He he he ... reading some of these stories has really had me

Avon, interesting about the groundsheets ... I thought the reason the campsites were pretty much bare ground was to prevent snakes (or at least make it easier to see if there’s one around ...)

Can someone explain to this relatively “newbie camper” why you would take a spade with you ...

Last year when camping at Skukuza I was sitting next to the fire enjoying the night sounds of the bush when I heard a “ping” .... the people camping behind me had brought their microwave along!!!

Another strange “necessity” I witnessed whilst camping at Satara was an exercise bike sitting on the groundsheet outside the caravan! Oh, I nearly forgot to mention the plastic flowers that were in the vase in the middle of the table a little over from the exercise bike as well!

Man on man, some of the Caravaners bring enough equipment with they could run a 5 start restuarent from it, microwaves, ice makers, rice cookers, slow cookers

If it rains enough and the water could run underneath your tent and around your outside area sitting area, this will create a lot of mud and make life very difficult. You would use the spade to dig a little trench around your camp,this would stop the water flowing into your area

WendyA you would only need a spade when you picked a bad camping spot during the rainy season, or maybe if your vehicle got stuck in the mud on one of those No entry roads

When camping at Maroela during the 2012 floods we just moved the caravan

If you like to set up semi-permanent structures around the fence area a spade is a must

1 ) That's because they do not know how to make "potbrood" or "askoeke".

2 ) Saw an advert for a tent at about R40 000 Do you know how many holidays we can do in Kruger staying in bungalows for that amount of money

Hi WendyA. My SO and I have caravanned since 1977 and I thought we have seen it all - plastic flowers and all. But an exercise bike! Never seen that one before. In our senior years after the kids left home we acquired a small caravan and only take the necessary but SO still complains about the extra clothes. Warm woolies to get to Kruger in July (it's freezing on the way there) and cool clothes while we are there. Otherwise an electric plate to cook outside the van (saves using the stove inside) a small skottel and a small bakpot (cast iron flat bottomed pot) for potbread, and the two of us are sorted. And a supply of braai wood or charcoal. And the beers. And the braai meat. And a supply of rusks and the flask for coffee. And the biltong, etc. etc. But beyond all that to find a spot at the fence and to just enjoy all that Kruger has to offer is all I ask. We have never needed a spade as it never rains in Kruger July/August/September.

I remember one of our first Lower Sabie camping trips - it was during the migrant bird season - hot and humid. Newbies back then we just had to pitch the tent underneath the biggest tree that we could find, no, make that the the second biggest tree. Because by then we have at least learned a few things. If you can find a level area underneath a shady tree, that's the one you should go for. The biggest tree was only about twenty meters away, covered with it's bounty of wild figs.

Darn, those fruit-bats (whatever happened to the ones at the restaurant area anyway) were clever - they picked the fruit from the mentioned largest tree, then flew of to the second largest tree to enjoy their feast (and what usually follows after such a feast). Combine the migrant residue with the above and we had a lovely spotted tent after only two days. A few regular campers will know that to keep the tent watertight, you should never use any kind of soap to wash the tent.........

OK, another lesson learned and we just had to find a solution to that problem. Instead of doing the obvious - just pick an area away from any trees - we visited the gadget shop again. Did they have any solutions? Sure, quite a few actually, just swipe the plastic card over here thank you very much. Off we went after purchasing not one, but two "solutions" - one being made out of canvas, to be rigged as a cover all to the tent; and a very clever newly designed lightweight one that will in theory also reflect heat away from the tent (to be rigged a few centimeters above the canvass one to allow airflow). Ja right, as if that would stop those bats; leaving more stuff to be cleaned upon return.

Nowadays I just sit and watch people spending precious hours setting up semi permanent structures (at eleven o'clock in the morning), sweat dripping, knuckles bleeding, etc. in that little bit of available shade. I do this from the comfort of one of our fold up chairs which I have moved into my little bit of shade for that time of the day of course. I have already parked my vehicle in the glaring sun on the levelest area I could find to mark my territory for the night. I have learned that I can set up our sleeping quarters in less than ten minutes after sunset. Nice and cool, quick and easy, no problem should it rain and SO will stay on her side of the bed because I picked a level area to park.

I hear someone say it will only work if you do camp hopping and that it's not the ideal solution when camping for a fortnight. Maybe so, but isn't it because we have been brainwashed into the idea of semi permanent structures surrounding a tent or caravan? Portable should mean exactly that, portable. Move that camping chair and table a few meters instead of trying to find other solutions. I have seen some amazing ideas being used and then standing there unoccupied from the moment the gate opens till the fires are lit in the evening. Creatures of habit we are, breaking those habits is not so easy but it could (and it does indeed) make camping so much easier.

[quote="Josh of the Bushveld"]There are lots of discussions around beds etc.
I've got a queen Intex (single layer). Very comfortable but we got tired of sleeping on the floor halfway through the night, then finding and fixing punctures.quote]I can vouch for that - don't waste money on that brand ...

Good news !

I have seen an advert for durable double matresses (which from the catalogue photo appear to be identical to my single matress which is a canvass fabric type - very durable indeed) adverised in the Campworld supplement to the latest Go ! / Weg (afrikaans version) magazine !

http://campworld.campworld.co.za/index. ... &Itemid=81

hi mites

I have not read all the postings so I don't know if this has been covered,but I wonder if someone could help.
I havn't camped at the KNP before. I heard that a special plug is needed to use the electricity socket.
I'm from JHB. Where can I get hold of one in JHB? Apperently it's called the "BLUE plug"

You should be able to buy them at any caravan store(generallly camp world) I am not sure if stores like ODW stock them but if you cant find one they do stock them in 90% of the shops in the KNP camps.

Hi, we found ours at Outdoor Warehouse in Fourways so pretty sure the rest will have them too. We needed ours at Berg en Dal recently so yeah rather safe than sorry. The lady next door to us did not have and drove all over the show trying to find one, not sure if she ever did. It's worth it getting 2 and carrying both just in case one is faulty or gets damaged or whatever, u never know hey.

Good news !

I have seen an advert for durable double matresses (which from the catalogue photo appear to be identical to my single matress which is a canvass fabric type - very durable indeed) adverised in the Campworld supplement to the latest Go ! / Weg (afrikaans version) magazine !

Inflatable matresses - rubberised .

http://campworld.campworld.co.za/index. ... &Itemid=81

Thanks for the info. Just called ODW in Fourways. They have stock of the plug.

ndloti, I think there's an error in your link.
The mattress you mention, is that the canvas one? (No valve, just a hole)
If so, I bought a double months ago and have been using it instead of my Intex, I'm very satisfied. I bought a BushBaby one though, from Checkers (I think its a bit cheaper).
I'm planning to buy a single one soon for trips without SO.

Hi All,

Just something I saw in Checkers. Very nice little plastic camping table for R99.

In the patio department.

Greetings
Chris

That is the one , it has a plastic plug that looks like a wing nut .