Camping trip survival tips

By Renee Mboya

I went camping recently. Apart from being a relatively pointless activity - nature still exists and is beautiful if you're indoors, I found that it wasn't nearly as fun as I remember it being a couple of years ago when I went on my first campus trip or even before that as a girl scout pretending to make fire from dried out twigs (which is why I always carry matches in my handbag now).

Any perfumed product will attract mosquitoes: This is the sad but obvious reality of bush life. What makes you look good on college campus will be your worst nightmare out in the bush. Be it lotion or shampoo or designer perfume (though I can’t imagine why you would take this camping), you’re looking for trouble if you choose to wear it while bonding with nature. Not only will it attract any incect with a sugar fetish but it will almost nearly guarantee you’ll attract unwarranted attention from an array of wild animals. If you’re not looking to agitate a buffalo or get harrassed by a swarm of bees, stay clear of perfumed products.

Buy/borrow/steal real rain gear: We’ve all done this. You buy a raincoat for cheap at the airport or the bus station or you get it free at a promotional event and you imagine that you’ve made a lifetime investment in wet weather outdoor gear. This assumption is wrong and, what’s more it will get you very wet and keep you rather cold. If your rain jacket sticks to you like a creepy old man then get rid of it. Not all rain jackets are made equal so be sure to take note whether yours is water resistant or water proof. Water proof will keep you completely dry whereas water resistant will soak through after a couple of minutes.

Don’t wash/use lye-based soaps: When at home or on campus we take it for granted that the products we use in our laundry and on our selves are appropriately disposed of. Whether or not this is true is besides the point, but when you’re out camping or living it rough out in the bush you need to take responsibility for appropriately disposing things within your domain. The simple act of washing your hair in the river or a shower draining into a dam can pollute water sources for kilometres to come.

Try to invest in an air mattress: Sleeping on the hard ground can take a toll on your body and your attitude. Sleep deprivation can turn the happiest campers into grouches and can put dents in even the most foolproof relationships. An air mattress is a must on a camping trip, as it can make a huge difference in the quality of your trip and it might be the boost you need to turn you into a determined camper.

Always carry matches: This is not a point I can emphasise enough. Nothing is more valuable than to be able to take control of your fire situation and you can only do this if you have a ready supply of dry matches. Fire will keep you dry and warm.

When all is said and done, camping is one college pastime that has changed very little since the establishment of colleges and universities, so if you can learn early in the game how to do it often and do it right, you’ll have the pleasure of cheap, college-centric excursions for the rest of your stay on campus.