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How To Prepare For All Weather Conditions When Camping
Camping in South Africa is like the gift that keeps on giving. It is one of those recreational activities that can be done all year round and with so many amazing campsites available for you and your family to explore, you will be spoiled with choice. We love that as a nation being outdoors and camping is still our preferred choice for holidays, weekend breaks and just for those moments when you need a little peace and quiet.
Although we may love living in South Africa and camping in South Africa is so popular, something we always need to be prepared for is the very unpredictable weather patterns. This is especially the case if you are blessed enough to live in Cape Town. Born and bred Capetonians can attest to the fact that some days it is like experiencing all 4 seasons in 1 day.
Luckily Camp and Climb has you covered (quite literally) when it comes to keeping you and your camping gear intact and safe no matter what the weather conditions. In this blog we would look at how you can make sure you are prepared for any weather conditions that may come your way while camping. From scorching hot days to south easter winds, rains and perhaps a chilly evening, let’s see what you can do to be fully prepared.
Scorching Summers
South Africa is known for it’s scorching summers and although camping in South Africa happens all year round, summer is the most popular season for everyone to get outdoors. So how can you make sure you are fully prepared for a heatwave or higher than normal temperatures while camping? Here are a few of our must-have items:
Coolers
Invest in a cooler to ensure your food is kept fresh and does not spoil in the scorching summer days. You can also have cold beverages at hand no matter where you are. The Cadac Cooler Bags and Boxes are great for shorter camping trips and can be used for beach outings too. They come in a variety of capacities to suit your needs.
The Cadac Cooler Box 25L is one of our best sellers. If however you plan on longer camping trips and perhaps do not want to invest in a camping fridge, the Stanley Cooler boxes are a great choice as they have enhanced insulation meaning you can keep a lot more food cold and fresher for longer. Party circle buckets are also really great to keep beers and other drinks chilled while sitting around the campsite. Insulated drinkware is also an important item to pack in your camp kitchen, as they can keep your drinks cool in the hot summers days and warm in the chilly winter mornings.
Shop our full range of coolers here.
Hydration Packs
Another must have item in the summer heat is a hydration pack. Staying well hydrated is imperative to your health and when you are camping and possibly going on a hike in hot weather you will need to invest in hydration packs or hydration bladders. The Oztrail Hydration Pack has a 3L capacity and has quite a bit of extra space and pockets to store some energy bars and snacks.
Shade Coverings.
Although these are two of the most important items while battling the summer sun, you could also invest in a gazebo to create added shade, shade coverings. Whether you are camping, fishing or on lounging the beach, a camping tent can provide much needed protection from the hot sun. Vehicle Awnings are also another way you can create additional shade and covering if you gazebo or tent setup isn’t big enough.
Other must have camping items for summer include:
Windy Days
The wind in South Africa (particularly in the Western Cape) is next level sometimes and can come is gusts throughout the day. Be well prepared on your camping trips by having items on hand that can protect your tent from heavy winds and stop it from potentially blowing away or breaking.
Make Your Tent Secure
Make sure to take a long extra tent pegs and if you are going to be in an area that is notorious for its heavy winds, get yourself something like the Coghlans Heavy Duty Tent Pegs and extra cords. Adding wind protector side covers to your tented area can also help to keep your tent sturdier and protect the tent screen from tearing or having flying debris enter the tent.
Repair Kits
If you are going camping for an extended period of time, take along a Tent Repair Kit (or 2) so that if heavy winds or rains come along and damage your tent, you can repair it quickly and easily. Also take along a screen repair kit just in case that tears due to heavy wind conditions.
Having extras of cords, tent pegs, covers and more is never a bad thing (especially if you have the space to store it). Rather be well prepared for anything that may happen when it comes to unpredictable weather.
Rainy Days
Now, although not many people will go camping in South Africa in the winter or at least on days where it there is a torrential downpour, it can happen that you plan your camping trip during Spring or Summer and lo and behold rain decides to show up.
Stay Dry
Campsites and rain do not always go well together. Keeping rain out of the campsite as much as possible is the key. Make sure you have extra coverage and get yourself a utility tarp or even a gazebo (this works better when it is just rain and no heavy winds). Raise your tent off the ground or put extra ground sheet coverings outside and around your tent and campsite area. Our military sand bags are versatile and can be used to assist with localised flooding. A hammock can be used as a backup alternative to sleeping of the ground.
Where possible make sure your tent, ground covers and even your sleeping bag is waterproof. When the rain has left the campsite make sure to air dry everything and check for any external damage to any of your camping equipment. The Oztrail Deluxe Clothesline is collapsable and the perfect companion to hang wet clothes out to dry.
Conclusion
In conclusion, since the weather can be really unpredictable at times, the best option is to make sure you are well prepared with all the tools and items you may need while camping. Of course the best thing to do is to check the weather app ahead of time – but again, who knows how accurate it may be.
If you do not have all the essential items for your camping trip yet, check out our online store and you will be sure to find everything you need to make your camping trip safe, organized and most of all – fun!