Title
Intoduction
Embarking on a camping
trip into the bush requires a good deal of planning and preparation.
You will be going to remote areas, accessible only by four-wheel
drive, where water, petrol, or food, may not be available. You will
often be driving on rough roads and under conditions which are very
different from those you may be used to.</font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><b><a name="camping"></a>Camping
checklist</b></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">Camping gear - Tent,
sleeping bag, extra blankets and jackets (in winter), camp-beds
(if you find them more comfortable than sleeping on sand), axe,
shovel, cooker, water bottles, pots, non-breakable dishes and cups,
torches, matches, tin-opener, knife, batteries, bulbs for torches
(a good supply), candles, gas lamp (gives lots of light), folding
tables and chairs, a large cold-box, masking tape, cello tape, safety-pins,
sewing kit, penknife, first-aid kit, buckets and basins, Thermos
flask, mosquito coil and insect repellent, toilet paper and basic
tools.</font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">Keep your maps, and
your bird and animal identification books to hand, as well as torches,
toilet paper and camera. You will want all of these items within
easy reach. Pack everything evenly, so as not to weigh down one
side of the vehicle more than the other. Balance is important on
sand roads where ruts may cause the vehicle to swerve around.</font></p>
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<p><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><b>Food</b></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">All necessary food for
your camping trip can be acquired from major towns and villages.
Make sure that you bring more than you think you will use. </font><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">Fresh
produce or meat will last three to four days in a good-quality cold-box
in summer, and a week or more in winter. Tinned food is most practical,
supplemented with fresh vegetables and fruits. Use plastic rather
than glass containers.</font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">If you have time, prepare
two to four one-pot meals before departing. You will be grateful
for having only to heat and serve a meal after long hours of driving.</font></p>
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<p><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><b>Water</b></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">If however you are traveling
to <a href="../attractions/khutse.html">Kutse Game Reserve</a>,
<a href="../attractions/central.html">Central Kalahari Game Reserve</a>,
<a href="../attractions/makgadikgadi.html">Makgadikgadi Pans</a>
or other dry remote areas, carry at least 100 litres. In the Tuli,
Okavango and Chobe areas, water is readily available. However, it
is best to carry between 50 and 100 litres of drinking water with
you. Remember to keep some water at hand in the car to avoid having
to get out while on game drives.</font></p>
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<p><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><b>Petrol</b></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">In the eastern part
of the country and along the main roads, petrol is always available.
However, in the remote areas, petrol stations sometimes run out
of supplies, and there are no petrol stations in or at the entrance
to the parks and reserves.</font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">It is worthwhile taking
the following precautions: estimate distances to be traveled, add
on extra for four-wheel drive usage and extra for driving in the
sand; add on extra again for game drives, and the possibility of
getting lost - over-estimate, rather than under-estimate.</font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">Carry at least 100 to
150 litres of petrol in long-range tanks, if you have them, or in
jerry cans (never use plastic containers). If you do not have a
long-range tank, use a funnel or hand-pump to put petrol into the
tank. Mouth siphoning petrol through a hosepipe can be highly dangerous.</font></p>
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<p><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><b>Spare car parts</b></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">If you are going for
a drive with 4WD, it is wise to take with you: two spare tyres,
spark plugs, jump leads, tow rope and cable, a few litres of oil,
insulated wire, electrician's tape, lamp, fire extinguisher, wheel
spanner and a complete tool-kit
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