Camping is not on my list of top activities, but I'm going to be camping every day on my adventure as I can't afford chalet or lodge accommodation.
A few years back friends and I went on 2-week camping safari through some of Botswana's national parks, Moremi, Savuti and Chobe. I had a very good, small yet strong canvas dome tent but I really hated putting it up every day and taking it down and folding and rolling and packing it up every morning freezing cold morning (it was June and a damn cold winter!). My canvas tent withstood marauding baboons in Savuti while a fellow traveller had his thin nylon tent shredded by the scratching, ripping nails of sugar-craving raiders and ended up sleeping in the cramped cab of his vehicle for the rest of the trip!
Although I still have the tent, I really don't relish the thought of 50 nights in it, sleeping on the ground on an air mattress which has to be inflated each time. I do have an airpump which plugs into the car battery but it takes quite a while to inflate the mattress and it's a cumbersome job. I can't stand upright in the tent and there is only enough space for the mattress and sleeping bag and my kit bag of clothes.
I duly took myself off to all the 4x4 camping and caravaning shops in Joburg and found exactly what I am looking at exactly the price I canNOT afford - Murphy's Law.
A few years back friends and I went on 2-week camping safari through some of Botswana's national parks, Moremi, Savuti and Chobe. I had a very good, small yet strong canvas dome tent but I really hated putting it up every day and taking it down and folding and rolling and packing it up every morning freezing cold morning (it was June and a damn cold winter!). My canvas tent withstood marauding baboons in Savuti while a fellow traveller had his thin nylon tent shredded by the scratching, ripping nails of sugar-craving raiders and ended up sleeping in the cramped cab of his vehicle for the rest of the trip!
Although I still have the tent, I really don't relish the thought of 50 nights in it, sleeping on the ground on an air mattress which has to be inflated each time. I do have an airpump which plugs into the car battery but it takes quite a while to inflate the mattress and it's a cumbersome job. I can't stand upright in the tent and there is only enough space for the mattress and sleeping bag and my kit bag of clothes.
I duly took myself off to all the 4x4 camping and caravaning shops in Joburg and found exactly what I am looking at exactly the price I canNOT afford - Murphy's Law.
Here's a pic of the tent I'm looking for.
It's the multi award winning. Australian designed Oztent RV2. It's easily erected by one person in less than 30 SECONDS! No more hassles at the end of a long day's driving and an easy pack-up in the morning. The Oztent RV takes the stress out of camping. . . . .that's what the sales schpeel says.Of course I didn't believe the saleman and asked for a demonstration! OMG! it was EXACTLY that! 30-seconds! I then tried it myself and I'm absolutely sold on it now. It's big enough for me to put a stretcher in and I can stand up in it and there's space to put a chair in too if for some reason (like rain) I have to be indoors. I can back my LSP* up to it and work out of the back of the vehicle - as shown in the pic.
CLICK HERE to see the Australian demo on YouTube.
I have Wanted Ads in the Classifieds and on all the camping and 4x4 forums now for an affordable 2nd hand one.
Hold thumbs I get one.
* little silver Pajero
5 comments:
Even I could do that! It's really a shame they don't rent these, that would probably make it most affordable.
You sure know how to do your research Janet, i'm holding thumbs for you!
really 30 seconds? Wow, i'm impressed! I hate tents for just that reason. Spent several months in Malawi and Mozambique in one and could never get it right, always seemed to wake up in the morning with water in my tent from not putting up correctly.
I`ll be praying for unexpected money for you, so you can afford your best equipment! Still on the lookout for sponsors...
if you are staying more than one night in some places it makes camp building easier.. that tent looks good - how about packing away? also 30 seconds? what fun planning - sure you will find a 2nd hand one :-) enjoy it all
Val, yes it does pack up almost as quickly.
I suspect though that there could be some time-consuming housekeeping involved if those opportunistic termites have decided to plaster their mud passages to the underside of the groundsheet.
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