Do you need to know about tent-site

What you need to know about tent-site

1. Look for a level and firm piece of ground for your tent-site and make sure you are clear of any ant’s nests

2. Always avoid the lower ground, or any ground that shows signs of water that has puddles and pooled, a good sign is dried mud puddles. Get this wrong and when it runs you will end up swimming

3. Avoid camping directly under trees that have heavy looking branches, as if there is any strong winds a branch may come down on your tent. There have been deaths and serious injuries due to this

4. Look for natural wind breaks in the land and rock formations, sometimes in cap grounds in bad weather camping right beside your vehicle as a wind break works best

5. About water again if in lower areas look for high water marls caused by flooding

6. Do not camp in dry creek and river beds. Just because it looks dry doesn’t mean that somewhere well away a storm has created a lot of water that is rushing down towards you. Flash floods are a very real and imminent threat so camp well above the bed

7. Also about water, if there is a risk of crocodiles and alligators make sure you are well away from creeks and water holes lest you become breakfast

8. Use care if camping way out in wide open spaces, as there may be a risk of lightning strikes, especially with aluminum tent poles

9. Don’t pitch your tent or select a tent-site too close to ledges and cliffs. They have great views but you may wander out half asleep and be unaware of the threat and fall over, trust me this happens

10. Don’t like mozzies? It is a good idea to camp at least 100 metres away from bodies of water as insects and bugs like to hang around stagnant water

11. Use the right tent pegs or stakes, sand stakes are longer and thicker than normal ones and work in sand. Also make sure you know how to deadman peg your tent, when using logs and branches is the only way to secure the tent

12. Use some markers around your tent-site, such as metal plates etc to show where you are. It is amazing how many answer a call of nature in the middle of the night and “get lost” also markers can warn of cliffs and other hazards

13. If you don’t have mozzie nets or a well screened tent, make sure you take mozzie coils, citronella candles and insect repellent, otherwise your tent-site will become a magnet for everything that can sting and bite.