There are many parts of Africa that are perfectly safe for international travelers. Southern and Eastern Africa are great places to start—these areas are popular with tourists because it is relatively easy to get around and there are great campgrounds. This basic advice can help you make sure you have a safe camping trip in Africa.

Photocopy important documents: Be sure to keep copies of your passport, visas, driver’s license and other important documents and keep them in a safe place.

Leave valuables at home: Leave expensive jewelry at home. The last thing you need is to give someone a reason to steal from you. If you have any other valuables that you can live without for your trip, leave those at home too. Also, keep in mind that if you are going on an extending camping trip, you will likely wear out most of your clothes due to the rough environment. It’s a good idea to pack clothes that you are okay replacing when you get home.

Be discreet: If you are coming to Africa, chances are you will want to carry camera equipment to get once in a lifetime photos of your travels. We lived and traveled in Africa for four years without any problems, but it’s important to be discreet. Put your camera away when you are not using it—remember that much of Africa has huge issues with poverty; you don’t want to flash your fancy electronics unnecessarily. In your car, keep valuables hidden.

Lock your doors: Keep your doors locked if you are traveling by car. It’s okay to keep the windows down, but in crowded areas be sure to roll them up. On safari, be sure to keep your windows rolled up unless you are looking out that window—this is to make sure you don’t have an unwanted visitor in the car when you aren’t looking!

Water Safety: It’s a good idea to be careful about where your water comes from while traveling in Africa. Many foreigner-owned campsites throughout the continent will have filtered water that is safe to drink. In other places, it’s a good idea to use a filter, or buy bottled. Be sure that the bottles are sealed—people are notorious for filling used bottles and reselling them.

Vaccinations & Medications: Vaccination requirements vary from country to country, and change frequently. Consult the Center for Disease Control website and talk to your local doctor about what they advise for vaccinations. Some countries require proof of vaccines—they will no allow you entry to the country if you do not have proof of the vaccination. If you are on prescription medications, be sure to carry your prescription and make sure to have an adequate supply of your medications for the duration of your trip.

Malaria Precautions: Malaria is a real issue throughout many parts of Africa. Anti-malaria prophylactics are recommended in many areas. Discuss the options with your doctor—there are a variety of medications available with various side effects. While camping, make sure your tent has working mosquito nets—use them all the time. Even while on anti-malarial medications, it’s important to use bug spray.

Animal Safety: One of the reasons you are planning an African camping adventure is to see animals. But, they can also pose a significant safety risk. Be sure to keep food and trash secure. Be aware of your surroundings and ask locals if there is anything you need to be worried about. Lions and other predators will not likely be a concern, but elephants, hippos and snakes can be a problem for campers.

If you are camping throughout Africa, you will need to be concerned about safety. But, if you use a bit of caution and common sense, you should have a wonderful, and safe, experience!

You have kids. Kids are awesome and so is camping, but how do you combine these two potentially explosive things. Being far from home, fire, a tent, a kid that’s quicker then your eyes. Isn’t it sort of setting yourself up for some major “excitement?”

Camping with your kids doesn’t have to be stress inducing race to keep them out of the water away from the fire. You just need a little careful planning ahead of the game to keep your head in the game and have a great camping weekend filled with fun and kids!

What are some of the things we can do as parents to have the most exciting and fun camping trip possible with our children in tow, and come out alive?

1. Pick the right campsite.

When it comes to bringing the rug rats along on your camping trip, you know you are in for a good time. But to set ourselves up for success it’s going to all start with picking the proper camping site to use. Not all campsites and locations are created equal.

First, you should probably pick a campsite that is not next to any large bodies of water, cliffs, or any other type of potential danger. Just for the sake of your peace of mind, someone wandering
off into the woods may be better then into a lake or some other deadly landform.

Also, it’s a good idea to pick a campsite that has plenty of space between you and your camping neighbor that weekend. Not everyone loves our kids as much as us, and to avoid any uncomfortable situations, it’s’ best to choose a site that gives us a little space for the kids to run.

Last but not least make sure you pick a campsite that is close to the bathrooms. Do I really have to say it? Just save yourself the hassle of nighttime expeditions with flashlights and the kids in tow over to the restrooms. It will make your life easier if you are only a few spots away.

2. Come Prepared for battle.

You know as well as I there are going to be many “opportunities” on a camping trip with kids. There is the falling in the water part, into the mud, into the fire, or basically anything
else that you don’t want to happen.

Having lots of clothes and cleanup supplies to deal with the messes that are going to happen will make your camping trip go just a little bit smoother, smooth enough to do it again next month.

Also, make sure to pack food that will be consumed by your ravaging clan of kids. Hungry kids are grumpy kids and you want everyone to sleep through the night. Make sure you have food prepared that your kids like and will eat.

We all want to make those fun camping trips and memories to keep piling up. One of the greatest part of any camping trip is the fun outdoor activities we get to participate in. Sure, we can do many of these things when we are at home, but there is something about being a new place that makes it more adventurous and exciting.

These five fun outdoor camping trip activities will us happily entertained and leave us yearning for that next time we can pack up the car and head out on another camping trip!

1. Hiking
Hiking may seem like a simple idea, but a weekend camping trip usually takes us to some beautiful areas we visit only a few times. New surroundings always peak our interest and offer us miles of hiking trails full of places, people, and things we don’t get to see and meet everyday.

Hiking trips are great exercise and make us feel better getting fresh air that we might not get being stuck in a cubicle all week long! Hiking trails are usually abundant near camp grounds and is something almost everyone down to the small children can participate in.

Next time you go on a camping trip how about heading out for a nice long hike? You will get some great exercise and see some new scenery in the process.

2. Fishing
Fishing might not be the first outdoor activity that comes to mind when heading out for a weekend camping trip. Even for people who don’t normally fish a lot, a camping trip fishing day can be something new and fun to try.

Usually a lot of us camp near bodies of water; streams, lakes, rivers, and can usually find a fishing pole laying in the basement somewhere. Also, most states sell 2 day fishing

licenses that are not very expensive. A hook and bob-er are usually cheap items and you can dig up worms for free in your backyard. Fishing can usually be fun for kids and even adults who never have had the chance to do it much, so give fishing a though next time you pack for your camping trip.

3. Nature Photography
One of the most popular and newest outdoor activities is taking nature photography. Even for those of us who are not professionals, heading out into the nature that normally surrounds our campsite to capture some unique photos is easy enough.

Taking nature photography usually helps us slow down, be still and quiet, and take in our surrounds a lot more then we normally would. When you are on a mission to find that bird, animal, or unique feature we seem to take notice of our surrounds and appreciate them a lot more. With nearly ever person these days owning a digital camera or smartphone, nature photography is a fun camping activity that will make you feel like a pro!

4. Biking
A lot of times when we are camping there is a lot of walking involved, and the range of sights we can see and things we can do without getting into a car is diminished. Have you ever considered a weekend camping trip devoted to biking?

Nearly every State Park has a biking trail these days, and with how popular the bicycle has become of late, it’s very easy to pedal your way to new destinations. Most of us own a bike, even if it is not the best that we could disassemble and take along on a camping trip. Biking somewhere besides your neighborhood can be exciting and allow you to see and cover a lot of ground that maybe you never could have before. Consider a fun bike ride in your next camping excursion.

5. Kayak and Canoe Rentals
Last but not least, renting a kayak or canoe near your campsite, on a lake or river can be a blast! Usually locating a outdoor retailer and rental company online before you depart on your camping trip is pretty easy.

Renting a kayak or canoe is a camping activity that can lead to a whole day of fun and exercise that will leave you sleeping well that night, and not caring that you are not in your own bed! Prices are generally pretty reasonable and most rental stores allow rentals that are only a few hours long, so you don’t break the budget. Especially when the rental stores will transport and pickup the kayaks or canoes for you, it makes your job a lot easier!

These five fun camping activities are sure to make some more memories and experiences that you will not soon forget.

The basic design of a mess kit consists of a pan with a hinged handle and lid. When the lid is placed over the pan and the handle is folded over, it only measures nine inches deep and seven inches wide, which is very important if one is backpacking.

Some designs have a ring on the lid that can hold eating utensils and can aid in cleanup.

The design of the mess kit has really not changed since wartime. The WWI versions were normally made of aluminum while the WWII versions were made of stainless steel.

Eating utensils could be added to the kit along with a drinking cup and were secured to the mess kit by the ring in the lid.

Today, mess kits are not hard to find and most sport related stores carry this camping staple. But what happens if you forgot your mess kit or do not want to purchase one. Do not worry; the answer is no farther then your kitchen cabinet.

The first thing you will need is a mesh bag. This is easily found in the produce section of any grocery store holding onions, oranges or potatoes. Next, you will need a heat resistant plate and bowl. Try to get one that is not breakable. After that pick out some silverware and place all the items in the mesh bag.

As far as a “drinking cup,” you can use a canteen, collapsible cup or drinking bottle only if you plan to only drink cold beverages. If you plan to drink hot liquids, a heatproof, non-breakable mug will suffice. Many of these can be found in camping stores or look for a metal one in a consignment shop.

Once you have your “mess kit” assembled, the next question is how to clean it. Cleaning ones dinnerware, regardless of what it may be, is very important and can mean the difference between an enjoyable camping experience and a trip to the emergency room.

The first step to the cleaning process is to scrape the dinnerware clean of any food particles. Next heat two deep pots of water to the boiling point. Place dish soap in one and leave the other one plain.

If you are using a commercial mess kit, attach the lid to the pan by the ring and to the ring add the silverware. Once this is done, you can simply hold on to the handle and dip everything into the soapy, hot water. Do this twice and then dip into the clean water. Let air-dry before folding up.

If using the homemade version, place dinnerware in the mesh bag and dip as above. Hang the bag in tree to air-dry.

Having something to eat out of beyond a can is very important when it comes to roughing it. But always remember that even though you may be roughing it, the importance of cleanliness still remains.

Anytime you plan to go out into the backcountry, one must have a plan as to what to do when you have to go. One approach is to always go before you go but this is neither always possible nor practical, especially for those long trips.

A more practical approach is to plan to go when you go and this plan should be based on the rules established by the land manger and the Leave No Trace Guidelines. The four guidelines that apply to waste are that it should not affect water quality, spread disease, affect the aesthetic beauty of the area and be handled in a way that it can be decomposed of safely and quickly.

Handling Number One

Handling a number one really is not that big of a problem for men or women. While the issue is of handling this waste is pretty simple, there does exist some basic rules that one should follow.

1. Urinate at least 200 feet from the campsites, water sources, and trails.
2. Consider diluting the urine with water. This will cut down on the odor.
3. Respect other campers and hikers when choosing a location.
4. While urinating, make sure to avoid ones pants and shoes.

Handling Number Two

Number two can be bigger problem. Some areas require campers and hikers to carry out their waste (WAG) while others allow individuals to handle their waste appropriately in the environment.

Two ways that number two can be handled without carrying it out includes catholes and latrines. Catholes are generally dug for one person and only for short-term use. Latrines, on the other hand, are dug to handle more waste and in doing so work for groups or in areas where you plan to camp for a long period of time.

Digging a cathole or latrine, starts with choosing a correct area. Both of these need to follow the Leave No Trace Guidelines described above. They also need to be in areas that are normally not visited by humans, such as thick brush or under logs,

Once you have your location selected, the next step is to dig the hole. Catholes should be six to eight inches deep and four to six inches wide while a latrine should be six feet deep and the length is dependent on the size of the group.

To use either one of these “holes”, one goes to hole and does their business. The waste is then covered up with soil. Continue to do this until the “hole” is full or you leave the area. Prior to leaving the area, both “holes” should be completely covered over and the area should be left pristine.

If dealing with a latrine, one end should be selected to be the beginning and then filled in as usual.

Once the Job is Done, What About the Paperwork

There has been a lot of debate about toilet paper and its affects on the environment. Toilet paper buried in catholes or latrines takes longer to decompose then the waste. In doing so, many campers and hikers are carrying out their paperwork in resealable plastic bags.

If you insist on disposing of your toilet paper in a cathole or latrine, make sure to only use white, non-perfumed toilet paper.

Other natural sources exist for that can be used in place of toilet paper. This includes dried leaves, which should be identified before using and smooth rocks. When using this approach, make sure to bury these items in the “hole” with the waste.

What to do with ones waste is a universal question that has been asked since the beginning of time. But following these simple guidelines will help one become a responsible camper and keep all wild places wild and clean.

This baking can happen in two different ways. The first way is when you snuggle something like a potato in between the chard briquettes. The radiant heat surrounds the potato and “bakes it.” But another, little known way of using charcoal, is through baking.

Baking by definition is the process by which something is cooked with dry heat. This cooking technique typically is viewed as dealing with breads, desserts and such but it can also be used to cook meats and casseroles.

The key to using this cooking technique beyond sticking food in the coals is two fold. The first part deals with the container and the second deals with temperature.

When “baking” with charcoal, one must first use a container that can withstand the heat. Cast iron is an excellent choice. Skillets and/or Dutch ovens with the lids work well. If you do not have a lid for your skillet, consider using another skillet the same size upside down or a metal plate.

The second thing one needs to consider is temperature. When baking temperature or the correct temperature is very important. A heat that is too hot or not hot enough can be disastrous. To prevent this, follow this simple formula. Each briquette that has turned white equals 15 degrees. An example of how this works starts off by reading the temperature that you will need. If your cake needs a 350 degrees F temperature, then you will need 24 seasoned briquettes.

The number of briquettes in this process is very important but so is the placement. When using this technique, place two-thirds of the seasoned briquettes on the ground and then place your heat-resistant container. Next, place the remaining one-third of the briquettes on top of the lid. Make sure to arrange them so that they are equally spaced.

Keep an eye on the briquettes and monitor their heat. These briquettes will cool down and will need to be replaced often.

Cook your dish the length of time indicated by the recipe. After that time has been reached, remove the lid and check the contents. If it is not done enough, resume cooking and check ever 15 minutes after that.

Cooking with briquettes is a time saving technique when it comes to radiant heat. It also works well as far as baking but keep in mind that while the dish is baking a constant supply of coals will be needed so keep the home fires burning.

Hobo stew is a create way of using up leftovers from other meals. To begin the process of making a hobo stew, one must arrange an assortment of ingredients. These can be broken down into categories, which includes a meat group, vegetables, and spices.

The meat group can include meat that has already been cooked or leftover, raw meat, such as hamburger, and/or beans. The vegetable group includes leftovers and raw vegetables such as onions, potatoes, tomatoes, and/or peas. Any spice can be added to this dish and includes salt and pepper, basil, crushed red peppers and garlic both fresh and dried.

What makes this dish extremely easy is not only its ingredients but also the container it is cooked in. There is no need to lug around a lot of cookware when a simple roll of aluminum foil will do.

Below is a basic recipe for Hobo Stew. As described above, leftovers can be used. If you use all leftovers keep in mind that it will just need to be heated verses cooking raw ingredients. The time described below is for raw ingredients.

HOBO STEW

Serves 4

Ingredients and/or supplies
1 lb of ground beef, divided into four patties
4 potatoes, cut into quarters
1 lb of carrots, cut into bite size pieces or use baby carrots
1 can of peas
2 whole white onions, quartered
Salt and pepper to taste
1 roll of aluminum foil
Cutting board
Oven mitts and/or potholders
Sharp knife

Preparing Stew
1. Wash all the vegetables prior to cutting and do not worry about drying them. The moisture will help steam the vegetables.
2. Roll out the foil and cut off four pieces of foil that is large enough to hold all ingredients.
3. Place a patty of meat in the center of each piece of aluminum foil.
4. Top the meat with the cutup vegetables and salt and pepper to taste.
5. Pull up the long ends of the foil until then meet at the top. Roll the two pieces together until you reach the meat. Seal off the ends by rolling them toward the center.
6. Place the pockets on a rack above the fire or place then around the edge of the fire. Do not put them in the fire. Radiating heat will cook the meat.
7. Turn these pockets often for the next 20 to 30 minutes.
8. Remove from fire and check for doneness.
9. If not done, place back on the fire and recheck in 10 minutes.
10. To serve, open foil pockets and place on a plate or empty the contents of the pockets onto a plate.

Keep in mind when using this recipe, that the pockets and their contents are hot so handle with care and use oven mitts or potholders when handling. Also, do not forget to dispose of your foil and packaging appropriately.

Also, dishes that serve two purposes are excellent. What I mean by two purposes is that you get at least two uses out of the dish and this is where the idea of having your juice and cake too comes from.

The equipment you will need for this dish is a campfire, six large navel oranges, boxed cake mix, and heavy-duty aluminum foil.

To begin the process, one will need to build a campfire a few hours before you begin this process. I like to use the fire that I used for breakfast. If the fire has been burning most of the day, a nice layer of coals will have developed. Also, if you use breakfast’s fire you can enjoy the fruit in the morning and then the cake after dinner.

Regardless of when your fire was built, the next step of this process is to cut the oranges. You will need to cut a small “lid” in the top of each orange. Once this is done, scoop out the pulp of the orange and eat. Do not discard the “lid.” You will need that later in the project.

While you are enjoying the fruit, cut six sheets of aluminum foil the size that is needed to wrap around each orange.

The next in this process is mixing up the cake batter. If you are a purest, you can make the batter from scratch. If you want an easier approach, use a boxed cake mix and mix according to directions. Regardless of which approach you choose, pick a flavor that goes with oranges. This cooking method keeps the cake moist while infusing a slight orange flavor. I have used several different flavors for this dessert and have found that a vanilla or chocolate cake mix works best.

Once the batter is mixed, you will be using the navel orange shells as a pan. Fill each one of these “pans” two-thirds full of cake batter. After that is done, place an “orange lid” on top of each orange and wrap in aluminum foil.

Set the orange peel cakes in the coals of the fire for 20 minutes. But do not leave them alone. To keep the cakes from burning, one will need to turn them often. When turning, do not forget to use oven mitts or another piece of foil to keep from burning yourself.

After the 20 minutes have passed, remove the orange peel cakes from the coals and let them cool.

To serve, open the foil, remove the lid and enjoy. Once the orange peel is empty, do not forget to dispose of the remains correctly.

When camping, especially if one is primitive camping, space is a very important commodity. In doing so, this kit is designed to provide the most fire starting equipment without taking up a lot of space.

The basic premise of this kit is to fill it with fire starting tools so the first ingredient in this fire-starting recipe is the container. The best container to use is an old plastic medicine bottle or an old film canister. Both of these are small and waterproof, which is a very important factor.

The next ingredient in this recipe is something that will be a fuel source for the fire. Since a liquid is out of the question, the next source would be something that would burn just as easily. There are a couple of options at this point but two of the simplest come from common household items. The first one can be found in any dryer and that is dryer lint. This substance is a great ignition source and if do not believe that consider how many home burn up due to dryer fires.

The second ignition source is no farther then your cupboard or vending machine and that is chips. Whether you are talking about corn or potato chips, these little treats are great fire-starters. The oil that they were fried in burns very hot and long. In doing so, they make great ignition sources.

The next ingredient for a fire starting kit is something that will create a spark. A flint and steel is a good choice but it can be hard to fit into a small container. Another choice is blue-tipped strike anywhere matches. These matches, as the name describes, can be struck anywhere. As an example, they can be struck on a rock, shoe or on any other hard surface.

To make these matches even more useful, it is a good idea to waterproof them. While you can buy waterproof matches, the process is so simple why not do it yourself.

To waterproof matches, simply paint several layers of fingernail polish on the head of the matches. Make sure that each layer is dry before applying the next layer.

The last ingredient to add to the kit is something that will keep the fire going while the kindling is burning. This can be dried pine needles, dried bark from dead trees and old candles.

Once you have all your ingredients together, the next step is to fill your fire starting kit.

Organize it so that the items are easy to reach and in an order by which they will be used. As an example, place in the bottom the kindling aids, such as old candles or pine needles. Next, place a layer of some type of ignition source and then push matches around the perimeter of the container. Once this is done, place the lid on securely.

If you are using a larger container, consider adding a 9-volt battery and steel wool. Both of these can be used to create a spark.

So this year, while you are enjoying the wilds, keep your fire starting ingredients safe, dry and sound in your homemade fire starter kit.

The truth is that camping in National Parks rarely offers an authentic out-of-doors experience. Sure, you can find solitude on a long day hike, and most parks offer backcountry permits, a fine option for the more adventurous. But spending a night in designated campgrounds can be a frustrating and crowded experience.

A good option to avoid whirring RV generators, rowdy family reunions and cramped quarters is to check out a National Forest instead of a park.
With 155 National Forests in the United States containing nearly 190 million acres of land, there are plenty of options. Most of these destinations, often bordering National Parks (and just as stunning), don’t have the same nation-wide appeal as parks — or the same crowds.

Aside from certain guidelines - e.g. the distance between your campsite and a water source - dispersed camping is allowed and welcomed in most forests. You can explore the public land on your own terms and camp wherever you see fit, or you can stick to developed campgrounds of which there are many. Not to mention, fees are usually small or nonexistent.

Here are a few options to consider:

Dixie National Forest

Southern Utah is jam-packed with incredible national parks — eight in total. I am not saying they shouldn’t be explored; some of my favorite camping memories are from time spent in Bryce Canyon, Zion and Arches. But Dixie National Forest offers a great alternative. It’s less commercialized, less crowded and equally breathtaking.

This forest straddles the divide between the Great Basin and the Colorado River. One gem that stands out is Red Canyon, an oasis of crimson sandstone formations that shoot up out of a forested area. Plenty of great hiking opportunities to be had.

There are 26 developed campgrounds to choose from, with drinking water, restrooms and fire pits available.

Sierra National Forest

When I think of Sierra Nevada, the first thing that comes to mind is a delicious beer. Then I’m struck with images of one of the most captivating mountain ranges in the country.

This national forest is nestled on the western side of the mountain range in California. Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks are all nearby. This may be a great place to camp in solitude before checking out some of the parks.

Dispersed camping is certainly an option, along with more than 60 developed camping areas. You’ll also find thousands of miles of hiking trails at your fingertips. That’s another thing about so many National Forests: they’re huge. Sierra National Forest encompasses more than 1.3 million acres. Yosemite National Park is 761,268 acres to put things in perspective.

From John Muir himself, a man who explored the Sierra Nevada’s more than most: “The clearest way into the universe is through a forest wilderness.”
–From John of the Mountains (1938)

Bridger-Teton National Forest

You could just call this forest “The Greater Yellowstone Region.” And I mean that in a good way.

Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks seem to have about as many photo-snapping tourists as elk, or bison during the peak summer months. If you are interested in avoiding those Yellowstone traffic jams and the hustle-and-bustle of one or our nation’s most popular parks, the nearby Bridger-Teton National Forest in western Wyoming offers the same expansive skies, and stark, looming mountains. You’ll find more than 40 peaks, with hiking trails ranging from novice to “you better know what you’re doing.”

There are 17 campgrounds among clear mountain lakes, rushing streams, lush vegetation and a diverse wildlife.

About the author: Eric Voorhis is a journalist, photographer and blogger living on Long Island. As a reporter and freelance writer he?s covered everything from education and local politics to recreation and the environment. He has been camping in nearly every state of the contiguous U.S., from the backwoods of Maine to the beaches of California, and hates it when people burn marshmallows.