Advice

Any time you wash a sleeping bag, you subject it to wear and tear and decrease the loft a little. Spot cleaning the shell with a paste of laundry detergent, water and a toothbrush isadvised before washing the whole thing. This is especially true around the hood and collar where hair and skin oils tend to accumulate.

By having colour coded tent poles, your setting up at the camp site will be extremely helpful. It will not only speed up the time in which you pitch your caravan full tent, but it will also take the guess work out of what goes where.

A Pet First Aid Kit is the first step in being prepared should an animal emergency happen.

If youre looking to hit the road with your canine companion or feline friend, follow this advice to make the trip as smooth as possible.

Been able to camp with their pets is important to many people who go camping. They would not be able to travel unless their pet was able to accompany them. What is important is that you must train both yourself and your pet to live according to the rules of the resort.

Over the past ten years, weve undertaken many trips with our caravan and Rambo, our well behaved Miniature Doberman, constantly accompanied us.

When you and your family get back home after a camping weekend or holiday, you're all tired and want to unpack the car and caravan as fast as possible. After unpacking the car and caravan, you've most likely forgotten about the refrigerator in the caravan.

All caravanners and campers must be aware of the fact that they must also apply strict safety and security themselves, and not always rely on the resort owner or management to do so. It is very much up to all of us to provide safe, reliable and efficient means of protecting ourselves and our property.

Just consider just how small an ant is, then it isnt surprising that they manage to sneak into your caravan, tent or camper van from tiny nooks and crannies; but when we noticed long trails of ants running along the inside of the caravan or tent, we know that they are getting in from somewhere specific.

Weight distribution in a caravan is very important. It makes the difference between a comfortable ride and a feeling of tiredness when one reaches the end estination.

A little while ago, while camping on the South Coast, we saw a retired camper allowing his grand-daughter to hand feed the vervet monkeys with bread. When we approached him to ask him to please stop allowing the child (she was only three or four years old) to feed the monkeys, he actually became verbally abusive and told us to mind our own business.

A little research beforehand can prevent disappointment, and ensure a good time - for everyone. Plan ahead, especially in high season. Many resorts will take pets only in off-season times. Some only allow small dogs, or what they term �Lap dogs�.

Preparation is the key to any successful camping trip or holiday. As and when you and your family go camping, accidents will inevitably happen, especially when outdoors, and particularly when you take the children along. It is therefore best to have a First Aid Kit available in the car, caravan or tent so as to be always prepared for those little accidents that can happen when camping.

A young man sprinkling his lawn and bushes with pesticides wanted to check the contents of the barrel to see how much pesticide remained in it. He raised the cover and lit his lighter; the vapours ignited and engulfed him. He jumped from his truck, screaming.

During the past year I wrote an article regarding the touchy subject of safety and security while camping. For those of you who have not seen it and also for those of us going away in a few weeks time for the Christmas break, I include this HOW TO CAMP SAFELY article for your perusal.

The driver, thats you, of the tow vehicle has the responsibility for the safe operation of the caravan you are towing, and you need to carry out the following checks