I am a city girl. Through & through. I like city lights, city things, the buzz, the shops & city people.
To say that camping in the Kalahari sand is daunting for a city slicker like me is an understatement.
So, after our recent trip to the bush – well, the Kalahari Desert aka Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park to be exact – I decided to share my Camping Survival Tips for City Girls. These tips are not about pitching your tent or the checklists that you need. It is rather about remaining sane when you feel like a fish out of water. And to find ways to relax – even when you are completely out of your comfort zone.
This was my 4th camping trip in about four years, so I’d like to think that I’ve come a long way. Just in case I’m not clear: I’m not talking five-star lodge, luxury chalets in the bush or glamping. I’m talking real camping. Real tents. Packing all of your own stuff & pitching your own little tented village in the middle of nowhere or in a sandy campsite.
So, here are my keys to surviving & ultimately enjoying a week camping in the bush as a city slicker:
1. Plan your outfits
I don’t have a safari wardrobe. Heck, I don’t even have shorts & t-shirts. Or any outdoorsy safari or active wear. I have lovely work outfits, smart casual mom-outfits & activewear (only suitable for indoor training really). Shorts are just not my style & the thought of shorts make me nervous. So I tend to get really stressed about what I am going to wear on this type of outdoors, roughish holiday.
My outfit strategy for this trip started with a weather app. I tried to get an idea of the kind of weather that we could expect & then planned accordingly. I am pleased to report that it worked. On our previous trip to the Kgalagadi, we had extremely cold nights, but this time around it was super hot during the day & warm at night, so the beanies & fleece underwear never made an appearance.
I’m a big fan of leggings (the black ones from Pick n Pay) for a camping trip. They double up as sleepwear, long underwear & also evolve into daywear. Easy & comfortable. I threw in a number of casual sundresses & so I managed to avoid buying safari shorts.
When camping, your sleepwear is important too. A white robe or satin PJ’s just won’t do it on this trip. Also, you have to pack some close-toed shoes that you can easily pull on & off when you need to find your way through the sand to the ladies at night. Because? Scorpions & other creatures that I prefer not to think about too much.
The picture below was taken to show my nieces how I pimped my hat & that I was wearing golden sneakers on this trip. I returned with only one of these fab sneakers through. A jackal decided to snatch my other sneaker during the night. They are super naughty & scavenge the camp at night & literally carry anything away that they can find.
2. Embrace Hats & Dry Shampoo
My hair looks much better with some proper styling & drying off. The Kalahari facilities or lack thereof does not always allow for fancy hair. Washing your hair can often be totally pointless if you are spending so much time sitting next to the fire.
As on most holidays, I try to go for a blow out the day or hour before we leave. I then stretch the blow out as far as I possibly can. That way, you will at least start your trip looking semi-stylish. My besties on this trip were my dry shampoo, buff & (preferably my pimped) hat.
3. Enjoy the Digital Detox
Many of us contemplate digital detoxes, less screen time & the way all technology overload impacts our lives. At the very least this type of bush holiday is completely off-line. Disconnected. Analog.
After a week of being offline, my brain felt rebooted & fresh.
4. Remember the Childhood Memories
Having one child means that holidays can easily turn into a mission to entertain your child. Holidaying with other families makes life way easier. As in a previous post, I have to remind myself that we’re making memories here & it is pretty epic.
The troop of kiddos on our trip played in the sand for hours, had loads of fun on the (self-driven) game drives, they swam for hours & even had a treasure hunt in the dark.
As we left the Kgalagadi, Oliver asked if we could stay for a whole year. Bless. Clearly, he had a blast.
5. Take Pictures
If you are going to switch off your phone for a whole week, then make sure you have your real camera with you. It’s also awesome to capture all the moments. The sunsets, kids playing, swimming, chilling by the fire.
6. Relax & Restore
We are so used to having all our entertainment on our devices that it is important to plan & take some off-line activities to pass the time. Sleeping is a favourite off-line activity of mine, but you can’t lie in a hot tent for most of the day. So I pack an adult colouring book with crayons, I also stock up on my favourite magazines, & download podcasts & audiobooks.
The kids love love love offline play.
7. Stock Up on Your Favourite Drinks
A cold glass of Sophie Te’Blanche, a G&T or a Duchess is always welcome. And don’t forget coffee with your rusks first thing in the morning.
8. Pack the Right Beauty Kit
Beauty prep before going on a trip to the bush is key. A gelish or shellac mani & pedi will make you look & feel groomed. I can also highly recommend a facial before you leave for your trip.
A facial spritz or mist is a lifesaver if you are feeling hot & dry out in the bush. I relied quite heavily on my Avene Thermal water. I keep it in the cooler & spritz my skin whenever I have the need for some soothing. It is also perfect for sensitive skin.
I probably wash my hands about 2 million times a day. Ok, maybe a little bit less. My point: I don’t like hands that don’t feel clean, so having wipes & hand sanitizer in my bags, in the car & around the tent is non-negotiable. And don’t forget the facial wipes.
How about you? Do you love camping? Or do you, like me, also need a pep-talk & much encouragement to embrace it?
I’d love to hear from you. Do you have anything to add to this reminder list for city slickers to surviving & ultimately thrive during a week camping in the bush?
Yolandi ♥