The camp-fire

If there’s one traditional symbol of camping, it’s the camp-fire. Nevertheless, don’t make a huge fire unless it’s made from wood that you’ve brought with you. Wood in the UAE is scarce and it’s environmentally incorrect to gather wood that’s so valuable to the creatures of the desert. Don’t waste wood just to impress your friends — rather take wood or charcoal with you. Always remember to keep an eye on the children around the fire and never put empty fuel canisters in the fire or use petrol to light a fire.

Charcoal for cooking can be selected as required and placed in a separate heap in a shallow ditch surrounded by evenly arranged flat rocks large enough for your steel (stainless steel is preferred) grid. Premarinated meat is recommended.

If you find a neatly cut and piled stack of wood don’t touch it. It has most likely been cut and prepared by nearby villagers for cooking and, not surprisingly, they can get quite offended if you use their wood.

Fire making is a skill. Stack kindling (paper, leaves, twigs, small branches and well-split logs) over the tinder so that it’s arranged in a circle and leans together at the top to form a small pyramid. Light the fire at the bottom of the tinder. Always light it upwind, that is, with the wind blowing the match flame into the tinder. As the pyramid burns, it will light the surrounding charcoal.

Remember, no matches or lighter — no camp-fire.