Other things to remember

  Be selective. When packing clothes, remember that temperatures can drop dramatically at night, and dew can dampen kit as thoroughly as if it had rained. Good footwear is essential if you intend to do a lot of walking and don’t ever forget a hat.

You’ll want direction-finding equipment such as compass, maps, binoculars, direction notes etc, especially if setting out over unfamiliar terrain. Nowadays a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver is the best guarantee of finding your way.

  Other staples of camping equipment include matches and flashlights of various sizes — a spotlight that works off a car battery is also good, while a miner’s flashlight worn on the forehead will leave your hands free to carry out other activities. You can resort to candles if all else fails, so take a few along.

Sleeping accessories are matters of taste. For many people a sleeping bag is enough although a foam or blow-up mattress, even though bulky, is a valuable item, especially for sleeping in rocky wadis. Extra blankets during winter months are a wise precaution. A tent is useful. It’s always better to get a slightly larger tent than you think you’ll need and a tent that provides both breathability (so moisture doesn’t collect on the inside) and waterproofing is preferable. In this region, self-supporting tents such as dome tents — whose poles are pushed through sleeves on the outside of the tent to support it — are especially useful, as solid ground for rent pegs and guy ropes is not always available. Metal pegs that are useful for mountainous terrain are too small for sandy ground and dune camping, so large plastic pegs are the best for this purpose. Put a lightweight groundsheet under your tent to protect it from sharp twigs and stones. It’s always easier to clean a tarpaulin than a tent, and a piece of polythene works fine. You might consider a camp-stove as more convenient than an open fire for cooking and warmth. With such items, the lighter the better.

The writer usually carries different sizes of stoves: small ones with rechargeable capsules for quick heating on a short camping trip and a Coleman two-burner fuel stove for an extended camping trip.

Your insulated icebox should have sturdy handles and hinges and a firm latch. Models with a bottom drain are handy. Two different-sized iceboxes, rather than one very large one, have the advantages of being easier to pack and carry, and can provide greater flexibility of storage and temperature control. A compact portable fridge, which works off a car battery, is very useful although somewhat expensive.

Using dry ice ensures your food will be kept dry. The writer usually freezes plastic water bottles prior to departing on a trip and uses them to keep the icebox cool and provide cool water throughout a journey. Storing various types of food in plastic containers before putting them in the icebox helps to keep them intact during rough journeys while specially- made items, such as plastic egg containers, help to protect foodstuffs.

Folding tables and chairs are helpful but not essential. When selecting a table, make sure it’s sturdy and there’s no danger of its collapsing or tipping. The same goes for camp-chairs. All-purpose tools to take along include a pocket knife (or, better still, a Swiss Army knife or a Leatherman) and a hatchet and shovel are a must, In the dunes, shovels of various sizes are the tools you may need to dig your vehicle out of the sand if it gets stuck. A loud whistle is also handy as a precaution against getting lost or separated from your party. Your personal items might include a first-aid kit, suntan lotion, sewing kit, safety pins, string and nylon cord.