Hi fellow travellers,
I'm going to spend a considerable amount of time in East
Africa and I was planning to bring a tent and sleeping bag,
to keep costs down. I just tried on my pack with everything
and it weighs a lot more than I'm used to, since I usually
don't camp. I was wondering if it's completely foolish to
sleep in a tent without a sleeping bag. Anyone do this? I
won't be in the desert or the mountains, so is it worth it
to bring it? I do have a sleep sheet and mosquito net. I'd
love some advice.
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If theres one thing you should take it should definately be
a sleeping bag- especially if your going to be out there for
a long time. Africa can get considerably cold at night in
there winter, even when it is boiling in the day.
Camping doesn't always keep your costs down. Most campsites
I've been charge you for a *campsite* with a maximum of 8
people and one car. When you travel alone this is
definitely *not* cheap. On the other hand, if you can form
a group of about 8 camping backpackers it is quite cheap.
In most bigger places there are cheap Municipality lodges.
Or you can stay in a Backpackers lodge. A lot of them have
web-presence already, have a look.
Don't only bring a sleeping bag but make sure it is a good
one. It has been said before: it can get very cold during
nighttime! I woke up more than once with ice on my tent.
Hi. I just got back from 6 months in EasT Africa a week
ago. I was up in the cold, down in the heat, dry seasson
and rain. A had a tent that saved me a TON of money and
got me to great places you couldn't stay at without one -
fuck the mosquito net - you don't need it, every hotel has
one and you can buy one there if you change your mind,
don't bother with a BIG winter sleeping bag. I had a
sleeping bag liner (like a sleep sheet) and I was fine. My
friend took her sleeping bag and it stayed in storage in
Dar for our whole 6 month trip!!!!! There are 2nd hand
markets EVERYWHERE so you can buy a blanket for 60 cents if
you are heading somewhere really cold then just give it
away when you are finished with it....so ya know - my tent
weighed 2 pounds...try to stay with a light one....but THE
PLACES IT TOOK ME.....have a great time.
I ended up having to buy a rug as well as my sleeping bag
(and thermal liner!) as it gets unbelievably freezing at
times- ice is no joke. You can get such compact light
sleeping bags anyway- also a silk sleeping liner is good,
althouh expensive, as it keeps you cold when its hot and
vise versa, plus its TINY. Camping is easy and well worth
it- way cheaper. I definately wouldn't go anywhere in
Africa without a mozzie net (army advice, and i would get
one before you go as the ones in backpackers are bulky)
apart from if you are going to be in your tent the whole
time- we spent many a night out in the open which was lush,
but if you are near to water, and its mozzie season its not
worth the risk-African hospitals are not to hot. Mozzie
nets also prevent other horrible insects- snakes, spiders
etc wondering near your zone if by chance you do want to
sleep out in the open- which i strongly advise as there is
nothing better than an African starry sky! (although mozzie
nets are a complete bastard to construct- you'll get the
hang of it)
Agree with all of the above. If you don't want the weight
of a tent, consider taking a bivy bag (3 ply gortex if you
have the metical). Have spent many happy nights in my
gortex mozzie condom in various parts of the world.
If you go with the mozzie net - good idea to get it treated
with DEET before you go - all conservationist idealogy
aside - this stuff really keeps the little biting bastards
away.
Don't leave home without a sleeping-bag! Not only will it
save you heaps of money, if you do have to resort to less
than 1* accomodation it will alleviate any concerns you may
have about those nasty blood stains on the sheets!
~
Have a great trip!
~
Yours with copious quantities of jealousy,
~
James (who is looking down the barrel of two years before
his next trip!)
I plan to spend a couple of months in East Africa starting
probably mid September. It will be fun if we can meet their!