Africa - Canoe Camping Trips

Camping trips are becoming popular because people have realized the importance of leading a healthy and stress free life and your camping trip gives you total relaxation and solitude.

Living in the wilderness with the bare essentials also gives you the insight of the life and history of the early civilizations and people love to live in tent or in a primitive structure.

Then what are the best of canoe camping? First, tantalizing smells of cooking over a portable stove, the mystifying call of a nearby loon, or the spectacular sunsets and sunrises. Next, the morning dew upon the tent, the lurking fog on the lake as you break camp, a moose and calf arrive at waters edge. How about the mysterious Native American pictographs telling stories of long ago, the busy beaver building a new home, or fast running water heard from a portage walking to the next lake. One of the top experiences, in my mind, is the incredible night skies of northern lights and star gazing.

Although a little exercise is obtained by setting up camp, many more activities are available while camping. Most things you do for exercise while at home, can also be done while camping. Bike rides can stimulate your body and provide a good workout. Canoe trips are excellent exercise as is backpacking or hiking trips. Many outdoor games are available, like football, basketball or horseshoes. Easy and compact to carry with you on your trip. Some campgrounds will have rental offices where you can get bikes, canoes and hiking equipment. Some offer convenience stores where outdoor games or toys will be available.

Building a canoe is not a sprint. It may take several months or longer. Make sure your spouse or partner understands that it may take a fairly long time to complete it. Even though it's not a race, you still need to devote as much time to working on it as you can. Sometimes you just won't feel like working on your canoe. If this happens, just tell yourself you're going to work on it for just one hour. Once you get out there and start working, you'll want to spend more time.

Longer trips are available for others who a bit more of this African adventure to take home with them. These might consider the Kariba to Kanyemba trip! (Kanyemba is located at the Mozambique border) It is more of an explorer trip and can either be done as a WHOLE ten days nine nights experience or the trip can be split into various sections of two, three, five and seven nights.

Don't forget to pack some water. It doesn't have to be great water that is pre-bottled from the store. It can be regular tap water. The reason you want to take your own is quite simple. You never really know if the water at the campsite is going to be drinkable, or even likable for that matter. For this reason, having your own water on hand can save you a lot of "gross, I don't like this water" from any kids you might be toting along on the trip. It is also a good idea to have an empty two-liter pop bottle with you for any water that you might need to collect for doing the dishes or putting out the fire.