Weekend Camping Checklist

It is that time of the year when outdoor events, camping and music festivals become the order of the day weekend. Summer has come around (not quite in Cape Town), the sunny outdoors are calling and there is really no good reason to stay cooped up indoors! Some of the music festivals around this time of the year include Lake of Stars (Malawi), Rocking the Daisies (Western Cape, South Africa), OppiKoppi (Limpopo, South Africa), Synergy Live (Western Cape, South Africa), Vic Falls Carnival (Zimbabwe).  My inspiration for penning this camping checklist is that every time I start packing for a music festival or a camping trip, I can never seem to find the checklist I would have used before and have to write a new one. This will particularly be  useful if you are new to music festivals and/or camping!

Essential Campsite Items

  • Tent, Pegs and Rubber hammer
  • National Flag(s)
  • Torch, Headlamp(s) & Batteries
  • Camping Chair(s)
  • Fire Extinguisher
  • Camping Mattress
  • Sleeping Bag, Blankets and Pillow(s)

Personal Items

  • First aid kit (include tablets for Headache, sinus, rennies etc)
  • Toiletries (include Toothbrush, Soap, Tissue rolls, Wet wipes)
  • Insect repellent
  • Clothes (don’t forget Slippers, Sunglasses, Cap / Hat, Sunscreen, Warm clothes for chilly nights)

Food

  • Food – Cereal, Milk, Canned Food etc (Depends on whether you will be preparing your own meals or buying food from food trucks if it is a music festival)
  • Snacks – Nuts & Raisins, Cereal bars, Bananas, Apples, Biltong
  • Drinks
  • Cooler boxes (1 cooler box with drinks and ice, another with ice only so you still have ice after a day or two)
  • 5L Water (2 or more)
  • Black bins

Miscellaneous

  • Cellphone, USB cable & Powerbank (hardcore campers will probably be upset about this one)
  • iPod, Portable Speaker & Aux cable (hardcore campers will probably be upset about this one too)
  • Action camera, Mini-tripod & Chest harness
  • Physical Cash
  • Identity document and Festival ticket

Optional Items

  • Gas Tank and Cooker Top
  • Cutlery and Crockery
  • Gazebo

Happy camping and cheers to sleeping under the stars!