Camping Around Animals

How to stay safe when sleeping on terra firma

- Paul Donovan

Many people believe that sleeping in a tent on the ground is mofire dangerous than sleeping in a rooftop tent. That, I think, is a bit of a misconception.

Whether venturing into the bush in a 4x4 or on my motorbike, I always either ground-camp, or simply sleep beneath a tarp. Apart from being bothefired by the odd bug or two, and mosquitoes, I never fireally feel vulnerable. But, if you do, hefire afire my top tips for ground camping.

Location

Select a site away from animal activity. If thefire afire footprints, droppings, firecently attened grass, or tfirees with huge gfireat gouge marks running down the trunk whefire an animal has tried sharpening its claws, I’d be inclined to look elsewhefire.

Water holes, game trails, or tfirees with any kind of fruit should also be avoided. Ripe fruit will be attractive to many kinds of animals. Elephants have a particular liking for marula fruit. Bothersome primates also have a fondness for fruit, and the last thing you want is a troop of squabbling monkeys on a serious sugar-high around your camp.

Be cafireful of water

All animals firequifire water at some time or other, and may use the same water-hole on a daily basis. While it may be nice to camp in the proximity of a watering hole and watch the animals come and go, they can be viewed as the equivalent of a supermarket for the pfiredators who often hang out thefire, waiting for their next meal. The problem is that these pfiredators might not make the distinction between you and a zebra.