Welcome to HappyCampa!

2009-03-26T03:01:00.000-07:00

I am officially a camping convert. The realisation officially dawned on me a couple of weeks ago. Upon arrival at a campsite in Swinburne, just outside of Harrismith, my camping partner/boyfriend/partner in crime, Gav, and I were presented with two lodging options. The first, a cosy room in a fully-electrified farmhouse, and the second, our trusty (and a little dusty) two-man tent. I chose the tent.

I realise this choice may not be shocking to some of you, but you must understand, my Sandton, posh all-girl school upbringing dictates that camping should never, ever, be first choice. It raises all kinds of burning questions like: "How do I blow-dry my hair??", "Where do I plug in my cellphone charger??" and of course "How do I cook without a microwave??"

So why camp? I think the answer lies in something primal, something embedded in the darkest depths of our souls. There is something so soothing, so restorative and so peaceful about lying in your tent, listening to the soft breathing (or loud snoring) of the neighbours camped around you. Waking up to the hushed conversations around kettles bubbling away on little kadak burners next to the glowing embers of last night's braai. It's about going back to another age, where we all lived huddled together in friendly communities - a time we can't consciously recall but that speaks directly to something hidden deep in a type of prehistoric, genetic memory. Sitting around a crackling campfire sharing stories, laughter, and inevitably a bottle of Old Brown Sherry can wipe away weeks of stress in a mere minute.

So that's the inspiration behind this blog - to bring you tales of camping escapades along with all the lessons I learn along the way. This, mixed together with smatterings of non-camping holidays as well as some views and opinions on issues that impact on travel and tourism is what I'm hoping this blog is going to be all about. Hope you all stay tuned!