CORRECT EQUIPMENT
A wise place to start is at home, when you’re packing your gear for a trip. If you’re going camping or hiking in a remote place (like the Drakensberg, or far off-road), at the very least take a detailed map of the area, a compass, a torch, a knife, a small tent, a whistle, warm clothing, a lighter, high-energy food and enough water. If a serious storm strikes, you get lost or someone in your party is injured, you need to be adequately prepared to protect yourself against the elements.
WEATHER
Before you leave home, check the weather report for the area you’re headed to. If there are forecasts of really serious stuff (like torrential thundershowers), consider delaying your trip by a few days.
If you’re caught away from civilisation when foul weather hits, find shelter as quickly as possible, and stay there until the worst is over. Try to keep dry; wet clothes accelerate heat loss, sometimes resulting in hypothermia (a drop in core body temperature), which can have very serious consequences. Keep sleeping bags and important gear dry in sealed bags.
Plan your trip so that you arrive at your campsite with enough daylight to check over the entire site as you set up camp. Look for potential hazards like broken glass and other sharp objects, branches, thorns, venomous and dangerous animals, and unsafe terrain...
To read the full article, order a copy of the February 2011 issue of Caravan & Outdoor Life.
