On My Mind: Canvas Tents and Safari Binoculars

They’re not the best or most powerful binoculars in the world, but Nocs are more than adequate for game drives in national parks like Chobe and Kruger, where the animals are often within literal arm’s reach. Being waterproof and rubberized, they don’t require a bulky carrying case and can survive dusty or muddy conditions. Mine served me very well (and were actually so essential that I paid a princely sum to have them couriered across Botswana after accidentally leaving them in a safari vehicle after one too many Windhoek Lagers).

Unfortunately it didn’t occur to me that I might want to take iPhone photos of wildlife through my binoculars, as many fellow safarigoers were doing. This adapter gadget would have been perfect and will be on the packing list for next time.

I’d go so far as to call Blundstones theperfectsafari shoe. They can be slipped on and off with ease (so, no lacing up every time you enter and exit your tent) and can conquer any terrain. Mine were looking a little beat up by the end of the trip but are good-as-new after an airport shoe shine.

Leather boots and a pair of Crocs or flip-flops are all you need for a camping trip in Africa, but I also packed hiking shoes so that I could climb Table Mountain in Cape Town. These Gramicci Merrells were my Christmas present to myself and are grippy enough for scrambling up rocks.

I packed Columbia hiking pants as well as these more substantial Finisterre barrel-legged trousers. They’re thick and slouchy and have lots of pockets that were large enough to stash items like my binoculars, headlamp, and even water bottle. I wore them when bungee jumping at Victoria Falls, and the cotton fabric protected me against any bruising and chaffing.

I packed this insulated jacket instead of a bulkier fleece or sweater and am glad I did. It is water-resistant and has a lined drawstring hood that meant I didn’t have to pack an additional beanie. It was warm enough for cool mornings and evenings and took up very little space in my bag.

Sleeping in a canvas tent for two weeks made me realize how much nicer this nostalgic camping experience can be. Even though they’re less portable and more annoying to put up than lightweight plastic ones, old-school tents are just so much more roomy and civilized as well as water- and rip-resistant. I’m now thinking seriously about adding one to my already overstuffed cupboard of camping supplies.

I own but tragically forgot to pack this pegless travel clothesline, which would have come in handy for drying my damp clothing and travel towel at camp.

Essential as they are when camping, I can’t stand wearing most headlamps. They’re so heavy and uncomfortable and always seem to slip around on my weirdly shaped skull. Not so with my trusty Petzl Bindi, which has traveled with me to four continents so far. It has a slim elastic drawstring rather than the usual thick band, and you can easily adjust the lighting direction forward or downward.

Snow Peak’s tiny rechargeable lamp emits a lovely warm glow and helps romanticize the whole experience of sleeping outdoors. And it really does require a bit of romanticization sometimes — e.g., when tossing and turning in a sweaty sleeping bag while big cats prowl outside.