We all love our home comforts when we travel. No matter whether you are heading off with your family for a rafting adventure to Morocco, or you are some friends off to challenge the Zambezi River, here are a few of our suggestions to make that trip a little more comfortable and rewarding.
1. Go Pro Camera: Simply the best HD waterproof video and stills camera for the adventure traveler. Water By Nature have a number of these which our video kayakers place either on the guides helmet, getting a perspective on the whole raft, or even better on the front of the raft pointing back at the whole crew. Great for facial expressions! Take your own with attachments allowing to attach to your helmet, or on your safari vehicle as you drive through Botswana. TOP TIP: Turn off the wifi on the camera to improve battery life. Bring an extra
2. Camp Pillow: Sounds like an obvious one, but so many guests show up expecting to just use a jacket or fleece as their pillow. Go for comfort people! A good night sleep in your comfy tent, or indeed if you choose to fall asleep under the stars, a comfy Kathmandu pillow as provided in our sleep kits are well worth it!
3. Headlamp: Possibly the most useful piece of kit you can bring on your rafting trip. Perfect for those late night walks over to your tent, after sitting around chatting with your fellow adventurers. Far more useful than a handheld torch, this will allow you to perform simple tasks like filling up with an extra portion of chocolate cake at dinner time. It can also be useful should you need to take a midnight dash to the loo!
4. Multiple Water Bottles or Camelbak: Many of our guests are surprised at how much more water they drink on a rafting vacation, than they do at their home or work. In general we suggest in warmer climates such as a Zambezi rafting trip, or rafting the Karnali river in Nepal, you should be aiming to drink around 5 litres per day. Bear in mind that certain anti malarial medication may also make you sensitive to the sun as well. It is a great idea to take 2-3 nalgene or similar bottles so you always have one on the go!
5. Your Favorite Book: What is a holiday without a good book. Perhaps your idea of a great rafting vacation is reading The Emerald Mile while you raft down the Grand Canyon. Whether you prefer traditional paper books or a kindle or iPad to read on, you’ll want to keep them well protected from sand with a small waterproof dry bag.
by Hamish McMaster
Hamish McMaster is the Water By Nature owner. He has spent the past 25 years exploring and playing on the world's great rivers. He still loves nothing more than getting out there and sharing adventures.
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