They don't know what we know

Despite technological advances, and the unrealistic notion held by some that camping is merely a way to show off, the heart of the lifestyle should remain unchanged, says Neels van Heerden.

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A few years ago, I was involved in attempts by three different organisations to improve the camping industry. The campaign, run by the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA), was the most comprehensive, though not without its shortcomings. The main problem lay in the use of so-called master assessors, who had a significant say in grading but, in many cases, fell woefully short when it came to real, hands-on camping experience.

These assessors had to sign off on all grading reports, which inevitably led to conflict. In one case, they insisted that the bathrooms at the opulent Mount Nelson Hotel and those at Mbizi - South Africa's first five-star caravan park - should meet exactly the same standards. It was unrealistic, and when the TGCSA's master assessor withheld Mbizi's grading, the owner made his dissatisfaction very clear. The TGCSA's response was swift: the grading officer was summarily dismissed.