Camping holidays are not for everyone, but those who do enjoy them can have the time of their lives and make the most of what is actually a very low-cost holiday. If you want to travel across the U.S. you could find yourself spending a lot of money on hotels, but you can dramatically cut this cost if you are prepared to spend time under canvas.

It should be noted that in the U.S. the campsites are usually government-owned, particularly those that are located in national parks and forests, although there are others that are privately owned. It is worth booking a pitch in advance although there are some sites which are dealt with on a first-come first served basis so you take your chances that they have pitches available. It is rare that a campsite will charge more than $25 per day for a pitch but the cost will depend upon the demand and the season. There are some which are even free at certain times and these are worth hunting out.

Amenities at the sites will depend upon whether or not it is listed as ‘developed’ or ‘improved’. A site which is listed as developed will only have sites for tents and maybe an area for a campfire. Improved sites have plenty of extras such as drinking water, toilets and showers. You will also need to take into consideration if a site is accessible. There are some which are listed as backpacking sites simply because they can only be reached on foot.

Organized camping tours

It is possible to join organized camping tours of the U.S. These will allow you to spend more than one night in each place so that you have the opportunity to enjoy as much as you can while you are there. These tours make the most of sites which have all the amenities that you need although there are some occasions when wilderness camping is an option. These tour operators will provide you with all the equipment that you need for your stay including tents, sleeping pads and even portable kitchens although you may need to bring a sleeping bag.

One of the advantages of the camping tours is that you get the chance to try lots of different activities. There are trails that you can hike or you can spend time horseback riding. Mountain biking and canoeing are also popular activities. In order to be able to take part in these activities you will need to make sure that you are physically fit but you do not have to have any experience as there are qualified instructors on hand to help you out. Other options include snorkeling, trekking on glaciers and taking helicopter rides. It should be noted that these activities are usually optional extras and will need to be paid for separately.

Places to visit

So which parts of the U.S. can you expect to visit? The country has everything and the landscape changes dramatically as you cross the country. The U.S. has some of the best national parks in the world and you should be making a beeline for these areas if you want to take in some of the country’s most dramatic scenery. For camping with a difference opt for sites that are near some of the cities.

Yellowstone National Park is a firm favourite with campers. It has the distinction of being the first national park in the world and it actually covers three different states. Many people come to see the geothermal attractions such as Old Faithful and the wildlife. The Grand Canyon National Park is located in Arizona and the canyon itself has been formed with the help of the Colorado River over the course of thousands of years. Helicopter flights are available over the canyon and these are a must in order to make the most of the impressive views. Another popular national park is Monument Valley. This is closely associated with the Navajo people and the area can be explored by 4X4. Traditional song and dance is used to entertain campers who come to the park.

If you are taking an organized tour you need to check in advance what is included and what you will need to bring with you. If you are organizing your own you need to find out what facilities are available at the campsite and plan accordingly. Planning your own camping trip means that you are not really tied by any schedule and you can travel across the country at will.

The two countries of Uganda and Rwanda offer a unique experience of meeting the mountain gorillas, great apes in the wild! Recently, I returned from an expedition that involved a double gorilla trek in the Bwindi Impenetrable Park of Uganda and Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda. The trip also involved wildlife safaris in savanna national parks.

The week long safari was arranged by Jackie and guided by Emma. From the first email to Jackie to the last day with Emma, the experience was excellent and exceeded my expectations and I would definitely recommend this company Rwanda Gorilla Safaris. Jackie responded promptly, thoroughly and professionally to all of my emails. Emma was an exceptional guide throughout the trip. He was pleasant, knowledgeable, polite, punctual and an excellent driver. As a woman traveling alone, I never felt unsafe or awkward. He has a keen eye for wildlife including birds large and small and could spot them from incredible distances and recognizes a wide variety of bird calls and knows their identifying features. He went out of his way to find monkeys, birds and other wildlife as well as the best places for photos during our long drives which made the drive itself pleasant. In addition, he knows about Ugandan history and politics which was quite interesting.

The trek in Rwanda was difficult for me due to the altitude but the ranger and porters were quite understanding and helpful with plenty of rests and helping hands. The trek in Uganda was at times steeper and muddier than Rwanda but was not as difficult. I would definitely recommend hiring a porter or two which is well worth the $10 to 20 per porter which included carrying camera equipment and water and lending a helping hand when needed. The gorillas themselves were beyond description and amazing.

You will need all of your strength to climb up and down the tracks for several hours. I was expecting the trek to be a lot more strenuous – I have an artificial knee joint and am not at all fit but I found the trek quite easy. We walked for around an hour along narrow tracks with several armed guides in our group. I felt totally safe throughout the day. Once the gorillas are located, you leave the tracks and walk through the bush. The guides use machetes to cut a path through the jungle. This is when the walking stick and strong gloves come into their own.

Remember that the animals are in the shadow of the jungle so you will need a good camera. NO FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY IS PERMITTED.

In Rwanda the family appeared completely relaxed on the ground and carried on with their business of interacting with each other in the most endearing ways. In Uganda most of the gorillas were in the trees but a few were on the ground and easier to observe. In both cases, some of the gorillas would pass by in close proximity, seemingly undisturbed by our presence. The primate/chimpanzee trekking in the Kibale forest was much easier. Most of the chimpanzees were in the trees though a few did come down towards the end.

I also was taken on the Swamp tour towards the end of my tour which I thought was also enjoyable. Next to the office where the tour starts are a couple of trees filled with weaver birds and their distinctive nests. It was a wonderful experience to watch the beautiful birds and their nests up close. On the tour, we saw black and white colobus monkeys, beautiful birds, papyrus plants and more. Additionally, I would highly recommend visiting the Genocide Memorial and Museum in Kigali. It is sensitively done and a truly moving experience.

I chose the moderately priced accommodations which I found completely acceptable. The rooms and food were fine. All served simple meals and delicious fruit such as bananas, passion fruit, pineapple, papaya and apples.

Taking a trip in Rwanda can be fascinating and relaxing as this can make you fall in love with wildlife and make you discover a new home with its favorable climate, hospitable people and wonderful tourism amenities at your disposal. Rwanda has vast of tourist attractions that are worth a visit.

The Grand Canyon is an incredible natural spectacle which has to be seen in person to be believed. The Canyon is in the state of Arizona and is managed by the Havasupai Tribe, the Hualapai Tribal Nation and the Grand Canyon National Park. It is one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World due to its spectacular dimensions. The Canyon itself is 277 miles long, is around 18 miles wide and is over a mile deep in places.

Whitewater rafting in this area is extremely popular and even just the idea of doing so on the iconic Colorado River is a wonder within itself! Imagine the incredible views as you travel through the Grand Canyon. You can truly get a good feel for the size and awe inspiring vastness of the Canyon when white water rafting here.

There have been rafting trips in this area for many years and when you book you can talk through all the requirements with experienced staff. It has been recorded that many who try out a white water rafting trip are incredible moved by the whole experience and excitement of being there specifically.

A typical day’s white water rafting in the Grand Canyon generally consists of an early start in order to make the most of the day. You usually travel to the actual site by jeep and onto Diamond Creek Road which is the only road at the bottom of the Canyon. This is a great little journey within itself as you will get a chance to take in your surroundings, the nature and unusual desert plants.

On disembarking the jeep you will meet your own river guide who will get you kitted out with life vests and so on before boarding the raft. Your waterproofs will come in very handy as you will find that you get soaked almost immediately you get going on the boat! You will also have a chance to see and experience moderate classed rapids. This is excellent as children over 8 can therefore accompany you on this trip. After your trip you take a break for lunch before trying out a helicopter flight to Grand Canyon West!

White water rafting trips in the Grand Canyon can last anything from one day to a week – it’s up to you, your stamina and your need to take part in this spectacular action sport!