Camping provides a wonderful way of escaping everyday life. But whether you are a regular camper or a first-time explorer, you want to be fully equipped and prepared for every terrain and weather pattern. Braving the elements is part of the camping or trekking experience, and those can vary from sweltering heat and humidity in the dry zone, to biting cold in Sri Lanka’s central hill region. So it’s wise to be prepared for all conditions.
Camping and caravanning holidays are relatively inexpensive once the initial equipment outlay is covered. It used to be that hikers and campers had few local outlets to purchase this equipment from, and this limited the enthusiasm of everyone but the most hardcore outdoorsmen. Equipment is now far more accessible – from leech socks to six-person camper vans. Here are the outfitters who can equip you for your next outdoor adventure.
ADVENTURE SEALs
3, Vijaya Kumaratunga Mawatha, Colombo 5
0773 476 415, 0772 497 979
www.adventureseals.com
SEALs – Sea, Land, Air Sports – is as keen about sharing their love for the outdoors as they are about selling the gear.
They also offer a caravan experience. The caravan can accommodate six people, and has a built-in kitchen, microwave and refrigerator, in addition to an onboard kayak and bicycle – all available for renting for Rs60,000 per day.
The company’s 2016 focus, however, will be popularizing rock climbing. A climbing wall is being constructed at its flagship location on Baseline Road. They employ professional climbers and instructors to train anyone interested in taking up the sport.
EDGE – Adventure Outfitters
Sri Lanka
15, Stratford Avenue, Colombo 6
2 504 602, 4 410 110
www.edgesrilanka.com
A unit of the Borderlands brand, EDGE is an adventure equipment company. It specialises in water sports, and the store markets kayaks, paddles and life jackets. Borderlands has a riverside camp in Kithulgala.
It also offers internationally renowned camping equipment brands Coleman (tents, air mattresses and coolers), Feelfree (kayaks, paddles and dry bags) and Vango (sleeping bags), in addition to its own EDGE (leech socks, phone pouch and lamps). Most of the equipment have their specialist applications, but things like dry bags are useful for even casual trekkers to keep belongings dry when hiking through a rainforest or camping at the Knuckles Mountain Range. A good pair of leech socks is an effective way to keep its wearer leech-free during an expedition anywhere in Sri Lanka’s wet zone.
EDGE, together with Borderlands, also organizes four-day Mahaweli river safaris, which involve camping and paddling down the river.
GO OUTDOORS
82/1A, Stratford Avenue, Colombo 6
4 545 553
www.gooutdoors.lk
Caravans or mobile homes are a relatively new concept in Sri Lanka. A fully owned subsidiary of Fairway Holdings Group of Companies, Go Outdoors introduced it here recently. The company markets motor home brands Adria from England, Hobby from Germany and Camp-let. The caravans can also be rented. For caravanning to work, Go Outdoors is developing caravan parks in several locations around Sri Lanka – including Nuwara Eliya, Pasikudah, Trincomalee and Kalpitiya, adding to its existing park in Kirinda (Yala).
The company’s outdoor leisure and lifestyle store has the latest in outdoor gear and equipment from England’s Kingfisher brand. Best-selling items at the store include tents, air mattresses and pumps, sleeping bags, portable stoves, and dry sacks.
TGO – THE GREAT OUTDOORS
35T, First Floor, Liberty Plaza, Colombo
32 301 113
[email protected]
TGO is not an association or a club, but a social transformation programme with the goal of ‘taking the young and young-at-heart from the confines of the indoors to the great outdoors’. TGO activities are focused on kids and families, and suited for all ages. TGO events take place at its aquatic adventure center in Pamunugama, which also allows island camping in the Negombo lagoon. TGO also revealed plans for an aerial adventure centre with an air rifle range and a sports climbing gym in the future.
The TGO store has every type of equipment, gear and kit required for outdoor adventure sports. Most of the equipment is broadly based on three aspects of camping and cooking, outdoor furniture, and sleeping. The shop has everything from tents, stoves and foldable furniture, to fishing equipment, air rifles and climbing gear.