Dos and don'ts of wild camping

No costs, closeness to nature, quiet, and sometimes even a fantastic view - these are just some of the advantages of wild camping. Wild camping means parking/staying overnight in public places. Possible are public parking spaces, but also quieter and more beautiful pitches in the forest, on uncultivated fields, directly by the sea, or on hills and cliffs with spectacular views.

But even though one feels so free and unrestricted by camping in general, and wild camping in particular, you should follow some rules. On the one hand, to leave a good impression of wild camping, so that it is not forbidden in even more countries, and on the other hand, so that people, animals, and the environment are not unnecessarily burdened. We recommend the following rules of conduct for wild camping and thank you if you already follow them.

Out of sight, out of mind? No camper should follow this motto. And yet, many wild camping sites are littered, which in turn leads to increased bans. But we want to do it differently: You should leave the place the way you would like to find it. The rest, for example, plastic garbage, food leftovers, or toilet paper, have no place in nature and harm the environment as well as the animal kingdom.

In your camping equipment, you should not miss several garbage bags, because also the disposal in public garbage cans leads to the fact that animals can use them and the wind whirls everything around. For other legacies, it is worthwhile to have a folding spade with you and then bury them, of course without toilet paper or handkerchiefs.

Even noise pollution is quite common, to the sorrow of other campers and animals. Loud music and bawling disturb your fellow campers and drives animals away from their natural habitats. Always remember that you are only a guest and should adapt. So don't be rude and behave. Lower the volume a little bit if your camping neighbors ask you.

Everyone should know by now that open fire is to be enjoyed with caution and can be particularly dangerous in dry areas. In summer, it is best to avoid campfires, gas stoves, candles, etc. if you are in the countryside and near combustible materials. You should also be aware that campfires can cause permanent damage to the ground due to the heat. Another disadvantage of fire is the smoke, which can be a very smelly and annoying thing for your camping neighbors.

If you do not want to do without a fire, you should look for wild camping sites with fireplaces advertised on Caravanya. There are also simple safety precautions to reduce the risk of fire:

• Campfire on fire bowls (protects the ground and reduces the risk of fire)
• Candles in glasses (they should never be unobserved, but they also prevent the risk)

Wildcamping is not the same as "I can go anywhere I want." There are areas such as nature reserves or national parks where camping is strictly prohibited. Hunting grounds and agricultural-areas are also taboo. Furthermore, don't park on private properties without asking. Our tip: Look at the signs. They usually show you obviously where standing is allowed or not allowed.

So let's together make the image of the general wild campers more positive again by following these small rules. It is best to leave the pitches as if you had never been there. With a good conscience and in symbiosis with other people, nature, and animals, camping is much better anyway.