Wild Camping the distance...

[JoeSheffer]

So i'm travelling solo in 2008 to Nepal via East coast of africa. I'm hell bent on camping and have sorted my kit out.

Will i have any problems in places like Libya/Iran/Sudan...obvisouly not camping in cities, but on the road do you think its plausible to camp most of the way.

How about in india, is there normally somewhere quiet you can find to pitch up not too far from the main roads? Do you ever feel threatened, just come home from cambodia/vietnam and must say i feel i would have struggled to find wild camping there i think (despite the fact i wasn't looking obvisouly)...but that might be more to do with the issue of landmines/rice paddies. Anyone ever feel threatened while camping solo?

[outthere]

Hi, sounds great trip. Ive only done a little of India and Southern Africa and id have to say its not that its so dangerous, its finding a spot that there are no crowds looking on etc. Going to the loo on the road can be hard enough, camping has its own issues. Ive been to Vietnam and comparing that with India, id have to say India is more crowded and crazy. All the best Brian B

[Stephano]

Originally Posted by JoeSheffer

Will i have any problems in places like Libya/Iran/Sudan...obvisouly not camping in cities, but on the road do you think its plausible to camp most of the way.

Sleeping outside under the stars is a way of life in Sudan (as in a lot of hot countries) although it's usually done in the privacy of a 'hosh' or courtyard.

When I lived there, I got lifts with lorry drivers from Port Sudan to Khartoum and, at night, they simply parked up and slept on mats under their lorries. I shouldn't think much has changed although personally I'd feel safer stopping at similar truck stops or villages and 'getting to know the neighbours' than being 'on my own'.

I was once in Khartoum with a Sudanese friend who had forgotten to carry his passport. For that reason no hotel would take him. We ended up sleeping on the grass outside the presidential palace along with a few homeless others. The police didn't bother us but the the ants did!

Iran is another very friendly country where you should be able to camp out without problems. Have a look at Peter's experience here though to remind us that we always need to keep our wits about us.
Stephan