Gifts gone wild

If you need something for the adventurer in your life, Claire Keeton and Marianne Schwankhart suggest some luxury items that have made their travels more fun this year

. CAMPING COFFEE PLUNGER GSI JAVA PRESS 30oz (900ml), R389

When you're on holiday in the mountains or on a remote beach, you won't be able to drop in at a Vida e Caffè for your regular caffeine shot. But don't panic. The Java Press will brew two cups of hot coffee wherever you are.

Marianne and I have taken this model to the swamps in Botswana, the desert in Namibia and all over South Africa on camping trips. It has an insulating sleeve over the carafe, which keeps the coffee warm while it's brewing and protects it while you're on the move. The "double-walled, thermally insulated lid helps retain heat," as the manufacturer claims.

The carafe is made of a hard, clear plastic but it is BPA-free. (BPA is a chemical that can seep from the containers into drinks). The Java Press is easy to clean and I've got friends who use it at home and at the office. Some may consider it luxury gear, but the Java press is an essential item for us - one of the first things we pack when we go away.

The GSI Outdoors Java Press 30oz (900ml) and 10oz (300ml, R259) are available at Drifters stores in Sandton and Cape Town.

. SLACKLINE SA KIT 26mm x 15m, R685

Slacklining or tight-rope walking between spires and cliffs is taking off as an extreme sport but this circus-inspired art, which builds your core abdominal muscles, is not new.

In 1974, Frenchman Philippe Petit walked a line between the Twin Towers in New York - a feat immortalised in his book and the movie Man on Wire. Marianne can balance along a line but I go flying off if I don't have a shoulder or hand to stabilise me. Of course, the cliché about practice making perfect holds true. You can string the line between trees, rocks, even cars and buildings.

A slackline kit consists of webbing, which looks like a wide flat strap (25mm, 26mm or 50mm), with slings, buckles and ratchets to secure and tighten it. A kit packs into a package about the size of a bulky novel.

Mountain Mail Order (MMO) in Cape Town sells slacklines. The standard Slackline SA Kit is cheaper than the wider webbing kit (50mm x 15m, R765). The Singing Rock Kit is 10m long x 25mm and costs R725. For information, call 0214471319, e-mail info@mountainmailorder.co.za or visit www.mountainmailorder.co.za.

. SUPER SOLAR SHOWER 20 l , R99.95 

Showering, especially with hot water, is a luxury when camping in wilderness areas. On a 4x4 trip to Botswana, we used this shower on the salt pans of Kubu Island and the red sands of the Central Kalahari.

Both places were sunny and we had to dilute the hot water with cold or we would have been scalded. We shared 20l between two or three of us on alternate days and the tap and flexible hose made it easier to control the flow. When you're conserving water, try to shower while the sun's out.

The first time I used a solar shower in the Nevada desert at night after climbing all day, I got cold even though the water was warm.

Sportsmans Warehouse stocks this shower.

. HEADSTART PETANGUE BOCCE SET, R329.95

Boules, or pétanque as it is known in France, is similar to the British game of bowls. For travellers, the advantage over bowls is that you don't need a manicured lawn to play boules - any level dirt or gravel surface will do. We played a game on the somewhat bumpy salt pans in northern Botswana as the sun was setting over baobab trees nearby.

You can choose to throw or roll the heavy balls. Our kit had stainless steel balls with engravings to indicate the player or team.

Select Sportsmans Warehouse stores stock this set.

. OLYMPUS TG-810 WATERPROOF CAMERA, STARTS AT R3599

The Olympus TG-810 is part of the Tough series and I tried it out in the sea at a Kenyan fitness camp. The TG-810 has all the latest specs that you find in many cameras - freeze-proof to -10°C, waterproof to 10m, shockproof at 6.6ft, GPS - the list goes on.

All of this is pointless if you can't operate the camera easily. The menu buttons on this model are self explanatory and convenient, making it easy to navigate the controls. It even comes with its own life jacket for underwater photography.

The only drawback under water is what feels like a really long shutter delay. If you take an extra deep breath and are aware of the delay, you can get used to it. Also watch out not to get your finger in the way of the view finder. You are guaranteed good quality-images and toughness for adventures.

Most major electronic stores stock this camera or you can call 0118032226 for your closest Olympus retailer.