When Camping Trackers was called to set up a camp in the heart of Magadi for an oil and gas exploration client, we knew it wouldn’t be an ordinary assignment. The desert was waiting for us—with its unforgiving heat, rocky ground, endless dust, and unpredictable storms.
Surviving the Harsh Desert
From day one, we realized this was going to be a story worth telling. The terrain was so rocky that pegging down our tents was impossible. Instead, we had to get creative—using sandbags inside the tents to keep them from being carried away by the desert winds. Each morning, as the sun rose over the dry hills of Magadi, we’d find dust on everything we owned and yet another reminder of how alive this place was.
But Magadi had more in store for us. One night, after a long day and a hearty dinner, the desert unleashed its full fury. Strong winds tore through camp with a roar. Within minutes, our dining tent was twisted and torn apart, and the poles of several tents were bent like wires. Plates scattered, canvas ripped, and the storm reminded us just how small we were in its presence. The good news? Not a single person was injured. The bad news? We had to rebuild everything—with three more months still left on the contract.
Supplies were another adventure. Getting food to camp was a challenge on its own, but keeping it fresh in the desert heat was even tougher. With no grid power, petrol generators became our backbone, running day and night to keep fridges and freezers alive. The cost of fuel was high, but every hot meal and every cold drink became a triumph.
Now, six months in, we look back at this camp as both sweet and sour. Sweet, because it’s thrilling to test our resilience and prove that Camping Trackers can deliver even in the harshest environments. Sour, because the desert never made it easy—storms humbled us, dust tested us, and logistics stretched us thin.
But this is who we are. At Camping Trackers, we don’t just set up camps—we build experiences, survive storms, and keep moving forward no matter what comes our way. Magadi taught us that tents can be torn, poles can bend, but our spirit of adventure and commitment to our clients will always stand tall.
“In Magadi, tents may tear and poles may bend, but our spirit of adventure stands tall.”
Lessons From Magadi
Sweet and Sour in the Desert: Setting Camp in Magadi for Oil & Gas Exploration
Deep in the arid stretches of Magadi, we embarked on a unique journey—setting up and managing a full camp for an oil and gas exploration client. While we cannot disclose the client due to privacy policy, we can share the incredible story of resilience, creativity, and sheer determination that defined this experience.
The environment was nothing short of extreme. Magadi is dry, rocky, and dusty—yet prone to sudden storms and floods that challenge even the best-laid plans. Pegging tents into the rocky ground was impossible, so we improvised, securing them with sandbags placed inside to keep everything anchored. Every day was a test against nature: winds that rattled the tents, dust storms that swept through camp, and rains that turned the desert into mud.
Then came the night that defined the expedition. After dinner, a violent storm hit. Strong winds tore through the camp, twisting tent poles like straws. Our dining tent collapsed and ripped apart, scattering everything in its path. Thankfully, no one was injured. But the damage was real, and with three months still left in the contract, we had no choice but to rebuild, regroup, and move forward.
Supplies, too, were a constant battle. Getting food into camp was difficult, and keeping it fresh in the desert heat required ingenuity. Petrol generators became our lifeline, powering refrigerators and freezers, though at the steep cost of fuel in such a remote location. Every plate of food on the table felt like a victory.
Six months into this project, with three more to go, we can say this: it has been both sweet and sour. Sweet, because it’s thrilling to test our limits and prove that even in the harshest terrain, we can deliver. Sour, because the challenges are real—nature humbles you, logistics test you, and resilience becomes the only currency that matters.
At the end of the day, this is what being in business means. Not every project is smooth, but every project is worth it. Magadi has taught us that storms may twist our tents, but they won’t twist our spirit. We rebuild, we adapt, and we keep moving forward.
