Remember that time you went to a picnic and wished that you had a checklist because you probably forgot a few things? That has definitely been me severally with my most recent experience involving forgetting to carry the shukas that are necessary for picnic 101. We hope that this article will come in handy to avoid a situation similar to mine!
Picnics with your family or friends are a great pocket-friendly experience to enjoy the great outdoors and bond over a light meal. Nairobi has some beautiful outdoor parks and forests that have beautiful green spaces allocated for picnics.
The serenity of laying on your shuka and enjoying the sun on a Sunday afternoon is bound to get you energized for the week. Planning a picnic can be quite tedious especially when it involves a large number of people. So much goes into the fine details to ensure that your guests have a lovely time. A simple thing like a poor choice of location can ruin a picnic experience.
Here are some tips on how to plan a perfect picnic;
1. Confirm how many people are coming.
If you are like me who shares some personality traits with Monica from F.R.I.E.N.D.S, then you understand how having a confirmed guest list is important to a gathering. This is the first and simple step: make sure that after you reach out to people and ask them out on a picnic, they have confirmed their availability.
This will make sure you plan well for the rest of the things you need from traveling to the destination, how much food to pack, how much cutlery will be required, and the spot to pick out.
2. Picking the Perfect Spot.
Nothing influences a picnic more than a location. There are different spots you can set up your picnic ranging from a park, lakeside, or the beach. The locale is the most important picnic experience, and this can make or break your picnic. Sometimes you may want to factor in the popularity of the location, especially if you are looking to have some solace in quiet time.
If you are having a picnic in summer under the Nairobi sun, you would like to factor in details such as the availability of trees for shade while having your picnic.
There are very many beautiful places to have a picnic in Nairobi including Karura Forest, Paradise Gardens, Evergreen Park, Ngong Hills, Oloolua Nature Trail, Central Park, and Uhuru Park.
3. Is the location you want Urban or Rural?
Are you seeking a venue in a rural scenic landscape or a venue outlooking the urban mosaic big city?
What view would you want? Choosing the right spot with a good view of the ocean, landscape, cliffside, or wherever you find appealing is a nice way to select a spot. You may choose to hike up Ngong hills and have a scenic view of the city while enjoying some fresh air or you might enjoy City Park in the middle of the city.
4. How popular is the Spot?
If you prefer solitude and some like being around other picnickers so knowing how popular a spot is can be very important. Sometimes you may be planning an intimate gathering and will prefer some privacy.
Most picnic spots are quite popular during the weekends.
5. Luggage and equipment to carry.
This is a very important part of planning for your picnic. Some examples of the items you may need to carry include a picnic basket, an insulated cooler for the drinks that need to stay cold, any flatware that you may need, a pack of napkins and hand sanitizer as well as a tablecloth or a picnic blanket.
Having a four-wheel drive would help you navigate picnic sites such as Ngong Hills. If you are carrying a lot of equipment, a pick-up truck would come in handy.
6. Check your weather forecast
Before planning on what day to have your picnic, check your weather forecast then choose a day that will have some nice weather conditions suitable for having an outdoor picnic like a sunny day or cloudy with no chance of rain. During the summer, chances of rain are of course less but not entirely improbable.
This will also influence what you’ll wear to the picnic. Trust me, nothing ruins a day like unexpected rain!
7. Plan a meal to prepare.
Check for some recipes to inspire the meal that you’ll prepare for the picnic. Meals require a little planning and they can be as simple or elegant as you’d like. Head online and check some picnic-ready recipes. If the picnic is impromptu or you prefer not to slave away in the kitchen on your day off, you can always order some pizza or grab some take-out on your way to the destination.
For dessert, end with summer-loving ice cream, wine, or snacks that you may have.
8. Plan for some entertainment
Even good conversations can lag after a while so make sure to plan for some activities that you can do together such as board games, carrying a football, or a frisbee to play some games too. You can carry a Bluetooth speaker with you for some music to talk over or dance to. These activities will make the picnic memorable and fun for everyone.
9. Plan on how to carry out waste disposal.
Wangari Maathai fought tooth and nail to have forests like Karura conserved within the city for us to enjoy as a site for picnics and nature trails. Picking up after yourself is the least you can do. Most people who enjoy a picnic area are bound to have some litter. Carrying your own recycle bin and leaving a picnic site as you found it or in a better state is responsible and commendable. Conserving the environment ensures that we all get to enjoy green spaces in the future.
I am a bubbly extroverted 25 year old currently living and studying in Nairobi. I enjoy travelling and trying out new places to eat. My favourite place to be is anywhere by the beach, with a beer. You will most likely find me with my nose in a book or dining alone, like most extroverts do, of course.
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I am a bubbly extroverted 25 year old currently living and studying in Nairobi. I enjoy travelling and trying out new places to eat. My favourite place to be is anywhere by the beach, with a beer. You will most likely find me with my nose in a book or dining alone, like most extroverts do, of course.
