Way back in the 70's, I camped in the Great Karoo desert, in the Oudsthoorn district of South Africa. I camped there for about a year, with 2000 of my buddies! Two thousand started and only 200 ended. It was my "baptism of fire" as regards canvass, heat, dust, toilets and screaming Sergeant Majors!

Never did I think for one moment I would ever return. In November 2003, I returned, but this time in full force with my own team to provide a national airline with a fully equipped hospitality dining tent for 250 of their top VIP clients.

We set the camp high up on a hill overlooking the town, with vast views across the ancient karoo desert floor. On our left, the blue green Outeniqua Mountains buffering the winds off the Indian Ocean and to our right, the deep, dark, forbidding Swartberg Mountains. Incredible African sunsets each evening as the wind slowly subsided In time for dinner.

The Presidents Cup Golf Challenge (the first ever to be held in a country other than the USA) was the occasion. Our mandate was simply to provide an authentic African dining facility for 250 dignitaries each night - and each night to have a unique theme, menu and entertainment.

Juicy stuff I know! How could we resist themes such as The Ostrich Barons Ball….White Nights and Opera…..The Golfing Party…..An Outeniqua Bush Braai and African Traders…The artists ( a selection of southern Africa's best) turned out incredible performances elaborate, and just confirming the depth of South African talent.

And the infamous Hayward's Gin Tent?…Well I have never seen a tent blush - but on the night of the Ostrich Barons Ball, all dressed up in pink and white Ostrich feather's with elaborate turn of the century décor, I was truly pleased none of my old army buddies were around to see to see Africa's toughest so pretty in pink.

Peter Hayward