Buy a Camel This Holiday Season

Be the talk of your town and buy your loved one a camel. They're diverse, useful animals and their dung makes excellent fuel and fertilizer. This is probably more than you can say for your dog or cat. As an efficient, economical form of transport, a camel will beat a Prius hooves down. A camel will also keep your lawn nice and trim. Oxfam is selling camels for $175, you have to agree, this is a top notch bargain.

But, if you're wary about their grumpy reputation, or don't quite have room to build a double story barn -- then don't worry. A needy person living in Africa will be more than happy to take care of the camel for you. The beauty of Oxfam's gift giving scheme means your loved one will still have the bragging rights as a proud camel owner, but they won't have to lift a finger to care for it. And it benefits poor people in Africa -- a true win, win situation.

Oxfam in fact has plenty other funusual gifts you can purchase this season. A latrine ($50), a crocodile ($50) (strangely useful -- who would have thought), a goat ($45), a sheep ($45), a can of worms ($18), school uniforms ($20) or a medical kit ($35).

Oxfam is one of the best charities working in Africa, so you can be assured your gift will end up in the right hands. A crocodile won't suddenly appear on your doorstep, but the true gift of giving will.

_{Image © Oxfam International}