Top 10 Things You Probably Wanted to Know About Tented Safari Camps
Updated: 2025 safari camp insights added
There's something undeniably romantic about tented safari camps. They evoke an era of exploration and adventure, offering that "classic African safari" feel you've probably imagined.
But a word of caution: tented safaris aren't for everyone. If you're a light sleeper, uneasy about wildlife noises at night, or prefer solid walls between you and the bush, you may be happier in a lodge. Safari lodges come in all shapes and styles, from rustic to ultra-luxury, and you'll still have an unforgettable experience.
For the more intrepid traveller, however, a tented safari camp offers unique advantages you simply won't find anywhere else.
1. Sleeping Under Canvas Brings You Closer to Nature
Surround yourself with the sights and sounds of Africa at Foxes Rufiji
With only canvas between you and the wilderness, the sounds of Africa surround you—lion roars, hippo grunts, hyena whoops. It's an immersive, thrilling experience that connects you deeply to the bush. If you're worried about the honeymoon couple in the tent next door bothering you at night, don't. Most tented safari camps are designed with privacy in mind. The tents are often spaced far apart, surrounded by natural foliage and trees, ensuring nothing interrupts the magic of sleeping close to nature.
Most tented camps are very secure, with staff on hand to escort you after dark. Wildlife may sound close, but you're safe.
2. Spacious and Airy Safari Tents
Natural hues that incorporate wood, stone and other elements from the area
Forget the idea of cramped camping tents. Safari tents are designed for comfort and space, with high ceilings and wide layouts that blur the line between indoors and outdoors. Bid farewell to the heavy dark wood and low ceilings that characterised the hunting lodge experience of days gone by. Today's safari tents are decorated in soft, natural hues with tactile textiles from sustainable sources—often incorporating wood, stone, and other elements from the surrounding area for a seamless connection to the landscape.
3. Luxury Safari Tents Can Be Huge
Loapi Tswalu at sunrise
High-end safari tents are surprisingly large—often big enough for king-sized beds, handcrafted furniture, and ensuite bathrooms with indoor and outdoor showers. For example, Loapi at Tswalu offers one- or two-bedroom tented homes with an interactive kitchen, private study, guest cloakroom, shaded deck with plunge pool and fire pit. Each is serviced by a dedicated homathi (house manager) and private chef. Like all of Tswalu's luxury camps, your stay includes a private safari vehicle, guide, and tracker for a completely bespoke experience.
The term "tented camp" covers a wide spectrum. Always check what's included—some camps rival five-star hotels, others are more rustic.
4. Open-Air Windows Let the Bush In
Blurring the lines between inside and outside
Instead of glass, many tents have mesh windows that allow breezes and bush scents to filter through. It's a sensory experience unlike any lodge. This design enhances the sense of space and evokes the carefree, nomadic spirit of camping—while still delivering every creature comfort you'd expect on safari.
Scents are powerful memory triggers. Once you've smelled the African bush, you'll never forget it.
5. Wildlife Wanders Through Camp
Soaking up the wild from the comfort of your private deck
Because many tented camps are unfenced, animals often roam through at night. You may wake to fresh tracks right outside your tent! Tented camps epitomise the concept of the "sofa safari." Between your morning and afternoon drives, simply sit on your shaded deck and watch as antelope, elephants, or even big cats pass through camp—an experience that rivals any game drive.
Never walk around camp after dark without an escort. Staff are trained to keep you safe.
6. Mobile Tented Camps Follow the Wildlife
Some camps are designed to move with the seasons or migrations, especially in places like the Serengeti. They're eco-friendly, leaving almost no trace behind. If sustainable travel matters to you, mobile camps are a perfect choice. With minimal environmental impact, they empower local communities and contribute to conservation, while putting you right at the heart of Africa's most spectacular migrations.
7. Exclusive Safari Activities in Private Concessions
Private concessions offer a more exclusive experience
Many tented camps are inside private reserves, giving you access to experiences unavailable in national parks: off-road drives, night drives, guided bush walks, even canoe safaris. This means a more authentic safari with no crowds, no traffic jams at sightings, and the freedom to linger longer or follow animals off-road without pressure.
8. Sleep-Out Tents for the Adventurous
Chalkley Treehouse experience built around a 500-year-old Leadwood Tree
Some camps offer elevated "star beds" or remote sleep-out tents. Safe but thrilling, these one-night experiences let you drift off beneath the African night sky with wildlife roaming below. These are especially popular with honeymooners who want to experience the romance of a star bed for one or two nights, before returning to the comforts of camp.
Perfect for honeymoons or special occasions, but don't expect much sleep—you'll want to stay awake for the sounds!
9. Small, Intimate Camps
Unlike large lodges, tented camps are usually small—often 6–10 tents. This makes them ideal for groups, families, or anyone who values privacy and exclusivity. If you book out the entire camp for a family or group, you'll often have more flexibility—choosing your own game drive times, arranging special bush dinners, or focusing on walking safaris at your own pace.
10. From Rustic to Ultra-Luxury
Luxury honeymoon tent in the Masai Mara
Tented safari camps range from simple canvas setups with bucket showers to lavish East African–style tents with hardwood decks, private plunge pools, and personal butlers.
"Tented" doesn't always mean "basic." Some of Africa's most luxurious properties are under canvas.
Wrap-Up
Tented safari camps aren't just accommodation—they're part of the adventure. Whether rustic and authentic or luxurious and indulgent, they offer a connection to the bush that lodges can't replicate.
So—does a tented safari camp deserve a spot on your bucket list? If you've experienced one already, you'll know why so many travellers fall in love with sleeping under canvas. And if not—maybe it's time.
FAQs About Tented Safari Camps
Yes. While you'll hear wildlife at night and sometimes even see animals moving through camp, tented safari camps are designed with safety in mind. Guests are escorted after dark, tents are secure, and staff are trained to handle wildlife encounters. The canvas may feel light, but you are never left unprotected.
Most tented camps provide electricity, though the source and availability can vary. Many use solar power or generators, so you may have set charging times. Luxury camps often have full-time electricity, while more rustic camps may only offer charging stations in the main area. Always check ahead so you know whether to bring power banks.
Pack lightweight, neutral-coloured clothing, a warm layer for cool nights, insect repellent, a flashlight or headlamp, and a power bank. Comfortable walking shoes are a must. Don't forget binoculars, sunscreen, and a wide-brimmed hat for daytime game drives. If you're staying in a more rustic tented camp, a small torch is especially useful.
The biggest difference is atmosphere. Lodges can feel more like hotels, with solid walls, glass windows, and bigger facilities. Tented camps bring you closer to nature with canvas walls, open-air designs, and an immersive bush experience. Both can be luxurious—so it's more about personal preference and how adventurous you feel.
Permanent tented camps stay in one location and often have solid flooring, ensuite bathrooms, and more amenities. Mobile tented camps, by contrast, move seasonally to follow wildlife like the Great Migration. They're usually lighter on the environment and more rustic, but deliver unbeatable game-viewing access.
Yes—many tented camps welcome families and even offer family tents or interleading tents. However, not all do. Camps in private reserves often have child-friendly activities, but some may have minimum age limits due to safety or bush walk rules. Always check with your safari operator before booking.
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About the author
A 'word smith' or copywriter with over 25 years experience, love travelling, wildlife and conservation; fascinated by alternative energy, alternative building and alternative health. Consummate reader and traveller, both internationally and southern Africa. Have two remarkable daughters that continue to amaze and teach me daily. Consider myself privileged to live on the best continent on the planet.
