Live the Magic of Africa

July 08, 2010

As the hazy, lazy days of summer continue, many of you are probably going on a vacation. A very common family, summer vacation is camping.

I don’t enjoy camping. My friends and family are well aware of this. I want to sleep in a real bed, without mosquitoes buzzing in my ear all night long. I don’t want to have to deal with the planning and packing for 3 meals per day, cooking it, cleaning it up, making sure the garbage is gone – with 3 children and a husband to do all this for, where is there time for relaxation?

Now I know there are many wonders of camping and I am only looking at a very tiny perspective, but it’s OK. I have come to accept it. I am NOT a camper.

Well, if you are at all like me, then don’t let the concept “tented camp” on safari fool you. It’s nothing like I just described. It’s real beds, real toilets (yes!), outside showers (now that I love), an experienced bush chef to prepare your meals, lots of people to set up a beautiful outdoor table, and the wonders of nature to surround you.

This week our featured article is about the tented safari experience, which is something often misunderstood. We hope to set the record straight. Even if you are NOT a camper like me, you are bound to love the tented safari experience.

Meredith

Is a Camp In The African Bush The Right Accommodations For You?

Tent is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as: “a collapsible shelter of fabric (as nylon or canvas) stretched and sustained by poles and used for camping outdoors or as a temporary building.” Often associated with “camping,” tents have always had this reputation for being flimsy, rugged, buggy, mobile, and adventurous-extreme. With that said, tents are probably the polar opposite of what comes to mind when you think of a luxurious African honeymoon or family vacation. But this mindset is, in fact, inaccurate.

Associating all camps and mobile safaris in Africa by these rugged stereotypes is a false assumption. In fact, there are many camps and mobile camps found throughout each country in Africa that are high-end, extremely comfortable, and equipped with all necessary amenities and highly attentive staff. Although mobile camps are a little more rustic and adventurous than non-mobile camps (mobile camps can be moved, non-mobile camps remain in one location and do not ever move, unless they are semi-mobile), there are many that offer the same luxurious features and amenities.

Below are descriptions and benefits of mobile camps and non-mobile camps to give you a better understanding of what a camp is and what it’s not:

Mobile Camps:

Explorations2 Depending on your personal tastes and preferences, you may choose to experience a four-day mobile safari, where your tent will be moved and set up for you each day as you venture to new locations.

Wilderness Safaris is one of our favorite mobile safari providers. They provide a variety of mobile safaris, which they call Adventurer Explorations. Each of their Adventurer Explorations uses lush duvets, cotton sheets, and GI stretchers for bedding, and is equipped with en-suite bathroom amenities including a toilet, bucket shower, and a hand wash basin, so that each guest’s room is transformed into a luxurious suite.

A mobile safari is perfect for you if:

You crave the old-fashioned, 19th-century safari feel. Created using eclectic tin finishes, a canvas covering, and lantern illumination, Wilderness Safaris’ mobile camps are direct reflections of safari camps utilized by past celebrities such as Theodore Roosevelt and David Livingstone.
You want to experience a more rustic safari adventure and discover as much as you can while feeling relaxed and comfortable—all without having to do the hard work associated with camping such as making food, pitching your tent, carrying your tent, cleaning, or anything else laborious. Your tents are taken down for you and are set up at the next location before you even arrive.
You desire highly personalized safari tours where you explore the most secluded areas of Africa.

Non-Mobile Camps:

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Tents used in non-mobile camps are often constructed using more durable materials such as wood or dried clay. Many do, however, incorporate canvas and lighter materials into the design of the tent so that the sights, sounds, and scents of nature can permeate through the tents. Some camps also do not refer to their accommodations as tents; many prefer to call them chalets, bandas, or bungalows.

Non-mobile camps are perfect for you if:

You want to have a more intimate and private experience. Camps are often much smaller and more intimate than hotels. Although hotels are wonderful to stay at in cities and outside of the bush—such as Cape Town and the Garden Route—they are not ideal for the bush. Because camps are often much smaller than hotels, personal staff is always attentive to your every need, catering to even the smallest of details. The intimacy of the camps also means no children running around, no large groups taking up space in the dining room or on safari, and no wait on anything.
You wish to seamlessly connect with nature and your immediate surroundings. As camps are designed to incorporate natural elements within their décor, exposure to the breeze, wildlife, and towering fynbos of the bush is effortless. Each and every day, you’ll feel your cares and thoughts of responsibility melt away as you find peace in the surrounding sounds, sights, and aromas of the bush.
You want to feel secluded while still relishing in luxurious amenities such as underground plunge pools, bomas, and fireplaces. As for meals, dining arrangements often differ at various camps—some are equipped with a main dining tent, others offer lantern-lit outdoor seating, while others offer both.

Hills of Africa Travel Recommends

Trip Name: Kruger Safari and Beaches of Mozambique
Length of travel: 12 days
Countries Visited: South Africa and Mozambique

Highlights:Tintswalo, a charming riverside safari lodge in the private Manyeleti Game Reserve, gives animal lovers plenty of opportunity to enjoy elephants, lions, and buffalo in their native habitat. The Big Five are often spotted during game drives and walking safaris. Relax from your safari and enjoy time alone in a private beach villa with private pool on the white-sanded beaches of Benguerra Island.
Detailed description of itinerary (in PDF)

Contact us today, and utilize our detailed destination-planning services and expert advice to send you on a life-altering experience like none other.

If you are thinking of taking an African Safari, we encourage you to get your FREE guide " Safari Tips 101, Tips & Tricks for your African Safari" featuring Sandy Salle

Meredith Hill and Sandy Salle Hills of Africa Travel specializes in customized African safari tours.

We offer spectacular adventures with personalized and customized service, guaranteed to provide you with the experience of a lifetime.

Hills of Africa Travel is a team of extraordinary travel agents and tour operators who are passionate about sharing the magic of Africa through first-hand knowledge and exemplary customer service. Our expert knowledge, experience, and passion for our customers allow us to create a personalized safari adventure of a lifetime for all travelers.

Whether you're taking a romantic honeymoon safari, a fun-filled family safari, or have always dreamed of experiencing the natural beauty of Africa and its wildlife, our exceptional agents and dedicated tour operators are here to provide you with the perfect African safari vacation.

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The Hills of Africa Travel Newsletter is written by Meredith Hill and Sandy Salle and Hillsofafrica.com. If you have any questions or comments, please send them to: hoainfo@hillsofafrica.com