A GUIDE TO SAFARI ACCOMODATION
The essence of these experiences is always the spectacular natural landscape and wildlife, but your safari can be incredibly stylish too, as all of these regions have ultimate, luxurious, stylish accommodation options that can feel almost as attractive as the wildlife itself. There are a range of accommodation choices on safari…
The terminology for where to stay on safari can be confusing! Here is our quick fix guide to safari accommodation:
Mobile Fly Camp.
A private, mobile fly camp is packed up and pitched on a fresh patch of wild park each day. These may be as elaborate or simple as you are prepared to pay for; but carrying cooks and supplies, mess tents and showers is always going to be an expensive, if wonderfully personal and exciting business. Tents are usually small and fairly basic. Some safari lodges offer single nights fly-camping in the bush.
Example – Norman Carr fly camp
Semi-permanent tented lodge
An alternative form of mobile camping is increasingly available, as operators, (such as Nomads and &Beyond) recognise the value of setting up a camp close to the migrating herds. These camps are really semi-permanent tents, very big, very luxurious, and you will not witness their ‘mobility’! Your camp will be prepared before your arrival, and remain for the duration of your stay. This is really the only way to guarantee peak migration game viewing
Example – Serengeti Under Canvas
Tented Lodge / Camp
A tented lodge or camp is a permanent structure, which never moves, in which accommodation is under canvas. Most have solid, wooden floors, proper bathrooms, running water and will include a fully solid structure bar and restaurant area. Experience the sensation of a night under canvas, with tent flaps pegged open to the stars, the sound of the African night all around you, but the comfort of real porcelain and heavy, wooden beds… Tented Camps are equally as well appointed as a lodge (see below), in terms of comforts such as swimming pools etc. Example – Selous Safari Camp
Lodge
The definition of a lodge is less clear. This is a term used for a smaller, often owner-run accommodation, as distinct from a large hotel. They are usually truly luxurious and beautifully appointed, usually have swimming pools and almost all have their own resident vehicles, trackers and guides. A lodge is a typical place to stay on safari.
Example – Beho Beho
Hotels
The safari hotels tend to be much larger, and less personal and intimate versions of lodges. As a matter of course they tend not to have their own safari vehicles, or guides, and so we would arrange a private safari for guests and use the hotel simply for board and lodging.
Example – Serengeti Serena Hotel
House
There are a few options to enjoy your own house in Africa, either on safari or at the beach. The idea being that a group of friends or family takes over the many rooms of the house to have a self contained holiday
Example – Robin’s House
Villa
This is a beach concept only. Many of the larger beach resorts, in an effort to attract a higher spending client, have built a number of villas hidden away from the rest of the hotel. They tent to be ultra luxurious, often with private plunge pools and butlers
Example – The Ocean Suite
