More and more of our travellers are seeking a touch (or a lot) of adventure during their time on safari, by undertaking a sleep-out, star-bed or fly-camping adventure. Here we highlight 13 of our top safari sleep-out experiences across Southern and Eastern Africa.
There are many different types of sleep-out but they are all characterised by a sense of remoteness, romance, stripped back luxury and an attempt to gain a deeper connection with the natural world. They aim to be more than just a place to stay; rather they're a gateway to reconnecting with nature and creating lasting memories in some of Africa’s most breathtaking settings.
What is a sleep-out/star-bed or fly camp?
The most usual definition of a sleep-out is a one-night stay away from the lodge or camp from where you are staying. This may constitute a luxury raised deck, a 'glamping' set up or a good ol' fashioned tent.
This setup could be located deep in the wilderness, miles away from your camp, with only a radio for contacting staff if necessary. Alternatively, it might be a private deck in a more secluded area closer to the lodge. The most luxurious choice, often called a 'star-bed,' is an extension of your safari room, allowing you to sleep under the stars or retreat back to your room. This is ideal for those uncertain about spending a night in the bush.
Ikuka Safari Camp, Ruaha National Park, Tanzania
Best for honeymooners
Ikuka is one of our favourite safari camps in Southern Tanzania. It works perfectly combined with a stay on the beach, like in our Remote Ruaha and Perfect Pemba itinerary.
If the wild and rugged Ruaha National Park, epic outlook from the lodge and expert guiding isn't quite enough then Ikuka has also added a fly-camping experience to their repertoire of experiences.
In a remote location at the edge of camp two large rocks form the perfect location to sleep out under the stars in the safety of a boxed mosquito net. On the same wooden platform you have a toilet, bucket shower and the all important cool box - dinner will be served by candlelight under the stars.
Onguma Dream Cruiser, Etosha National Park, Namibia
Best for thrillseekers
Probably one of the most inventive sleep-out creations on the continent, spend the night atop a modified Toyota Land Cruiser, overlooking a waterhole and miles of private reserve will all the amenities you could need on hand.
The Dream Cruiser is located on the Onguma Private Game Reserve, a 34,000 hectare reserve that borders the eastern border of Etosha National Park in Namibia. Set across two levels, the upper deck features a bedroom with lounge area, whilst downstairs there is a full bathroom including a shower, flush toilet and basin.
After a drive through the reserve you will arrive at the Dream Cruiser, perhaps with a bottle of something sparkling waiting on ice for you. Settle in and watch the sun set before a chef from one of Onguma's other luxury camps arrives with a full alfresco dining experience. You are then left completely on your own with a radio should you need to contact a ranger. We'd recommend keeping relatively quiet to see what comes to the waterhole. After a memorable night a ranger will greet you with coffee/tea and biscuits before you are driven back to your lodge or campsite.
We'd recommend two or three nights on the Onguma Reserve to include a sleep-out on the Dream Cruiser, such as in our Namibia, Chobe and Victoria Falls itinerary.
El Karama Lodge, Laikipia, Kenya
Best for families
Located in a private wildlife conservancy in the foothills of Mount Kenya, El Karama is a family-owned labour of love specialising in sustainable family travel, adventure and experiential wildlife safaris.
Fly-camping at El Karama is set up on a private basis for each booking and can either be in the hammock-like tentsile tree tents (as per the picture below), canvas bell tents for cooler seasons or square mosquito dome tents during the warmer months.
It is a simple but authentic experience and the epitome of fly-camping. Cosy up around the camp fire as sweet potatoes soften in the embers and steaks sizzle in the flames, listening to the sounds of wildlife around you. A guide and armed ranger are always on hand just in case those distant hyenas decide to come and investigate the lingering smells of dinner as you sleep.
As part of your trip to Kenya, we'd recommend spending at least three nights at El Karama, if not longer, to make the most of this wildlife-rich and activtiy heavy reserve. As well as the fly-camping, there are your usual game drive safaris (both at day and night), walking safaris, horse-riding, fishing, heli-safaris, bush dining, engaging with the working farm and a whole host of activities for children - from animal tracking and camera trapping to cooking lessons, bread making and beadwork.
Tok Tokkie Trails, NamibRand Nature Reserve, Namibia
Best for active folk, looking for complete desert immersion
The NamibRand in Namibia is not only a Gold Tier International Dark Sky reserve but it is also Africa's first Wilderness Quiet Park. What better way to experience this incredible landscape than on the two-night Tok Tokkie hiking trail.
A small group trip takes just eight guests on a journey of around 22km through the vast NamibRand Nature Reserve in Southern Namibia, sleeping out on comfortable stretcher beds under nothing but a blanket of stars.
It is less of a route march and more about having the time to discover the smaller, fascinating details in this harsh environment on foot. Expert walking guides will help you to uncover desert adapated animals, learn more about the formation of the iconic sand dunes, the stars and much more.
Located south of the famous Sossusvlei region, the two night trail can easily be woven into a self-drive, privately guided or fly-in trip. That said, it is a very popular experience so we'd recommend enquiring at least 9-12 months in advance.
Victoria Falls River Lodge, Zambezi National Park, Zimbabwe
Best for those not wanting to sacrifice comfort
The newest addition to Victoria Falls River Lodge, located just a few kilometres from the mighty Victoria Falls are the eight treehouse suites located on the nearby Kandahar Island, accessible only by boat in the middle of the Zambezi River. Two of these suites are the two-storey star-bed treehouse suites, which feature an opulent rooftop bedroom among the trees, overlooking the iconic Zambezi river.
More than just a location to visit Victoria Falls, Victoria Falls River Lodge offers a full safari experience with included river cruises and game drives in the increasingly productive Zambezi National Park.
Spend at least two nights in the Victoria Falls area before heading onto the likes of Hwange of Mana Pools in Zimbabwe or crossing into Botswana, similar to our Victoria Falls and Botswana Explorer example itinerary.
Ol Malo, Laikipia, Kenya
For wildlife fanatics and photographers
The leopard hide at Ol Malo, in Kenya's Laikipia region, is certainly a sleep-out, but perhaps doesn't satisfy the definition of a star-bed, as the focus is on the productive waterhole rather than the night sky.
A cozy stone hut, complete with two bunk beds forms the leopard hide, so called because of the habit of this elusive predator to frequent the waterhole to quench its thirst. You will be provided with a spotlight, radio, your choice of drinks and a gourmet dinner enabling you to settle in and focus on the comings and goings in front of you.
Ol Malo also has a treehouse sleep-out experience for a night's African adventure, sandwiched between wildlife-rich African plains and a dramatic night sky.
Ol Malo has a treehouse sleep-out as well as an overnight experience in the leopard hide, whichever you choose it'll be an unforgettable night
Luambe Camp, Lumabe National Park, Zambia
Best for off-the-beaten track adventurers
There is a relatively small national park sandwiched between two more well-known cousins - the South and North Luangwa. In this park there is only one safari camp - welcome to Luambe National Park and the appropriately named Luambe Camp.
With the entire national park at your disposal, you enjoy complete exclusivity during your activities, which is especially apparent during their breathtaking riverbank sleep-out, surrounded by nothing but pure wilderness.
In such a little visited national park largely without the footprint of man the experience is less about non-stop wildlife sightings but about a true feeling of exploration and remoteness. With just one vehicle traversing an entire national park, the wildlife isn't always as habituated as more well-known areas, but the thrill of tracking down animals just adds to the excitement.
Gham Dhao Lodge, Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Botswana
Best for wannebee cosmologists and culture vultures
The arid Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR) in Botswana provides a wonderful contrast to the wetter environs of the famous Okavango Delta, as per our 9-night Okavango Delta and Kalahari Adventure. The newest offering in this area, which opened in July 2023 after a complete refurbishment, is Gham Dhao Lodge.
Of the lodge's three accommodation types it is the 'sky-luxe suites' which are the most eye-catching. The six rooms all have their own star-bed deck attached to one end of the room, allowing you unparalleled views of the surrounding landscape, a lookout point to watch wildlife and enjoy the Kalahari's stunningly clear, dark skies.
Gham Dhao is located in a private reserve bordering the vast CKGR, which is the second largest game reserve in the world. It was established in the early 60s as a sanctuary for the San people to give them the space and privacy to live in the way they have done for millennia. In the Gham Dhao reserve guests can enjoy morning and afternoon game drives as well as being able to explore at night. As it is a private reserve game drives are able to go off-road in search of special sightings. Being able to interact with the San people on their terms is also on offer through immersive nature walks.
Thabametsi Treehouse, Marataba Game Reserve, South Africa
For honeymooners
The Marataba Reserve is a private 21,000 section of Marakele National Park in South Africa. Just a short flight or 3 and a half hours drive from Johannesburg and a malaria-free reserve, it is a great safari choice for everyone from families with young children to honeymooners.
Nestled within this pristine reserve is the knock-out Thabametsi Treehouse offering an unparalleled sleep-out experience that combines luxury, adventure, and the untamed beauty of the African bush.
Elevated above the surrounding wilderness, it provides guests with a 360-degree view of the reserve's dramatic landscapes, including rugged mountains, vast plains, and the meandering Matlabas River. As the sun sets, the treehouse transforms into a romantic haven illuminated by lanterns and starlight, where guests can savor a gourmet picnic dinner while listening to the symphony of wildlife around them. With no electricity and only nature as your backdrop, this off-the-grid retreat ensures complete immersion in the wild, far from the distractions of modern life.
By day, the Marataba Reserve beckons with thrilling safari adventures, including 'Big Five' game drives, guided walks, and birdwatching.
In this ecologically varied reserve, Marataba has chosen one of the most spectacular locations for its sleepout.
Leroo La Tau, Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, Botswana
Best for desert purists
Perched on the banks of the Boteti River, Leroo La Tau offers a front-row seat to Botswana's extraordinary wildlife and landscapes. Located on the western edge of the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, this luxurious safari retreat is renowned for its elevated chalets, which provide panoramic views of the river, the surrounding wilderness and its wildlife.
Between mid June and mid October for stays of three nights of more, along with expertly guided game drives, cultural experiences and a serene ambiance, Leroo La Tau offers something truly special - a sleep-out on the Makgadikgadi salt pans.
Spend the night in a land of endless horizons in a lunar-like landscape. Choose a scenic helicopter transfer one or both ways to appreciate this spell-binding landscape from the air, as well as cut down on time transferring from the lodge.
Combine a few nights at Leroo La Tau with the wildlife packed Okavango Delta further north for a complete contrast in experience.
Puku Ridge, South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
Best for leopard enthusiasts
A top safari lodge in one of the most exciting safari destinations in the world well known for its leopard densities - what's not to love?
Located in the South Luangwa in Zambia, Puku Ridge is part of a collection of high-end lodges across not only the South Luangwa, but also the Lower Zambezi National Park. Completely rebuilt in 2019 the lodge has a modern feel and the vast suites complete with plunge pools and accompanying star-beds have everything you could wish for... and more. The pièce de résistance is the productive floodplain which the lodge overlooks, where there is always something to see.
A luxury suite at Puku Ridge Lodge in Zambia, one of the top safari lodges in the South Luangwa National Park
Mkulumadzi Lodge, Majete Game Reserve, Zambia
Best for conservation resurgence
Majete Wildlife Reserve in south-western Malawi was a forgotten park almost devoid of wildlife and any visitors before the conservation organisation African Parks' involvement in 2003. It now boasts the coveted 'Big 5' and even the 'Magnificent 7' as cheetah and wild dogs have been reintroduced in the last few years.
Mkulumadzi is our pick of only two lodges in the reserve and the only one with a stunning sleep-out deck, available from May to October. You will be left in complete privacy on your treehouse deck with just radio should you need to contact the outside world. Settle into a comfy double bed overlooking the vast 70,000 hectare reserve. Lions have even been known to wander underneath the deck at night!
As the price of park fees and quality safari experiences edge up across Africa, Malawi still offers great value and always lives up to its reputation as the 'warm heart of Africa'.
Chada Katavi, Katavi National Park, Tanzania
Best for authentic safari feel of days gone by
Katavi National Park is located in western Tanzania. The distance and relative cost of internal flights to get here means it has remained fairly undiscovered, with just a handful of accommodation options.
One of our favourites is Chada Katavi Camp, run by Nomad Tanzania who operate a dozen other camps throughout Tanzania. Chada is the epitome of a luxury bushcamp, just six tents under a shaded canopy of mature trees that has been in the same glorious location for 20 years. Because of the twice-weekly flight schedules you'll stay here for at least three nights and you are unlikely to see any other people. The park is famous for the densities of hippopotami that build in the drying pools towards the end of the dry season, as well as herds of buffalo on the endless plains, watched closely by attendant prides of lion.
This is one of the few parks in Tanzania where you can enjoy walking safaris, night drives, and a fly-camping experience. We recommend trying all three during your visit. The fly-camping from Chada stands out as particularly memorable and well-executed. While luxuries are minimal, comfort is not compromised. Enjoy a nearly guaranteed spectacular sunset while a three-course dinner is prepared over an open fire before you retire to your sleeping pod. If you wake up in the middle of the night, you'll be treated to the stars at their brightest and most breathtaking. The next morning, you might want to take a bush bucket-shower before returning to camp for breakfast, or linger a bit longer to savor a freshly cooked breakfast before embarking on a game drive or heading back to Chada.
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