Camping Safaris
Camping in the wilds of Africa is an unforgettable experience
This is the way to go – it’s an awesome experience to lie in your tent at night listening to the roar of lions or the haunting cry of a jackal!
Under canvas, under the stars
- Camping
- Limited participation
- Guides prepare the meals
Introduction
On safari you will stay in a mix of formal campsites and wild camping locations.
Formal campsites in national parks, private reserves, and towns offer good facilities such as hot showers, electricity, toilets, and often a bar or restaurant. Some northern camps may be more basic but still have flush toilets.
Wild camping, mostly in Botswana, is a true wilderness experience with no built-in facilities. Sunway sets up bucket showers, pit toilets, and all camping equipment, giving you a close connection to nature while keeping your impact minimal.
It’s not all camping—most safaris include a number of lodge or guest house nights for added comfort. This combination allows you to enjoy both comfort and authentic wilderness.
Camping Equipment
Sunway supplies all the camping equipment with the exception of your sleeping bag and pillow (available for rent). The canvas dome tents we use are large (2.2 x 2.2 x 1.8 metre), with built-in insect nets. Putting them up or down takes only 5 minutes. We supply 5 cm thick mattresses, which are warm and comfortable. The camp chairs have a backrest and all cooking and eating utensils will also be provided. Food is kept in sealed containers and cooler boxes or freezers ensuring fresh and hygienic food preparation.
Clean & Comfortable
Sunway team will erect a bucket shower, with warm water from the fire, and a pit toilet tent. Wild camping is a true wilderness experience and we keep our impact on the environment to a minimum, taking out everything we take in.
It’s not all camping! On most safaris there will be a number of lodge or guest house accommodation nights. The facilities will be modest but clean and comfortable. Generally you will have an en suite twin room but sometimes you will be asked to share bathrooms with another room. Details are shown on each itinerary page.
Note: Southern Africa has an excellent climate throughout the year, and campsite facilities throughout the region are very good. The outdoor holiday lifestyle is very popular. Campsites provide running water, hot showers, electrical power points, in great locations with helpful staff. Specifically in Botswana, we make use of operator only private and exclusive campsites. These campsites are located inside the national parks of Botswana, and allow us to get an incredibly close wilderness experience. Our guides will ensure that wild camping is a fantastic part of your safari.
Limited participation
On our camping safaris we will require some participation during the tour. This includes putting up and taking down your tent (your trusty guides are never too far away to lend a helping hand), packing and unpacking the vehicle and some help with the meals on the tour. The guides do all of the provisioning, meal planning and cooking, but a bit of help with preparation before and cleaning up after the meal is always appreciated.
Pace & Distance
Camping safaris follow the same travel distances and pacing as Accommodated Adventures, with access to the same key highlights. While the physical activities are similar, the nature of camping requires a bit more involvement and a willingness to be hands-on. This style allows guests to connect closely with the environment, hear the sounds of the wild at night, and experience Africa’s wilderness in its most authentic form.
Under Canvas Camping single supplements
Booking solo – you do not pay any more for travelling as a single person. If you are travelling on your own, Sunway will automatically “tent” you with another same gender single person. If however you request a single tent, a limited number of these are available on each camping tour, with a price supplement.
Catering & Meals
Most meals will be prepared by the Sunway guides, evening meals we eat around a camp fire or in a boma and you will have roadside picnic style lunches on travelling days.
