Africa Camping Safari ToursOverland Camping & Comfort Camping Safaris
When do you want to go?
2024
I'm flexible
Passengers
Adults (18+)
Children (0 - 17)
Africa Camping Safaris
In Africa, we offer two types of camping safaris for healthy and active travelers who are looking for an adventurous holiday.
Our Overland Camping Safaris are ideal for the young and young at heart, who are looking to keep costs down, don’t mind roughing it a little and helping with the day to day chores. These African adventures are also perfect for solo travelers who are happy to share a tent and don’t want to pay a single supplement.
We also offer a small selection of Overland Comfort Camping Safaris, appealing to seasoned travelers (aged 40+), who want the comfort of a camp bed and a crew to take care of all camp duties. These safaris are also family friendly, as they accept children aged 10 and above.
Find out more about our different types of Africa camping tours below.
Overland Camping Safaris
Our Overland Camping Safaris have a maximum group size of just 16 travelers, perfect for an intimate safari experience. These camping safaris travel in custom-built 24-seater overland vehicles, escorted by a safari crew of two. You'll be responsible for erecting and dismantling your tent and everyone will pitch in with camp chores and cooking. These are real African adventures! Given the nature of these overland safaris, we are unable to accept travelers aged 75 or above.
If camping isn't for you, then we offer an accommodated upgrade on most of these tours. You'll travel with the campers on the same tour, eat together and help with the chores, but you'll enjoy the comfort of simple accommodation each night instead of having to pitch a tent.
Overland Camping: Tents
On our trips we use two man dome tents with mosquito nets over the door and window areas, a sewn in groundsheet and a separate flysheet, which you share with a fellow traveler. If you’re a camping novice, rest assured, the tents are very easy to put up and your trip leader will give you a demonstration. You will have to provide your own sleeping bag and remember a small pillow is always great for extra comfort. Roll mats are provided by the crew. There is also the option to camp under the stars instead of in your tent on some occasions, just check with your Trip Leader to see when it is possible to do so.
Tents have a rain cover that is designed to aid the flow of rain water from the tent sides to the ground. These are really effective, but please keep in mind that when camping in the rain one can still expect some dampness and the occasional leak. Our tents are maintained regularly to avoid leaks and each vehicle is equipped with a couple of spares to swap out any tents that may be damaged.
We camp in set campsites along our routes that specifically cater for overland passengers. Bear in mind many of the campsites in Africa can be very basic and have a great rustic “under African skies” feel. Campsites in Southern Africa generally have better facilities than their East African counterparts and almost all campsites have a facility to wash some laundry (hand washing). Some have flush toilets, some don't. Some have a vibey bar, some don’t. Most have electricity points to charge your phone and camera batteries. Some nights we may bush camp - this means you are camping without ablution facilities and not at a built up campsite, but being out under the African skies surrounded by her sounds makes this all worthwhile.
Overland Comfort Camping Safaris
Our Comfort Camping Safaris in Southern Africa are ideal for want a more relaxed camping experience. You’ll still sleep in a 2-man dome tent, but these tours include a camp bed, mattress, sleeping bag and small pillow. They are also fully serviced which means a team of three experienced crew take care of all camp duties. There is no cooking, washing up or tent assembly, the crew will handle all of this for you, so you can relax when you’re back at camp. Although we do accept younger travelers, these safaris tend to appeal to the over 40s and welcome families with children aged 10 and above.
Frequently asked questions
Are there age restrictions on these tours?
There is a minimum age of 18 on our Overland Camping Safaris and 10 on our Comfort Camping Safaris (under 18s must be accompanied by an adult). There is a maximum age of 75 on our Overland Camping Safaris and anybody over the age of 65 will need to complete a tour suitability form to ensure they are fit enough to complete the tour. The average age on these tours is around 25 - 45.
Do solo travelers need to pay more?
On our Overland Camping Safaris, solo travelers will share a tent with another solo traveler of the same sex, and don't need to pay a single supplement. If there is nobody else on the tour who can be matched with you, then you will enjoy your own tent at no additional cost. A small supplement applies to single travelers on our Comfort Camping Safaris. You can see the single room price for each tour on the relevant page.
How big are the groups on these tours?
On both our Overland Camping Safaris and Comfort Camping Safaris, you will enjoy a small group experience, with a maximum of just 16.
Will I have a guide and safari crew?
Yes! Our Overland Camping Safaris are escorted by a licensed, local 2-person crew, and our Comfort Camping Safaris are escorted by a local tour guide who will also act as your driver.
What sort of bathroom facilities can I expect?
The majority of campsites and accommodations we use in Eastern and Southern Africa will have either long drop or flushing toilets and showers. However, on the road things are a bit different. There is no toilet or restroom aboard the truck. We will make stops to use the facilities, mainly in the form of service stations - don't expect sparkling clean toilet facilities here! In emergencies, or if we are on a long drive in a remote area, it’s back to basics. Toilet paper is kept aboard the truck, along with a shovel. Also keep a personal supply of toilet paper in your daypack. Dispose of waste by digging a small hole and burying everything. At campsites, there will be an ablutions block with toilets and showers. Rural or remote campsites may only offer one or two facilities. Expect ‘longdrop’ toilets in remote locations. Water is a precious commodity in many, many parts of Africa. If showering, turn off the water whilst soaping up.
What is a local payment and what is it for?
Many of our tours require a local payment to be paid in cash when you arrive in Africa. This payment covers selected park entrance fees, activities and excursions along the way, and the payment goes entirely to local suppliers. Please note that the local payments are subject to change due to changing park fees and activity costs which are beyond our control. The detail and cost of the local payment for each tour can be found on the relevant tour page.
Overland Trucks
Our overland vehicles are custom built converted trucks that have seating space for our passengers and a storage areas for luggage and all trip equipment. The trucks seat between 20-30 passengers, depending on the tour you book. Most seats are forward facing, though some models have a combination of forward, backward and some inward facing seats with tables. Note that unless specified on the tour page, there is no air-conditioning on board, instead vehicles have sliding glass windows, and the seating area is raised, providing a great advantage for game viewing and photography. Seats are cushioned and there is storage space for personal items like cameras, snacks and day packs in the seating area.
The storage sections are separate to the seating area and are located underneath the main passenger compartment. There is a specific kitchen area with slide out tables for food preparation, all the cutlery, crockery, cooled storage and supplies; and a separate area for storing chairs, tents and other equipment. The main luggage storage is located toward the back of the vehicle and as space is limited, we do request travelers bring soft-pack luggage between 15-20kg to ease the packing process.
All the vehicles are equipped with water tanks, long range fuel tanks and are mechanically maintained on the ground between trips. Additionally, our drivers are trained to attend to any minor mechanical problems that may be experienced along the way and as such it is rare for a trip to be delayed due to mechanical breakdown.
African Travel Guides
Find more inspiration and information about Africa to help you choose the right tour for you.
The Best of African Wildlife
Whichever African safari or tour you choose, you will embark on game drives in some of the continent's most iconic national parks. From the sprawling grasslands of the Serengeti to the dusty plains of Etosha and the waterways of the Okavango Delta. These are some of the species to look out for on safari, including all of the majestic Big Five.
Lion
The only social member of the big cat family, living in hierarchical prides of up to 15 or even more animals, lions can be spotted throughout Africa's national parks. Chobe in Botswana and Hwange in Zimbabwe are great places to spot lions on safari.
Elephant
The world's largest land mammal can be found in more than 30 countries across Africa. Find them drinking at watering holes, the locations of which are passed down the generations by matriarchs. Chobe, Kruger in South Africa and South Luangwa in Zambia have good elephant populations.
Rhino
Both black and white rhinos are endangered, with black rhinos critically so. Conservation efforts using the money brought in from tourism are so important in protecting these iconic creatures. South Africa's Kruger National Park has by far the largest rhino population in Africa, and Namibia's Etosha is a stronghold for black rhinos too.
Leopard
Leopards are the most elusive member of the Big Five, well camouflaged against the African bush and preferring to come out at night to hunt. Count yourself lucky if you spot one of these beautiful cats. South Luangwa in Zambia and Moremi in Botswana have some of the highest densities, giving you the best chance to see them!
Buffalo
The armoured tank of the animal kingdom, even lions will think twice before tackling a buffalo. Found in huge numbers across the continent, it is likely to be the first Big Five species you see on safari. The Serengeti is an iconic heartland for this bad-tempered herbivore.
Giraffe
The tallest animal on the planet, the gentle giraffe is surprisingly rare but easy to spot thanks to its height. You can spot them roaming the grassy plains of east and southern Africa, with the Serengeti, Masai Mara and Etosha being particular hotspots.
Our Other Africa Travel Styles
We offer a variety of trip types in Africa. If you prefer sleeping surrounded by four walls, then browse our selection of Accommodated & Lodge Safaris. We also offer Family-Friendly Safaris and a range of Private Safari Tours for those who don't want to travel as part of a group.
