What's it like to be on a mobile tented safari? 

Our Botswana mobile tented safari holidays provide identical wildlife viewing opportunities as many lodge-based safaris, but have the benefit of comfortable camping within a protected wilderness area. Sometimes we need to include a hotel stay at the start of these safaris; and we can add on any number of nights you like at a hotel or game lodge so that you can experience the best of both styles.

Mobile Safari Game Viewing 

If we begin with the wildlife viewing aspect: you will from time to time pass others in similar game viewing vehicles or river safari boats, occupied by visitors those who have paid to stay in lodges. As long as your tracker and guide are good, you have as much chance of enjoying a great sighting as a lodge-based safari traveller.

Mobile Safari Tents 

Food and accommodation are of course the main difference. Deluxe safari tents are  square tents 3 metres x 3 metres, with an attached open-to-sky bathroom some 2 metres x 3 metres. Single beds are raised on a metal framed, with comfortable mattress, pillow,  duvet and additional blankets. You will not be cold sleeping at night. A rechargeable lamp will provide illumination and mesh at the entrance and part of the wall allows air to flow, yet makes viewing from the outside too opaque to see any detail. 

Superior Safari tents have double size bed sections with space for a table inside. Camp set-ups are enhanced with real bottles of wine rather than boxed. Participant numbers are also less at 7 versus 9; but in both cases, everyone has their own side opening for terrific views. 

Washing & Toilets on Safari 

Each en suite bathroom contains a seated toilet and safari shower which can be replenished with warm water whenever you ask*. A bowl and mirror are there for short washes; clean towels provided. 

*please note that in the dry Kalahari  a certain amount of economising on showers may be needed. 

Toilets are seated about a freshly dug long drop. A trowel in a bucket of sand serves as your flush. It's a comfortable,  easy to use system. A wet flush really would provide no advantage. 

Mobile Safari Dining 

A hardworking team of three will always set up camp ahead of you. They will also prepare food, such as steak, fried vegetables,  salads, desserts; and in the mornings, French press coffee, toast, cold meats, fresh fruit, yoghurt , jams, cereals, tea or Rooibos. 

Breakfasts, dinner and some lunches will be served at a long shared table, with oil lanterns to illuminate when needed; house wine, cold local beers, colas, gin & tonic, fruit juices etc all included, anytime; as well as filtered drinking water. Your guide will join you to impart further insights into the environment which surrounds you; as well as fascinating information about lions, elephants, leopards and more which you will be searching for by day. 

Lunches are sometimes at camp; other times out in the bush. This is the case in particular when you are transferring from one area to the next. For example, after two nights at northern Chobe, you will first go in search of wildlife and birdlife from about 6.30am to 11am; and then drive about 150km, mainly through the Chobe Reserve, until you reach the Savuti area, but stopping midway for a picnic lunch. From around 3.30pm - 6.30pm you will go game watching in the Savuti area, reaching the identic camp at the new location in time for dinner. 

Dinner,  open bar, fireside chats and often a sky filled with stars will entertain you before bedtime. We love mobile safari camping, including the option for setting up a private group departure for you; but they aren't for everyone. Lodges provide a higher level of comfort and the potential of fans, air conditioning, finer dining and beverages; and in many cases dramatic views to gaze across during safari downtime. 

Mobile Safari Support 

The mobile safari guide and team carry vehicle spares and are trained to deal with tyre changes and some fixes. In the rare case that a vehicle fix is too much for the team to handle, a satellite phone will be used to call a replacement vehicle and a mechanic left to fix the original Land Rover or Toyota Land Cruiser. 

Please Get in Touch to discuss further, to decide if this is the ideal safari experience for you; or if a lodge-based safari would serve you better.