Best places for fly-camping in Africa

Fly camping is all about getting back to the basics of safari romance. Experience the magic of the African bush like the first explorers did, by setting up camp each night in a different patch of remarkable wilderness. Fly camping is the ultimate African adventure; do not worry though, you don’t have to pitch your own tent! Fly camping safaris allow you to be on an adventure but with that touch of safari luxury which seasoned safari goers would expect.

In some ways you are compromising on luxury such as solid walls and swimming pools, but we think there is nothing more luxurious than snoozing off in the middle of the African bush with nature’s soundscape and the starry skies to drift you off. It is an unbeatable experience.

Fly camping is quite rare nowadays, and there are different levels of adventure you can go for. You could just do one night’s fly camping before returning to the luxury of your four poster bed and swimming pool, or you could do a whole seven nights out in the bush for the most intrepid travellers out there.

Best parks in Africa for fly-camping

The best places in Africa for a fly camping safari:

South Luangwa, Zambia. Norman Carr safaris offers some of the best walking safaris on the continent. For walkers, there is nowhere better and people who tend to enjoy the excitement of the African bush also love the fly campign experience. One night in sleeping under the stars here will be a truly memorable experience – stay at either Luwi or Nsolo.

Ruaha National Park, Tanzania. Kichaka Camp in Ruaha has to be the most intrepid walking safari experience left on the continent. Pick from 3, 5 or 7 day fly-camping itineraries. Kichaka is the original and remains to this day the best of old-school safari adventure.

Okavango Delta, Botswana. Many camps in the Delta offer a sleep out under the stars experience for a night as part of staying in the luxurious permanent lodges which the Delta is so famed for. If you are a horse rider though, then things get a lot more intrepid! Ride Botswana offers a singular riding safari experience with the only solely fly-camping operation in the delta. Riding through the day and camping somewhere new every night… It doesn’t get much more exciting and adventurous than this.

The Selous, Tanzania. Sand Rivers in The Selous Game Reserve offers a night sleeping under the stars on the banks of the Rufiji River. A beautiful park and an exceptional lodge make this one of the best (and oldest!) fly-camping experiences on the continent.