One of the most exciting travel experiences is a camping trip in Africa. Camping in deserts, national parks, or other distant locations is a rare option in many African states. We joined forces with certain other travel bloggers in order to develop a wishlist of the 8 finest spots to go camping throughout Africa.
Morocco: Nights of Magic in the Sahara Desert
Morocco is unquestionably an advised stop on the travel wishlist in terms of camping in Africa. Moroccans figured out how to turn an overnight stay in the Sahara Desert into more of an unforgettable experience.
Glamping is available close to Merzouga to all those who favor a more comfy travel experience. The experience begins in the village overlooking the dunes. Ordinarily, visitors are offered to park their vehicles at local Kasbahs’ carparks and to reach camps in the desert by either camels or 4x4s.
Glamping entails spending the night in an opulent tent that has a large bedroom, a private bathroom, Wi-Fi, power sockets, and many other amenities that end up making a stay inside this desert incredibly comfortable. Per camp, there are typically 7 to 9 tents. The itinerary offers magnificent breakfast and dinners, recreation by the campfire, along with sandboarding, camel riding at dawn or dusk, and desert safari.
Among the best camps in Merzouga is Desert Indigo. As a relatively young business in the area, it quickly expands its list of satisfied customers.
Zagora, another tiny village in the Sahara Desert, offers a more genuine camping experience in Morocco. It’s less popular with tourists and surely less glamorous. Erg Chigaga in the dunes is harder to access and the assistance of the locals will be required. Camping in Zagora entails staying in basic tents and eating basic food, but it also allows visitors to experience authentic tribal life in the desert.
Namibia: A Rooftop Tent Adventure Including 4×4
Campground in Namibia is indeed a dream trip. Try to travel around about this desert region nation for 3 weeks or more with a 4×4 and rooftop tent, camping in one of the most beautiful locations around the country. Two of your list of places to visit should be off-the-beaten-path camping on the lesser-known Brukkaros volcano and safari camping in Etosha National Park.
Etosha National Park is one of the most popular places in Namibia or probably the whole of Africa for its game outings and self-drive safaris. The vast park comprises various park camps with cabins and camping places. Setting your rooftop tent adjacent to waterholes where rhinos and elephants congregate is one of the greatest ways to really enjoy Etosha.
The Brukkaros volcano isn’t so well known to tourists, hence it’s not very well-liked. You can drive almost all the way to the top of the volcano with a 4×4 to a derelict ancient campsite. There are no accommodations including electricity or showers, making it that much more adventurous. It’s around 30 to 40 minutes of trekking to the edge of the crater, albeit it doesn’t appear like a volcanic site and more like a big Namibian landscape.
Climb all the way to the summit for a breathtaking perspective across Namibia – it’s where once historic observatories existed – and then go stargazing at night at this remarkable site in Africa.
Malawi: Pitching Your Tent at Lake Malawi
Malawi is a landlocked country wedged in between Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zambia, with its very own “inland sea“. Nearly the entire length of the nation is covered by Lake Malawi, which provides some fantastic camping chances with breathtaking vistas.
Although Malawi lacks traditional campsites, the whole length of the lake is peppered with occasional lodging alternatives, ranging from hostels to opulent safari lodges, many of which offer camping spots. The same is true for the region surrounding the well-known Mount Mulanje, where you can set up a ground tent for the night at all lodgings.
The charm in Malawi is indeed individual transport, though unlike most of East and Southern Africa, car rental is very costly, and vehicles equipped with rooftop tents are almost unheard of. Tuk-tuks and minibuses, however, are inexpensive, common, and allow you to see most of the country while using a pop-up tent.
April is the prime season when lodgings get very full and you’ll need to book in advance – even to assure a tent site – but the remainder of the year it’s typically acceptable to show up with your tent and no bookings. It’s important to be aware that there are few options for self-catering at lodges in Malawi, so it’s wise to stock up on supplies before traveling.
Botswana: Off the Beaten Path Self-Drive Safari
Driving and backpacking on distant safaris is one of the greatest forms of travel and enjoy Botswana’s beauty and animals.
You’ll be in awe of Botswana’s beauty, size, and diversity. While sharing the savannah, wetlands, and woodlands with many birds and other species, you won’t ever feel crowded. The model of Botswana’s tourism policies is “fewer people, paying a higher price“, which controls visitor numbers for minimal ecosystem impact.
If this journey is on your bucket list you’ll have to be prepped before you set off wild camping in Botswana. You’ll probably be pretty secluded throughout your self-drive and camping safari, and feel as though you are fully alone with nature. You’ll need to have a 4×4 truck with a rooftop tent in order to be completely equipped. Driving in Botswana is very tricky, with a mishmash of sandy and muddy routes, and even some points where you’ll have to cross rivers (during the rainy season).
As a matter of fact, free wild camping isn’t permitted in Botswana, thus you’re only entitled to stay in planned places in the campsites. It’s advisable to plan and reserve your lodging well in advance due to the restricted number of campsites and places available. Touring across Botswana alone can be economical, yet the nation also offers luxurious resorts in the big national parks. While this is an excellent alternative to accommodation, be ready to be given a huge bill.
Madagascar: Camping Boat Tour along the Tsiribihina River
Madagascar is renowned for its exotic landscapes and unique species that you won’t see elsewhere on earth. Taking a boat ride and camping along the isolated Tsiribihina River is an adventure you’ll never forget and one that provides you with a real peek into the Madagascar way of life.
You’ll see amazing sights on your three-day boat voyage along the Tsiribihina River, including sunsets above baobab trees, little towns with waving children, lemurs in trees, and enormous Nile crocodiles. The scenery is incredibly calm as you leisurely drift down the river. A highlight is taking a cool dip under a spectacular waterfall that can only be reached by boat.
Each night, the crew of your boat will erect a tent for you near other boat-traveling tourists on the sandbank. Dinner is prepared and served on the boat, and is typically followed by rum that has been spiced with ginger and Malagasy music all around the campfire. The lifetime trip is at your fingertips!
Your boat voyage comes to an end in the town of Belo, where you can proceed your trip to the legendary Tsingy De Bemaraha National Park, a rock forest created by an ancient ocean. Personalized private tours can be scheduled with Helinirina Raharomanana Tours, a local company with some very affordable prices. It’s not advised to do this trip on your own because it would be risky without a guide.
South Africa: Wishlist’s Garden Route Camping
One of the best places in the world to go camping is South Africa. Wonderful weather, magnificent nature, and unique species form a perfect camping atmosphere. Camping is one of the popular weekend/holiday activities in South Africa, the great demand results in numerous fantastic camping places across the country; from beaches and safari parks to mountains and indigenous woods.
The two most common types of camping in wildlife reserves and safari resorts are RVs and rooftop tents. It’s easy to rent a fully outfitted 4×4 vehicle with a roofing tent and camper supplies. A lot of campgrounds hire out pre-made tents. For people who enjoy camping yet prefer to pack light, it’s the simplest method. Braai (BBQ) is an integral component of South Africa’s camping experience. Every campsite includes a designated braai area where people can grill sandwiches, vegetables, and meat.
The Garden Route is undoubtedly one of the most picturesque camping destinations in South Africa. Camping here is extraordinary because of the breathtaking Pacific coast, infinite white sandy beaches, the evergreen native forest, and the range of outdoor activities. Some of the nicest camping areas along the Garden Route are found inside National Parks (SANParks).
Ebb & Flow camping set on the banks of the river near Wilderness and Storms River Mouth resting camp on the coastline are the “couple“ not to miss on the Garden Route. Both places offer magnificent locations, have fantastic facilities, and are quite reasonable. They have electricity and showers but don’t count on a good Wi-Fi signal so uploading photos on social media, streaming, and placing bets on the country’s top online bookies at bookmaker-expert.com/country/south-africa/ will be the mission impossible.
Kenya: Between-Wildlife Luxury Camping
The Great Migration is one of the best sights to view when on an African safari. The dominant terrestrial mammal migration in the globe is a habitat to millions of animals and an astounding ecosystem. The Mara Bush Camp in Kenya is situated right in the middle of the Maasai Mara Conservancy.
Given the wide variety of habitats, safaris in Kenya feature among the most diverse species in all of Africa. You’ll have the chance to observe zebras, gazelle, lions, giraffes, wildebeest, leopards, cheetahs, and much more! Along the river, you may even be lucky enough to see crocodiles sunning on the riverbed or hippopotami splashing in the water while relaxing on the camp’s patio.
Employees guarded the area to prevent roaming wildlife, and accompany tourists at night around the camp. Mara Bush Camp has all the conveniences you’d expect from a luxury hotel – so it doesn’t really feel like camping. The canvas tents even have a little patio area and wooden floors. Enjoy a great meal cooked by a chef, or unwind with a beverage at the bar, or rest by the fire pit. The unique habitat and ample species make the Maasai Mara among Africa’s top sites for safari.
Tanzania: Serengeti Site Safari Camping
Camping in Tanzania may be one of the most interesting methods to enjoy the different wildlife of the nation. When you decide on a cheap safari in Tanzania, lodging will always be in a tent, in one of the campgrounds surrounding Serengeti National Park. Depending on whatever service you’re embarking on an organized safari with, the tents can be larger or smaller, and they may feature mattresses or even beds inside.
Unless you pay a separate supplement, you’ll usually have to split the tent with someone else.
The campsites in Tanzania are exceptionally clean, some of them even having hot water. Cooks prepare the food in the camp’s kitchen, which is typically a concrete structure, before the visitors return from their safari.
After everyone has eaten dinner and gone to bed, the splendor of camping truly begins. When it gets dark, hyenas are the first to appear. They prowl around the camp in search of food while smelling the trash cans that are kept within the concrete building.
Eventually, around midnight, the lions began to roar. As it’s so silent, regardless if they are two or more kilometers far, it appears as though they’re only outside the tents. Zebras can be seen grazing all around the camp in the early morning when the sun rises. It’s a spectacular display of nature!
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