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Safari huts, lodges and tented camps: how to choose where you sleep in the wild

On a safari, the place you sleep is never just a bed. It decides how close you are to the animals, how early you can be out when the light is soft and the predators are still moving, and what you hear when you lie awake at night. A lion calling across the plain or an elephant brushing past the canvas of your tent is not something you forget. The safari huts, lodges and camps collected on this page are chosen for exactly that: they put you in wild country, close to the wildlife you came to see.

The word safari covers everything from a simple self-catering hut in a national park to a remote camp reached by light aircraft. This guide walks you through the main choices.

Three ways to stay: lodge, tented camp or hut

Safari lodges are permanent buildings, often with thatched roofs, a main area for meals and a view over a waterhole or river. They usually offer the most comfort, with solid walls, private bathrooms and sometimes a pool.

Tented camps are the classic safari experience. The tents are often large and well furnished, with real beds, an en-suite bathroom and a veranda, yet only a layer of canvas separates you from the bush. Some are permanent, while others, known as mobile or seasonal camps, move to follow the wildlife or are only set up during the dry months. They tend to be smaller and more intimate than lodges.

Safari huts and self-catering chalets are the choice for independent travellers. Many national parks, especially in southern Africa, have rest camps with simple huts, rondavels or chalets where you cook your own meals and drive yourself through the park. It is a hands-on and often affordable way to travel.

Where in the world to go on safari

Africa is the heart of the safari tradition. In East Africa, Kenya and Tanzania are famous for open savannah and big herds, with the Masai Mara and the Serengeti among the best-known wildlife areas on earth. Southern Africa offers enormous variety: South Africa's Kruger National Park and its neighbouring reserves, the waterways of Botswana's Okavango Delta, the desert landscapes and waterholes of Etosha in Namibia, and the rivers and parks of Zambia and Zimbabwe, where walking safaris have a long tradition.

But wildlife lodges exist far beyond Africa. In India, lodges around tiger reserves such as Ranthambore and Kanha give you a chance to spot a tiger from an open vehicle. Sri Lanka has national parks such as Yala, known for leopards and elephants. In Borneo, jungle lodges along the rivers offer the chance to see orangutans, proboscis monkeys and hornbills. The Pantanal in Brazil is one of the world's great wetlands and a strong place to look for jaguars, capybaras and a huge variety of birds. And in the Australian outback, remote stations and bush camps open up a very different world of kangaroos, reptiles and vast starry skies.

Fenced or unfenced: what it means for your stay

Some camps are fenced, which keeps large animals out of the grounds. Many others are deliberately unfenced, so elephants, buffalo or antelope can wander between the tents. Unfenced camps feel wonderfully wild, but they come with rules: after dark you are usually escorted to and from your room by a guide or guard, and you should never walk around alone at night. Fenced camps are often a more relaxed choice for families with young children. Check which kind you are booking.

How you will see the animals

Game drives are the backbone of most safaris. You head out in an open or closed vehicle early in the morning and again in the late afternoon, when animals are most active. Some private reserves and concessions also allow night drives and off-road driving to follow a sighting, which national parks often do not permit.

Walking safaris are a completely different experience. On foot with an armed and qualified guide, you notice tracks, dung, insects, plants and birds you would miss from a vehicle. Walks are not offered everywhere, and there is usually a minimum age.

Depending on the destination you may also find boat and canoe trips, traditional mokoro excursions in the Okavango Delta, horseback safaris, or time in a hide next to a waterhole.

Whatever the activity, the guide makes the difference, so ask about the guides' experience and how many guests share a vehicle.

Timing your trip: dry and wet seasons

In most safari regions the calendar is shaped by rain rather than by summer and winter. In the dry season, vegetation thins out and animals gather around rivers and waterholes, which usually makes them easier to find. The wet or green season brings lush landscapes, newborn animals, migrant birds and fewer visitors, though some roads and camps may close. The exact months vary a lot from one country and region to the next, and even within a single country. Ask the owner when their area is at its best and what each season offers.

Health, safety and packing

Many safari areas are in regions where malaria and other tropical diseases occur. Visit a travel clinic or your doctor well before you leave for advice on vaccinations and malaria prevention for your specific destination, and bring insect repellent and long sleeves for the evenings. Travel insurance that covers medical evacuation is worth considering for remote areas.

Pack light, especially if you fly between camps in small aircraft, which often have strict luggage limits and may require soft bags. Useful things to bring:

• Clothes in neutral colours such as khaki, olive and beige; avoid bright colours, and in some areas dark blue and black, which can attract biting flies.
• Warm layers, because early mornings and evening drives in an open vehicle can be surprisingly cold.
• A good pair of binoculars for each traveller if possible.
• A camera with a zoom lens, spare batteries and memory cards.
• A wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.
• A head torch, and comfortable closed shoes for walking.

Safari with children

A safari can be magical for children, but not every camp welcomes them. Some lodges and tented camps set minimum ages, particularly for game drives and walking safaris, and some unfenced camps do not accept young children at all. Others are specifically family friendly, with family rooms, private vehicles and activities for younger guests. Always check the child policy first.

Questions to ask before you book

• Is the camp fenced or unfenced, and what are the rules after dark?
• Which activities are included: game drives, walks, boat trips, night drives?
• How many guests share a vehicle, and is a private vehicle available?
• Are meals, drinks and park fees included, or paid separately?
• Is it self-catering or fully catered, and is there a shop nearby?
• Is there a minimum age for children, or for certain activities?
• How do I get there: by road, 4x4 or light aircraft, and are transfers arranged?
• Is there electricity all day, solar power, phone signal or Wi-Fi?
• Which season is best for the wildlife I want to see?

Travelling with respect

Keep your distance from animals, stay quiet at sightings, never feed wildlife and follow your guide's instructions. Ask before photographing people, and consider places that employ local staff and support conservation and community projects. Your choice of where to stay can help protect the very landscapes you came to see.

Finding your safari stay on this page

The safari huts, lodges and tented camps on this page are grouped by continent, country and region, so you can start with the destination you have in mind and compare what is available there. Every link takes you to the owner's own website, where you can check availability and book directly. Do you run a safari lodge, tented camp or hut? Add your link for free with the button above and help travellers find their way to the wild.