One night at Tubu Tree in Botswana, a bull elephant rubbed up against the tree right next to our tent. Dan woke up to it. I slept through the whole thing.
When people picture a safari tent, they picture camping. Sleeping bags, a flashlight and a long walk to the bathroom.
Then they get there.
The tents
Luxury tented camps are canvas-and-wood suites out in the wilderness. Real beds with good linens. En-suite bathrooms with real toilets and hot showers. A private deck looking out over a river, the plains or a watering hole.
At King's Pool in Botswana, our suite had its own plunge pool overlooking the river.
Most camps do turndown every night, light a fire pit in the evening and serve really good food. And the staff learn what you like fast.
The canvas walls are my favorite part. You hear everything. At King's Pool, a troop of baboons settled in above our tent under a full moon and carried on for what felt like the entire night. They even peed on our tent. Meanwhile, we could hear the hippos down in the river.
Rooms matter, and a great tent is a great room.
What a safari day looks like
Safari runs on nature's schedule. Game drives happen early in the morning and again in the late afternoon, when the animals are most active. The middle of the day is for lunch, a nap, a book or just sitting on your deck.
It's also a lot more educational than people expect. A great guide teaches you how the animals behave and how the whole ecosystem fits together. That's why camp prices are based on the GUIDES' expertise, and it's the first thing I look at.
No 2 days are the same, and nothing is guaranteed. That's part of the fun.
Getting ready to go
Packing. Neutral colors, layers for cold mornings and warm afternoons and comfortable shoes. Small bush planes have strict luggage limits, so soft-sided bags are usually required.
Health. Depending on where you're going, vaccinations or malaria medication may be recommended. Talk to your doctor or a travel clinic well before you leave.
Travel insurance. I strongly recommend it, especially for remote trips. When my client Barbara BROKE HER BACK in Tahiti, travel insurance paid her and her husband, Michael, back in full. Different destination, same lesson.
And bring patience and curiosity. The people who come home happiest are the ones who let the bush set the pace.
Why the itinerary matters
Africa is huge. The experience changes with the country, the region, the season and the style of camp.
Some people want an intimate camp with a handful of guests. Others like a bigger lodge with more going on. Some want the Great Migration. Others are there for big cats, elephants or gorillas.
I learned this on my own first safari. Dan and I loved Tubu Tree. My parents found the raised tents and steps hard, so we moved on to King's Pool, which fit them much better.
We work with trusted safari operators and partners across Africa, so we can build around what you want: a private guide, a small group, a specific animal, or safari paired with Cape Town, a beach or time with local communities.
What Virtuoso adds
As a Virtuoso agency, we have a network of trusted partners, preferred camps and lodges and people on the ground. That often means extras for our clients, like room upgrades (when available), camp credits and special experiences. And if something changes mid-trip, we know exactly who to call.
When your trip has several camps, small flights, border crossings and different guides, you want one person who sees the whole picture. That's my job.
What's the one thing you're most curious (or nervous) about when you picture a safari camp?