The word “tent” can be misleading. When I told friends I was staying in a tent in the African bush, I got looks of sympathy mixed with concern. What they pictured was a flimsy canvas shelter and a sleeping bag on the ground. What I experienced was a level of immersion and luxury that has forever redefined the word “accommodation” for me.
My “tent” was a sprawling, permanent structure on a raised wooden deck, with polished wooden floors, a king-sized bed dressed in the finest linens, and an en-suite bathroom with a full copper rain-shower and flush toilet. It was, for all intents and purposes, a beautiful hotel room. But with one fundamental, game-changing difference: its walls were made of canvas.
This simple fact blurred the line between inside and out in the most magical way. During the day, the soft, diffused light filled the space. You could lie in bed and watch the clouds drift by. But the real magic happened at night.
As I lay in my incredibly comfortable bed, the sounds of the African night were my soundtrack. It was a live, unfiltered performance. The resonant whoop of hyenas in the distance, the chirping of a million insects, the sudden, startling crack of a branch that made you wonder what was passing by. Instead of being frightening, it was profoundly soothing. I was safe and cocooned in comfort, yet completely connected to the wild world outside.
The service was just as thoughtful. On a particularly cool night, I returned from dinner to find a hot water bottle tucked into my sheets—a small, simple touch that felt like the pinnacle of care. Waking up to the gentle light and the chorus of birds, without even leaving my bed, was a daily delight.
This isn’t camping; it’s a deeply sensory experience. It allows you to be a part of the environment, not just an observer of it. For anyone seeking a truly authentic and luxurious safari experience, a high-end tented camp is an absolute must. It was a recommendation from Visit Kenya that I will be forever grateful for.
Add Comment