One of our favorite things in Africa, is spending a night under the open African skies, and more and more camps and lodges allow us to “star bathe” at night. Want to know what you’re seeing up above? … There’s an app for that!
Our favorite “star-beds” on safari …
Lion Sands River Lodge – Spend the night at Chalkley Tree-House in South Africa’s Sabi Sands reserve, high above the grazing elephants.
Loisaba – Take a guided walk with Maasai warriors from the main camps to one of two star bed options, and spend the night enjoying the breathtaking splendor of Kenya’s Laikipia region.
Kalahari Plains – All the en-suite rooms here have a roof-top access to enjoy the stunning night sky of Botswana’s Kalahari Desert.
Little Kulala – Gaze up from the roof at one of only 8 designated International Dark Sky reserves in the world.
The Hide – Beautiful sunsets and starry nights in the heart of Zimbabwe’s Hwange Game Park are yours alone at the “Dove’s Nest”. A wonderful open tree-house perched on the edge of a wildlife filled valley.
Nkwichi StarBed – Enjoy your own beach paradise under the gorgeous Malawi skies, while listening to the gentle Lake lapping on the beach. The perfect night out!
For those guests looking for an exclusive bush experience, we also recommend fly-camping for a few nights. With just a simple camp bed and mosquito net, it’s the ultimate safari experience without the frills.
Things to Consider When Sleeping Out
The option of sleeping out in the open can always be requested, but never guaranteed because of 2 main factors:

• The weather – mosquito nets are not great at keeping out the rain
• Predators – A guard will always be posted nearby, but if lions or other big predators are known to be active in the area, the camp manager may decide it is not safe to sleep out.

Prefer to enjoy your meals Al Fresco Instead?
If spending a night out is not your cup of tea, there are plenty of opportunities to sit under the open skies and enjoy a meal… and perhaps a glass of wine. Wait for that “only in Africa” expression whispered over your shoulder at regular intervals: “Top up? Top up?” (Another one of Yvette’s favourite sounds of Africa)

• Boma Dinners – popular in southern Africa, dining under the stars with local entertainment and delicious roasting meats, is just the way to end an exciting day on safari.
• Bush Breakfasts – The best bush breakfast is the one enjoyed after a bolloon ride over the East African Plains. But it’s also possible to enjoy a private bush breakfast at many camps.
• Dinner on the water – Cruise down the Zambezi for dinner and drinks on the romantic Ra Ikane, or enjoy lunch on a pontoon at Chiawa camp.
• Boxed Lunches – popular in east Africa for those full day game drives, boxed lunches under an acacia tree taste so good! We also offer our clients special picnic sights away from the crowds in the Ngorongoro Crater.

Contact us for more ideas “Under the African Skies”….