Many travellers when they hear the words Tented Safari Package, may think of a REI dome budget tent.

The traditional African Safari started with mobile tents, and know have evolved into permanent tented Safari camps, and lodge structures.

Tented Safari Camps:

A tented Safari experience usually depending on the level or class of the package, will mean a permanent, usually semi screened large tent with it own en suite bathroom, and also a outdoor shower,simply decorated. An outdoor private deck may be part of this structure as well.

The level of comfort and luxury, that some of these tented camps is to experienced. You have all the luxury you want, for the level of package you purchasing, in a beautiful natural  setting. All the tented camps have full electricity, heaters for winter, and all the amneities you may need.These tents are usally raised tents large walk in tents,with flush toilets,etc. Very comfortable, and quaint.

Mobile tented safaris are also available. Here the tents are set up every night, as you enjoy a day Safari. Each night a different location or maybe 2 two days in a location. Everything is taken care of for you, and these mobile Safaris can be very luxurious.Some of the luxury tents have there own private en suite bathrooms.

Lodges:

Usually permanet strucures, with a local cultural architecural flavour. Tasteflly decorated. Very intimate, quite,romantic,restful. Safari lodges are All Inclusive ie all meals, and game drives.

Below is a desription of Jao camp in Botswana

Guests are accommodated in nine large and spacious rooms. Each of the unique and beautiful twin-bedded canvas and thatched rooms has been individually handcrafted under the direction of renowned architects Sylvio Rech and Leslie Carstens. The rooms are built under a canopy of shady trees, with en-suite bathroom, hot and cold running water, a large bath and double vanity. There is an additional outside shower under the stars for those more adventurous guests who want to shower closer to nature. There is an outdoor "sala" for guests to enjoy midday siestas with a view and a breeze. The rooms are raised off the ground and offer wonderful views of the surrounding flood plains.

Safari lodges like Singita, Lodolozi,Sabi Sabi, Phinda, are often the receipant of top spots in the Travel/Hospitality best of the best awards.The other moderate and First Class Lodges, excluding these Deluxe ones mentioned, are great value for there price, offerring the same basic services/amenities.

Dont be mislead by the term Deluxe vs Moderate Safari lodge...the animals dont distinguish, and they wander where they want to. In Feb o4 I sepnt a night in the public bungalows in Kruger National Park, and had better game viewing than my next night a Deluxe game lodge.