Safaris

Sleep Outs

Nothing can come close to the experience of sleeping out in the middle of the bush under a blanket of millions of stars.

Imagine sleeping in a luxurious bed on a raised deck in the middle of a game reserve, surrounded by the calls of nocturnal creatures, with nothing between you and the brilliant stars of the African night sky.

Sleep Outs or 'Star Beds' are offered in a few specialised locations, particularly desert areas, where there is little likelihood of rain and the clarity of light is pure and stunning. Crystal clear skies reveal an unbelievable number of stars – satellites and galaxies can be observed with the naked eye and meteors make occasional fleeting appearances.

Beds are often set up on platforms some distance from camp so as not to be affected by any noise or light and to offer complete privacy. There is usually a thatched roof of some kind under which the bed can be pushed in the unlikely event that it rains during the night.

Guests are escorted to the sleep out platform by their guides in time to for a cocktail or two while enjoying the stunning sunset. Meanwhile a sumptuous bush dinner is prepared by one of the camp chefs. The guide will spend the night a discrete distance away and everyone wakes up to a spectacular sunrise and an early morning chorus of birdsong.

For those who want to experience an hour or two under the stars then sleep indoors, there are a couple of lodges in Namibia and Kenya which can set up Star Beds on the flat roof of the room so guests can read a book and admire the Milky Way then retire to their comfortable bed below, although there is nothing to stop you from spending all night on the roof!

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Every safari we arrange is unique and customized to suit each client’s interests and budgets.

Contact an expert travel consultant to design a custom itinerary for you.

Ready for your trip?
Let us help you plan everything.

We do not subscribe to the ‘one-size-fits-all’ philosophy. Sample itineraries and cost estimates are meant purely as a guide. To find out more, please contact one of our expert travel consultants to plan a customized itinerary based on your budget and interests.