Luxury Bivouac Safaris in Africa

Or how to travel at the heart of nature.

Spending nights under canvas in its midst is what we have loved most for nearly twenty years. Particularly in Africa.

Few African countries offer the possibility of a mobile safari with bivouacs set up right in the heart of nature. An important distinction from fixed or seasonal “tented camps”: these bivouacs are set up only for the duration of your stay and then dismantled. Before your arrival, the land is untouched. It remains just as untouched after your departure.

A few years ago, these bivouacs were usually very basic, with small dome tents that fit two people, and not one more. A sleeping mat and a sleeping bag made up the entire furnishings. A bush shower and long-drop toilet were the height of comfort!

Lightweight bivouac in Tanzania © Tawisa

Since then, even though this type of setup still exists, standards have improved considerably, now offering comfort on a par with a fixed tented camp. Yet it remains true to the essence of the bivouac: being out in the wild, with no barrier or “protection” between camp and bush.
As a result, it is not unusual for a lion, hyenas or even an elephant to walk right through camp, even in broad daylight or in the evening during dinner. There is no shortage of stories!
But there is real pleasure in opening your tent in the morning with the feeling of experiencing the world’s first day. The sounds and smells of the savannah do the rest…

Choosing quality

Countless travel formulas exist, offered by just as many safari operators.
We focus on what are known as “non-participatory” operations.
We believe you are there to make the most of your trip, not to pitch and strike camp, cook, wash dishes, or load and unload vehicles. Moreover, the two “strategic” windows in Africa for observing and photographing wildlife are the two hours after sunrise and the two hours before sunset. If, instead of making the most of the bush, you have to gather firewood, set up camp for the night or take it down at dawn, help with the cooking, and so on, the most rewarding moments of your trip will simply be lost.

Southern Africa

The ultimate place to live this experience is without question Botswana. Here, mobile bivouac safaris are superbly organised by a handful of highly professional companies offering remarkable service. Don’t expect it to be cheap, as all this comes at a cost. An entire logistical operation has to be run — for you alone — with vehicles, equipment, staff (drivers, guide, cook, camp assistants) and camping fees payable to park/reserve authorities and local communities. You cannot simply camp anywhere in Botswana’s national parks. Depending on the season and preferences, any of the country’s regions accessible by road and not too far from logistics bases can be considered (Moremi Reserve in the Okavango, Savute, Chobe River, the Central Kalahari and Deception Valley).

andBeyond Explorer Safari, Botswana © &Beyond

In Namibia, only a small part of this vast country allows for a good quality mobile tented journey, without being confined to so-called “public” campsites alongside other travellers, or set apart from a lodge on the same property. As you can imagine, that is a very different experience.
Kaokoland and Damaraland are the regions most often favoured, and a few areas further east are also worth considering. The Skeleton Coast Park, meanwhile, is reserved for a more expedition-style approach, in small groups, with very lightweight bivouac logistics to spend a week in total self-sufficiency. Here, the word desert takes on its full meaning, and the Skeleton Coast lives up to its name!

In Zimbabwe and Zambia, it is possible to organise this type of safari in certain parks, but these are not the travel formulas we favour if quality service is a priority. Fixed seasonal camps or lodges will be more suitable.

East Africa

Bivouacking in the heart of the bush in Kenya and Tanzania was fairly common just a few years ago.
Since then, things have changed. Except for basic bivouacs geared more towards treks and/or participatory trips, local operators have gradually shifted their focus to mobile safaris staying in seasonal tented camps or lodges. The rising cost of running quality logistics, against a backdrop of declining demand, no doubt explains this shift.

In southern Tanzania (Ruaha, Selous…), the distance from logistics bases makes organisation complicated, costly and demanding. As a result, it no longer makes sense, and the superb fixed or seasonal tented camps are the better choice.

There remain, however, excellent opportunities in northern Tanzania and Kenya to organise outstanding mobile bivouac safaris, notably in the Serengeti. Some are every bit as surprising as they are luxurious!