Mobile camping safaris

If lying in bed watching the tent shake because an elephant is scratching itself on it, or waking up to the sound of hyena eating a saucepan appeals to you, you are probably the perfect candidate for a mobile camping safari. Not for the faint-hearted, mobile camping safaris are a "back-to-basics" way to really explore Africa.

Following the recent trend of safari camps getting ever more luxurious, we find many travellers want to escape from the cut glass, fluffy bathroom towels and butler service, and immerse themselves in the true spirit of safari.

It is very far removed from the plush tents. Back to camping on the ground, dust in your hair and proper bush around you.

Audley works closely with a number of mobile operators in southern Africa who run scheduled trips across the continent. There are a number of departure dates, thus offering flexibility to fit into your travel dates.

Trips tend to last for around ten days, and it is easy to add on more time to your holiday either at the start or end of your trip.

Guides, vehicles and camp crew

On a scheduled departure, the group sizes are restricted to eight people. When going from camp to camp or on game drives you will travel in a modified land cruiser with three rows of seats and open sides.

Each trip is led by a professional guide and backed up by a full camp crew.

The crew are the masters of the mobile camp, erecting tents in minutes, producing three-course meals from a kitchen under an acacia tree and heating water for bucket showers over an open fire.

They are incredible at looking after your every need from a hot chocolate outside your tent on a chilly morning to a whisky around the campfire at night.

Accommodation

Each night you stay in a mobile tented camp in a private campsite. At night the sound of the frogs is deafening and you often have a hippo near your tent.

While wild, the mobile camps are by no means uncomfortable. A full crew builds the camp, which consists of large dome tents with camp beds and duvets. A small bedside table provides space for your book and torch.

Basic en suite facilities are provided; a canvas basin of water, en suite bush loo and bucket shower which will be filled with hot water when you return from game drives.

A word of warning though — don’t leave your sponge bag outside the tent as hyenas can be rather partial to soap and toothpaste.

Private departures

If you are a family or group of four or more, it is often both cost-effective and great fun to take a private mobile safari in one of the countries in which we offer them: Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania or Zambia. The beauty of this is that you can tailor the trip exactly to your interests.

You will have a private guide and vehicle as well as a crew to erect your camp, cook and look after you. There is nothing quite like having a tiny camp on a palm island in the middle of the Okavango Delta all to yourself.