Fly camping is one of Africa’s most immersive and adventurous safari experiences. It involves spending a night or two in the wilderness under the stars, often with only a lightweight tent or mosquito net between you and the elements. Unlike traditional lodge stays, fly camping is about reconnecting with nature on its most primal level—listening to the nocturnal symphony of the bush, sitting around a crackling campfire, and waking with the sunrise in the heart of the wild. It’s raw, intimate, and ideal for adventurous travelers who want to feel truly part of the African landscape. Several destinations across the continent offer this unique way of experiencing the wilderness.

Tanzania – Selous and Ruaha

Tanzania is one of the top destinations for authentic fly camping, particularly in the Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous Game Reserve) and Ruaha National Park. These remote, game-rich areas offer pristine settings with few crowds, making them ideal for this low-impact style of camping. Guided by expert walking guides and accompanied by an armed ranger, guests trek through the bush during the day and set up camp in secluded spots at night. Basic comforts are still provided, with bucket showers, hearty meals cooked over the fire, and simple tents or bedrolls with mosquito nets. The experience emphasizes silence, starlight, and close encounters with nature.

Zambia – South Luangwa and Lower Zambezi

Zambia is often considered the birthplace of walking safaris, and fly camping is a natural extension of that tradition. South Luangwa National Park is particularly well known for its expertly guided multi-day walking safaris, during which fly camps are set up each night in different locations. The Lower Zambezi also offers excellent opportunities to combine fly camping with canoeing or walking along the riverbanks, surrounded by hippos, elephants, and birdlife. These safaris are intimate and guided by some of Africa’s best-trained professionals, making them safe and deeply enriching.

Kenya – Laikipia and Northern Conservancies

In Kenya, fly camping is often offered as part of mobile walking or camel safaris in the wild and beautiful Laikipia Plateau or northern conservancies like Namunyak. These less-traveled areas offer dramatic landscapes, cultural immersion with local communities, and abundant wildlife. Walking alongside Samburu or Maasai guides, guests traverse open plains and rocky hills, then camp in remote spots far from the nearest lodge. The simplicity of the setup—just a bedroll, canvas wash basin, and lanterns—enhances the feeling of being truly out in the wilderness.

Botswana – Okavango Delta

Botswana’s Okavango Delta is better known for its luxury lodges and water-based safaris, but it also offers a more rustic, adventurous option through select outfitters who organize private mokoro or walking safaris with fly camping. These experiences typically involve gliding through the floodplains in a dugout canoe by day, then setting up a lightweight camp on an island or high ground. The stillness of the delta at night, broken only by the sounds of frogs, birds, and distant lions, makes fly camping here deeply atmospheric and unforgettable.