The world’s astronomers chose the Karoo for the same reason you should: almost nothing comes between you and the sky. From off-grid suites near Sutherland’s great telescope to a Kalahari star bed and a community-owned dune lodge, here are the best places in South Africa to sleep under truly dark skies.
Ask a seven-year-old what they want to see in Africa and you will get a very precise list. From family tents in malaria-free Madikwe to kids’ clubs in the Kalahari and self-catering tents with hot tubs, here are South Africa’s best family glamping safaris and the age rules to check before you book.
For a group of six or more, an exclusive-use villa or private tented camp is often the smartest way to do a luxury safari. Here is what you get, how the cost compares with a shared lodge, and the best private villas and tented camps in South Africa, from Singita Castleton to Tanda Tula Field Camp.
Plunge pools on the deck, a night in a treehouse and dinner by lantern light in a dry riverbed: these are South Africa’s most romantic glamping stays, from Hamiltons in Kruger to Loapi in the Kalahari, with rates and the extras worth asking for.
When did you last see the Milky Way properly? A night on a star bed is often the part of a safari people remember best. Here are South Africa’s best sleep-outs, from Lion Sands treehouses to the Malori Sleepout in the Kalahari, with how they work, whether they are safe and how to book one.