We just love mobile, expedition-style safaris. They make us feel like explorers and adventurers seeing Africa for the first time and we have to seriously resist the temptation to grab our pith helmets and corsets and head off into the great unknown on horseback, with nought but a gramophone, a drop of Mozart and a rifle. What makes camping it up in the wilds of the Dark Continent special? Let's find out...

First off, there's something unassailably authentic about camping, safari-style, in the remote corners of the African wilderness - it's the quintessential travel experience if you want to really connect to the spirit of safari. Yes, you do forego a few of the bells and whistles that staying in a lodge or bush camp offer, but sleeping under canvas (or, just a mozzie net) with Planet Earth beneath your bedroll is the real deal. 

Let's just clarify that by saying that when it comes to the word "camping" we don't mean grungy two-man pop-ups, a yoga mat for a mattress and slightly seedy communal ablutions. We mean camping on steroids with spacious tents, plush linen; soft, comfy beds or bedrolls with proper mattresses; awesome en-suite facilities with bucket showers; composting loos and plush carpets under your toes. So it's less than a lodge, but so much more than sleeping in your clothes and venturing forth unwashed and unkempt.

Less is more... SO much more...

When it comes to exceptional "glamping" and expedition-style experiences, there's a lot to choose from out there in the wild, woolly yonder of the African wilderness. So here are a few of our fave operations and expeditions masters who make the art of less is more look effortless, and as a result create some truly spectacular safari experiences...

First up, we really love Beagle Expeditions' Kweene Trails in Botswana. These expeditions come complete with heaps of luxurious touches and loads of going-where-no-one-has-gone-before exploring in a remote corner of Botswana's Okavango Delta that's only reachable by helicopter. Yup, you soar in like a media magnate about to give a bear hug to your biggest competitor! How cool is that?

The overarching ethos of going mobile or off on an expedition is ditching what you don't need and discovering that minimalism is, actually, the way to go. Honestly. You might think you need a hair dryer and air-conditioning in Africa, and lots of African décor, but actually, you don't. 

Take African Bush Camps' Zambezi Expeditions, for example. These fabulous, authentic explorations of Zimbabwe's magical Mana Pools are designed to give you maximum experiences with minimum fuss, allowing you to enjoy wild Africa in an authentic and immersive way. 

Or how about a mobile walking safari with Robin Pope Safaris in Zambia's South Luangwa? There's no lugging around heavy backpacks and sleeping under a waterproof sheet here, with gorgeous tents, proper beds, wonderful linen and fabulous camp nosh to boot. And a complete team to pack everything up and move it to the next camp site while you walk on the wild side!

Doing it differently...

Kenya's Mobile Expeditions let you grab your fandamily, friends and significant others and discover the Kenya that no one else told you about, using private mobile camps in some of the most exquisite and remote locations this beautiful country has to offer. From Laikipia to the Masai Mara, this is safari unplugged and one of the best "glamping" experiences out there.

Then there's Zambia's best-kept secret... Sshhhh.... Don't tell everyone, but we know these really great guys who are doing these amazing safaris in some of the most beautiful places in Zambia with, like, really simple but gorgeous camps and mobile tented expeditions and stuff... Oh, and phenomenal wildlife too. Savvy? So just keep it quiet and let's whisper together about where and when. Cool? Right! Classic Zambia is the name. Eish! The secret's out now. 

Or how about walking it off in Namibia? We absolutely adore trails and trails camps, especially when they're in one of our fave nations! Walking the dramatic landscapes is just so much better than just bumping around in a game viewer and gives you the chance to connect 100% to this stunning environment. And sleeping out under the stars in a gorgeous, mobile camp with Tok Tokkie Trails is what safari is all about. Heaven!

"Doing" Botswana differently is what it's all about on a Letaka Safaris mobile safari, giving you the chance to explore hidden pockets of this incredible country, reaching the remote parts of hotspots like Chobe, the Linyanti, Okavango, Central Kalahari and Makgadikgadi Pans without breaking a sweat. The camps are set up ready to roll when you arrive and no comfort is spared, so all you have to do is relax, kick back and take lots of photos. 

Simply the best...

We've saved it to last because it really is a pinnacle safari - the one destination that anyone with a love of wild Africa should absolutely sign up for before they kick the proverbial bucket... An expedition to Chad's fabled Zakouma National Park!

Chad? Yes. The impoverished land-locked desert nation just south of the Sahara, where north and central Africa meet in an incredible blend of cultures. This has to be one of the ultimate wildlife destinations on the planet. Zakouma is breathtaking, mind-blowing and jaw-dropping all at once. Renowned for its red-billed quelea murmurations, phenomenal bird life and iconic mammal species, there's nowhere quite like it. 

You stay at the absolutely awesome Camp Nomade - the ultimate "glamping" safari experience, with tents strung out like pearls along the edge of the Riguek pan and views of forever, heading out each morning and afternoon into the shimmering heat of the Sahel to witness an abundance of life like nowhere else on the continent. 

So, let's chat about your glamping options and getting you out into the wild blue yonder on the safari of a lifetime!