Our 10 Best African Star Beds & Safari Sleepouts Curated Collection Of The Top-10

Spending a night under the African sky is a worthy bucket-list experience, and one you shouldn’t compromise on. There are many ways to approach this, from sleep-out decks to treehouses; here are our 10 best star beds & safari sleepouts to help you choose, in no particular order.

Quad biking sleepout at Makgadikgadi Pans | Botswana

This has to be one of thebest safari sleepouts around. Starting at the dreamy Jack’s Camp, you’ll hop on a quad bike and speed off into the distance across the luminescent Makgadikgadi Pans. Your destination? Kobu Island, where you’ll spend two educational days exploring the oasis and its surrounds and two thrilling nights sleeping under the stars before adventuring back to your luxury lodge. Continue exploring…

Treehouse escapes in the Greater Kruger | South Africa

As if big cat safaris weren’t enough of an attraction at the private game reserves of the Greater Kruger, there’s the added bonus of some of the best safari sleepouts in Africa. These optional add-ons are available to guests staying at lodges in the reserve, with the choice of three treehouses: Chalkley’s, Tinyeleti and Kingston. The lavish wood-and-glass structures have all the mod cons to ensure a comfortable evening, while affording an experience as wild as the animals that roam beneath it. Continue exploring…

Ol Donyo rooftop star beds at Chyulu Hills | Kenya

Located in the lovely Chyulu Hills, with plenty to see and do, Ol Donyo Lodge also made our 10 best safari lodges in Kenya. Here, however, it’s all about the best safari star beds. Found on the rooftops of each of the 10 suites, guests can simply ascend the stairs and sleep in them as they choose during their stay. This offers wonderful flexibility, as star-bed sleepouts attached to lodges usually require advance bookings. Continue exploring…

Ruckomechi sleep-out deck at Mana Pools | Zimbabwe

Guest staying at Ruckomechi Camp have the opportunity to spend a night sleeping in the Mana Pools wilderness at Parachute Pan. If this sounds a little daunting, you’ll be reassured knowing that the sleep-out deck is just 400m from the main camp, and that you’ll be perfectly cosy in a romantic four-poster bed, artfully-draped in mosquito nets. The deck also has its own sitting area, where you can relax and watch the comings and goings of the wildlife before settling in for the night. Continue exploring…

Fly camping in Ruaha | Tanzania

Fly camping is pretty much as wild as it gets in terms of the best safari sleepouts, and Ruaha – in remote southern Tanzania – is certainly one of the most far-flung places you can do it. Established by early hunters and trackers who couldn’t carry large amounts of gear, fly camping originally involved a mosquito net and some basic foodstuff. Recreational fly camping is a little more luxurious, with soft bedrolls, fluffy pillows and gourmet camp food, but the stars are still the same. Continue exploring…

Island hopping sleepout in the Quirimbas | Mozambique

Well, the title here alone should be all you need to convince you of the rightful inclusion of this one in our 10 best African safari sleepouts and star beds. Yes, this experience entails exploring the Quirimbas Archipelago on a traditional wooden dhow, drifting from island to island. Stop to explore mangrove forests and coral reefs, snorkelling to your heart’s content while the crew prepares a fresh seafood meal. Nights are spent on the beach, in tents or right under the African sky. Continue exploring…

Serian The Nest treehouse in the Masai Mara | Kenya

One of the most game-rich safari destinations, the Masai Mara never fails to impress. Now imagine spending the night in one of Africa’s best treehouse’s here, surrounded by the wilderness. At Ngare Serian and Serian The Original, you can. Walking distance from the two camps, Serian The Nest is perched above a bustling waterhole, and includes a flushing toilet, bucket shower, meal service, infrared spotlight and night-vision camera. Prepare for an exciting night! Continue exploring…

Tswalu The Malori sleepout deck in the Kalahari Desert | Botswana

Take a night off from your luxurious stay at Tswalu The Motse for an authentic night in the wild. Instead of a chalet, your home for the evening will be raised deck deep in the bush, covered by a thatch roof but otherwise open to the elements. Rinse off with an outdoor shower before sipping sundowners and watching the stars come out, and listening to nocturnal critters coming to life. Continue exploring…

Fly camping in South Luangwa | Zambia

Like Ruaha, South Luangwa is a wonderfully isolated destination for fly camping. You set off on foot from your lodge or camp with a guide, getting to see the wilderness from a new point of view. At a suitable site you’ll set up camp – simple bedrolls and mosquito nets – then relax as your guide prepares a camp meal. Once the sun sets and the skies darken, you’ll crawl into bed, and wait for a shooting star. Continue exploring…

Loisaba Star Beds in Laikipia | Kenya

Loisaba, on the Laikipia Plateau, is perhaps the most famous of Africa’s best safari star beds, and with good reason. What may at first appear like a simple African style four-poster bed is rolled out onto a deck in the evening, so you sleep right under the stars. It’s both romantic and exhilarating all at once, and certainly an experience you’ll not soon forget. Continue exploring…