Safari Lodge or Tented Camp... Which should you choose?

Safari Lodge or Tented Camp: Which Is Right for Your Family?

One of the joys of planning a family safari is choosing where you’ll stay. Whether you’re dreaming of sundowners on a private veranda or falling asleep to the sounds of the wild just beyond your canvas walls, your safari accommodation will shape your entire experience.

At Coral Tree Travel, we specialise in matching each family with the perfect blend of adventure and comfort. Two of the most popular—and wonderfully different—options are safari lodges and tented camps. Both offer unforgettable access to Africa’s wilderness, but each delivers a unique atmosphere.

Safari Lodges: Effortless Luxury in the Heart of Nature

Safari lodges are permanent structures, often tucked into hillsides or overlooking waterholes, designed to offer style, comfort, and plenty of space to relax. Think beautiful stone or timber buildings with thatched roofs, generous rooms (often with interleading suites for families), and inviting shared spaces like pools, lounges, and fire pits.

For families, lodges can feel like home — just with giraffes on the doorstep. With chefs who cater to all dietary needs, babysitting services, and even dedicated kids’ activity programs at some properties, they’re a fantastic option for those travelling with little ones or teens.

Expect warm hospitality, excellent guiding, and thoughtful touches throughout. If you’re seeking a seamless, high-comfort base from which to explore, a safari lodge might be your ideal match.

Read our guide to the best safari lodges for families for more inspiration.

Tented Camps: Wildly Special, Deeply Immersive

Tented camps offer a different kind of magic. Designed to blend effortlessly into their surroundings, these camps bring you closer to nature without compromising on comfort.

Most have proper beds, flushing toilets, and hot showers – some even feature clawfoot bathtubs and private plunge pools!

But it’s the experience that sets them apart. At a tented camp, you’ll drift off to sleep with the night chorus of the bush just outside, and wake to birdsong and golden morning light filtering through canvas walls. It’s peaceful, personal, and wonderfully atmospheric.

Many tented camps are smaller and more intimate, which suits families looking for quality time in a quieter setting. Some camps can even be booked exclusively for your group—perfect for multi-generational adventures or milestone celebrations.

Read our guide to the best tented camps for families for ideas of where to experience the wild.

So… Which Should You Choose?

Here’s the good news – you don’t have to choose just one.

Many of our tailor-made safaris combine both styles, offering families the best of both worlds: the ease and space of a lodge, and the wild, soulful beauty of a tented camp.

Whether your family prefers the soft luxury of a safari lodge or the adventurous spirit of a tented camp, we’ll help you find the perfect fit.

Because no matter where you rest your head, it’s the time spent together—exploring, learning, and sharing stories under starry skies—that will stay with you forever.

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Author: Mike