Safari Tentalow

If you're eager to channel your inner expeditionary in the African hinterland this year, but still want at least a dash of luxury, safari tentalows await. As the name implies, they are technically tents, except they come gilded with all kinds of opulent extras. In fact, many safari tentalow stays will be downright deluxe, offering the same palatial features as a 4-star suite in a large-scale resort. The real upshot with these sorts of stays is the way they merge with the natural setting that encompasses them. That could be the rolling dunes of the Sahara Desert or the gazelle-hopping savannahs of the Rift Valley, all just the rustle of a curtain away from your bed. And it's not just Africa where safari tentalows are on the menu. They're all over, offering a pad that's at once rustic and comfy and truly immersed in the wilds.

You might not think it, but luxury seekers will certainly find plenty to love in safari tentalows. Many pride themselves on going above and beyond the usual offering of safari accommodation. A tent they may be based on, but the vibe is really more boutique hotel. That means big 4-poster beds and hardwood flooring. It means ensuite bathrooms with standalone tubs. It means walk-in wardrobes and plush seating areas plumed with decadent fabrics. And that's just in the rooms – or tents – themselves. Head outside and you might just find yourself swimming lengths in pools that overlook elephant-trodden valleys or lazing on sunbeds while the acacia trees sway in the breeze.

Luxury features aside, safari tentalows are really all about getting up-close and immersed in nature. No matter if you're looking for a honeymoon getaway with a difference or a pad that'll have you feeling like the bush adventurers of old, it's certain that you'll have beautiful wildernesses just a hop, skip and a jump from the flap of your safari accommodation. Many of these stays organise their very own bush treks and wildlife-spotting tours, making it easy for you to check off the African Big 5 or glimpse those groaning camel caravans in the desert. Others will sit on awesome hiking trails, or have locations that mean you won't even have to move from the window seat to spot gazelles or kudu.

There are all sorts of amazing safari tentalows on the menu on ebookers today. There are plush lodges with crackling fireplaces to warm the bones under starry African skies. There are beachside tent-rooms with front-row seats over the rolling Indian Ocean. There are luxury options nestled in the heart of world-famous safari parks. In other words, there are so many in the offing that no 2 trips to these places will ever be the same. And it should be easy to find the stay that's perfect for you. Just enter the dates you're planning on travelling and we'll reveal all the top-rated spots in a destination. You can even zoom in and out of particular neighbourhoods and areas to pinpoint the safari tentalow that's closest to the region you most want to explore.