I will never forget my days of falling asleep to the sound of hippos grunting outside my tent and waking up to elephants drinking from my campsite’s waterhole – just another magical morning at one of Africa’s hidden gem campsites. After 30 years of camping across this magnificent continent, I’m finally sharing my most treasured secret spots, the ones that still make my heart race every time I pitch my tent.
1. Tsendze Rustic Camp, Kruger National Park, South Africa
Forget the crowded main camps – this tiny, solar-powered hideaway is pure magic. I’ve seen more leopards here than in my entire life combined. The camp located in Kruger National Park, only has 34 spots, and they’re perfectly spaced between ancient baobab trees. Last year, I watched a honey badger raid the neighbor’s supposedly “animal-proof” food box.
Pro tip: book campsite #19 – it’s right next to a well-used game trail. The resident owl family will serenade you to sleep every night.
2. Hippo Pools Wilderness Camp, Zambia
No fences, no electricity, and absolutely no cell signal. Just you, your tent, and the wild Luangwa River. The hippos here don’t just visit – they own the place. On my first night here, I had to wait an hour to brush my teeth because a bull hippo decided to graze right outside the ablution block.
The camp only allows 12 people at a time, and you’ll need a 4×4 to reach it. The morning mist over the river creates the most incredible wildlife photography opportunities.
3. Desert Rhino Camp, Namibia
Think camping can’t be luxurious? Think again. This place will change your mind forever. The stargazing here is so incredible, I actually cried the first time I saw it. You’ll fall asleep counting shooting stars and wake up to desert-adapted elephants wandering past your tent. They only have six pitches, and each comes with its private bathroom hidden among the rocks. The local guides can track black rhinos across the sand like they’re reading a newspaper.
4. Ngepi Camp, Okavango Delta, Botswana
Tree houses meet camping in this quirky paradise. The outdoor showers have croc-proof cages (yes, really), and the toilets have the best views in Africa.
I once spent an entire afternoon watching baboons play in the river from my “throne.” Book the riverside pitches – they’re slightly more expensive but worth every penny for the hippo-watching opportunities. The resident vervet monkeys have learned to unzip tents, so invest in a good padlock!
5. Mdonya Old River Camp, Tanzania
This is where I saw my first wild cheetah, right from my morning coffee spot. The camp sits on an ancient riverbed that animals still use as a natural pathway. The best part? No electricity means the wildlife isn’t scared away by artificial light. The last time I was here, lions roared so close to my tent that my coffee cup vibrated. The camp’s policy of no permanent structures means you’re truly living in harmony with the wilderness.
6. Changa Safari Camp, Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe
Picture this: your tent perched on a wooden platform over the world’s largest man-made lake. Elephants swim between the islands while you eat breakfast, and fish eagles dive for their lunch right in front of you.
The camp only has eight spots, and they’re usually booked months in advance. Worth the wait? Absolutely. The floating sundowner deck offers the best sunset views in Zimbabwe, hands down.
7. Mata Mata Rest Camp, Kgalagadi, South Africa
The secret’s slowly getting out about this one. Located right on the Namibian border, this camp offers the best lion viewing I’ve ever experienced. The waterhole is lit at night, and I once counted 16 different cats coming to drink in a single evening. Book the fence-side spots – they’re prime real estate for nocturnal wildlife watching. The communal braai areas are where you’ll hear the best safari stories from fellow campers.
8. Ndovu Camp, Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania
This place is so remote, you need to cross a river by boat just to reach it. No permanent structures, just you and the canvas under the stars. The camp moves with the seasons to follow the wildlife, and the guides know every animal’s favorite hangout spot. I’ve had elephants steal my soap (twice!) and baboons raid my breakfast (once), but that’s part of the charm. The walking safaris here will change how you see the African bush forever.
9. Leopard Cave Camp, Erongo Mountains, Namibia
Hidden in a massive granite boulder field, each campsite here feels like your own private world. The night walks with San bushmen trackers will blow your mind – they can spot a leopard’s tail from 100 meters away in the dark. Don’t miss the sunrise walk to the cave paintings – just watch out for the resident honey badgers! The camp’s natural rock pool is the perfect spot to cool off while watching dassies sunbathe on the surrounding rocks.
10. Kisampa Bush Camp, Tanzania
My newest discovery and possibly my favorite. This community-run camp sits in the middle of a private conservation area. No day tourists, no safari vehicles – just you and the bush.
The local Maasai guides taught me more about tracking in three days than I’d learned in 30 years. Plus, all profits go straight back into local conservation efforts. Their traditional bush dinner under the stars, complete with Maasai dancing, is an experience you’ll never forget.
Essential Camping Tips for These Hidden Gems
- Always book ahead – these places fill up fast, especially during peak wildlife seasons
- Pack a good headlamp – the darker the night, the better the wildlife viewing
- Bring extra camera batteries – charging points are rare and often unreliable
- Don’t forget a sturdy padlock for your tent – curious monkeys are too clever for their good
- Pack neutral-colored clothing – bright colors scare away wildlife
- Bring your binoculars – the night skies are incredible, and you’ll want to stargaze
- Invest in a good quality sleeping bag – desert nights can get surprisingly cold
- Pack a basic first aid kit – you’re often hours away from the nearest doctor
- Bring twice as much memory card storage as you think you’ll need – the photo opportunities are endless
When to Visit These Hidden Gems
The best time to visit these camps varies dramatically by location. For the southern camps (South Africa, Namibia, Botswana), May to September offers perfect camping weather and incredible wildlife viewing. The northern camps (Tanzania, Zambia) are best visited during their dry seasons – June to October.
Avoid the rainy seasons unless you’re an experienced camper with serious 4×4 skills. I once spent three days stuck in mud at Ndovu Camp during an unexpected downpour. Though I have to admit, watching elephants play in the rain was worth every muddy moment!
My Final Conclusion.
These places aren’t just campsites – they’re portals to an Africa that’s quickly disappearing. Each one offers a unique window into the continent’s wild soul, from the star-filled skies of the Namib Desert to the misty mornings of the Luangwa Valley.
Book them now, while you still can. And remember: leave nothing but footprints, because the next person deserves to find these places just as magical as you did.
If you want to share your experiences with a particular campsite, feel free to leave a comment down below in the comment section or join me on my social media channels below!
I wish you happy camping!
Kind regards,
Lizzy
I now have a YouTube channel as well!
YouTubeHello Africa travellers!
Who am I? Well, the least you can say is that I am quite crazy about Africa, its nature, its climate, its culture, and more.
As a young woman in my twenties, I had already traveled to several African countries by traveling along in an overlander on my own and mostly camping ( or glamping ) and just fell in love with the diversity of it all.
So much, so that at the age of 26, I went back to university to study biology, which, unfortunately, I couldn’t finish because of health reasons (yes, I got sick from a tropical disease, oh cynicism). But this did not stop my dream of traveling back to Africa several times, and I still do.
My dream was back then to leave Europe and go study animal behavior, especially the elephants (sure, that’s every girl’s dream haha), but I am also very much intrigued by hyenas and other “ugly African animals“.
So, I “kind of” have a little bit of a scientific approach to my articles, when I write about African birds, for example. And most of all: the passion.
But life goes on, you move from one side of the country to the other, you get sick again and top it off with lower back problems, and before you know it, you are over 50 hahaha!
Now, I still travel to Africa, but take it a bit “easier” than the good old camping days, and stay in comfortable, yet affordable accommodations, together with my husband Wouter.
These are some of the countries I have traveled to: Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Tunisia, and a little bit of Lesotho LOL .
While clearly not being African territory, but Spanish, I also visited Gran Canaria and Tenerife, and location-wise, I consider them “African”, because of their climate and nature, sue me :-p
The last trip I took was to South Africa in the year 2023, and it sure got the fevers for Africa back! From the Barberton mountains to the Drakensberg and the Southcoast, one month wasn’t enough at all to see the whole country, so we’ll be back! At ease and with a little bit more luxury than in my younger days haha!
I wish you happy travels!
Kind regards
Lizzy