Drumbeat UK Autumn 16

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Abu – Abu Camp star bed overlooks the elephant
boma. Fall asleep to the contented rumbling of
the elephants below – the ultimate lullaby.
Where: Okavango Delta, Botswana
Tswalu Tarkuni Sleepout – Starlit luxury
in 100,000 hectares of private wilderness.
Early morning sun hitting the red dunes is a
magical sight.
Where: Tswalu Kalahari, South Africa
Jao – A luxurious setting in one of Botswana’s
animal hotspots. A great place to watch the
wildlife comings and goings.
Where: Okavango Delta, Botswana
Little Kulala – Decamp from your room to the
rooftop bed and sleep under one of the darkest
night skies anywhere.
Where: Namib Naukluft, Namibia
Ol Donyo Lodge – Go to sleep under brilliant
starlight and wake to Kilimanjaro tinged pink
at sunrise.
Where: Chyulu Hills, Kenya
T: +44 (0)1980 849160
E:
Loisaba star beds – One of the
originals, and still the most quirky.
Huge beds on Land Rover wheels
can be moved in and out of shelter
depending on the weather.
Where: Loisaba, northern Kenya
Norman Carr Safaris – Norman
Carr’s ‘Return to the Wild’ is an
awesome riverbed sleepout in South
Luangwa. Not for the faint hearted
but thrilling for those who dare.
Where: South Luangwa National
Park, Zambia
REPORT BY CHARLOTTE
The words ‘sleep out’ on the itinerary of my first Aardvark
Safaris’ educational trip had me slightly worried.
Whether I would sleep, be comfortable, be eaten, all passed through
my mind. They just laughed at me in the office and waved me on my
way. Did I sleep? Not really, I was far too intrigued by the cacophony
of grunting and snorting from the wildlife nearby. Was I comfortable?
With a thick bedroll and cosy duvet, yes absolutely. Did I get eaten?
Obviously not! 15 years later, I jump at the chance to sleep out. Here
are some of the best:
Africa’s
coolest places
to sleep
Tswalu Tarkuni
Loisaba star beds
l P15