Sapi Explorers Camp

Just because it's a true tent doesn't mean luxury is spared. The camp's main area consists of an elegant mess tent set on a gentle rise along the riverbank. Inside are the hardwood furnishings, foldaway liquor chests (very old-school), ethnic rugs, curtains and a chandelier above a round table. Staked into the ground, it opens on to a sandy patch that's home to the campfire. Just beyond is the river, where a motorboat waits at the ready.

The five double tents are roomy and appropriately elegant, with quality furnishings, large double beds and, again, that old-school safari feel (leather-strapped travel chests, a few exotic textiles and crisp white sheets). A canvas wall divides the bedroom from the en-suite bathroom (flush toilet, hot shower). Out front is a covered sitting area with a few director's chairs – an excellent spot to look out for wildlife along the river. No rhino here, sadly.

Diverse habitats here allow for a variety of safari experiences, which are the region's main attraction. Walking safaris allow you to inspect the intricacies of the bush, and may include deliberate approaches to elephant and lion – undertaken, of course, with an armed guide. Canoeing or motorboat rides will reveal pods of hippo, elephants at the water's edge, and huge numbers of waterbirds. This wildlife paradise is home to lion, leopard, hyena, wild dog, buffalo, eland, zebra and other ungulates.