South Africa Safari Sleep-outs
Sleeping under the stars in South Africa does not mean roughing it under a mosquito net in a dry river bed. South Africa offers some of the more luxurious sleepout options. Sleeping under the stars in Africa is one of those Bucket List things to do and we highly recommend adding this activity to your safari to South Africa. Perfect for families or honeymooners, this activity is great for everyone.
Below are some of our favorite South African sleepout options.
Chalkley Treehouse
The Chalkley Treehouse is located a short 10-minute drive from Lion Sands Ivory Lodge and Lion Sands River Lodge, in the heart of the world-renowned Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve. The Chalkley Treehouse is completely self-contained and is built around a 500-year-old Leadwood Tree that was used by the founder of the Lion Sands Game Reserve, as a refuse against predators. Guests spending the night at Chalkley Treehouse are left there on their own as the ranger returns to the lodge. The treehouse has all the 5-star comforts you would expect, except the experience is completely private and under the canopy of millions of stars. The top platform has a comfortable bed covered in a mosquito net and there are some poofs to relax in and watch the stars and listen to the African sounds before drifting off to sleep. One level down (but still safely off the ground) there is a toilet and shower.
Guests are dropped off at Chalkley Treehouse before sunset. A light dinner and drinks are packed so guests can enjoy a private dinner and drinks while the sun sets. This is truly a magical experience and is perfect for couples looking for a once-in-a-lifetime experience or honeymooners looking for that special, private experience that will be the highlight of their honeymoon in South Africa.
Guests staying at Chalkley Treehouse will be collected in the morning by their guide for the morning game drive or will be returned to the lodge.
Kingston Treehouse
The Kingston Treehouse is something out of a Robinson Crusoe-style story. Built on stilts and accessed by a wooden walkway from a rocky outcrop, the Kingston Treehouse has everything you need to have one of the most incredible sleepout experiences anywhere in Africa. Kingstone Treehouse is located a short drive (10-minutes) from Lion Sands Ivory Lodge, in the heart of the Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve. Guests are taken to the exclusive treehouse just before sunset. There is a bottle of bubbly sitting on the ice waiting for you to arrive. Once the guide leaves and heads back to the lodge, you are on your own (you do have a radio to call the guide if you need it) in the middle of the African bush. This is an exceptionally incredible experience as you have millions of stars above and African wildlife below.
Kingstone Treehouse is on one level with a comfortable bed, poofs, a table, and chairs to relax on and enjoy the experience. Behind the bed is a completely open, glass bathroom with a toilet, basins, and shower. This is the perfect experience for a couple looking for the ultimate exclusive experience in the African bush. For those on honeymoon looking for that ultimate romantic, exclusive experience, this is the thing you will never forget.
Guests are collected the following morning by their guide and taken on a game drive or returned to the lodge.
Tinyeleti Treehouse
Located high amongst woodlands and overlooking the Sabie River, Tinyeleti Treehouse is the third treehouse on the Lion Sands Game Reserve. After climbing some stairs, you access the treehouse by a secure door and wooden walkway. There is a flush toilet and basins below the main platform. On the very top and completely open to the stars is a large comfy bed, sofa and table with chairs. Guests are taken to the Tinyeleti Treehouse just before sunset. Waiting for them there is a bottle of bubbly and a luxury picnic dinner to enjoy under the stars.
Tinyeleti, which means Many Stars, overlooks an open grassland and a bend in the Sabie River. The area is one of the best for wildlife including leopard and lion. Enjoy the sunset from your private platform before slipping into bed to the sounds of the African Bush. This is a special experience and is certainly a highlight of any stay in the Sabi Sands.
Located close to Lion Sands Narina Lodge and Lion Sands Tinga Lodge and is something that needs to be booked way in advance. The following morning guests are collected by their guide for the morning game drive or if guests prefer, they can return to the lodge.
The Malori Sleepout
The Malori Sleepout is a simple wooden platform in the heart of the Tswalu Private Game Reserve, overlooking the red sand dunes and grasslands of the Kalahari Desert. The Malori, which means dreamer in Tswana, has 2 sections to the deck. Guests can choose to sleep under the thatch roof or if they prefer, they can move the bed completely out under the stars. The Kalahari is renowned as having some of the best stargazing and so, our suggestion is to have the bed set up away from the thatch and dream away under the millions of stars above. There is no need for a mosquito net as the Kalahari is completely malaria-free.
Guests are taken to the Malori Sleepout from either The Motse or Tarkuni Private Villa, just before sunset. The guide then returns to the lodge, leaving the guests out in the heart of the Kalahari on their own. Facing west, the Malori Sleepout is the perfect spot to sip on a G&T or glass of bubbly and watch as the golden sun sets behind the red dunes of the Kalahari Desert. Drinks and a luxury picnic dinner are left for the guests to enjoy the ultimate private dinner for 2 under the stars and to the sounds of the African bush.
The Malori Sleepout comes with all the 5-star comforts you would expect from Tswalu, including a completely open bathroom with a shower and toilet. There is a sunken seating area with a small fire where guests can sit and watch the bush TV with the sounds of Africa as the backdrop.
The following morning your guide will bring your coffee and continental breakfast for you to enjoy at the Malori Sleepout or you can choose to do a walking safari, game drive or horse ride back to the lodge, stopping for a picnic breakfast along the way.
The Malori Sleepout is perfect for honeymooners looking for that ultimate romantic, once-in-a-lifetime experience. Tswalu is able to add camping beds for kids, making this the perfect family experience that the kids will be able to tell all their friends about when they get back home.
