Fly Camping and Sleeping Out Under the Stars

Fly camping strips a safari back to its rawest, most romantic form: a bedroll under a mosquito net, a small fire, and a sky blazing with more stars than you have ever seen. It is the antidote to the luxury lodge, an overnight adventure that puts nothing but a thin net between you and the living night. The term comes from the old safari practice of setting off from the main camp with only the lightest gear, flying light, to sleep out for a night or two in a remote corner of the bush. Today it is offered by many walking and wilderness operators as a highlight, a chance to feel genuinely immersed in the wild. This is not for everyone, and it demands a little courage and flexibility. But for those who take the plunge, a night sleeping out, hearing the bush breathe around you, is often the most vivid memory of an entire trip.

Key things to know

• ➜ Fly camping means sleeping out lightly, away from the main camp
• ➜ Expect a simple bedroll, mosquito net and open or minimal shelter
• ➜ A guard stays awake through the night to keep watch by the fire
• ➜ Facilities are basic: a bucket shower and a short-drop toilet
• ➜ Nights are cold, so warm layers and a good sleeping bag matter
• ➜ The reward is total immersion and an unforgettable star-filled sky
• ➜ It suits adventurous, flexible travellers in good health
• ➜ Always follow your guide's rules for safety in an open camp

What fly camping actually is

Fly camping is a lightweight, temporary camp set up for just one or two nights, often reached on foot during a walking safari. Rather than the permanent structures of a lodge, everything is carried in and pitched fresh: a simple sleeping area, a fire, and the barest of facilities. It is deliberately minimal, designed to get you as close to the wilderness as safely possible.

The experience varies by operator. Some offer a small dome tent or a mosquito net slung over a bedroll on a raised stretcher; others let you sleep fully in the open under the stars, with the net your only barrier. Either way, the emphasis is on simplicity, silence and the raw feeling of being out in nature overnight.

• ➜ A temporary camp for one or two nights only
• ➜ Often reached on foot as part of a walking safari
• ➜ Minimal shelter: a net, a bedroll, sometimes a light tent
• ➜ A small campfire as the heart of the camp

A night under the stars

As the light fades, the camp comes alive around the fire. You eat a simple but hearty meal cooked over the coals, share stories with your guides, and watch the stars emerge in a sky untouched by light pollution. Far from any town, the Milky Way arches overhead with astonishing clarity.

Then you climb into your bedroll under the net and lie listening to the bush. The sounds are extraordinary: the calls of nightjars and owls, the distant contact rumbles of elephants, and perhaps the far-off roar of a lion. It can be humbling and even a little thrilling, but with your guide close by and a fire burning, most people sleep more soundly than they expect.

Facilities and comfort

Fly camping is basic by design, and part of its charm is doing without. Washing is usually a bucket shower, a canvas bag of water warmed on the fire and hoisted on a branch, giving a surprisingly satisfying rinse. The toilet is a simple short-drop dug discreetly away from camp, with a screen for privacy.

You sleep on a bedroll or camp stretcher with a mattress, a sleeping bag and a pillow, all provided by the operator. It is far more comfortable than it sounds, but do not expect power, running water or any frills. Bring a headlamp, wet wipes and a warm layer, and embrace the simplicity as the whole point of the experience.

Staying safe in an open camp

Sleeping out in big-game country is safe because it is carefully managed. An armed guide or scout stays awake through the night, tending the fire and keeping watch, and the fire itself helps deter curious animals. You are never left alone, and the team knows the area and its wildlife intimately.

Your job is simply to follow the rules. Stay within the camp, do not wander off in the dark, and if you need the toilet at night, wake or call the guard to accompany you. Keep your torch handy, keep food out of your sleeping area, and trust the team. Follow their guidance and a night in the open is both safe and deeply rewarding.

• ➜ An armed guard stays awake and tends the fire all night
• ➜ Never leave the camp area alone after dark
• ➜ Call the guard to escort you if you need the toilet at night
• ➜ Keep food away from your sleeping spot

Is fly camping for you?

Fly camping rewards a spirit of adventure and a willingness to trade comfort for closeness to nature. If the idea of sleeping under a net with lions calling in the distance excites rather than terrifies you, it may be the highlight of your safari. It suits reasonably fit, flexible travellers who do not mind basic facilities for a night.

It is less suited to those who need their creature comforts, have serious mobility issues, or would lie awake anxious all night. The good news is that it is usually just one or two nights within a longer, more comfortable safari, so you can taste the wild without committing to it for your whole trip. If in doubt, talk to your operator about exactly what to expect.

• ➜ Great for adventurous, reasonably fit travellers
• ➜ Best as one or two nights within a longer safari
• ➜ Less ideal if you need comfort or sleep poorly outdoors
• ➜ Discuss expectations and health needs with your operator first

References & further reading

1. Sinclair, A. R. E., et al. (Eds.) (2015). Serengeti IV. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
2. Estes, R. D. (2012). The Behavior Guide to African Mammals. Berkeley: University of California Press.
3. Kingdon, J. (2015). The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals (2nd ed.). London: Bloomsbury.
4. IUCN (2024). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, Version 2024-1. www.iucnredlist.org.