Safari tent holidays in the UK

·

Bringing that out-of-Africa touch to foreign soils, safari tents are the perfect glamping set up for big family trips. Of all the glamping offerings it's usually safari tents that boast the most space, with room for several beds, huge living areas and wide verandas out front. Of course, there are plenty of safari tent glamping options out there, so we've been hand picking the best of the bunch and here you'll find our guide to the top glamping sites with safari tents in the UK, France and Europe. So now is the time to get outdoors and go on safari, even if you won't necessarily be seeing the animals!

As the name suggests safari tents have their roots in, well, safari holidays! They have been used in Africa and across Asia for centuries and are well suited to hotter climates, offering light, airy canvas shelter that allow the breeze to pass through and keep things as cool as possible. On many safari tents you can roll back large areas of the canvas to open the place up to the elements, quite literally creating a room without any walls. They are also associated with the style of military tents and medical tents, owing to their long, wide, characteristic shape and large amount of interior space. Both in this military and medical use, as well as on safaris, one of the key features is the fact that the tents are easy to erect quickly, yet provide sturdy, solid structures and ample space. When it comes to glamping, the appeal is much the same (though the length of time the tent takes to put up is irrelevant since this is glamping... all that hard work is done for you!). It's easy to see why safari tents are popular: the beautiful, natural look of the wooden frame and taught canvas tent makes it the perfect choice for natural settings, but they are also extremely durable. It's the amount of space that safari tents afford, however, that is the real clincher. Inside, separate canvas curtains can divide the tent up into individual rooms, making them ideal for dividing living, cooking and sleeping quarters, while families love the fact that children can be put to bed early in a separate room. Throw in some luxury furnishings, a well-equipped kitchen, perhaps a hot-tub, towels and bathrobes and you've got yourself some seriously luxurious living!

As with all glamping, one of the great benefits is the fact that you don't have to buy or transport your own tent or camping equipment. But that's true of pods and yurts too. So what sets safari tents apart? Well, for families, safari tents are a pretty perfect glamping structure. Generally, safari tents offer far more space then almost every other type of glamping accommodation and interior canvas partitions allow them to be divided into separate rooms. This means you can put the kids away at 10pm but stay out in your living area for another couple of hours, chatting quietly and enjoying the stars. Many safari tents will also have a covered veranda or balcony area as well – perfect for a barbecue – while the most up-market tents may even have an en-suite bathroom attached to the back of the tent. In short, safari tents stand out as a large summery space, ideal for big groups and families. They're cool, spacious and luxurious. We love 'em!

  • Loads of space for families
  • Cool and airy, particularly when glamping on a hot summer's day
  • Individual rooms provides extra privacy
  • Per person accommodated, it's excellent value for money
  • The luxuries of glamping but still that under-canvas camping feel

Glamping has grown hugely in popularity in recent years and glamping in France, in particular, has really taken off. If you're planning a trip to Europe then you've come to the right place. Here at Hipcamp we're always keeping on top of the latest camping and glamping trends are are constantly adding to our online collection of the greatest places to stay. Safari tents lend themselves perfectly to continental glamping, too, since they offer such a breezy, cool interior in the hotter climes of the south. There are plenty of safari tent glamping sites in France and a growing number in Spain, Italy and Portugal too. So, if your chasing the sun, make sure you check out our safari tent recommendations here on the Hipcamp website first.

they're spacious and ideal for groups and families, with different rooms and individual areas. In colder climes you can zip up your bedroom and cosy away in a bunk, while in summer you can fold back the canvas doors, sit out on the veranda and soak up the sun with a barbecue or family picnic. Space is never an issue and, since you're still kipping under canvas and have instant access to the great outdoors, safari tents still offer those essential elements of the camping experience that make you want to go on holiday in the first place. It's camping without the faff and, once you throw in fully-equipped kitchens, king-sized beds, en-suite bathrooms, wood-burning stoves and a whole host of luxury furnishings, you quickly begin to realise how sleeping beneath the stars needn't be uncomfortable. Going glamping? A safari could be the perfect accommodation for you.

Get under canvas in a safari tent and enjoy that out-of-Africa glamping feel with this collection of inspiring glamping sites in the UK, France and Europe. Every safari tent site has been specially selected by the award winning Hipcamp team.
  • Yurts & gers
  • Pod glamping
  • Bell tents
  • Shepherd's huts
  • Treehouses
  • Gypsy Caravans
  • Tipis
  • Geodesic domes
  • Hot tub glamping
  • Dog-friendly glamping
  • Winter glamping
  • Glamping with campfires
97% (301) 83 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds in United Kingdom

Cattlestone Farm Adult Only

1. Cattlestone Farm Adult Only

97%
(124)
Pulborough, England · 56 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Friendly camping and glamping on a Sussex farm, with animals to meet, a pond to swim in, and the South Downs nearby.
Pets
Campfires
Showers
Coverack Camping & Glamping

2. Coverack Camping & Glamping

99%
(202)
Coverack, England · 67 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Traditional family camping near Coverack, with the promise of coast, countryside and Cornish ice cream
Pets
Electrical hookup
Campfires
Dernwood Farm Camping & Glamping

3. Dernwood Farm Camping & Glamping

95%
(65)
Waldron, England · 17 units · Tents, Glamping
Camping and glamping in Sussex meadows and woodlands
Pets
Campfires
Showers
Glamping at Foxholes Farm

4. Glamping at Foxholes Farm

England · 3 units
A comfy base, a lake and a farm shop to sort you out with bits for the barbecue… if that sounds like your kind of wishlist, head to the Hertfordshire countryside and a stay at Foxholes Farm. This is a place where rural atmosphere meets luxury accommodation… and with lakes around the site, there’s a good view to be had too (just the place to unwind with a drink in hand perhaps). As barbecues are permitted here, there’s always the option of preparing the grill for some alfresco dining. With a farm shop that’s well stocked with local beef and rare-breed pork for your grill, along with fresh veg and various cakes and treats, you should be able to feed yourselves well (and you’ll get a bit of a discount on the standard prices to make everything taste even better…) On top of that, there’s also a farm park on the same site where kids (even the grownup ones) can meet alpacas, lambs, pigs and other farm animals; you'll get free entry to this thrown in as well. This little slice of rural life may well feel like it’s completely immersed in the countryside but in fact it’s only a few minutes’ drive from the centre of Hertford and the A10, which means easy access to shops and pubs when you want them, and to the road network for days out around the area.
Showers
Hot Tub
Wifi
Star Field Camping

5. Star Field Camping

97%
(62)
Cranbrook, England · 20 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Off-grid camping and glamping in the High Weald of Kent with campfires, acres of space and a farm shop on site
Pets
Campfires
Showers
Cotswolds Glamping

6. Cotswolds Glamping

100%
(7)
Chipping Norton, England · 4 units
Fun, laid-back, glamping that's ideal for groups, with silent discos and wood-fired hot tubs.
Pets
Showers
Campfires
Ty Llewelyn Glamping and Camping

7. Ty Llewelyn Glamping and Camping

Llanidloes, Wales · 6 units
Tŷ Llewelyn is a small, off grid glamping and camping site on our family farm near Llanidloes in Powys, Mid Wales. We have 15 acres of meadow and woodland with private access to a small river. Great for families and couples who like simple, quiet stays close to nature. We offer off grid camping pitches and simple glamping on our farm. Stays here are low impact, with space to switch off properly for a few days. Set within 15 acres the pitches and glamping units are very well spaced out so it never feels crowded. ŷ Llewelyn is situated, just outside Llanidloes in Powys, Wales. Within the Cambrian Mountains, just 15 minutes from The Hafren Forest and Clewedog Dam and a scenic 35 minute drive from The Elan Valley we are the perfect central location to explore from. So many walking and cycling routes to enjoy then come back to a stunning, off grid base at the end of the day. What to expect from an off grid stay Stays here are better for people who enjoy campfires, stargazing and birdsong rather than bright lights or on site entertainment. Power and lighting are limited, so you will want to bring warm layers and a torch, and be happy with simple facilities. In return you get peace, space and time outdoors in Mid Wales. The great thing about holidaying in Mid Wales is that you are central to everything. Fancy a beach day? no problem, we're just over half an hour away from the University town of Aberystwyth. Here you can take in the breath taking scenery of the coastal path or just enjoy lazy days on the beach. On the way to the coast you could stop off at Bwlch nant yr arian, and don't forget your bike!! With so many trails heading out into the spectacular scenery of the Cambrian Mountains you would have to come back for another stay to get through them.
Pets
Showers
Campfires
Llansawel Agored

8. Llansawel Agored

100%
(9)
Llandeilo, Wales · 13 units · Tents, Glamping
Overnight adventures on an off-grid, wild-ish campsite with campfires allowed in Carmarthenshire.
Campfires
Showers
Potable water
Springfield Farm Campsite

9. Springfield Farm Campsite

100%
(1)
Gedney Hill, England · 28 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
A family-friendly site with farm animals in the Lincolnshire Fens
Pets
Electrical hookup
Showers
Rural Relaxing

10. Rural Relaxing

93%
(14)
Market Harborough, England · 22 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Family-friendly camping and glamping on the edge of Medbourne – a charming Leicestershire village with a pub, tea rooms and post office
Pets
Electrical hookup
Campfires
Bell Tent Village Parks

11. Bell Tent Village Parks

100%
(11)
Nottingham, England · 11 units
Glamping on an established campsite next door to the National Watersports Centre in Nottingham
Pets
Showers
Campfires
Ham Hideaway

12. Ham Hideaway

100%
(2)
Sandwich, England · 5 units
Glamping in the Kent countryside, close to the coast – with an optional butler catering service
Pets
Showers
Wifi
Wild Luxury - Drove Orchards

13. Wild Luxury - Drove Orchards

Hunstanton, England · 1 unit
The site's warm and cosy safari lodges at Drove Orchards are a 25 minute walk from the beautiful sandy beach at Holme Dunes. Set adjacent to a Wild Life centre in more than 350 acres of orchards, farmland and wild meadows. T Each of the safari lodges sleep two to six people and have their own and shower facilities - perfect for families. You'll find comfy beds, a toasty wood burner (for cooking and heating)y and everything else necessary for your stay, right down to the cutlery and utensils. Lodges have power so you can still enjoy all your home creature comforts. There is also a sundeck outside to relax and enjoy the countryside views. The well-known Drove Orchards Rural Market is just a few minutes walk from camp with a farm shop, fishmongers, Yurt restaurant, Eric's Fish and Chip restaurant, artisan shops, cycle hire and an ice cream parlour. The lovely North Norfolk coastal village of Thornham is just a 15 minute walk with the Lifeboat Inn and the Orange Tree. The well known Thornham Deli offers a restaurant and deli counter, perfect for planning a picnic. There are two sets of four lodges and a set of three lodges, all by themselves, which are perfect for larger groups of 12-18 guests. All lodges are well spaced. Thornham is within the Norfolk's coast 'Golden Triangle' with adjacent villages such as Brancaster, Burnham Market, Holkham, Sandringham and Old Hunstanton popular places to visit.
Pets
Showers
Campfires
The Hare lodge

14. The Hare lodge

100%
(11)
Marden, England · 2 units
Luxury safari tent glamping on a rural Kent farm within walking distance of the local vineyards yet speedily reached from London
Pets
Showers
Campfires
Rocombe Valley Retreat

15. Rocombe Valley Retreat

97%
(17)
Lower Rocombe, England · 5 units
Glamping near the English Riviera, with wood-fired hot tubs and coarse fishing lakes
Showers
Campfires
Hot Tub
NightSky Glamping

16. NightSky Glamping

100%
(43)
Abersoch, Wales · 12 units
Tented glamping with en-suite facilities and hot tubs within walking distance of two sandy beaches
Pets
Showers
Hot Tub
Milton Farm Hideaway | Secluded

17. Milton Farm Hideaway | Secluded

80%
(5)
Warminster, England · 1 unit
An exclusive-hire site in Wiltshire that’s great for groups
Pets
Showers
Campfires
Little North Field Glamping

18. Little North Field Glamping

100%
(12)
North Yorkshire, England · 3 units
Luxury safari tent glamping within striking distance of North Yorkshire's most historic attractions
Pets
Showers
Campfires
Darnells Farm

19. Darnells Farm

100%
(25)
Ross On Wye, England · 4 units
White sheets and wellies combine at this small, high-end glamping site on a working farm near Ross-on-Wye.
Pets
Showers
Campfires
Glamp-in-Style

20. Glamp-in-Style

100%
(6)
Horncastle, England · 2 units
Safari tent glamping in the heart of the Lincolnshire Wolds within the beautiful grounds of Fir-combe Hall. You can even bring your horse along!
Pets
Showers
Campfires

Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Popular United Kingdom glamping styles

Nations in United Kingdom