7 incredible tentalows you can book now

If you fantasize about being “one with nature” on your next vacation—but don’t want to actually sleep in a tent—let us introduce you to the tentalow.

Don’t be fooled by the word. This accommodation option is not your average tent. Not by a longshot. A tentalow is a “tent” on opulent overdrive. Typically a structure framed in canvas that’s perched atop a platform with open-air views, it boasts the modern amenities and service you’d expect from a 4-star hotel.

On top of being ultra-unique, tentalows are found in some of the most mind-blowing settings Mother Nature has birthed. While extremely popular in Africa, we’re starting to see this accommodation pop up in other locales where the weather is warm and the desire to be “one with nature” is a high priority for travelers.

Think of a tentalow as a way to brag to your friends about “roughing it” in the middle of nowhere while you are in fact very, very spoiled indeed. Ready to give it a go? Here are 7 of coolest tentalow experiences across Africa and the Middle East, all now bookable on Orbitz.

RELATED: Heading out to the bush? Click here for a complete list of safari camps.

Photo courtesy of Mahali Mzuri

Kenya: Mahali Mzuri

Mahali Mzuri means “beautiful place” in Swahili, and this luxury, all-inclusive safari camp owned by Sir Richard Branson certainly lives up to its name. Situated on the private Olare Motorogi Conservancy in the Maasai Mara, it boasts 12 tentalows, each one named after a Masai tribe living in the conservancy. They have an otherworldly, spaceship-like quality to them (not totally unsurprising given Sir Richard’s ambitions in space tourism), yet seamlessly blend into the Serengeti landscape. All are stylishly decorated with an ensuite bathroom, private deck and front-row views to abundant game—think zebras, elephants and giraffes —that roam the sprawling plains below.

Photo courtesy of Merzouga Luxury Desert Lodge

Morocco: Merzouga Luxury Desert Lodge

Live out “Aladdin” fantasies with a stay at this luxury desert camp in Morocco. Merzouga Luxury Desert Lodge offers ten spacious tentalows with a canvas of camel skin, evoking the traditions of nomadic cultures of the area, and decorated in sophisticated Moroccan style. The privacy of this camp is ideal for those who enjoy peace, attentive service and sleeping under a canopy of stars. All meals are included in the price and activities include camel rides, picnics at the oasis, dune hikes and—and course—the most insanely wonderful stargazing you’ll ever experience.

Photo courtesy of Settlers Drift

South Africa: Settlers Drift

Nine spacious and luxuriously decorated tented suites overlook a pristine river attracting hippo, giraffe and zebra at the Settlers Drift all-inclusive safari camp in South Africa’s southern coast. Settlers Drift, which is located in a remote and untouched part of the Kariega Game Reserve, is family-owned and operated. Following a safari, guided bush walk or canoe trip, guests can return to opulent accommodations that include a bedroom, living area, full bathroom with indoor/outdoor shower and a private viewing deck. Indeed, this is not a “tent” you could ever purchase at the local sports store.

Photo courtesy of Sayari Camp

Tanzania: Sayari Camp

Watch the famed Great Migration (June–October) of wildebeests and zebras from the private deck of your luxury tentalow at Sayari Camp. Set on the pristine plains of the Northern Serengeti, close to the famed Lamai Wedge, this all-inclusive safari camp boasts access to multiple river crossing points and spectacular game viewing. With just 15 tented suites, all built of canvas and designed to blend with the surrounding bush, guests have an exclusivity unparalleled in Tanzania safari-going. The natural setting and the luxuries of the modern world co-mingle here, most spectacularly with the private, open-air showers, where it’s not unusual to spot elephants or zebras as you bathe.

ALSO: Book your next tentalow and earn big travel rewards when you sign up for Orbitz Rewards!

Photo courtesy of The Oberoi Sukhvilas

India: The Oberoi Sukhvilas Resort and Spa

The royal tents at this luxurious resort will make you feel exactly like that: royalty. Surrounded by 8,000 acres of protected natural forest at the foothills of the outer Himalayas, The Oberoi Sukhvilas Resort and Spa spares no expense for its guests. Each royal tent, triple canopied to ensure a comfortable temperature within, includes air conditioning, the latest technology and 24-hour butler service. All decor is inspired by the majestic caravans that once traveled during the times of the British Raj, with teak wood floors and a spacious bathroom with Ayurveda-inspired toiletries. If relaxing in your tented suite isn’t enough, there’s also a luxury spa on the grounds.

Photo courtesy of Okahirongo Elephant Lodge

Namibia: Okahirongo Elephant Lodge

This is an upscale oasis in the midst of one of the most remote landscapes in Namibia. Okahirongo‘s seven luxury chalets and one presidential suite, all made of terra-cotta and decorated in a rich fusion of ochre, honey and sand colors, overlook a wilderness that includes rare desert-adapted elephants, black rhinos, giraffes and exotic birds. Just 18 guests are accommodated at any time, making the experience ultra-exclusive. It’s a setting in which guests embrace the privacy and the silence, and where an entire day can be spent lingering at the lodge, which has a spectacular wrap-around view, an infinity pool and two open-air lounges.

Photo courtesy of Camp Linyanti Botswana

Botswana: Camp Linyanti Botswana

This is a setting for travelers who prefer privacy in one of the most exclusive safari destinations in the world. Accommodating just 10 people at any time, Camp Linyanti offers ensuite tentalows in the northwestern corner of Chobe National Park, far away from the tourist crowds. The five canvas tentalows with African-inspired decor are simple yet elegant. Each is elevated from the ground and includes air-conditioning, an ensuite bathroom and an outdoor shower that opens up to the skies. It’s not uncommon to spot elephants and water buffalo from your accommodations.

TIP: Orbitz is now offering even more offbeat and unexpected accommodations. Here’s how to find them on site:

1. Select your destination and travel dates

2. On the results page, check out the “Filter Properties By” column to the left of the resulting hotel selections.

3. You can sort by “Property Type” and “Vacation Rentals” to uncover cool options such as villas, houseboats, tentalows, castles and more.

Tagged: Destinations