Safari tent holidays in the UK

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

• Glamping in France
• Glamping in Cornwall
• Safari Tents in Devon
• Glamping in the UK
• Glamping in Scotland
• Glamping near London
• Glamping in Wales
• Glamping in Kent
• Glamping in the Lake District
• Glamping in Snowdonia
• Glamping in Dorset
• Glamping in Somerset

• Simply Canvas
• Canvas & Clover
• Middle Stone Farm
• Up Sticks Glamping
• Top of the Woods
• Huttopia Lac de Carcans
• Lower Keats Glamping
• Glamp-in-Style
• Bainland Country Park
• Sloeberry Farm
• Camping La Serre
• Canvas & Campfires