Freeman Safaris
‘Yesterday’s Safaris Today’
Tents
As you probably have gathered by now, to experience "yesterdays" safari today there is no other way than to be part of the scene, and that means living and participating in the bush, close to nature and off the beaten track. We don't expect you to rough it as we did years ago, although at the time we never felt that we were roughing it. The facilities were basic but comfortable and the surroundings more than made up for the odd discomfort.
All is very different now and you have the best of both worlds – on one hand the unchanged bush and, on the other, modern equipment made to our own design to blend in with the surroundings and with your total comfort in mind. I think it is worth noting that your sleeping tent is totally bug proof and totally secure and has stood up to the odd elephant scratching!!
The tents consist of a PVC fly sheet over the top and sides which protects the canvas inner tent from the sun as well as giving extra protection from the odd heavy shower. This also allows air to pass through the gap keeping the tent cooler. Each tent weighs about a ton and has over 60 square meters of canvas! You may now understand why we need a truck to move our camps around the country!
The sleeping tents have 3 main areas, veranda, sleeping and bathroom. There’s nothing worse than wanting the loo in the middle of the night and being too frightened to go outside. We now have modern ceramic flush toilets, screened off in the rear of the tent, and it is just a matter of switching on the light or using your torch and feeling comfortable within seconds. For those of you who like to enjoy the scenery when attending to nature, we do also use long drops sited to allow you to enjoy the view as well as the peace.
The veranda is a where you sort and clean your equipment, sit and enjoy the camp atmosphere or relax reading a book while being waited on. To enter the tent during the day you pass through a net screen which keeps all the dudus (Swahili for bugs/insects) out, and in the evening when the tent has been dressed the canvas flap is zipped down.
The tents all have a battery-powered 12V electricity supply to lights and shower. The sleeping area has really comfortable beds complete with Masai covers, bedside tidy and zebra pattern textile carpets. The bathroom, which is divided by a cotton screen, has a washstand complete with basin and adjustable mirror, cold water in an African earthen pot with calabash and stacks of hot water from flasks. There’s lots of room to display all your lotions and potions. There is a large changing space plus space for your holdalls and hanging facilities for the odd item as well as 2 stools. The toilet is out of the way with the shower on the back - all connected to the tent - and complete with light. I sometimes think there is too much luxury! ....just kidding....it is so important to be comfortable.
The shower is probably one of the best times of the day - it just completes the busy part and begins the winding down process. The hot and the cold water is mixed for you and the staff usually judge the temperature of the water to perfection!
The tents are cleaned and dressed every time they are used, towels are changed daily, water is replaced, beds are made whenever used, and during dinner the tents are sprayed and ready for that well deserved night sleep - complete with bottled water for the night.
The mess tent is a much larger version of the sleeping tent with large netted windows all round to give maximum vision and ventilation. Just imagine watching elephants or hippos in the river as you eat.
Most meals are eaten in the mess tent, the table is laid in the traditional manner and our staff are always on hand to assist you. Meals play such an important part in the day’s routine, you will be surprised just how hungry you get.
You will be amazed at the meals our chef provides - everything is cooked fresh and daily, bread from the metal box oven, to soups, salads and complicated puddings. I can honestly say the usual complaint from my guests is, "I have put on weight!" We cater for all tastes and, remembering that everything is made from scratch, it is important that we know your likes and dislikes.
Can you imagine - after enjoying pre-dinner drinks around the camp fire sitting down to a candle-lit table, enjoying a relaxing four course meal and discussing the day’s events?
And then finally sitting around the fire, which our Masai askari has kept well stoked, enjoying coffee and a nightcap just to settle the meal before being escorted to our tents.
© Freemansafaris.com 2012
