If you think Africa equals primitive accommodation and facilities, think over again

You can get exactly what you want (and the wallet allows)

Many connect Africa with primitive accommodation and very simple facilities. It is certainly not our experience. Especially traveling in the southern and central part of Africa; you can get exactly what you want (and the wallet allows) in terms of luxury.

Cheep or expensive does not equal bad or good!

The cheap way to travel in Namibia and Botswana is to bring your own tent and equipment and camp in the middel of the amazing nature. This way of traveling has given us some of our greatest experiences. Perhaps you can get an idea from some of our pictures from previous camp sites:

Our camp "Little Hunters Rest" at Namtib Biosphere Reserve
Tiras Mountains, Namibia 2009

View from tent

The opposite extreme are the luxury lodges. You are welcomed by a waiter with a heated white cloth enabling you to dry the dust off hands and face when you get out of the Land Rover. Then, the next waiter hands you the welcome drink and escort you to a spectacular cottages built of natural materials. From your bed (and often toilet!) you have direct views to plains, desert and/or mountains. In the afternoon, you can cool your body in the infinity pool and watch the parade of elephants and other animals on the plains below. At night, you are served four course menus on thick white tablecloths along with good wines from South Africa. These kind of luxurious places (believe it or not) get boring and impersonal in the long run, but they are very nice to combine with camping and budget places if you can afford it. We always aim for "relaxed luxury", with highly highly qualified nature guides and strong local community involvement, when we stay at such places. Here you can see some of the more luxurious places we have tried:

Etambura Lodge, Kaokoland, Namibia, 2012.
View from bedroom

Dolomite Camp, Etosha, Namibia 2012

Kubu Queen Houseboat, Okavango Delta, Botswana 2012

We clearly prefer a combination of camping, med-range and occasional touch of luxury. We have had some of the greatest experiences sleeping in tents in the nature at ""primitive"" campsites. There is nothing better than camping in beautiful and peaceful surroundings in the middle of Gods own nature. Nothing better than lighting a fire at night and watching the amazing night sky with your family. To listen to all the unfamiliar sounds at night. Perhaps, hear the big "cats" (not too close, I will share some of our experiences in that regard later).

Okavango Delta , Botswana 2012
Look forward to visit again :-)