The Best Digital Detox Safaris
Published on: January 5th, 2018
Last updated: July 27th, 2023
Far detached from the state-of-the-art world, authentic safaris are a true retreat. In remote areas with little to no phone coverage, you are removed from a device-obsessed culture and compelled to ‘turn off’.
These camps can get you immersed and re-connected with the physical world of mind-boggling African plains. Delve deep into wilderness and let the sound of nature - not notifications - awake you.
The only social networks you'll interact with are those of wild animals, indigenous communities and expert guides.
On the following digital detox safaris, your days are filled with unforgettable encounters with everything from regal lions to majestic elephants.
Remote retreats
Serian Ngare, Kenya
Alex Walker’s Serian in the North Mara Conservancy is beautifully perched on the Mara River. With their private guides, guests are able to take bush walks and night drives in the private area near the camp, allowing for a more ‘involved’ and exciting trip to the Mara. At Serian “the Original“, walking here is also a speciality, and you can head out with a guide in to a private no-vehicle zone where you can also spend a night out after the walk in a remote fly camp for an utterly untamed experience.
Moremi Mobile Tented Camp, Botswana
Moremi Mobile Tented Camp offers a real treat for those looking to completely switch off on their safari. A superbly luxurious mobile camp, with Moremi as your base you’ll spend your days travelling around some of the most remote parts of the game Okavango. Don’t let its remoteness fool you – plush beds, Persian rugs and fantastic food are all there to welcome you back after a long day out.
Selinda Explorers, Botswana
Based in Linyanti, this camp provides you with that oh-so desired sense of freedom as you step into a land where technology is not king. With bucket showers and limited power, Selinda makes it easier to switch off and will have you forgetting about your laptop’s battery and recharging your own. Your mental break here is filled with canoeing trips on the Selinda Spillway, getting up close to the thrilling fauna of hippo, leopard, antelope and more.
Chongwe River Camp, Zambia
More secluded water-based activities are available at Zambia’s Chongwe River Camp. Sitting in a quiet pocket of the Lower Zambezi, this informal camp welcomes you into the world of Mother Nature with its thatched tents and pristine scenery where game come to drink and cool down at the riverside. Though these hidden camps may not come with the superior luxuries of a large city hotel, it is the experience that is the true luxury here. Their safaris are a sincere encounter which introduce you to a timeless world with personal and memorable touches every step of the way.
Jack's Camp, Botswana
Jack’s Camp, situated on the Makgadikgadi Pans, is one of Botswana’s most unique camps. A stunning tented camp, Jack’s is furnished to the nines, creating a unique and authentic atmosphere for guests. Activities are centred around landscape exploration, archaeology and interacting with the local trackers on drives or walks. You’ll feel so remote, you may even forget where you left your cell phone.
Sanctuary Swala Camp, Tanzania
Swala Camp purposefully keeps wifi to the tents, so communal areas and the dining space are completely digital-free – it’s a nice place to stay if you aren’t ready to completely switch off and want to check in with friends and family before you go to sleep. Located in a private section of Tarangire National Park, you will be able to experience some near exclusive game viewing, without so much as seeing another vehicle while you’re out.
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