Samara Karoo Reserve, a semi-desert nature reserve situated within South Africa’s Great Karoo region, has announced the opening of a new ecotourism offering, Plains Camp, on June 15. With no WiFi, no electricity and no high-tech distractions, the new camp promises a grounding, humbling experience in nature.

Consisting of four deluxe tents, Plains Camp will be able to welcome just eight guests at a time for an unusual explorer-style experience. Each of the tents offers a bedroom and seating area with a small fireplace for winter and a fan for the summer. A simple en-suite bathroom at the back of the tent contains an indoor toilet, a wash basin and a separate open-air “bucket” shower, filled from the outside with hot water on request.

The camp echoes the semi-permanence of mobile camps. A communal mess tent houses an indoor dining and lounge space with open sides that enable visitors to enjoy the views of the reserve. Lit by candlelight and oil lanterns, the camp makes up for its absence of electricity with plenty of atmosphere. Meals are cooked by the chef over the campfire and taken either in the well-appointed mess tent or al fresco under a jacketplum tree. A bar in the mess tent stocks a variety of chilled drinks as well as tea, coffee and Amarula hot chocolate. A small plunge pool provides respite from the midday heat.

Located in a remote part of the reserve, the camp offers unique big-five wildlife experiences with a particular focus on guided walking safaris. Twice-daily bush walks focus on the little things so often ignored or unseen from the vehicle. Tracks, flowering Karoo bossies, ostrich eggs and beetles – all these natural wonders form part of the day’s sightings. Big game tracking will allow travelers to get up close with cheetah, rhinoceros, and giraffe under the supervision of expert guides and trackers.

For more information, visit the Samara Karoo website.

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