9 Great Glamping Destinations

How about an overnight safari trip to see African animals just a half-hour drive north of central San Diego in Escondido? On a Roar & Snore Safari at the remarkable San Diego Zoo Safari Park (sister to San Diego Zoo), have a sleepover adventure in one of 46 comfy, safari-style tents that border an extensive grazing area for giraffe, rhino, gazelle, antelope and other exotic animals.

While visiting this extensive park, book a Flightline Safari—strapped securely into a zip-line, you’ll soar as high as 39 metres above the rhinos, giraffes and other animals below. You can even record the entire experience with a helmet camera to relive your experience at home. Also on offer are exhilarating Balloon Safaris and a Jungle Ropes Safari for children aged 7 and up to test their balance and jungle skills on rope bridges, tightropes and more.

All Roar & Snore Safaris include a ride on the Africa Tram and your choice of walking tours, from laid-back to active. Look for special themes throughout the year, such as the seasonal children's favourite Creepy Camp during Halloween (meet spooky, creepy critters and get special treats), or the romantic, adults-only Valentine’s Day overnights featuring a candlelit dinner and wine. All overnights include special activities, an after-hours opportunity to see the resident animals, a campfire programme, dinner, a snack and a park souvenir. And when you wake up in the early morning? Enjoy an open-air breakfast with views of grazing animals to photograph and observe, long before the park’s doors are open to visitors.

Bearded dragons, cheetahs, bat-eared foxes and Arabian oryxes—these are just a few of the remarkable wild animals that will be in your desert dreams—and outside your tent—when you book an overnight stay at The Living Desert in the Palm Springs region. From March to May, guests can enjoy a cracking campfire, exchange ghost stories and roast s’mores (a campfire delicacy of gooey melted marshmallows and biscuits). Then it’s time to curl up inside your private tent (camp beds are provided but you will need to bring your own sleeping bag and toiletries) and listen for night-time sounds, like the distant howls of coyotes in the Santa Rosa Mountains. Or just relax outside, gazing at a sky full of stars.

Wake up to enjoy an exclusive private tour of The Living Desert, a nature reserve of more than 1,000 acres of Sonoran desert that showcases the animals of the world’s deserts. The collection ranges from a tour of terrains representing and hosting North American and African desert wildlife to the Village WaTuTu, an authentic replica of a north-east African village, to Eagle Canyon, where golden eagles, mountain lions, bobcats and badgers thrive. Day visitors can feed giraffes, stop by a petting kraal (Afrikaans for enclosed livestock area), ride a camel or attend one of the twice-daily Wildlife Wonder Shows. Admission is included with overnight stays.

Wander through the site’s many geographical 'immersive' gardens which present plants from specific regions, including East Africa, the Mojave and the Chihuahua region of Mexico. Explore a network of paths that skirt the adjacent Santa Rosa Mountains before returning to check out the Discovery Center with its many exhibits on display.

Here’s a glamping experience like no other—one that requires some work to enjoy, but that’s worth every ounce of effort. The work comes in the form of hiking or pony-trekking to one or more of the five High Sierra camps, open from June to early September. The most easily reached of the camps, May Lake, is a mile-long walk from Glen Aulin. From there, each camp is roughly 6 to 10 miles apart; all are strung along the 49-mile High Sierra Camp Loop trail. But once you’ve arrived, the scenery—some of Yosemite National Park’s most spectacular high country around Tuolumne Meadows—will make it all worthwhile. Plus, the fully equipped cabin tents at each site, complete with a woodburning stove to ward off the chill of the ~2,700-metre elevation air, mean you’ll only have to pack your personal items and toiletries. Showers are available at three of the camps (subject to water availability); all camps have toilets.

During your stay, enjoy hot dinner and breakfast, served family style with other guests—a great time to swap stories and hiking tips. Packed lunches for trailside picnics can also be ordered in advance. Guided hikes are available, lasting from 5 to 7 days, as are 4-to-6 day guided horse-riding trips, for both adults and children (minimum age for hikes is 7; for riding, 10).

These camps have been popular destinations in Yosemite National Park since the first location, at Merced Lake, was established in 1916. Because of the demand, a lottery system is in place to secure reservations. See the lottery guidelines for how to submit an entry.

With zip lines, climbing walls, teepees and deluxe cabins, this isn't your typical just-off-the-highway campsite. Tucked into the coastal hills of Santa Paula, a little over an hour north of Los Angeles in Heritage Valley, this sprawling, family-friendly destination is part of the nationwide KOA chain. The 'glampsite' feature teepees that sleep up to 8 people, as well as fancy safari-style tents (with king-sized beds, futons, microwaves and mini-fridges). Also available are bring-your-own-tent pitches (without hook-ups) that feature picnic tables and fire pits, and are in easy reach of the activities area and creek.

Nothing is cramped or close together here—the grounds and facilities are so spread out that some visitors opt to zip around to the activities and pool area on the motorbikes or golf carts that are available to hire. Just watch out for peacocks—the beautiful birds make themselves right at home here. In addition to the teepees (which can be furnished with Native American touches such as fur throws, cowhide rugs and Native American blankets for an extra charge), there are also deluxe and studio cabins with partial kitchens, air-conditioning, coffee makers and Wi-Fi.

There are attractions here that are a few steps up from usual campsite fare, too—fly through the air on the aforementioned 400-metre zip line (tickets required) or the giant jumping pillow before heading out for a walk on family-friendly trails or taking a dip in the swimming pool. Other activities include gem mining, tie-dying, outdoor film nights and seasonal events, such as the Halloween costume competition and haunted hayride, and the 'human ball drop' on New Year’s Eve. KOA Ventura Ranch is pet-friendly, but dogs must be kept on leads.

With a reputation as one of the most enchanting glamping experiences in the state, El Capitan Canyon—nestled amidst the rolling coastal hills 30 minutes north-west of Santa Barbara—is one of those pinch-me getaways everyone should experience at least once in their life (but we bet you’ll book a return visit before you leave). The leafy compound is so secluded that it’s hard to believe that more than 100 cabins and safari tents occupy the lush hillside landscape, surrounded on three sides by the shoreline and wilderness of El Capitan State Beach. 

Guests can choose from basic canvas tents built on wooden platforms, fancier cedar cabins with bathrooms and kitchenettes, or an Adventure Yurt with a domed skylight that allows for easy stargazing. All the accommodations are situated along a wooded drive that winds its way into the hilly portion of El Capitan State Beach, where wildlife abounds, as well as goats, sheep and a donkey named Eeyore. But the real draw here is the proximity to the coastline itself, where you can walk, bike, or drive under Highway 101 to access the sandy beach and tide pools. Visitors can even go on a leisurely llama trek to a field that offers sweeping views of the Pacific. Complimentary bikes are available for guests; the friendly staff can also arrange surfing lessons, whale-watching excursions, kayaking or wine tasting. There is also a summer concert series on site, May through September.

Pet owners should be aware that because El Capitan Canyon is designated as a wildlife corridor, in an effort to protect local wildlife, there is a no pets policy throughout the canyon.

Insider tip: cook your own meals—there’s a shop on site for groceries—or choose from the selection of gourmet-style ready meals available.