Tanzania, 2021

There’s camping, and then there’s camping.

Our tented encampment was in the middle of the Serengeti and hours from anything except more camps. Still, the dining tent was impeccable. With a wine list. And a full bar. And a view of the bush in every direction.

We were some of the first visitors after the pandemic quarantines and they treated us like long lost friends. Barbara and I were on safari with another couple and when we got to this camp they had a sort of tent duplex set up for us, with separate bedroom tents, joined by a common seating area tent. Each bedroom wing had a subdivision petitioned off for a lavatory, toilet, and shower.

“Shower” is not an appropriate term for what we had. In three days I was never able to get more than a trickle out of the nozzle, and that was ice cold.

But then every night there was a big campfire at twilight, outside the dining tent, sitting watching an infinity of stars appear, gin and tonic in hand. Even with a crowd around the fire, moments of silence just happen. Except for the shower, this could be heaven. (I’m probably forgetting the bugs.)

I looked the site up recently and photos indicate it’s a lot more of permanent installations now. I think I like the tents better, but the plumbing is probably much improved.

For more of Bill’s photographs, go to https://www.billdurrence.com/index