BOTSWANA, NAMIBIA & ZAMBIA
Safari for Less
8 DAYS, FROM $3,850

Gimme Shelter

At just under 3.5 pounds, Sierra Designs' VAPOR LIGHT 2 is one of the lightest freestanding two-person tents on the market. But unlike most other ultralight tents, this spacious shelter actually comfortably sleeps two adults and, thanks to its sturdy pole structure, won't crumple like an accordion in high winds. $330; sierradesigns.com

Want to save on a safari? Go in the off-season. On Wilderness Safaris' new Summer Spectacular trip, guests visit iconic sites like Victoria Falls and Botswana's Okavango Delta while staying in camps where plunge pools come standard. But the draw is your first stop, the Kalahari Desert. In the wet summer, from November to April, areas like Deception Valley teem with herds of springbok, which come to drink standing water. Lions and cheetahs aren't far behind. Trips leave between December and April; wilderness-safaris.com.