Mark Chipperfield gets a taste for safari life, Aussie style.
LUXURY LODGES AND CAMPS
Our early explorers knew that careful planning was required before venturing into the outback. Today's safari camps may not rival the bizarre opulence achieved by the likes of Burke and Wills, but they do recapture the romance of 19th-century travel. 
Properties such as Bamurru Plains (Northern Territory), Sal Salis, El Questro, Kimberley Coastal Camp (all Western Australia) and Ikara (South Australia) have helped redefine what "going bush" means in Australia with freshly prepared meals, helicopter transfers and professional guides.
Like their counterparts in Africa, the purpose of these safari camps is to offer total immersion in the landscape without sacrificing too many creature comforts.
You may be sleeping under canvas, but the bed is soft and downy, the sheets pure Egyptian cotton and, most of the time, guests have en suite bathrooms.
Meanwhile, properties such as Uluru's Longitude 131 and NSW's One & Only Wolgan Valley have taken the safari camp concept to another level of luxury, with elegant pavilions, formal dining, plunge pools and spa treatments - a far cry from the Australian camping holiday of yesteryear.
Thanks to the safari camp, remote places such as Kakadu, the Flinders Ranges and Ningaloo Reef are now accessible to the adventurous traveller.
This is sustainable, low-impact travel at its best.
Safari camps also provide the perfect base for all kinds of nature-based activities, such as bird watching, hiking, snorkelling and kayaking.
Although the concept was imported, the safari camp has been cleverly adapted to Australian conditions. Rather than simply imitating the East African model Australia has developed its own unique collection of eco-friendly properties; each offering a distinct travel experience.
With their strict environmental protocols, highly motivated staff, tented accommodation, contemporary fare and stunning wilderness locations these safari camps provide a privileged taste of Australia's remote and beautiful places - from the red dirt of Central Australia to the pristine waters of Western Australia's North West Cape.
See bamurruplains.com; salsalis.com.au; elquestro.com.au; kimberleycoastalcamp.com.au; ikarasafaricamp.com.au; longitude131.com.au; wolganvalley.oneandonlyresorts.com.