The Ultimate Guide to Coachella Safari Tent Camping

The after Coachella blues have kicked in. Now that this year’s festival is over all I can do is draw on the great memories created at one of the most amazing music festivals in the world. Our experience was made even better this year because we splurged on Coachella Safari Tent Camping (or Glamping). If you’re thinking of Safari camping then I highly recommend it. Here is everything you need to know about Coachella Safari Tent Camping.

What’s Included with Your Safari Tent

Our golf cart driver giving us the grand tour!

First be prepared to spend some dough since Coachella Safari Tent starts at about $8000. When you take into consideration that this includes:

• A large safari tent with AC
• Mini refrigerator
• 1 or 2 Queen beds
• 1 large towel per person
• Full-length mirror
• Partially covered outdoor sitting area
• Breakfast buffet
• Late night buffet
• Backstage access
• Non-alcoholic drinks and light snacks
• A 30-minute massage
• Golf cart transportation to the stages
• Special stage viewing area (worth it just for this)
• Concierge service

You see where I’m going here, it’s totally worth it. Plus Safari guests are treated like royalty! Tents sell out so purchase early to secure one.

The manual to all things Safari

Souvenir Pillow- You get to keep!

Full-length mirror- Glamping at its best!

Mini fridge

We got two towels each since we had two queen beds.

Coachella Safari Tent Camping Check-In

It all starts at check-in. We checked in on Thursday morning at one of the nearby hotels- the Rennaissance Indian Wells Resort and Spa. Check in starts on Thursday between 10 am-2 am and continues until Friday between 9 am-Midnight. It was convenient checking in early because we were able to get a head start on setting things up. There weren’t many people on the grounds until Friday. We booked our massages, had a comp glass of champagne and checked out the grounds. Afterwards we went to a nearby Walmart for supplies. There we purchased a kiddie pool, drinks, snacks, a lounge chair, a combination lock and some accessories.

Check in at the Renaissance

You get a personal escort to the Safari Tent Camping grounds.

Parking right next to the Safari grounds.

Safari tents!

Safari tent side view

Your luggage and goods are transported from your car in a golf cart.

Welcome champagne or drink

Setting-Up Your Coachella Safari Tent

We set up our tent with a kiddie pool, lights, a fan and some outdoor decor.  By the end of the 4 days, we had a good amount of drinks left in our fridge since you can get drinks by the concierge and in the Safari lounge. They provide complimentary waters, Gatorade, sodas, and snacks. You can’t take alcohol off the grounds but you can drink in your tent and around the grounds.  So you’ll need more alcohol and less non-alcoholic drinks.

We mostly used the chairs they provided and never used the lounge chair since it was just 2 of us. The kiddie pool offered a great place to cool off during the day since it gets pretty hot after 11 am. At night we soaked our tired feet in it. You can dump and refill the water throughout the weekend with the garden hose. Luckily we were close to one, if not the gardener may help you if you’re nice.

Lastly, a fan is also a great investment. You can get one for 20 bucks at Walmart. You’ll need it in the late morning to supplement the AC while getting ready or doing anything inside the tent. Next year we’re getting two fans. It helps when getting ready to go out for the day. I cannot stress enought how hot it gets in the late morning inside the tent.

Our set up complete with kiddie pool and garden gnome

Concierge Service

The concierge service is amazing; they are super nice! We were provided with most anything we asked for. They even had an iron and ironing board. If they don’t have it they will go out, get it for you and bring it to your room (for a fee of course). They offered early merch purchase at the concierge desk on an iPad although they didn’t have band merch just Coachella stuff. This is also where you will book your comp massage, which really eases any stress from hard partying. You will also walk by the concierge to go catch a golf cart to the festival.

The concierge desk

Me in the picture staging area

Golf Carting Around and VIP Areas

So golf carts, they are readily available during the day, up until around 6:30 then they get busy.  Plan for the cart to take 15-20 minutes or longer at this time. The golf cart drivers are super nice and accommodating. Sometimes they carry water in case you need it. They will take you to any of the stages you want including the Sahara, Mojave, Gobi, Outdoor and Main. You also have access to all VIP areas including the artist VIP section. We didn’t spend much time there.  Keep in mind that they water down the street where the golf cart travels so you may get some mud splatter on you. It’s truly a rock star experience.

The only improvement I would suggest is transportation to the Yuma (dance tent). We usually were dropped off at the Main to walk to the Yuma. If you want to be carted from one stage to the other after a set that is also an option. This makes it so that you can maximize your time and see as many sets as possible. You can walk right into the guest viewing areas from where the golf cart drops you off. These areas sectioned off to the left of the stage. If you want to see a band at the rail make sure to get there about 15-30 minutes early, maybe more for headliners.

Artist Backstage Area

Coachella Stage Guest Viewing Area (mainstage)

Late night snack or meal- they offer a good selection of food

A sample menu

Safari Grounds

The Safari tent grounds are pretty plush. The Safari Lounge sits in the middle and all tent rows lead to it. This is where you will get your breakfast and late night snacks. It is an air-conditioned tent with wifi, a bar, and DJ. There are lawn games close to the yurts (these are on the same grounds) and an outdoor lounge area with hammocks and loungers. There is a pergola where pilates and yoga take place in the morning. The massage rooms are closer to the concierge desk. You will find three coolers with drinks you can pick up on your way in and out of the grounds by the concierge desk.

Two bathroom and shower trailers sit at each end of the camp. The air-conditioned bathrooms are kept pretty clean and stocked with lotion and feminine products. The showers are decent and also stocked with shampoo, conditioner and body wash. I did notice that when there were more than 3 people in the shower the water pressure and hot water became scarce.

Lounging area

The 25k yurts are also on the Safari grounds

Concierge desk which leads to golf cart pick up and drop off

bathrooms

Games including a giant Beer Pong

Coachella Safari Tent Camping Lounge

Inside the main lounge breakfast, late night snack, bar and DJ all in here

Safari walkway to concierge and golf carts. The camp is especially nice in the evening. It’s dark however there is beautiful landscape lighting, which really sets the mood.

To Sum It All Up

Coachella Safari Tent Camping is the one if not the best music festival experience I’ve ever had. I’ve been to multiple festivals including Ultra, Bonnaroo, Panorama, Okeechobee and other small festivals The only suggestion I would make is that they add a couple more shower trailers and a lounge on the festival grounds just for Safari guests. Also, something to do on Thursday night for Safari guests, for instance, something like the Outstanding in the Field Dinner or a more formal sit-down dinner for Safari guests.  All we were able to do was The Antartic and the buffet dinner in the lounge but something more substantial and social would rock.  Other than that, I highly recommend Safari camping it’s a truly luxurious and unforgettable experience.