Prices vary by design and according to different material and frame choices. Once you have decided on your design and selected your optional extras, we will provide a quote. Final pricing will only be established on completion and approval of plans. Pricing is subject to exchange rate fluctuations.
All tents ship from our factory in South Africa. Several factors will impact the shipping cost. We provide an estimate once we understand what is shipping and to what destination. Brokerage, duties, taxes, and other costs related to shipping are quoted in addition to the freight costs. We pass this onto customers at cost.
Please check the product page for each design to get details. Pricing usually includes the shade net fly sheet, PVC fly, tent body, steel or wooden frames, square tubing, ratchets, straps, bull denim lining, bull denim curtains and all components. Prices exclude freight and related costs, duties and taxes, wooden platforms, sub structures and decking, electrical, plumbing, interior furnishing, fixtures, appliances, hard doors or windows and installation.
Production takes 10-12 weeks from the date plans are approved and the required deposit is paid. Shipping times may vary depending on the port of destination. On average, it takes between 30 and 45 days to ship your order via ocean freight. Air freight is an option. Note that the factory closes from mid December to mid January each year.
Once you have decided what and how many tents you require, a set of final drawing will be generated for you to approve. Upon approval, 50% of the tent cost is required. Payment for the balance is due prior to dispatch of the tents from the factory. Shipping costs can either be paid directly or to us prior to delivery of the order. We accept direct wire transfers and or checks. Credit card payments are accepted with a 3% surcharge.
Each tent has an installation manual. Some customers set-up their own tents with guidance from our teams as needed. Any telephone or video support is provided by us free of charge. We can send a supervisor out to work with your contractor or team either for for your first tent or two or complete project as required. The cost will be travel, lodging and meals and a daily rate of $500 or $700 depending on the level of supervisor. We have also established installation teams in the USA and can provide quotations for complete installation.
Yes, we offer a limited 3 year warranty on all materials and parts. Please review our website for more details. Replacement parts are on hand in our Atlanta warehouse to offer as much back up service as possible.
Where possible we like to visit our customers’ property. It is not always easy to do so however. If the customer requires it, we will get there – as long as all costs are covered. Site inspections are more common when the project is turnkey or for large quantities of tents.
That depends on which tent. Most of our standard tents take only 1-3 days each, as long as the deck is in place, ready for installation. For custom tents it really depends on the size and complexity. Hard frame doors and windows will add some time.
Yes. Our tents are insured much the same as a hard structure would be. Please contact your insurer for details or contact us for an introduction.
Yes. We will make any custom tent that is possible. Our design team will work with you or your architect or designer to try meet your wishes. Customization will definitely impact cost and lead time, depending on the complexity of the design. Larger tents may need structural design and approval. It is common and a lot easier to make custom modifications to our standard designs.
Our tents are often set on a wooden deck or can also be set on a concrete slab/plinth or even flagstone.. The tents need to be secured to a solid base, which is easily achieved. We will work with you on best practices and provide decking plans if required.
We have decking partners and can quote on substructures and decking. You can also source your decking locally and have it installed yourself.
We have an insulated double-wall canvas that can be used for the tent body and ceiling. It obviously costs more than our standard canvas. We can also provide a thermal ceiling insulation layer that lies between the canvas roof and inner liner. This has an insulation value of R3 and is about ¼” (6mm) in thickness.
We offer double powder coated Mild Steel frames, 304 Stainless Steel, and 316 Stainless Steel (marine grade). We recommend the stainless steel options for any coastal climates where high erosion could be expected. We also recommend stainless steel if you are in climates with high humidity or a rain forest.
Split AC/heating units are very common. We also recommend using space heaters, propane heaters, or a centrally ventilated heating system (easily run in through a deck vent). We commonly install a chimney boot through the roof of the tent for the use of a fireplace or stove. Our canvas is fire retardant (CPSIA 84 and NFPA701 certified), but we still recommend extreme caution when using open flames to heat. Radiant underfloor heating is also a popular option.
Most of our luxury tents have an air conditioning unit. Running the A/C through the floor vents is straight forward and works extremely well. Wall mounted A/C or split unit A/C’s also work well and are most common. Our tent roofing is designed to allow for maximum airflow and efficient natural cooling. Ceiling fans are also popular and recommended, particularly where the humidity is not close to saturation point. Note also that you can add clear PVC overlays to windows to increase insulation and hence the effectiveness of air conditioners while allowing for natural light in the tents.
Our tents can last a lifetime if cared for properly. This includes keeping proper tensioning and keeping the tent clean. It is only in the case of a disaster that one will ever need to replace an entire tent. We use the very best components available and they are all individually replaceable as required due to damage or normal wear and tear. The shade fly is the component that is the most exposed to the elements and typically the first to need replacing. It is relatively inexpensive and easy to replace. We sell a water based canvas maintenance compound that restores UV protection, anti-rot, waterproofing and original color to the canvas. It can be applied every few years to the outer canvas, depending on the climate, and will add longevity. We have tents that have now been up for over 30 years.
Yes, the tents perform very well in the wind. For areas of very high winds, we offer a wind bracing kit that will keep the tent body and the tent frame tight and rigid against the wind. These can also be purchased locally. Damage to tents can occur when the tension is allowed to slack and the wind is able to jar the tent body back and forth. This creates wear on the frame and can reduce the overall strength and longevity of your tent. Using vertical wood beams/poles (gumpoles) instead of the steel poles supporting the roof frame, greatly enhances the rigidity of the tent and requires less wind bracing – it also is aesthetically appealing. Running these poles through the decking structure also adds wind protection. We have various other options such as thicker frames to increase wind limits. Our standard tents will usually stand up to a minimum of 90 mph winds.
Yes, the tents can handle large snow loads. In extreme snow fall regions, we recommend certain customizations. These include increasing the pitch on the roof, or special roofing designs with strengthened frames. With most of our designs, snow easily brushes off the sides.
Yes, the tents can handle a lot of rain. Each of our tents has a triple roof. Our canvas is water proof as well and the windows generally have double flaps or a PVC closure.
Yes, our tents are UV protected and proven to handle sun in extreme conditions We have built resorts in Namibia, Kalahari, Sahara, Sonoran, Texas and other desert and extreme climates, where our tents have stood for many years.
Our canvas is fire retardant and certified to the CPSIA84 and NFPA 701 standards. Fire extinguishers may be required in certain cases.
It is a popular option to include wooden or steel door and window frames with glass. It is not however a necessity. Soft roll up doors and windows are great alternatives and do not add extra cost. Hard windows and doors can be supplied by us or sourced locally. Where these are added, the tent will come with canvas panels and the doors or windows will be cut out during installation. We usually supply installation brackets and door hardware with the tent.
Most of our tents are made to order. We do now stock small quantities of some of our standard designs. See our In Stock section for details.
We have grown our presence significantly in the USA and our customers resorts serve as a showroom for us in many cases. We also have a selection of different tents in Pine Mountain, Georgia, where you can feel and experience the tents and get to stay over. We have used this as our showroom and have 5 different models on display. Please contact us to coordinate a visit there or another of our properties around the country.
It is an option, but we recommend alternative flooring such as wood, tiles etc. A PVC groundsheet tends to cheapen the tents and has a lot of wear and tear. They are also difficult to replace.
Yes, in most counties, the tents are classified as temporary structures, not requiring building permits. It is important however consult with your local authority to enquire about permits required for your specific project.
Yes, one of the features of our tents that they can be taken down relatively easily. It does however depend on the design. Some are easier than others. If they have to be taken down seasonally because of weather or in the case of impending severe weather such as Cyclones, Hurricanes, etc, they can be taken down pretty speedily. The installation of framed doors and windows into the tents will impede this feature, and should be considered. Wooden framed tents may also make this impossible.
Our tents firstly have a unique and special feel that you will not experience in the brick and mortar or a yurt or cabin. Our designs are majestic, allowing a lot of variety and elegance and are aesthetically pleasing.
Our 3 or 4 roof layers provide natural cooling in warm conditions and the added protection of the tent.
The tents are easy and quick to assemble and break down, individual components can be replaced as needed.Our tents are generally considered to be temporary structures, not requiring building permits.
We can do so. We have our own interior designer who can work with you on designs and can source furniture at favorable prices. We also offer a range of items from African Touch, out of Zimbabwe. Please ask us for more information.
Most of our tents have bathrooms and many have kitchens or kitchenettes. It is entirely up to the customers choice. Usually there is hook up to public sewer or a septic system. Composite toilets are also used but less preferable. If there is no electric source, solar is often an option. Where public water supply is unavailable, water tanks or wells can be used. Water heaters are usually needed, with propane and other options available. Outdoor showers are a very popular choice.
