Glamping has become a hot travel concept in the last 10 years, but  Sinya on Wimberley’s Lone Man Creek takes the art of glamorous camping to a whole new level. 

Most Texans have been quarantined since mid-March and some folks are getting a little cabin fever. As Texas opens up, how about escaping to a secluded safari tent in the Hill Country for a change of scenery?

However, there are two important things to consider when looking for a place to escape to:

1. That you can still social distance: meaning, you can cook in your own kitchen (not having to depend on restaurants or dining with others); you can be far enough away from others (i.e. a resort doesn’t work right now); you can be as remote as you want.

2. That you feel confident in the sanitizing of the property between guests.

So, in this series, we’ll bring you some locations that fit the bill for both of the above concerns and we’ll address those concerns. Our aim is to bring you a variety of choices spread around the Lone Star State.

The Great Escape #4:

Sinya on Lone Man Creek

If you’re looking for a true escape to nowhere, then look no further than Sinya on Lone Man Creek. Located on a five-acre property in Wimberley overlooking, yes, Lone Man Creek, sits a secluded one-bedroom custom designed safari tent from South Africa.

Glamping has become a hot travel concept in the last ten years, but Sinya takes the art of glamorous camping to a whole new level. From the king size bed with goose down pillows and linens that feel like a combination of cashmere and silk, to the century-old claw foot bathtub, and the kitchenette equipped with a Breville Smart oven, a refrigerator, freezer, microwave oven, Nespresso coffee maker and induction cooktop, you never have to leave the property.

The surroundings offer majestic views of the creek and, for as far as the eye can see, treetops. There’s a choice of five furnished outdoor areas, as well as a Weber grill, a dining table built of limestone for al fresco dining and a fire pit stocked with seasoned oak logs. Oh, and did we mention the soaking tub and that you can shower under the stars on your own private deck? 

Fishing, kayaking and bird watching from the hammock on the veranda are possible activities, as is discovering the nearby charms of Wimberley. But once ensconced at Sinya, you really don’t want to leave.

In terms of social distancing, you can’t beat Sinya since you’ll be the only guests on the property. Not a soul around you save the hummingbirds that visit the feeder on the expansive pine-wood deck, and other local fauna. The only human in the area is owner Lynn Gallimore, whose own home is set back from Sinya and who will greet you upon your arrival. Speaking with Gallimore is a true delight, as she eloquently tells her story on how Sinya was a labor of love and passion. She will even share the bounties of her garden with guests such as fresh eggs, herbs, and lettuce.

For Gallimore, Sinya embodies the resilient spirit of its namesake, an orphaned baby elephant rescued within proximity to her first tented camp while on safari in Tanzania. Upon returning to Houston after “three soul-searching weeks on safari,” Gallimore reflected on how therapeutic Africa had been for her and, in 2008, she sold everything and bought the secluded property in Wimberley. This compassionate soul hopes that Sinya will remind guests to live more simply and closer with nature. 

“I love my guests, they’ve become my family,” Gallimore says. And, when it comes to making her property safe in the era of COVID-19 she says, “I err on the side of caution, taking a day between each guest to disinfect.” She says she is going above and beyond to keep Sinya a safe haven and encourages her guests to call her with any of their concerns ahead of their stay.

Prices range from $345 a night during the week to $395 a night on weekends.

Don’t be discouraged if it’s hard to get a reservation at Sinya, it really is worth the wait. And no matter what is going on in the world, we will always need secluded, magical retreats for self-care, romance, getting back to nature and escaping to nowhere.  

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Cover photo courtesy Sinya on Lone Man Creek

Kristen O’Brien is a writer who has lived life to the fullest in London, Paris and New York. Austin has been her home for over nine years, the longest she has stayed in one place! When not following her wanderlust, she relishes her time on the greenbelt, sipping margaritas with friends, and planning her next adventure. @KristenGunrie