FAQ

Got some more questions before requesting a quote. They should be answered here.​

Each tent is priced differently. Select which tent/s you are interested in and the quantity required and then make an inquiry using the quote request form. Please include as much detail as possible regarding your project as well as any questions you cannot find in this FAQ. We respond to all inquiries within 24 – 48 hours

There is no set price for shipping. Costs may vary depending on the quantity and the model of the tent you are ordering, as well as your port of destination. Please keep in mind that brokerage fees, duty, GST (taxes), and other costs related to shipping/import at the destination port, are not included in the freight quote estimate that we will send you.

No longer available, however financing is available thru many banks and finance companies.

Our tents range from 12 sq metres to 120+ sq metres. 

Yes we do have a brochure’s, although most information is available from our websites: www.canvasandtent.com and www.bushtecsafari.co.za we do respond with a list of components, copies of photos, plans and a price list for the “tents” with the return email. If you still require further information please feel free to contact us on [email protected] at your convenience.

Our tents are made and shipped directly from our factory in South Africa to any destination port, worldwide.  We handle all freight logistics all the way to the destination port where the customer or their agents arranges the custom clearing and inland transport for local deliveryFor International customers we recommend to use “Santova Freight” in South Africa as our freight forwarder.

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. We can also offer airfreight which is significantly faster but more expensive. Keep in mind that most of our orders (depending on model and quantity) take about 10-12 weeks to manufacture. It is during this manufacturing phase that customers arrange for the constructing of the decking / foundation on which the tent is located. It is also a good time to arrange other infrastructure details.

Once you have decided on the design and how many “tents” you require, a set of drawings will be forwarded to you for approval.  Once approved, an invoice will be generated for the total cost of the tent/s and sent to you with our payment terms. 

 

The payment terms are usually 50% down at the time of placing the order. A further 40% is paid when tents are packed for dispatch, with the 10% balance due when the consignment is received at the destination port. N.B. Freight costs (if not already included in the initial quote) are also to be paid prior to dispatch. Orders are only processed into production after the deposit has been received. We accept direct wire transfers.  Unfortunately we do not accept credit cards. Note that once an order is placed and in production that all sales are final.

For each change there could be a cost involved because it can hold up the production lines and often involves changing CAD drawings. These costs may vary depending on the extent of the changes.

Most of the time it is up to the customer who set-up the tent as assembly instructions are provided with the delivery. In some cases, we can supervise the set-up process for you, but we do charge for that service.

In some cases we do make this option available at the customer’s request.
However the customer is required to cover all the cost for travel, including transit time, lodging, expenses and our daily consulting fee. Please contact us for more detail.

That all depends on which tent design. Some tents can be set up within a day, while others will take longer, assuming that the platform / deck is already built.

  • Mild steel double powder coated, Stainless steel or full wood frame
  • PVC Rain Fly Cover (fits over the frame)
  • 80% Shade Net Fly Sheet (fits over the PVC flysheet and separated by spacer bolts)
  • 550 GSM Canvas Tent Body fully fire rated, mould & rot proof, ripstop and can come in dual colours.
  • Square Tubing (for securing walls to the platform)
  • Body Poles, Ridge
  • Poles & Tensioning
  • Chains/webbing.
  • Standard Zip-up Windows and Doors – Screened with Storm Flaps (wooden doors and windows can be fitted to the tent body if required)
  • Setup drawings

Yes. We do make custom tents, but the process is longer than making a standard designed tent and more expensive in most cases. If you wish to make a custom tent, we must make sure it is possible and also look it over with our design team and structural engineers.  All large custom design tents require wind and structural engineering approvals, either by our consulting engineer or that of our customer – this costs in the region of about $12,000.00.  Upon approval, we can put your order into production. Custom design tents also take longer to go through the manufacturing process.

Yes, on standard design tents, you can choose the color of the canvas, rain fly and shade fly, frame colors along with window and door placement and type.

Canvas colors include Sand and Olive green and the option for customized colors with a minimum order. Frame colors vary depending on the type of metal frame you choose.

Yes, our tents preferably require a wooden deck/ for them to be built on, however a concrete slab/plinth will also suffice. 

The tents need to be secured to a solid base.

We can supply the wood and materials needed to build the deck, but we do recommend that the customer sources it locally. Not only will you save on shipping costs, but also if you were to encounter any problems with the decking/plans, they can be dealt with on a one-to-one basis rather than through us. This ultimately saves you time, money, and the hassle.

We are able to insulate the tents by using a double-wall canvas technique with a layer of our new lightweight insulation in-between. An insulated tent will cost more as you are purchasing the extra insulation and using nearly double the amount of canvas as a standard tent. We also make a ceiling insulation layer that gets installed between the canvas roof and inner liner.  The new insulation has a value of R3 and is about 6mm in thickness.

We offer Mild Steel framing in double powder coating, 304 and 316 Stainless Steel.  If you are in high humidity area like on the beach or in a rain forest then you will need the Stainless Steel frame.

We recommend using space heaters, propane patio heaters, or a centrally ventilated heating system (easily run in through a deck vent). We DO NOT recommend using open flame to heat the tent. Canvas is a fabric material, and even though we do have customers who do use open flame in their tents, to date we’ve never encountered a problem although the risks involved are greater. Heating using Bio-fuel is another great alternative as does not produce smoke or soot. 

For more information on Bio-Ethanol heating, please consult www.ecosmartfire.com

We recommend that you go to a local supplier and have them calculate what unit will work best and have them install an air conditioning unit into your tent. 

Running the A/C through the floor vents is very easy and it works extremely well. 

Wall mounted A/C or split unit A/C’s also work very well.  Our tent roofing with fresh air ducts are also well designed to allow for maximum airflow and super efficient natural cooling.

Ceiling fans also work very well when in a high humidity area

Our tents can last a lifetime if taken care of properly. This includes keeping them proper tensioned and also keeping the tent generally clean.

The tents are all made of components that are all easily replaceable as they wear or weather.  

The shade fly is the component that is the most exposed to the elements and is usually the first to be replaced after many years of use.  The customer can also purchase our water based “canvas proofing compound” that will restore the UV protection, anti-rot / mould, waterproofing and original color to the canvas walls/doors. This can be applied every 2–4 years to the outer canvas, depending on the climate.

Yes, the tents perform very well in the wind. 

If the winds get really high the customer can purchase a wind bracing kit that will keep the tent body and the tent frame tight and rigid; or they can purchase the materials 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 greatly reduces the overall strength and longevity of your tent.

Using vertical wood beams/poles instead of the steel leg poles supporting the roof frame greatly enhances the rigidity of the tent and requires less wind bracing – it also is aesthetically more appealing.

Yes, the tents can handle snow.  If you are going to be putting tents in a high snowfall area, consult with us so we can discuss how much snow you are talking about so we can decide if you need to make any customizations. These include increasing the pitch on the roof, or designing a special roof.

Yes, our tents are purposely designed to handle a lot of rain. Although the canvas tent body is completely waterproof, it gets additional protection from the weather by the 80% shade net and the PVC fly sheets.

Yes, our tents can handle extreme sun with ease, and are also UV protected.

Because of the 2 flysheets used with our tents, very little rain or sun actually makes contact with the canvas body, therefore very little wear and tear occurs.

Our tents now have full (FR) fire retardant properties applied to all the material (including curtains, ceiling lining and both flysheets) used in the tent, but it does come at an extra cost. It is best to ensure that you use good quality fire extinguishers at all strategic points.

Our tents are able to have wooden doors / windows installed if the customers so requires them.  This also helps in securing the tent against break ins.

To further enhance security, we recommend motion detecting lights/alarms be installed inside/outside the tents.

No, we DO NOT supply used or second hand tents.

Some tents we hold occasional stock, however most tents sold are manufactured to our customer’s individual needs.

We DO NOT have a show room, however we do have past clients in Australia and around the world who can be contacted for advice. Please contact our office for more details.

Yes, we do offer volume discounts, but it depends mainly on tent design and quantity required.

It’s an option, but we rather recommend alternative flooring such as wood, tiles etc. as the PVC groundsheet gets very scruffy and wears through with time and is difficult and expensive to replace.

Yes we do have some tent decking plans available although it is limited as the factory is not in the business of engineering designing decks and does not wish to be held responsible for faulty deck designs.

Yes, this is possible but it depends on the tent design, as some designs are more practical for collecting water than others.

Harvesting rainwater requires guttering and a rain water tank which can be located behind the tent structure or in some cases can be located underneath the decking.

Yes, in most countries, our tents are classified as a temporary structure and as such do not require building permits from local authorities to put up a tent/s. However you may require a permit for building the decking / platform (depending on how high it is of the ground), toilet fit out (water and sewerage if applicable) or mains gas/electricity if applicable. If you are still in doubt, then we would suggest that you consult first with your local authority. 

Yes, this is one of the important features of our tents that they can be taken down relatively easily in case of un-seasonal weather changes or severe weather such as Cyclones, Hurricanes, etc.  The installation of framed doors and windows into the tents may impede this feature.

Our tents are very different in many ways from “Yurts”.

 

The points below show some of our tent features and represent some of the differences between the two.

  • 3 roof layers for natural cooling in warm conditions and added protection of the tent. 
  • The tents are easy to assemble and quick to take down. Instructions are provided with the supply of the tents. 
  • The tents consist of individual components that can be replaced as need be, instead of having to replace the tent in its entirety. 
  • Fabric is a heavy rip stop 100% polyester canvas and treated with UV protection, anti rot and is entirely water proof (it is not cotton canvas). The tent body also comes in different colours, inside and out.  
  • Bull denim inner liner and window curtain are available with all of our tents. 
  • Canvas tent body have a PVC moisture barrier at the bottom of the tent walls, and with square tubing, prevents water from entering inside the body. 
  • Insulated canvas is available as an optional extra. 
  • Our designs are unique, majestic, elegant and aesthetically pleasing. 
  • With proper bracing of the tents they have withstood cyclonic winds of 80+ kph. 
  • We also have available a “canvas proofing compound” that further extends the life of the tent body, and when applied, restores UV protection, anti rot, water proofing & original color – it is recommended to be applied to the canvas once every few years. 
  • Our tents provide more useful free roof space, as we don’t use supporting poles. 
  • We can customize window and door openings to meet our customer requirements.
  • Is your tent site close to the ocean and if so, is it close enough that rusting will be a factor?
  • What is the climate, terrain and vegetation type at your tent site?
  • In what country and location are the tents to be set up?
  • What specific tent designs on our website seem to meet your needs?
  • What square foot/meter area is your preferred size for your tent. 
  • If you have a quantity of tents you require, please specify this quantity.
  • Is your tent project for personal use or for a resort/lodge development?
  • Will you require larger tent/s for an office/reception/bar/dining/lounge and Spa tent?
  • Is there a timeline on your tent project and is so, what is it?
  • Any site pictures or aerial photos are often helpful to us, so if any are available, please send them through to us.
  • Be sure to let us have your full contact information.

We do not give out any CAD drawings; all drawings supplied are in factory manufacturing format.

These are some of the canvas color options available. Other colour options are available on request.

Coconut has to be special ordered so expect production delays with this choice.

Colour Combinations

SAND – INSIDE/OUTSIDE

COCONUT – INSIDE/OUTSIDE

OLIVE GREEN – INSIDE/OUTSIDE

OLIVE GREEN/SAND – INSIDE/OUTSIDE

 

SAND

OLIVE

COCONUT