On a camping safari you stay in tented camps on the edge of the parks. Expect a walk-in tent with proper beds, shared or simple private bathrooms, and meals cooked by the camp. It is the cheapest way to do a safari well.
On a lodge safari you stay in permanent lodges or higher-end tented camps: a private bathroom, hot water on demand, a restaurant, and often a pool and a view. It costs noticeably more per night.
The game drives are the same. Same parks, same hours, same guides. A lodge does not get you closer to a lion.
Choose camping if the wildlife matters more to you than the room, if you are travelling on a tight budget, or if you like hearing the night outside.
Choose a lodge if you are travelling with young children or older relatives, if a hot shower and a quiet room are how you recover from a long day in a vehicle, or if this is a once-only trip and you want it comfortable.
Not sure? Ask us to quote both. Seeing the two prices side by side usually settles it.