Xigera Exterior

A STORY OF REMARKABLE RENEWAL

Xigera is our love letter to the magic of the African bush.

Through our video lens

Take a journey through our luxurious Xigera Safari Lodge... Situated in the western reaches of Botswana’s iconic Moremi Game Reserve, gazing out on the seasonal floodplains of the Okavango Delta, Xigera’s unique location offers unrivalled access to extraordinary safari experiences.  

A LUXURY SAFARI LODGE IN BOTSWANA'S OKAVANGO DELTA

The story of Xigera Safari Lodge is one of renewal. Of rebirth and family legacy, and of the pioneering spirit that drives us to seek out Africa’s wild spaces. The same spirit that inspired this remarkable reimagining, perhaps a complete reinvention, of an Okavango Delta safari. This is Xigera (pronounced ‘kee-jera’), named for the Pied Kingfisher that makes its home amid the watery channels of Botswana’s Moremi Game Reserve. Every aspect is handcrafted to beguile our guests’ senses and stir their souls – from the evocative interiors to one-of-a-kind encounters. But Xigera is equally a line in the sand. A raising of the bar. A bold statement in the realm of luxury safaris in Botswana, and an Okavango Delta safari experience like no other.

Xigera Exterior

WILD SPACES, INSPIRED DESIGN

Xigera Safari Lodge offers just 12 beautiful suites, each resting effortlessly in this wild landscape. Amid this remarkable setting, Xigera’s design aesthetic is wholeheartedly dedicated to celebrating African art, design and creativity. Each piece has been handcrafted and inspired by the incredible natural surroundings in Botswana; every experience can be tailor made to your wishes… an entirely new imagining of the African bush.

Exterior Areal View of the Sundeck

THE CULMINATION OF A LIFE-LONG DREAM

The Tollman family has long had a profound love for Africa, and as the new custodians of Xigera Safari Lodge they are delighted to bring Red Carnation’s generous hospitality, personal service and exceptional design aesthetic to Botswana for the first time, drawing on six decades of devotion to unparalleled luxury in service.

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UNIQUE. AUTHENTIC. PIONEERING

Conservation and sustainability are at the heart of everything we do, powering the lodge almost entirely through solar energy and eliminating single-use plastics. Caring for the environment is a priority in every aspect of Xigera, but we also pour enormous effort into partnering with local communities, providing both empowerment and employment.

"THERE'S NOTHING QUITE LIKE IT"

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Tailor Made Safaris

Popular safaris, east & central africa, southern africa, set departures, top destinations, indian ocean islands, “the flooded desert – jewel of the kalahari”.

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Why we like it

  • If you could visit only 1 African destination, let it be the Okavango Delta
  • Simply put – safari paradise! Our favourite safari destination
  • Wide range of activities, including walking safaris, mokoro & horseback safaris
  • Unparalleled Wildlife Sightings & an elephant stronghold

Discover the Okavango Delta: A Wetland Paradise

The Okavango Delta is a wetland paradise in the otherwise harsh Kalahari that covers the rest of Botswana. Rain waters from Angola slowly make their way south and eventually spill into the desert, spreading out into an alluvial fan and creating one of the last great wilderness areas of our time.

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The Okavango Delta: Jewel of the Kalahari and UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Okavango Delta – a wetland paradise and UNESCO World Heritage site in the otherwise harsh Kalahari that sprawls across the rest of Botswana. As rainwater from Angola slowly makes its way south, eventually spilling into the desert and spreading out into an alluvial fan – or inland delta – it creates one of Africa’s largest wetlands and one of the last great wilderness areas of our time.

The mighty waters of the Okavango Delta begin life as a small trickle in the highlands of Angola. Gradually fed by seasonal rainfall they eventually burst forth to become the 3rd largest river in Southern Africa by the time it spills into Botswana .

When the Okavango River enters Botswana it slows down and spreads out into a series of twisting channels and lagoons surrounded by dense papyrus reedbeds, an area known as the panhandle. By slowing down and flowing through the papyrus, the water is filtered and becomes crystal clear, forming incredibly beautiful waterways and lagoons, home to a wide variety of fauna and flora.

The Dynamic Ecosystem of the Okavango Delta

Eventually, the main river starts to fan out and the delta’s surface area expands dramatically as the river splits into countless channels and smaller rivers, which in turn, form islands and waterways. The layout of the Delta is incredibly dynamic and changes almost every year due to shifting sandbanks, fluctuations in flood waters, and channel blockages.

Hippos and elephants are critically important to the flow of Okavango Delta’s many channels, maintaining them through their movements, creating new channels as they feed, and even blocking channels through their activities.

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The Architects of the Okavango: Termites and Their Role in the Ecosystem

Equally important are the mound-building termites which are the architects of most of the islands within the Okavango Delta. Their towering mounds form the start of tiny islands where nutrient-rich soil is brought to the surface, which in turn is then visited as a perch by birdlife, baboons, and monkeys which leave behind their droppings containing seeds. These seeds germinate and thrive on these nutrient-rich soils with the surrounding water and, soon enough, you have a small ecosystem that slowly expands over the years.

Exploring the Okavango Delta: Safari Destinations and Activities

There are thousands of islands in the Okavango Delta, some permanent and others seasonal as the flood waters arrive inundating the surrounding floodplains. The largest island in the Okavango is Chief’s Island, which is one of the most exclusive and wildlife-rich safari destinations in Africa.

The permanent and seasonal waterways surrounding the islands are the main attraction for tourism with many lodges located on the edge of these pristine waterways or remote islands. The main activities to explore the area are by vehicle, walking safaris, or water activities, often using a mokoro (local traditional dug-out canoe) which can easily navigate the waterways and deep water channels. These activities are conducted by professional guides and local mokoro polers who know the area intimately and are experts in exploring this dazzling region safely.

It’s important to note that the location of each lodge will determine the activities they can offer, and these might also vary at certain times of the year as the water levels fluctuate. Understanding which lodges to visit for certain activities is vital to avoid disappointment – which is where we come in!

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Seasonal Dynamics: How Flooding Affects a Botswana Safari

The Okavango Delta region is a true ‘year-round’ destination, however, because of the dynamics of the region and its complex ecosystem, you will experience something different just about every month of the year.

Generally speaking, Botswana and Angola’s rainy season is between November and March, but as mentioned earlier, the Okavango’s main water source originates from the highlands of Angola where the majority of the rain typically falls in January and this water can take months to reach Botswana.

Water from Angola normally reaches the panhandle by May but because the water slows down and has to filter through the dense swamps, progress is slow, and this sees the flood normally peaking in June/July, which is Botswana’s dry season.

But also note that the Delta is enormous, and waters are so slow that it peaks in different regions within the Delta at different times. The rains in Angola also vary from year to year in quantity and timing. This means that predicting water levels and timings of the Okavango is nearly impossible but can only be roughly estimated.

What makes this cycle so incredible is the fact that the Delta’s flood waters peak during Botswana’s dry winter season when there is almost no chance of local rainfall. These floodwaters sustain the wildlife that relies upon them until the next period of rain. If it wasn’t for the floodwater, the area would be devoid of surface water for nearly 9 months, as is the case for the rest of the Kalahari Desert.

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Accommodation Options in the Okavango Delta

There are plenty of options when it comes to staying within the Delta, but principally it will come down to either the Moremi Game Reserve, which is the largest reserve across these vast wetlands, or one of the private concessions, which range greatly in size.

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Moremi Game Reserve: A Protected Wilderness Within the Okavango

About 40% of the Okavango Delta region is covered by the Moremi Game Reserve, a community-owned, but government-managed reserve. Moremi was first established in the 1960s and is incredibly diverse, protecting a wide range of animals and plant life.

Safari Experiences in Moremi

There are two distinct regions in the Moremi. The first is the Mopane Tongue which forms a vast woodland of important mopane trees that borders the southeastern edge of the delta. This area is home to a handful of lodges in the Xakanaxa region as well as a few small public and mobile campsites.

Moremi also extends over the swamps and onto the other notable region, Chief’s Island, which was previously the royal hunting grounds of the region’s chief but was later set aside for protection from illegal hunting activities. Chief’s Island is significant not only because of its exclusivity and incredible wildlife, but it’s also the setting for a project to reintroduce both black and white rhinos into the region.

Moremi being a government-managed reserve means the area follows the standard park rules which stipulate no off-road driving, no driving at night (time restrictions), and no armed walking safaris (with some exceptions on Chiefs Island).

There are 4 ways to go on safari in Moremi:

Fly-in luxury safari

Choosing a fly-in safari to one of Moremi’s luxury tented camps on Chief’s Island or Xakanaxa  combines ease of access with the opulence of secluded safari living, nestled in the heart of the delta.

Self-drive camping safari 

Embarking on a self-drive camping safari in Moremi allows adventurers to explore at their own pace, setting up camp in designated public campsites amidst the wilderness.

Mobile tented Safari

Opting for a mobile tented safari offers a blend of comfort and adventure, with exclusive use of private campsites that promise an intimate connection with nature.

Mobile walking safari

Participating in a mobile walking safari with Wild Expedition Safaris   provides an immersive experience, allowing guests to tread softly through the Chief’s Island/Xaxaba region, guided by expert knowledge and the rhythm of the wild.

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A different way to safari: Private Concessions

The land surrounding the rest of the Okavango Delta, which isn’t part of the Moremi Game Reserve, is divided into several wildlife management areas (some very large, others fairly small). These are all named “NG(#)” followed by the respective number, such as NG12 or NG32, representing the different wildlife management areas or private concessions. Often the area is given another ‘more marketable’ name such as the Selinda Concession. The wildlife management areas either belong to a concessionaire for an allocated period or a community, which is responsible for the use of the area.

The approach to safari is slightly different in Botswana than in other countries with the tourism model in the Okavango Delta largely a ‘high cost, low volume’ approach whereby the government restricts the number of bed nights/lodges allocated to certain concessions, and the concessionaires prevent more development on large stretches of pristine wilderness. This has led to a much more exclusive luxury safari experience where certain lodges/companies have a huge wildlife area exclusively for their guests to experience.

It goes without saying that the best safari experiences are to be had in these private concessions where you have vast tracts of wilderness to explore with the only traffic being that from your own lodge, or maybe a single neighbouring lodge. Exclusivity does however come with a price tag, which has led to Botswana being one of the most expensive safari destinations in Africa.

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Another huge benefit of a private concession is that they are not bound by the national park/game reserve regulations. This opens up a wider range of activities such as night drives, game drives, armed walking safaris, and the use of mokoros. It also allows for guides to off-road (in an ethical manner) for special sightings, which is not possible in national parks. And when a special sighting does occur, the number of vehicles allowed at a sighting is also often controlled by radio which helps to minimise the impact on the wildlife.

There are many different private concessions, so it is very important to know which concession you will be visiting, as some are not so private (many lodges) and others are located far from ideal wildlife viewing areas. It’s best to get in touch with us and we’ll be more than happy to go through your options and explain the benefits and drawbacks of various concessions.

Most private concessions are fly-in fly-out safari destinations, with charter flights departing from Maun airport.

The Unique Khwai Community Concession

Although the Khwai Community Concession (NG19) falls into the private concession category, it is so popular and well known that it deserves special mention. As the name suggests this is a community-run concession managed by the Khwai village and has some of the most incredible wildlife sightings in all of the Delta.

The area is home to several luxury lodges, mobile campsites, and public campsites, which unfortunately makes the area a little busy and not quite as ‘private’ as other parts of the Delta, particularly in the peak season, but the wildlife viewing is of such quality that visitors are often undeterred. Due to the popularity of the area, the wildlife has also become very habituated to humans and vehicles making for a unique insight into animal behaviour. Two of the most popular destinations are the Khwai Bush Camp and the Khwai Leadwood, but we’ll be happy to go through all of your options with you.

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The concession shares an unfenced border with the Moremi Game Reserve to the South, with the permanent Khwai river (a finger of the Okavango) as the boundary between the two, and to the north of Khwai is the mopane woodland and Kalahari sands. What makes Khwai such a great wildlife viewing area is that in the dry season, animals from the surrounding dry woodland are forced to the permanent water to drink, resulting in higher seasonal densities of wildlife from the converging habitats.

This, in turn, supports a wonderful population of predators and Khwai has always been known to be reliable for painted wolves (Wild Dogs), leopards, lions, and hyenas, often interacting at kills. As such Khwai is often on the itinerary for most folks visiting the Okavango and from a personal Safari Frank standpoint, some of our best sightings ever have been in Khwai.

Discovering the Panhandle: A Different View of the Okavango

As mentioned earlier, the panhandle is the comparatively thin strip on the northern end of the Okavango Delta just after the river enters Botswana. It consists of the winding main channel of the river, many smaller channels, and large lagoons – all surrounded by dense papyrus reed beds and the occasional densely vegetated island. This area is typically too swampy for many non-aquatic species to thrive (such as the BIG 5), and as a result, the panhandle is not often visited by tourists on a normal BIG 5 photographic safari.

The Panhandle is however an outstanding destination for birding safaris, supporting great habitat for aquatic species and shy reed-loving species among the permanent marshes. Fishing is also great in the panhandle, with the waters often being crystal clear allowing you to see the tiger fish swimming by and boating safaris in the area are a wonderfully relaxing way to see a completely different type of wildlife.

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Wildlife of the Okavango Delta: A Diverse and Abundant Ecosystem

Quite simply, few places on the planet offer such a diverse selection of animals as in the Delta. Game viewing is of course one of the main draws and there is an absolute abundance on show, including, lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, buffalos, hippopotamus, lechwes, blue wildebeest, giraffes, crocodiles, spotted hyenas, honey badgers, greater kudus, sable antelopes, black rhinoceros, white rhinoceros, plains zebra, and warthogs. The Delta is also home to one of the largest populations of the endangered African wild dog , one of the most endangered animals on the planet.

You will also find over 500 species of birds in the Delta and it’s not uncommon to see north of 100 different varieties in a single day, including the rare pel’s fishing owl, African fish eagle, Bateleur, and Carmine Bee-eater. If aquatic life is more your thing, there are more than 85 species of fish including Catfish, Tigerfish, and Tilapia.

Accessing the Okavango Delta: Travel Tips and Information

Despite the sense of isolation and wildness, the Okavango Delta is surprisingly accessible. As we mentioned, many arrive in the region by aircraft or helicopter, while other hardy souls choose to travel overland, perhaps even with a stop at Botswana’s other gem, the Chobe National Park, which borders the Delta region.

The border with South Africa is roughly 1000km to the southeast and there are regular flights that connect the major South African cities of Johannesburg and Cape Town to the small town of Maun, which lies just outside the Delta.

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Ultimate 21-Night Journey through Southern Africa

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13-Night Southern Africa Safari Extravaganza

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5-Night Riding Safari in the Okavango Delta

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Ultimate Green Season Botswana Photo Safari

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Okavango Delta & Zebra Migration Safari

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Experience Botswana at its best

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Breathtaking Botswana Luxury Safari

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6 Night Botswana Desert and Delta Safari

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The Okavango Explorer – 11 night mobile safari

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Safari & Yoga Adventure in Botswana

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The Lion Safari – 15 Days Mobile Participation Safari

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8 Day Adventure Ride in the Okavango Delta

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Spectacular Botswana Ride – 8 Nights Okavango Delta & Kalahari Desert

Sunset riding on the Pans

4 Day Okavango Delta Walking Safari

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Safari Authentic – 9 Days Mobile Safari

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The Full Safari Circuit – 17 incredible nights!

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6 Nights in Botswana’s Green Season

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Frank’s pick for a Luxury Botswana Safari

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Places to stay

Related accommodation.

MmaTsebe Tented Camp Northern Khwai Botswana20

MmaTsebe Tented Camp

Macatoo camp.

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Duke’s East

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Duke’s Camp

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Rra Dinare Camp

Botswana Sandibe Guest Area fireplace

Camp Xakanaxa

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Okavango Spirit House Boat

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Little Sable

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North Island Okavango

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Gunn’s Camp

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Pom Pom Camp

Ready for an adventure lets talk.

Contact SAFARI FRANK to get started on your safari of a lifetime!

Our partners in Africa will make your dream trip, a trip to never forget

[email protected] +61 (2) 6685 6868

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Safari lodges nestled among trees on a lush grassy plain next to a river delta

Eagle Island Lodge

Africa’s ultimate experiential safari lodge, discover a modern, sophisticated sanctuary on a private island at the heart of the okavango delta.

Eagle Island Lodge brings timeless luxury to the Botswana wetlands. High-ceilinged tented rooms flood with light; each has a plunge pool and oversized bed with views of the Delta. Get closer to the wildlife of this UNESCO World Heritage Site—silently glide past hippos in a traditional canoe as fish eagles soar overhead. Eagle Island Lodge is now open.

Please note: Water-based safaris are dependent on flood levels in the Delta which are usually highest from May-September

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Ways to Book

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Make a direct booking for our experiential lodge in the Okavango Delta

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Both Belmond lodges

Allow us to arrange your booking for both our safari lodges in Botswana

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Explore an itinerary

Combine your Belmond safari experience with other spots around Southern Africa

Accommodation

Safari lodge tent with a grand four-poster bed in mustard and dark grey accents

Just 12 large, light-flooded tented rooms make up the total accommodation of this intimate retreat. Each is carefully positioned to afford total privacy—and unspoiled Botswana vistas.

Shelter from the midday heat for a cool siesta, or soak in your private plunge pool. Take to the terrace for a front row seat and watch the theatre of the savannah unfold.

botswana okavango delta luxury safari

Our Support of the Wild Entrust Africa Conservation Project

We’ve joined forces with Wild Entrust Africa to help mitigate the lethal conflict between predators and people in Northern Botswana. With the help of our partnership, six camera traps will assist the project’s ground-breaking scent-mark research, which keeps predators away from livestock and safely inside protected wildlife areas.

Our guests can visit the Wild Dog Research camp and listen to a Botswana Predator Conservation Programme researcher talk about their fascinating and invaluable work.

Learn more about Wild Trust

Contact us to arrange your visit

Amid sprays of churned up water, a herd of zebras spectacularly gallops across a river in Botswana

The History

Integral to the rich history of Botswana, the lodge was established in the 1900s when intrepid explorers and crocodile hunters first flocked to the delta. Since then, we’ve refined safari living to an art. Eagle Island Lodge is among the most environmentally friendly lodges in the country, and our private drives are a truly intimate way to get closer to the country's natural wonders.

botswana okavango delta luxury safari

Step inside

Our duo of unforgettable adventures

botswana okavango delta luxury safari

In the heart of UNESCO wetlands, this newly renovated lodge offers boutique tents and thrilling helicopter safaris.

botswana okavango delta luxury safari

Savute Elephant Lodge

Unpredictable wet and dry cycles create a dynamic landscape alive with a vibrant, raw energy—and wildlife to match.

Wining and Dining

botswana okavango delta luxury safari

The Restaurant

Listen for the evocative fish eagle whistle while you dine. The soft lighting casts evocative shadows, and dark woods create a cosy feel. Tempted by barbecued treats? Swap stories by starlight beside our open campfire.

Our Africa Itineraries

botswana okavango delta luxury safari

Grand Tour of Botswana

4 or 6 nights Embark on the ultimate Belmond adventure in Botswana with a stay at our two uniquely enchanting safari lodges.

botswana okavango delta luxury safari

Splendours of Africa

11 nights Experience the splendours of Africa; a luxurious stay at Mount Nelson, a journey on the legendary Rovos Rail, and the untamed romance of Belmond Safaris.

botswana okavango delta luxury safari

Two Worlds Collide

11 nights Embark on a journey that contrasts the dramatic, beautiful deserts of Namibia with the lush bush-life of Belmond Safaris in Botswana.

botswana okavango delta luxury safari

Best of Both

7 nights Marvel at the teeming wildlife and majestic scenery of Botswana on a Belmond Safari before being captured by the spellbinding drama of the Victoria Falls.

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Botswana At Its Best

4 or 6 nights Experience extreme diversity as you explore the waterways of the Delta at Eagle Island Lodge, and listen to the rumble of elephants through Savute Elephant Lodge.

botswana okavango delta luxury safari

Romancing the Senses

7 nights Combine an action-packed stay at a Belmond safari lodge in Botswana with an indulgent beach break on a journey perfect for honeymooners or families.

botswana okavango delta luxury safari

Journey to the Heart of Africa

10 nights Discover the joie de vivre of Johannesburg. Experience the thrills of Belmond Safaris. Be part of the vibrant, cosmopolitan city of Cape Town at Mount Nelson.

botswana okavango delta luxury safari

Safari Trilogy

10 nights Stay at any Belmond Safari and explore the Okavango Delta in Botswana, a vibrant wetland and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Witness the majestic feline colonies of the Sabi Sand, and learn about rhino conservation among the rugged landscape of the Kalahari Desert.

botswana okavango delta luxury safari

Whales & Wine

7 nights After a luxury stay at Mount Nelson, sample award-winning vintages in the famous Winelands region. Then head to coastal Hermanus, where the seasonal whales make their annual visit.

Explore in Depth

See more ideas and articles from Belmond

botswana okavango delta luxury safari

Okavango Adventures

“You know you are truly alive when you’re living among lions.” – Karen Blixen, Out of Africa.

botswana okavango delta luxury safari

Destination Guides

Unlock Botswana

“Africa changes you forever, like nowhere on earth. But how do you begin to describe its magic to someone who has never felt it? How can you explain the fascination of this vast, dusty continent, whose oldest roads are elephant paths?"

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Mysteries of the Okavango Delta

The essential work of a ranger is the lifeblood of our Belmond Safaris. Read on to uncover the magic of Botswana’s Okavango Delta with Moses Maphane.

botswana okavango delta luxury safari

Botswana with Alexander McCall Smith

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of his bestselling series ‘The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency’, Alexander McCall Smith reflects on his time in Botswana with Belmond Safaris.

botswana okavango delta luxury safari

Take Me To The River

Embark on the ultimate adventure and discover the breathtaking beauty of the Okavango Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to our three Belmond Safaris.

botswana okavango delta luxury safari

Top 5: Alfresco Tables

Let’s take this outside. With our alfresco tables, the views promise to be just as delicious as the dishes.

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Packages & Tours

Explore Africa with Belmond

From the buzz of Cape Town to the drama of Botswana, embark on the ultimate tour of Africa with Belmond.

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Okavango Delta

Africa Uncovered › Botswana Safari › Okavango Delta

Features & Highlights

  • Amazing scenery
  • Authentic tented safari camps
  • Excellent game viewing
  • Exclusive safari experience
  • Land and water based activities
  • Pristine Africa at its wild best
  • Unique wildlife region

botswana okavango delta luxury safari

Okavango Delta Summary

An Okavango Delta Safari is a totally unique wilderness safari experience, as the flood plains, water lily lagoons, forests and open grasslands of the Okavango Delta lie right in the heart of the largest continuous stretch of sand in the world, the Kalahari Desert Basin.

Game viewing in the Okavango Delta is fantastic and totally unique, with safaris by boat or mokoro (canoe) being a speciality. Imagine sitting back in a wetland paradise whilst your mokoro is paddled for you, viewing Africa’s finest creatures as they go about their business undisturbed, this is the essence of an Okavango Delta Safari.

An Okavango Safari affords guests the opportunity to view large herds of buffalo and other herbivorous game attracting high concentrations of African super predators such as lion, leopard and hyena. This is just one of the reasons why the Okavango Delta is a “must see” destination for anyone planning a Botswana Safari, it is totally unique, as no other game reserve or safari destination in Botswana or even Africa has a similar offering to that of the Okavango Delta. The Okavango also offers quality luxury safari lodges in exclusive, prime wildlife areas allowing for the ultimate African Safari.

botswana okavango delta luxury safari

At the heart of the Okavango Delta is the Moremi Game Reserve, one of the leading wildlife areas in the world. It is situated right in the heart of the Okavango Delta and it is approximately 3,000 sq km. The Reserve is named after the late Chief Moremi and it was proclaimed a Wildlife Reserve by the Tswana people in 1963.Moremi is a place of untouched and unspoiled beauty, consisting of a network of waterways and islands.

botswana okavango delta luxury safari

Due to the uniqueness of the Okavango Delta, it is highly recommended to combine an Okavango Delta Safari with a safari to a completely different area of Botswana, such as the Linyanti Wildlife Reserve in order to obtain a more complete and varied Botswana Safari experience.

Enquire now with one of Africa Uncovered’s specialist Okavango Delta Safari consultants who can assist you in planning the ultimate safari to this magnificent region.

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The Top 10 Best Okavango Delta Lodges in Botswana

 Devryn Panaino

Author: Devryn Panaino - 27 April 2023

Last Update: 30 January 2024

Part of the Botswana Family Holidays & Visit Botswana & Holidays In Okavango Delta & African Safari Collection

The Okavango Delta’s winding waterways and huge savannas make it one of Africa’s most stunning safari destinations. Supporting a vast array of wildlife and birdlife, this pristine piece of Botswana will entrance you with its breathtaking beauty and tranquil atmosphere.

Mokoro safari in the Okavango Delta, Botswana.

The Okavango Delta is home to some stunning exclusive accommodations too. Get inspired with our list of the top 10 best five-star Okavango Delta lodges in Botswana.

1. Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge

Exceptionally luxurious, Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge is situated in one of the best game-viewing areas in Botswana . Located in a forest on a private concession within the Okavango Delta , Sandibe offers its guests a truly exclusive experience.

Cosy fireplace at a luxury lodge in Botswana | Photo credits: Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge

The lodge is an architectural wonder, with its one-of-a-kind natural design imitating the rare pangolin. Blending in seamlessly with its wild surroundings, the lodge features 12 elevated suites, each offering incredible views of the Okavango.

Luxury lodge in the Okavango Delta, Botswana | Photo credits: Cosy fireplace at a luxury lodge in Botswana | Photo credits: Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge

Each suite features a fireplace, reading nooks, comfortable beds, and a private viewing deck with a plunge pool. Guests who have stayed at Sandibe consistently mention the amazing game viewing in the private concession, especially on night drives when the nocturnal species come out of hiding.

Waterside lunch in the Okavango Delta | Photo credits: Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge

Other popular activities at Sandibe include the children’s program, bush walks, and scenic helicopter flights over the delta.

2. Sanctuary Stanley’s Camp

Sanctuary Stanley’s Camp is an intimate and romantic camp in the heart of the Okavango Delta . The camp is situated on the southern tip of Chief’s Island in the Big Five Moremi Game Reserve . It overlooks the perennial Boro River, which attracts a wide range of wildlife.

Luxury lodge in the Okavango Delta | Photo credits: Sanctuary Stanley's Camp

Guests who have stayed at Stanley’s Camp have praised its exceptional service, excellent cuisine, and luxurious accommodation.

Stanley’s Camp features ten elevated canvas safari tents that are beautifully decorated and well equipped with an en-suite bathroom, lounge area, minibar, fan, tea & coffee making facilities, hairdryer, bathrobes, in-room safe, private viewing deck, and free WiFi.

Luxury safari room in the Okavango Delta, Botswana | Photo credits: Sanctuary Stanley's Camp

Game drives at dawn and dusk are led by expert guides and are highly rewarding as you explore the bush for sightings of the Big Five and other interesting animals. Not to be missed are the guided walks which offer an opportunity to track animals and discover a variety of flora species.

Viewing deck at a luxury lodge in the Okavango Delta | Photo credits: Sanctuary Stanley's Camp

For a more laid-back experience, take a mokoro (traditional dugout canoe) excursion along the winding waterways. A highlight at Stanley’s Camp is the Living with Elephants interaction, where you’ll get to go on a leisurely stroll with two semi-habituated elephants.

3. Jacana Camp

Jacana Camp is an intimate and stunning water camp that features fishing, game drives, mokoro (traditional dugout canoe) excursions, and boating. Jacana Camp is situated in the private Jao concession of the Okavango Delta , a remote destination with vast savanna and permanent swamps that support a huge variety of wildlife.

Jacana Camp in the Okavango Delta, Botswana | Photo credits: Jacana Camp

The Jao Flats is an excellent game-viewing location, with herds of red lechwe antelope that are usually closely tracked by leopards and lions. Bird watching is particularly rewarding, especially in the summer months.

Jacana Camp features five elevated Meru-style tents with outdoor showers, en-suite bathrooms, sitting areas, fans, in-room safes, mosquito netting, and tea and coffee-making facilities.

Outdoor bath at a luxury lodge in the Okavango Delta | Photo credits: Jacana Camp

In the summer months, when the water levels are low, the camp offers game drives in open safari vehicles. When the water levels are high, guests can look forward to boating and mokoro safaris and seasonal catch-and-release fishing trips.

4. Chitabe Camp

Chitabe Camp is one of the Okavango Delta’s best safari camps for dry game viewing, and you’ll be spoiled with regular sightings of African wild dogs. Chitabe game drives happen in open-sided land rovers providing uninterrupted game viewing.

Chitabe camp is situated in the southeast corner of the Okavango, with 69 000 hectares of stunning and totally exclusive wilderness.

Fire pit at a luxury lodge in the Okavango Delta | Photo credits: Chitabe Camp

With its marshlands, grasslands, woodland, and massive floodplains, the concession is home to a wide array of wildlife. It’s easily one of the best locations in Botswana to see predators and birdlife throughout the year. 

Chitabe Camp features eight elevated Meru-style tents with en-suite bathrooms and outdoor showers, double beds, mosquito netting, sitting areas, fans, writing desks, and private viewing decks.

Elephant in front of a luxury lodge in the Okavango Delta | Photo credits: Chitabe Camp

At Chitabe, you’ll be able to enjoy day drives, night drives, and walking safaris with a team of professional guides. The game drives are highly rewarding, and guests will get to spot cheetahs, hyenas, lions, leopards, giraffes, elephants, and buffalo.

5. Splash Camp

Splash Camp is set up around a pan that attracts a variety of wildlife. This stunning destination is situated in the private Kwara Concession bordering the Big Five Moremi Game Reserve , which is recognized as a prime game viewing spot in Botswana .

Because of its unique location, the camp offers its guests the best of both worlds in that it’s both a land and water-based safari experience.

Lounge area at a luxury lodge in the Okavango Delta | Photo credits: Splash Camp

Splash Camp features 12 stylish rooms with en-suite bathrooms and outdoor showers, spacious bedrooms, mosquito netting, overhead fans, writing desks, lounge areas, and private verandahs with incredible views of the pan.

Activities on offer at Splash Camp include guided bush walks, mokoro excursions, morning and evening game drives, seasonal fishing expeditions, bird watching, and boating excursions.

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6. Jao Camp

Jao Camp is spacious and luxurious and features one of Botswana ’s best spas. Situated in the private Jao Concession of the Okavango, this opulent destination is a water paradise surrounded by pristine floodplains and riverine forests.

The wilderness here is ever-changing, with lions and lechwe in abundance from April to September. Expect to see plenty of elephant herds from August to November and ample bird life during the summer months.

Luxury lodge in the Okavango Delta, Botswana | Photo credits: Jao Camp

The camp features nine large tents resting in the shade of indigenous trees. Each tent has an outdoor shower and en-suite bathroom, mosquito netting, fan, lounge area, minibar, tea and coffee-making facilities, hairdryer, and a private verandah.

Jao Camp is one of the best Okavango Delta lodges for families, with a two-bedroom family tent with individual entry points and a shared viewing deck.

Pool deck at a luxury lodge in the Okavango Delta | Photo credits: Jao Camp

Depending on the time of year, guests are offered both land and water-based activities that include mokoro excursions, picnics, morning and evening game drives, relaxing spa treatments, boating safaris, fishing excursions, and romantic sleep-out experiences.

7. Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp

You’ll find Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp in a remote and untamed game viewing area of Botswana, where suites with a spacious open-plan design ensure expansive views of the bushveld.

This incredible destination is situated in an exclusive wildlife concession bordering the Big Five Moremi Game Reserve . Large herds of elephants and buffalo, lions, leopards, cheetahs, and African wild dogs regularly visit the floodplains around the camp. Nxabega features nine elevated tented suites located under a canopy of ebony trees.

Luxury lodge room in the Okavango Delta | Photo credits: Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp

Each opulent tented suite has an outdoor shower and en-suite bathroom and a verandah with a private sala overlooking the wildlife-packed floodplain. Families visiting Nxabega stay in a family tent consisting of two luxury tents connected by a walkway.

Bar area at a luxury lodge in the Okavango Delta | Photo credits: Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp

The camp offers a unique array of safari activities, including day and night game drives, bird watching, seasonal fishing and boating excursions, mokoro rides, a kid’s program, guided bush walks, and a one-of-a-kind walking with Bushmen experience.

8. Vumbura Plains Camp

Vumbura Plains Camp is one of the few destinations in the Okavango Delta that offers both wet and dry game viewing in an unfenced private concession throughout the year. Vumbura boasts two satellite safari camps that offer the best of both worlds.

Suite at a luxury lodge in the Okavango Delta | Photo credits: Vumbura Plains Camp

Visitors to Vumbura have reported spectacular sightings of giraffes, buffalo, elephants, wildebeest, and a wide array of antelope. Predators like African wild dogs, lions, leopards, wildcats, and cheetahs are also regularly spotted during dawn and dusk game drives.

Family suite at a luxury lodge in the Okavango Delta | Photo credits: Vumbura Plains Camp

Vumbura Plains South and North Camp each feature seven elevated tents with sizeable bedrooms, outdoor showers, en-suite bathrooms, a sunken lounge area with panoramic views of the floodplains, private plunge pools, and a sala area overlooking the African bush.

Luxury lodge in the Okavango Delta, Botswana | Photo credits: Vumbura Plains Camp

North Camp is popular with families because of its family tents that can sleep four people in two separate interleading bedrooms. Each camp has a large lounge, dining, and bar area and a spacious viewing deck with comfy couches and a fire pit.

Elephant walking past a luxury lodge in the Okavango Delta | Photo credits: Vumbura Plains Camp

The camp offers day game drives, night drives, guided nature walks, catch-and-release fishing, seasonal hot-air balloon safaris, mokoro rides, boating excursions, and bird watching.

9. Chief’s Camp

Chief’s Camp is situated on a palm-fringed island in the renowned Big Five Moremi Game Reserve . Beyond offering excellent game viewing, Chief’s Camp is consistently rated as one of the Okavango Delta’s top safari lodges by Conde Nast Traveller for its sumptuous accommodation, exquisite cuisine, and exceptional service.

Pool deck at a luxury lodge in the Okavango Delta | Photo credits: Chief’s Camp

This luxurious destination features ten luxury pavilions and a luxury suite situated under a canopy of indigenous trees. 

Each room comes with an outdoor shower and en-suite bathroom, a four-poster bed, mosquito netting, a sitting area, a private dining area, overhead fans, air conditioning, and a viewing deck with a terrace pool. The safari experience features tranquil mokoro rides, dawn and dusk game drives, and even scenic helicopter flights over the delta.

10. Camp Okavango

Camp Okavango is a secluded water-based safari lodge that offers an unequaled year-round water paradise experience. This opulent camp is located on the remote Nxaragha Island in the heart of the Okavango Delta .

The camp is entirely solar-powered and features 12 elevated and spacious safari suites with en-suite bathrooms, dressing robes, in-room safes, overhead fans, tea and coffee-making facilities, luxury amenities, and a private viewing deck with stackable doors and loungers.

Suite at a luxury lodge in the Okavango Delta | Photo credits: Camp Okavango

Families love Camp Okavango for its family suite that features two en-suite bathrooms and a dedicated children’s area packed with games and books. The suite will even accommodate a third child in the second bedroom on a roll-out bed.

Luxury lodge in the Okavango Delta, Botswana | Photo credits: Camp Okavango

Guests can experience excellent game viewing in the winding channels and surrounding islands on boat cruises and mokoro excursions. Guided bush walks offer an opportunity to track down larger animal species, and fishing trips offer the chance to fish for tigerfish and bream.

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Okavango Delta

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Okavango Delta Safaris

A stunning maze of waterways and lagoons, the Okavango Delta is considered one of Africa's premier wilderness sanctuaries. Synonymous with conservation, incredible wildlife sightings, exclusivity and ultra-luxury accommodation, the Okavango Delta is truly an iconic safari experience. The Delta's permanent water source guarantees sensational game viewing year round including the famous Big 5 and the constant change in water levels results in a remarkable variety of habitats, landscapes and experiences.

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  • Glide through the waterways in a traditional mokoro
  • Discover the world's largest inland delta
  • Home to Mombo Camp, considered the no.1 safari camp in Africa
  • Sensational game viewing year-round
  • Exceptional bird watching, including rare species Pel's fishing owl

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Whether you want to tick the Big Five off your bucket list or seek out specific safari species, our expert guides reveal the typical wildlife sightings to expect in the Okavango Delta

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TRIPS TO INSPIRE

From majestic wildlife to out of this world natural wonders, cultural melting pots and enchanting beaches, every bespoke Mahlatini journey is thrilling. Unsure where to visit? Whether it’s a bucket-list adventure, a milestone celebration or simply a much-needed escape, experience the joy with this inspiring selection of favorites.

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Luxury accommodation.

From remote safari camps to world-class resorts, our selected properties in the Okavango Delta are hand-picked by our experts and endorsed by our guests. Often intimate, always exceptional, we'll choose the perfect lodges, hotels and villas to suit your personal style and interests.

HOW TO BOOK

At Mahlatini, we like to make things easy for you. Browse our website for inspiration or pick up the phone. Whether you’re full of ideas or unsure of where to start, we’re here to help. Serial safari-goer or first-time visitor, we’re ready to create your ultimate tailormade itinerary.

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We routinely go the extra mile to ensure that we not only plan the perfect itinerary but ensure that you're in good hands at every stage of your journey. That's why we are especially proud to maintain an overall client satisfaction rating of 98%.

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Adventure Holiday to South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia & Botswana

This was an exceptional tour. We were treated royally everywhere we stayed and every stop exceeded our expectations.

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Adventure Holiday to Zimbabwe, Botswana & South Africa

I truly can't believe how brilliantly it all went. My expectations were sky-high, given that the trip was supposed to happen in 2020 and had been long-delayed and rescheduled several times. I was SO excited about it. And yet, the actual experience surpassed those out-of-control expectations. It was…

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Luxury Vintage Safari

A luxury safari through the same magnificent landscapes which have formed the backdrop to some of Botswana’s best Nat Geo documentaries. Staying in the luxury vintage style camps created by their filmmaker owners, this is a truly remarkable safari. The Selinda Reserve and Duba concession have featured some of the most dramatic wildlife encounters in Botswana – beautifully captured in a number of award winning documentaries. Staying in premier camps in prime locations, this safari offers the chance to explore these exclusive and game rich lands and a chance to create and capture your own memories.

This 8 night itinerary begins with 4 nights at Selinda Camp on the private Selinda Reserve followed by 4 nights at Duba Plains Camp, on a private concession in the Okavango Delta. These are beautiful and game rich areas – famously captured in a series of stunning and award winning Nat Geo documentaries by the founders- Beverly and Derek Joubert. These are top camps, with a high price tag but they deliver the experience to match. A strong ethos of conservation runs through the heart of these camps whose owners have formed a pivotal role in conservation tourism.

The itinerary begins at Selinda Camp, recently rebuilt this is now one of the premiere luxury camps in Botswana. And one of the smallest, with only 3 rooms this is a truly intimate and exclusive safari experience.

The Selinda reserve is vast, beautiful and rich in wildlife. And yet one of the least visited areas, a hidden gem known mostly to keen safari goers and those attracted by some of the most famous luxury camps. This is 320k acre reserve is shared by just 3 camps, making it an incredibly exclusive safari experience. The north-eastern corners of the reserve are some of the most beautiful in Botswana, lovely grass plains are dotted with palm tree islands and fringed with tall forests. The reserve is named after the Selinda Spillway, an ephemeral channel which occasionally connects the Linyanti and Okavango delta areas in times of high flood. The game viewing is especially exciting in the dry season, when plains game are plentiful and predator sightings frequent. Lion, leopard and hyena are commonly seen here. Activities include day and night drives, guided walks and boating, when water levels permit.

The itinerary ends with 4 nights in the Okavango, on the private Duba Concession, an extremely scenic and game lively corner of the Okavango. Picture perfect Okavango scenery with tall palm trees, lush waterways and open grass plains make a stunning backdrop to some of the Okavango’s best game viewing. Duba Plains is another top safari camp, offering a stylish and luxurious base while exploring this incredible area. Like Selinda you can expect high levels of guiding, service and comfort during your stay here.

This area is famous for the lion and buffalo interactions, beautifully captured in a series of Nat geo films – most notable ‘Relentless Enemies’ . Unusually, there lions here would hunt during the day, taking on the might buffalo herds delivering exciting game viewing. Over the years the dynamics of the pride have changed and these sightings are less frequent. This is no bad thing, the less dominating lion numbers have allowed other predators in and now leopard are frequently seen, and wild dog too. As the flood waters arrive and islands form across the concession it is not uncommon to see lions swimming between the higher grounds – a true Okavango safari sighting!

A superb itinerary for those looking for a premier safari experience. The great game viewing is matched by the excellent in-camp experience. The vintage style of these camps will appeal to those who are drawn to the romance of the original safari pioneers in the early 20th Century.

Various offers are available throughout the year for this itinerary, please speak to us for the latest information.

Day 1 - Selinda Camp

On arrival in Maun, Botswana you will be met by a representative and assisted onto your light charter flight to Selinda, a flight of about 45 minutes. Your guide will be waiting on arrival and will transfer your to camp, a game drive of about 30 minutes, followed by a 15 minute boat ride, depending on water levels.

A warm Botswana welcome awaits. Having been introduced to the camp and team you will settle into your new Botswana home before sitting down with your guide for some light refreshments and an introduction to the area and activities on offer. You will have the chance to set off on your first activity or you may prefer to relax in camp after your long journey.

Selinda Camps offers game drives, bush walks and boating (water levels depending), all of which your guide will discuss with you and plan into your stay to ensure you make the most of your time here.

You will set out on your first activity in the late afternoon, a chance to explore the Selinda reserve and soak up the spectacular sunsets enjoyed in this part of the world. As the sun begins to set your guide will stopping in a scenic spot and with drinks in hand you will toast the setting sun.

As you return the camp is twinkling with lanterns and a welcoming fire. Dinner awaits followed by your first night in the Botswana wilderness

Day 2, 3 and 4 - Selinda Camp

The day begins with a wakeup call before sunrise followed by a light breakfast before setting out as the sunrises for your first activity. Your drives will usually last around 4 hours with a coffee break and snack half way through. Returning around mid-morning for a hearty brunch you will then have time to relax in camp during the heat of the day before embarking on your afternoon activity.

Every day is different on safari here and you will have planned your activities with your guide the day before, enjoying a mix of the various activities on offer.

Game drives allow you to explore deeper into the vast Selinda Reserve and approach and photograph the more dangerous predators such as the lion, leopard and hyena. Wild dog can also be seen here. Keen an eye out for the various plains game found here, work your way through your checklist. These vary with the habitats – in the more wooded areas look out for the beautiful kudu browsing the lower leaves, on the plains the usual suspects include zebra and wildebeest while the wetlands are home to red lechwe and reedbuck. And so much more!

Guided bush walks offer insight into this wild corner of Botswana, this is a dynamic area of the country, the Selinda Spillway is the main artery of this reserve attracting animals to its banks when it flows. An ever changing environment which your guide will bring to life with fascinating facts and stories on these walks. A chance to share his knowledge of the flora, fauna and wildlife as you track animals and learn about the smaller but important aspects of this area.

Boating on the Selina, when water levels permit, is a wonderful experience. Offering a unique vantage point as animals visit the waters edge to drink. As well as thirsty wildlife these excursions offer common sightings of hippo, crocodile, elephant and buffalo which are frequently found around the waters. Aquatic antelope such as red lechwe and reedbuck are also seen there. And of course the birding is wonderful too. A peaceful and scenic safari experience.

Day 5 - Duba Plains Camp

This morning you will enjoy one last activity at Selinda (or perhaps enjoy a lie-in) before bidding farewell to the team and flying to the Okavango. Your flight to Duba will take approximately 40 minutes. This is a beautiful flight as you fly east to west, over the Selinda spillway and across the western reaches of the Okavango into the northern corner of the Okavango. The Okavango is spectacular from above- keep a look out for the larger animals which you can view from the aircraft, elephant, hippo, giraffe, buffalo and much more can be seen from the air.

Your guide will be waiting on arrival to transfer you to camp, a short 5 minute drive, where a warm welcome awaits.

Duba Plains is one of the flagship luxury camps in Botswana. Like Selinda the camp captures the spirit of the original safaris of the 1920s together with all the modern comforts. The camp has a pretty setting below the shade of tall fig and ebony trees overlooking the lush floodplains which attracts a steady stream of animals. Each of the five rooms are beautifully appointed, thoughtfully equipped and feature private decks with plunge pools.

Having met the team you will have a chance to settle into your room and relax a little, perhaps enjoying a dip in your private plunge pool before high tea in the late afternoon.

Your guide will discuss the area and activities on offer and you will chat about your particular interests and plan your activities for the following days. Morning, afternoon and night drives are the main activity here as well as guided bush walks. Boating safaris are offered when water levels permit.

Setting off for your first activity that afternoon you will begin to explore the concession, enjoying a drink as the sun sets. You will return for dinner and begin to plan your activities for the following day with your guide.

Day 6, 7 and 8 - Duba Plains Camp

By now you will be familiar with the early morning wake up call, though perhaps it may not be getting any easier! After a light breakfast you set off on your morning activity returning for brunch around mid-morning followed by the siesta time, when you have a chance to relax in camp before departing on your afternoon activity.

The safari schedule continues for the next three days as before, with an early morning and late afternoon activity. The magic of safari is that every day is different, with fresh experiences and sightings no drive is ever the same. As your guide can attest. You will have the next three days to explore the necklace of palm-dotted islands, shimmering flood plains and forest of this 33,000 hectare private reserve.

Game drives – morning, afternoon and evening drives are offered here. Being a private concession means off-roading is permitted and allows for more efficient tracking and closer sightings. 4x4 game drives are certainly the most efficient way to explore this vast area and to see the most animals. Game drives in this area stand out in particular for the regular water crossings which are necessary when the flood waters arrive (May-August). The specially designed vehicles drive through high waters over a metre deep, with water gushing into the footwells and sometimes over the bonnet- always an exciting moment! Animals are often seen swimming between island here too.

Boating through the Okavango, when water levels permit, is a very different and special safari experience. While the sightings are not as dramatic as the game drives the eco-systems here are certainly rich in life and very beautiful and offer a more complete insight into the Okavango wetland wilderness. Sunsets on the water, often reflecting a kaleidoscope of colour, are often a highlight.

Helicopter flights are particularly beautiful in this area of the Okavango and can be arranged at an additional cost.

In between activities you will have some time to yourselves to enjoy this wonderful camp and the stunning setting. Relax on your private deck with plunge pool and watch the animals come and go form camp, enjoying the quiet sounds of the Okavango. The main area has plenty of inviting areas too and a good library for the inquisitive keen to learn more about this region.

Day 9 - End of Safari

Today you bid farewell to the Okavango and the team at Duba. The time for your flight to Maun will be finalised the day before and your guide will advise you what time you will be leaving camp. The flight will always be schedule to connect with any onward travel arrangements. Depending on the time of departure, as discussed with your guide, you will enjoy on final morning activity and brunch before bidding farewell to the Okavango. This morning activity will likely be shorter than usual due to your travel to Maun.

The flight to Maun will take approximately 30 minutes, depending on stops along the way. On arrival a representative will meet you to ensure you connect to your onward travel arrangements.

For those interested in visiting Victoria Falls flight to Kasane can be arranged. Please speak to us for more information.

botswana okavango delta luxury safari

Selinda Camp

Duba plains camp.

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Extensions to this safari

Sitatunga private island.

The latest edition to the Great Plains portfolio, Sitatunga Private Island is due to open in July 2023. Set deep in the beautiful waterways of the Northern Okavango, Sitatunga Private Island aims to offer a more tranquil safari, with quintessential Okavango water activities such as mokoro rides and boating. Promising the same excellent safari standards delivered by their other famous camps we are very excited about this latest camp.

Jack’s Camp

One of Africa’s most famous camps, Jack’s Camp rises like an oasis of luxury from among the lunar like Makgadikgadi Pans. Elegantly styled to capture the sense of adventure of the original explorers without compromising on comfort, Jack’s Camp is unique in style and experience-with some of the most original desert experiences in Africa available. Exploring by 4x4, on foot, quad bike or even horseback- the secrets of the desert are revealed by some of the best guides in the business.

  • Duration 8 Nights
  • Rates Jan 2024 USD 12,370 Feb 2024 USD 12,370 Mar 2024 USD 12,370 Apr 2024 USD 15,520 May 2024 USD 15,520 Jun 2024 USD 30,080 Jul 2024 USD 30,080 Aug 2024 USD 30,080 Sep 2024 USD 30,080 Oct 2024 USD 30,080 Nov 2024 USD 15,520 Dec 2024 USD 30,080

Featured Properties

The thatched Selinda Camp at dusk

One of Botswana’s most exclusive camps, the recently rebuilt Selinda Camp lies in the pristine paradise of the vast 130,000 hectare Selinda reserve between the Okavango and Chobe. One of Botswana’s smallest camps- with just 3 spacious guest tents in the main camp - creating an intimate yet impressive safari experience. Selinda Camp offers a highly exclusive and luxurious safari experience in one of the most scenic and untouched areas of Botswana.

Duba's extended main deck by lantern light under ebony trees.

Duba Plains Camp is one of Botswana’s top luxury camps set in a particularly beautiful corner of the Okavango. This premier camp lies on the vast, and wonderfully varied, 33,000 hectare private concession in the north of the Delta. The explosive game viewing here has been captured in a number of superb Nat Geo documentaries by the founders Derek and Beverley Joubert. A top camp in a stunning area offering a top safari experience.

Experience the Okavango Delta

Contact us for more information and to start planning your Okavango safari

The Okavango Delta

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The Heart of Botswana

The Okavango Delta is hands down the most romantic, ethereal destination in all of Africa. It just doesn’t get any more charismatic and effortlessly beautiful than this epic wetland. Explore the Okavango Delta by mokoro, motorized boat cruises, on foot, or on game drives. You can expect to experience an abundance of wildlife, pinch yourself sunsets, beautiful waterways, and what can only be described as the last authentic safari in Africa.

Known as “the river that never finds the sea”, the Okavango Delta is a wetland that floods seasonally, leading to many wildlife flocking to the area in search of water (and plenty of it!) You can expect to encounter lions, leopards, and perhaps even the elusive wild dogs, which are nowhere more present than here in the Delta.

Botswana, Africa

Suggested Itineraries

The itineraries below are just a few examples of the incredible trips our travel designers could plan for you. All trips are custom-made to your needs and preferences. Speak to a travel consultant today to start planning your dream vacation.

Essential Botswana Safari

Essential Botswana Safari

Johannesburg - 1 Night Okavango Delta - 4 Nights Linyanti Wildlife Reserve - 3 Nights Kalahari Desert - 2 Nights

Romantic Safari In Botswana

Romantic Safari In Botswana

15-Night Trip

Cape Town - 3 Nights Okavango Delta - 4 Nights Linyanti Wildlife Reserve - 3 Nights Chobe National Park - 2 Nights Victoria Falls - 3 Nights

Botswana Expedition Safari

Botswana Expedition Safari

11-Night Trip

Chobe National Park - 2 Nights Savute - 3 Nights Moremi - 3 Nights Okavango Delta- 3 Nights

Zebra Migration Summer Safari

Zebra Migration Summer Safari

10-Night Trip

Kalahari Desert - 3 Nights Okavango Delta -4 Nights Linyanti wildlife Reserve - 3 Nights

Plan a Trip

Reach out and let’s start talking. We’ll listen and begin to tailor an experiential, private, luxury vacation based on exactly how you want to experience Africa. From adventure to relaxation—and everything in between—let us handle every detail of your unforgettable journey.

Quick Facts

Zebra Icon

Zebra is the national animal

Coins

Pula is the local currency

Word Bubble

Tswana & English are the national languages

Capital Icon

Gaborone is the capital

A Quick Ubuntu Travel Visit – Khwai Leadwood Tented Camp

A Quick Ubuntu Travel Visit – Khwai Leadwood Tented Camp

The Best Places To See Wild Dogs

The Best Places To See Wild Dogs

These are the Best Isolated Lodges in the Okavango Delta

These are the Best Isolated Lodges in the Okavango Delta

Testimonials.

“Of the many great trips we have taken, this one will clearly be remembered forever as the greatest, most interesting, and most fun. It was so special and we could not have had such an amazing experience without your help and guidance.”

“Dear Kyle and the Ubuntu Travel Team, thank you for everything you did to ensure a great family experience in South Africa. Your attention to details, the first-class lodging and guides all made for a memorable family experience. It was a wonderful family trip as all three generations thoroughly enjoyed themselves and walked away with memories that will last a lifetime. Thank you for an incredible experience. "

"Everyone in our family agrees that the South Africa trip we planned with Ubuntu Travel exceeded every expectation. The Greens expertly handled all travel arrangements and from the moment we landed in Johannesburg, to the moment we flew back home, every detail was taken care of. The lodges we were referred to were beautiful, the service was excellent, but it was the knowledgeable guides and incredible animal experiences that made our adventure unforgettable. We enjoyed our experience so much that we are relying on Ubuntu Travel and the Greens to plan another trip for us, this time to Tanzania to see the great migration. Can't wait!"

"I am writing this letter to you to express Sheila and my gratitude for arranging, managing and executing two perfect trips to Africa. We have been constant travelers for many years and have experienced many tour operators and organizers. Your trips rate amongst the top! Both times we have traveled with you turned out to be extremely satisfying experiences. The last trip with our children and grandchildren was well planned and well executed. We got to see many animals, learn about the culture of the habitants and spend some good time together with friends and family. The ground arrangements were handled very professionally and the amount of planning was clearly evident throughout the trip. I would not hesitate to recommend Ubuntu travel group and the Green team for future travel in Africa."

“Both of our experiences [traveling with Ubuntu] were remarkable in so many ways. The lodges where we stayed, the culinary experiences, the people we met, and of course the wildlife were beyond our expectations and imagination. Their itineraries provide unique experiences and insights that you would not be able to experience on your own or through a traditional travel agency. We will cherish our memories and spectacular photos forever.”

"Without question our trips to Africa with the Green Family and Ubuntu Travel stand out as highlights in our family's memory of experiences. We enjoyed time with the Greens, and three other couples, in Cape Town and Kruger in 2010 via a well-orchestrated trip that exposed us to an experience beyond our expectations. We then traveled with them again to Zambia and Botswana in 2016, this time on a YPO family experience with over 100 people. During each trip, we were impressed by the exceptional accommodations, gracious hosts and staff, and the overall experience working with the Ubuntu Travel Team. Even while traveling with a large group, all transfers and events were seamless. We are so thankful for all of the memories we will cherish from our adventures in Africa."

"Our trip to South Africa was the most incredible trip that we've ever taken. We plan on returning again with our family. Thank you to the Ubuntu Team for putting together this wonderful event. There is no way we would haves seen what we did without the hard work and dedication to make this the best YPO couples retreat ever."

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botswana okavango delta luxury safari

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Okavango Delta

The mess tent at Duke's Camp in the Okavango Delta

Duke's Camp

Lodge style Jewel of the Okavango Delta

A secluded oasis for the ultimate Okavango experience

Nestled in the heart of Botswana's pristine Okavango Delta, Duke's Camp is an exquisite, eco-conscious luxury safari camp that effortlessly blends chic contemporary design with traditional African elements. This secluded oasis boasts an undeniable sense of style and sophistication, offering discerning travelers a one-of-a-kind safari experience.

Duke's Camp main attraction undoubtedly is its unrivaled location - situated on a private concession, the Camp offers guests exclusive access to some of the most remote and unspoiled areas of the Okavango Delta. This exceptional setting ensures a truly intimate and personalized experience, as well as unparalleled game viewing opportunities, as you'll be sharing the land with an abundance of wildlife, including elephants, lions, and the elusive African wild dog.

Duke's Camp is an intimate retreat comprising just nine luxurious tented suites, ensuring privacy and exclusivity for its guests. Each suite showcases an elegant fusion of contemporary design and traditional African elements, with sumptuous furnishings, high-quality linens, and thoughtful touches throughout.

The spacious suites, which are situated on raised wooden decks, feature floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the interiors with natural light and provide breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding Delta. The en-suite bathrooms are equally as impressive, with indoor and outdoor showers, deep soaking tubs, and a range of indulgent amenities to ensure guests feel pampered and rejuvenated after a day exploring the African wilderness.

Each suite also boasts a spacious outdoor lounge area, providing the perfect place to relax and enjoy the mesmerizing scenery of the Okavango Delta, as well as the opportunity to spot wildlife from the comfort of your own sanctuary.

Activities at Duke's Camp

The Okavango Delta is renowned for its exceptional biodiversity, and Duke's Camp offers a wealth of safari activities to ensure guests can fully immerse themselves in this remarkable ecosystem. Expert guides lead morning and afternoon game drives in customized 4x4 vehicles, allowing you to explore the diverse habitats and encounter the abundant wildlife that calls the Delta home.

For a more immersive experience, guests can embark on guided bush walks or mokoro (traditional dugout canoe) excursions through the Delta's intricate network of waterways. These unique activities offer an unparalleled opportunity to appreciate the smaller details of the Okavango Delta's ecosystem, as well as the chance to spot elusive wildlife up close.

Delight in birdwatching with over 350 species, indulge in catch-and-release fishing, or take a dip in the camp pool while observing wildlife. For an adventurous experience, try fly-camping on a remote island (at an additional cost)) or embark on a scenic helicopter (additional cost) flight to explore the fascinating Tsodilo Hills, a World Heritage Site with ancient rock art. Enjoy breathtaking sunsets from both land and water, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Tripadvisor comments Duke's Camp

Its a unique camp and very very different to all others, very elegant with an emphasis in services. Ornate interiors etc... Certainly not your average lodge and its rare to have a lodge which is a point of interest in itself. SafariLifestyles
  • &BEYOND LODGES
  • South Africa
  • Flying solo
  • With my partner
  • With my family
  • Adventurous

Responsible Travel

  • Private Travel
  • Slow Travel
  • TRAVEL TRADE PORTAL
  • MANAGE YOUR TRAVEL BOARD

Choose your immersive safari experience

  • Indian Ocean Islands
  • South America
  • Central Kalahari Game Reserve
  • Chobe National Park
  • Makgadikgadi Pans
  • Mashatu Game Reserve
  • Moremi Game Reserve
  • Nxai Pan National Park
  • Okavango Delta

ICONIC SIGHTINGS | PLACES TO VISIT | TRAVEL THAT SAVES | BEST TIME TO GO | MUST-TRY EXPERIENCES | IMPACTFUL CONSERVATION | THINGS TO KNOW

Why travel to see the world, when you can immerse yourself in it?

Botswana is not for the average traveller. A land of breathtaking contrasts, from the vast salt pans of the Makgadikgadi , to the sandy plains of the Kalahari , to the lush oasis of the Okavango Delta , Botswana is for the traveller who chooses to disconnect to reconnect, with themselves and the natural world, captivated by an African safari like no other. Sure, the usual luxury suspects are to be expected, but that’s what we call luxurious authenticity, forged in genuine warmth, unspoilt wonderments, and rare, crafted moments. So, if you’re the kind of traveller that seeks to glimpse the safari world as it should be, enchanting your soul as you go, then Botswana is for you.

Begin by unpacking our eclectic mix of Botswana experiences , ‘when to go’ calendar , recommended places to stay , adventurous itineraries , and other must-know tips and tricks . Our expert Africa team of travel specialists and guides, plus our 24/5 Global Concierge service, will no doubt ensure your Botswana journey is as special as the traveller you are.

Places to visit

Uncover botswana’s unrivalled destinations.

From immense elephant herds splashing in the cool waters of the Chobe River to an annual zebra migration meandering through the Linyanti and Savute regions. From untouched San Bushman rock paintings in the Tsodilo Hills to the stark and dramatic landscapes of the Kalahari Desert. From the magnificent range of specially adapted wild animals, including the sitatunga and red lechwe antelopes, found only in the Okavango Delta to Moremi Game Reserve’s renowned and brilliant birdlife. Botswana truly boasts some of Africa’s most varied and wild spaces, just waiting to be explored.

Beyond first impressions, experience lasting ones

Explore Botswana sightings

Our guides and guests’ best safari moments, take a listen.

&Beyond Regional Guide Trainer for Botswana, Dux Mareja chats about the beautiful land of Botswana, touching on the country’s main safari regions and what makes it such a unique destination to visit.

Our favourite offers to get you excited

Created especially for you, our wide range of offers allow you to tailormake your ideal African safari journey, just the way you want it. Alternatively, speak to one of our expert Travel Specialists who are able to recommend the best offer that suits your travel needs.

When should I visit Botswana?

Celebrated as one of the most exclusive and wilderness-rich year-round African safari destinations, Botswana boasts endless areas of protected natural terrains, untouched landscapes and diverse wildlife, seemingly tailormade for the most discerning traveller.

Must-try experiences

Create more than utterly unforgettable memories.

If you belong to that rare breed of traveller that’s looking beyond the latest hotspot for an extraordinary sincere and handcrafted experience, one that brings you as close as possible to the land, wildlife and people at hand – you’ve come to the right place. Think guided bushman nature walks following along the paths animals roam free, habitual meerkats keenly observing the dessert from atop your head, and scenic helicopter flights rewarding unreal aerial views of the Okavango Delta’s most remote and inaccessible spaces.

Immersive adventures that engage all your senses

Slow life right down and encounter the bush from an entire new perception, one that highlights the small miracles, from smelling and tasting wild medicinal herbs to listening the alarm call of the grey go-away bird to observing herds of red lechwa antelope drinking from the very water you are gliding through. Follow waterways that were once taken by river Bushman and BaYei people centuries ago or tread mindfully in the tracks of the Okavango Delta’s most celebrated wildlife.

Adrenaline-seeking ventures, beyond the classic safari

More often than not awarding travellers with the rare opportunity to uncover the untamed landscape with very few others, Botswana offers more than your usual safari experience, but rather one that is intimate, remote and exclusive. Promising up-close views of unique wildlife and vegetation, take to the roads, rivers or skies, reveling in the semi-aquatic antelope, intricate network of winding channels, impressive Tiger fish fishing excursions and scenic flights uncovering far-flung inaccessible spaces.

Travel itineraries that give more than they take

What better way to uncover the magic of Botswana than through one of our incredible journeys ideal for solo travellers, small groups and families. Alternatively chat to our expert team of travel specialists and guides to curate your own Botswana adventure focused on your special interests and needs.

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botswana okavango delta luxury safari

TAILORMAKE YOUR STAY

Talk to one of our travel specialists to tailormake you stay to any of our destinations

Impactful conservation

Explore responsible travel with us.

Wherever we go, we believe in creating meaningful connections with a light footprint. It’s choices like these that set us apart, allowing us to go beyond the expected, caring for the land, people and wildlife. When you choose to travel to Botswana with us, you’re choosing to travel with difference, aligning to our core ethos to leave our world a better place.

Skipper Mareja, Regional Human Resources Manager for &Beyond Botswana, talks about his experiences in tourism, from managing lodges in the Okavango Delta to making a difference in the lives of local communities. Listen to find out more about the many challenges faced by the communities living on the outskirts of one of the world’s best-known natural wonderlands as well as discover some of the incredible community-led projects being put into place to assist them.

Impact Review: Botswana

We have over 30 years of experience in caring for the land, wildlife and people of africa, and making a real and meaningful difference to the continent’s people and wild places., things to know, everything you need to make your travel dreams a reality.

We love helping to make sure your travel dreams come true. In fact, it’s our top priority. With you every step of the way, our expert Africa travel specialists will undoubtedly put your travel mind at ease providing you with all the support you need to plan your unforgettable Botswana journey.

What should I expect on a Botswana safari?

With its remote wildlife areas and vast stretches of sparsely populated land, a Botswana safari tour is a very different experience than a safari elsewhere in Africa.

Frequently asked questions

Why travel with &beyond.

We have been making a difference for 30 years thanks to you, our guests!

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Our Travel Specialists never send a guest anywhere they haven’t been themselves

Finest Guides

Finest interpretive experience from our incredible private and specialist guides

Explore Botswana with us

From exceptional offers to not-to-be missed tours and experiences, here are our favourite reasons to explore Botswana

Leaving our world a better place for years

Discover the impact legacy that your travel with &beyond is driving. just as the un’s sustainable development goals have been a touchstone for our vision 2020 group-operation sustainability audits, so they continue to guide and underpin our ambitiously scaled vision 2030 goals., we're sorry but this site doesn't work properly without javascript enabled., please enable it to continue., privacy overview.

The Best Luxury Safari Lodges in Botswana

botswana okavango delta luxury safari

Whether visiting the flats of the Okavango Delta in the east, the Linyanti marshes in the west or the vast Makgadikgadi Pan , Botswana ’s kaleidoscope of contrasting landscapes will imprint on your soul. With the largest population of elephants in Africa and one of the lowest densities of human inhabitants in the world, the only sounds you hear at your Botswana luxury safari lodge might be an elephant trumpeting in the distance, warning off an approaching buffalo. While the elephants are the stars, keep your eyes peeled for the supporting cast including the rest of the Big Five.

Each of our top selections for best Botswana safari lodges has been carefully considered, not just for their luxurious offerings, warm hospitality, and exceptional game viewing and guiding, but for their commitment to protecting wildlife and the land they roam.

The Best Luxury Safari Lodges in Botswana’s Okavango Delta

Water flows from the Angola highlands feeding the Okavango River, flooding the semi-arid Kalahari between June and August, taking hold of the waters and creating a unique ecosystem hosting some of the world’s most endangered species of large mammals. Recognized by UNESCO for the outstanding universal value the seasonal flooding provides, the Delta is an opportunity for guests staying in some of the best safari lodges in Botswana to explore an array of wet and dry camps boasting elephant, lion, hippo, and oh so much more.

botswana okavango delta luxury safari

Discover what some say is the best year-round game-viewing destination in Botswana. Spend your days observing predator-prey interaction dominated by big cats—from the ground, on the water, or in the air—on a variety of safari experiences. On your return to Mombo Camp , your wood and canvas luxury suite is cradled in mangosteen and fig trees with breezy openings to enjoy broad views across the Okavango Delta.

Highlights :

  • Helicopter safari for a bird’s eye view of the Delta
  • A traditional evening of African song and dance in the boma
  • Creative cuisine using indigenous heritage ingredients (like baobab fruit powder)

Best for : Travelers wanting a pure safari focus. Mombo is well suited to small groups, couples, and families. For a more secluded stay, sister property Little Mombo is ideal for exclusive use.

 Vumbura Plains

botswana okavango delta luxury safari

Seated on raised wooden decks snaked by Delta waterways and hugged by seasonally flooded golden grassland, Vurumba Plains is an exceptional wilderness hideaway. The property is comprised of two separate lodges (North and South), each graced with just six suites and a spacious two-bedroom family suite. From your private plunge pool, outdoor shower or veranda, watch for bathing elephants, and otters swimming by. Vumbura Plains offers delicious meals created with local, seasonal ingredients to be enjoyed in the dining room or as a romantic dinner on your private sala under a blanket of stars.

  • Catch and release fishing, boating, and (seasonal) mokoros
  • Sumptuous open-plan showers with postcard picture bush views
  • Local phapata bread cooked over the morning campfire

Best for : Active safari-goers who want great game viewing balanced with a variety of activities.

Duba Plains Camp

botswana okavango delta luxury safari

Aardwolf, pangolins, and lechwe—you may not know what they are now, but you will when you leave the stunning Duba Plains Camp . While on safari, keep your eyes peeled for some more well-known wildlife too. Blending into the landscape, each of the five bespoke suites at Duba Plains camp sit upon raised wooden platforms and boast a lounge area, indoor and outdoor showers, and a luxurious bath. Though the aesthetic harkens back to classic safari camps of the 1920s, modern-day amenities including an environmentally friendly air-conditioning system are welcome luxuries.

  • Young Explorers Camp, blending fun with conservation learning
  • Speed boating down the Okavango River
  • Heli-safaris to appreciate the scope of the Okavango Delta

Best for : Photographers and travelers with a keen interest in conservation including rhino translocation

Chief’s Camp

botswana okavango delta luxury safari

Consistently rated one of the top safari camps in Botswana by Condé Nast and Travel & Leisure , each of Chief’s Camp suites features a tranquil outdoor seating area and a terrace plunge pool. While on safari, you may spot year-round area residents including zebra, lion, and antelope. With luck, you’ll encounter a pack of endangered wild dogs. End your game drive with a sundowner, reliving your day over cocktails and hors d’oeuvres . Adults can luxuriate with a spa treatment using indigenous plants while young explorers enjoy the children’s retreat.

  • Ten 1,500-square-foot Bush Pavilions and the 6,673-square-foot Jeffrey Kent Pavilion which comes privately staffed and guided.
  • Cultural talks, seasonal mokoro rides, and a fully equipped fitness center.
  • Guided stargazing of the southern constellations.

Best for : Multi-generational travelers and those who crave creature comforts like air conditioning.

botswana okavango delta luxury safari

With forest and floodplain, river, and wetland, Jao Camp immerses guests in the beauty of the Okavango Delta, including the incredible variety of wildlife that calls it home. Boat in when the waters rise or travel by 4×4 when the sun warms the land. Set beneath towering trees, the unique bird’s nest-styled gazebo on the edge of the pool is the perfect place to relax in nature and the extravagant wine cellar offers a wonderful variety of pre-dinner drinks. There are just five sumptuous suites; two luxury villas perfectly accommodate families and small groups.

  • Sleep-outs in the secluded, canopied Star Bed
  • Get out on the water on a mokoro ride, boat cruise or cast a line for catch-and-release fishing
  • Photo safaris

Best for : Honeymooners, design lovers, and safari-goers wanting a water-focused camp to complement a land-based Okavango Delta experience.

The best luxury safari lodges in Botswana’s Linyanti Area

Water, water, everywhere…and, unlike the Okavango Delta, in the Linyanti region, it’s permanent. Because of this, the region is lush with riparian forests hosting a variety of birds. Even the famed baobab tree can be found here. In this watery wilderness, flora and fauna flourish with the region boasting one of the densest wildlife populations in the world, including migrating elephant, zebra, buffalo, and wildebeest.

Selinda Camp

botswana okavango delta luxury safari

Award-winning filmmakers and National Geographic Explorers-in-Residence Dereck and Beverly Joubert designed Selinda Camp “to pay homage to elephants, what we have done to them, and how we should apologize in many ways.” Still, conservation doesn’t mean you have to forgo luxury. The eight individually decorated suites have large verandahs and spacious, elegant bathrooms. The thatched main areas are built on raised wooden decks overlooking the Selinda Spillway and feature pieces from celebrated wildlife artist Keith Joubert, the owner’s brother.

  • The hand-built camp marries luxury with a Robinson Crusoe-type feel
  • The real possibility of elephants swimming in front of the camp
  • Supports the Great Plains Foundation’s Solar Mamas

Best for : Photographers and travelers with an interest in conservation.

Zarafa Camp

botswana okavango delta luxury safari

With each of the four, newly-refurbished guest suites resting on raised, reclaimed, railway sleeper decks, Zarafa Camp’s tents are luxury under canvas. Spanning 1,000 square feet and accommodating a bedroom, lounge area, and bathroom with a copper clawfoot tub, they’re some of the largest in the area. Expansive outdoor decking wraps around each suite offering guests a private plunge pool, outdoor seating, and a private outdoor shower. Enjoy sunset from a boat along the edges of the Zibadianja Lake with huge herds of hippo, crocodile, and other wildlife.

  • A refuge for uncommon species, such as African wild dog, roan, and sable
  • With a maximum of eight guests on property, service is ultra-attentive and personalized
  • Lunch in the bush

Best for : Honeymooners and romantic couples celebrating milestones.

DumaTau Camp

botswana okavango delta luxury safari

Translated from the Setswana language, DumaTau means ”roar of the lion.” Listen closely and you may hear a growl in the distance, but that’s not all. Sit back and listen for grunting hippos, trumpeting elephants, and the impressive sounds of other wildlife. Elephants, though, are in the majority here. Nestled between two busy elephant corridors with nearly 30 miles of river frontage, guests watch great herds play while making water crossings. DumaTau’s eight spacious tented suites, each with a private plunge pool, are raised on wooden walkways mere steps from where wildlife wanders peacefully through camp.

  • Al fresco dining and sundowners on a barge on the Linyanti lagoon
  • Spa treatments at the Osprey Retreat
  • Gathering at the floating fire pit which extends into the lagoon

Best for : Elephant lovers and romantic getaways

The Best Safari Lodge in Makgadikgadi Pans National Park

Jack’s camp.

botswana okavango delta luxury safari

With rugged, campaign-style furniture featuring strapwork and brass corners, the newly-rebuilt Jack’s Camp might bring out the Indiana Jones in you. At nearly 3,000 square feet each, the seven twin and two double tents are decorated with North African rugs and mahogany furniture. A drinks chest and an antique pool table in the mess tent complete the old-world ambiance. There’s no doubt you’ll enjoy the area’s wildlife which includes Kalahari lion, aardvark, springbok, and hyena. Jack’s Camp is located deep in the Kalahari Desert on the edge of the Makgadikgadi Pans . We like to pair it with a water-filled Okavango or Linyanti region camp so travelers can appreciate Botswana’s contrasting landscapes.

  • Take a seat in the elegant Persian tea tent
  • Unique activities like quad biking, horseback riding, and bushman walks
  • Visiting charismatic habituated meerkats

Best for: Desert lovers; safari-goers craving a unique landscape alternative

Some of our favorite luxury Botswana itineraries

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An Ultra-Luxurious Safari in Botswana

Conservation and luxury go hand in hand in this classic Okavango Delta itinerary

Chitabe Camp Botswana Okavango Delta two Zebra up close

Across Botswana: Delta and Desert

Going off the beaten path in the Okavango and Kalahari

Plan your Trip, Vumbura Plains Camp

Classic Botswana Safari with Victoria Falls

Incredible wildlife and plenty of adventure

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This 7-night Safari in Botswana Is All About Wildlife, Water, and Sustainability — Here's What It Was Like to Visit

The Okavango Delta creates a safari landscape like no other.

botswana okavango delta luxury safari

Courtesy of Wilderness Safaris

Less than an hour after landing at a remote airstrip, we're having sundowners en route to the lodge. A troop of dozens — perhaps a hundred — baboons returns to the trees around us to roost for the night. A nosy kudu slowly circles our makeshift camp. Chatty squirrels chitter away in the branches above our heads. We sip our gin and tonics and watch as the Okavango Delta settles into dusk. So it goes on safari in Botswana.

We hop back into the jeep and make for Vumbura Plains, our home for the next few nights, passing elephants under trees and lechwe antelope spread across the flooded plains. But interestingly, it's not the wildlife that captivates me on the ride. It's the water.

The Okavango Delta is a sprawling inland delta, and each winter, floodwaters from the Okavango River inundate some three million acres of grassland and desert. It creates a vast waterscape that not only draws human visitors like me but plenty of animal ones, too. So as we're driving to the lodge, my heart stops as the road disappears into the waters — and I hold my breath as we plunge right in. "You might want to pick up that bag," our Wilderness guide Dave Luck says to me as the water gurgles beneath the floor of the jeep, seeping in through the crevices.

The floodwaters aren't very deep, though, and the local guides know where the roads twist and turn, even if I can't see anything through the murk. It's a surreal feeling to be navigating these waters in a jeep rather than on a boat.

We arrive at Vumbura Plains , and there's plenty more water to be found here. The camp was newly rebuilt in 2022 and now has a series of 14 open-air suites connected by elevated wooden walkways. I sit in my sunken living room adorned with water-lily motifs, and even though it's after dark, I can hear wildlife wading through the water all around me.

The water remains a source of intrigue for me during our stay at Vumbura Plains, perhaps even more so as we take to the skies in a helicopter. From our aerial vantage point, I can see just how expansive the floodwaters are — and how filled they are with wildlife. Water-loving hippos and crocodiles are spread across the saturated plains, while elephants march single-file through the reeds, creating meandering pathways visible from the air. 

Our next adventure takes us away from the floods, in the Linyanti Concession, where the eight-room DumaTau camp becomes our next home. There is water here, too, as the lodge sits on a riverfront that's very popular with elephants. In fact, one waltzes right past my tented suite as I'm reclining for an afternoon nap.

On one of our game drives across the dry terrain, we see dozens of vultures perched on every tree within eyesight. And that means one thing: dinner is served. (Not ours, of course, but lions'.)

As we make our way through the tall, rustling grass, we spot a few lounging lionesses and their playful cubs. Then the smell hits us: it's a slightly putrid buffalo, one that the lions have been feasting on for some time. One lioness is polishing off its exposed ribs, her strong teeth tearing into the flesh and peeling it straight off the bone. Dave hands me a small tin filled with a fragrant salve. "For the smell," he notes, rubbing some under his nose. The trick works wonders, and we continue our observations of the feast.

You might think such a sight (and odor) might deter us from our own dinner back at DumaTau, but the cuisine at this camp is too delectable to pass up. The food system, as the printed menu tells me, is responsible for some 30 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. So Wilderness designs "mindful menus" here, incorporating locally sourced, sustainable ingredients into its dishes to reduce its "foodprint." What's more, food waste is minimized by the kitchen's upcycling team, which turns scraps into preserves, pickles, and stocks. Nothing goes to waste in nature, and so it shall be at Wilderness camps, too.

Our final leg of the safari takes us back to the Okavango Delta, this time to the camp Jao. And here, I'm awestruck at the architecture. Jao feels like a movie set. It's a series of striking, modern tree houses that blend natural elements with high design and sustainable engineering. (The thatch, for instance, is actually made from recycled plastic.)

The room that really takes my breath away is the double-height library and wine room, at the center of which is a giraffe skeleton. Jao is equal parts futuristic and classic safari, and it's certainly a feast for the eyes.

We return to watery adventures in the delta, but not in jeeps. One afternoon, we take a more traditional form of transportation: a hand-carved mokoro canoe. Skilled gondoliers use long poles to propel us through the floodwaters, pausing at points to teach us about the flora of the region. We make necklaces out of water lilies and wear them proudly as we glide through the reeds.

On our last night in Botswana, the staff prepares us a beautiful sundowner send-off — a massive spread arranged on my suite's terrace surrounding a fire pit. As we watch the light fade over the water, we once more sip on our gin and tonics, the sights and sounds of our trip shining brightly in our memories.

A seven-night, three-camp Bucket List Botswana safari with Wilderness starts at $12,120 per person; book your trip at wildernessdestinations.com . 

botswana okavango delta luxury safari

Why These Sustainable Safari Experiences In Botswana Are Essential For Any Nature Lover

A frican wildlife is hanging in a delicate balance. Recent decades have seen shrinking animal populations right across the continent. This is a pretty sobering thought, particularly if you’re contemplating a safari. Fortunately, luxury accommodations and amazing wildlife adventures don’t have to come at the expense of the places you want to visit. An increasing number of African lodges have started prioritizing eco-friendliness and many travelers have started paying attention to the environmental impact of their vacations.

There are few countries in Africa that can compete with Botswana for exclusivity and luxury, as well as abundant wildlife and diverse landscapes. With a population of roughly 2 million, Botswana is slightly smaller than Texas and slightly larger than France — yet an incredible 40 percent of the country is dedicated to parks and wildlife. Botswana’s government has decided on a low-volume, low-impact tourism policy, which means fewer tourists and a better-protected natural wilderness. In addition, they have dedicated their army to anti-poaching, which is an additional reason why the country is such a safe haven for wildlife.

Where you go in Botswana and who you travel with can make a real difference, both to the environment and to your experience and enjoyment. Let me share with you two of my favorite destinations in Botswana, three of my favorite sustainable safari companies to travel with, and some of my all-time favorite eco-conscious safari lodges to stay at in Botswana.

The Okavango Delta

A stunning maze of waterways and lagoons, Botswana’s Okavango Delta is one of Africa’s premier wilderness sanctuaries. This 6,177-square-mile wetland wilderness in northern Botswana is one of the largest inland deltas in the world and it teems with wildlife. You’ll find elephants, hippos, and crocodiles here, along with black and white rhinos, buffalo, wildebeest, giraffes, zebras, warthogs, and rare antelope like lechwe and the super special but shy sitatunga. Predators like leopards and lions abound, and this is one of the best places in Africa to see African wild dogs. The Okavango Delta is home to over 1,000 species of plants, around 500 species of birds, 130 species of mammals, and numerous species of reptiles and fish — a real wildlife paradise. The Okavango Delta was voted one of the stunning Seven Natural Wonders of Africa in 2013, and the following year, it was the 1,000th site to be added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Incredibly, at its fullest, the Okavango Delta is large enough to be seen from space.

Where To Stay

There are some truly special places to stay in the Okavango Delta; lodges that are synonymous with luxury, but are still deeply conscious of conservation and protecting the places in which they operate. 

Wilderness Vumbura Plains Camp

Wilderness Vumbura Plains Camp is located in the far northern reaches of the delta. Two separate but linked camps, Vumbura has a total of 14 spacious, raised rooms, each with indoor and outdoor showers, private plunge pools, and outdoor areas from where you can watch a passing parade of wildlife. The grasslands here offer great seasonal wildlife viewing, and you can easily fill your days with game drives, walking safaris, and boating. Morning and afternoon game drives will bring you up close to thrilling wildlife interactions. Mokoro (dugout canoe) trips are also highly recommended and fishing during the annual flood season gives you the chance to pursue the highly prized tiger fish. Conscious of its ecological footprint, the camp is largely run on solar power.

Duba Plains Camp

Blissfully isolated and accessible only by air, Great Plains Conservation’s Duba Plains Camp lies on a 77,000-acre private concession in a particularly beautiful part north of the delta. Six vintage-style, luxuriously tented rooms built in the shade of tall trees overlook the flood plains. It features antique-style furnishings, oriental rugs, canopy beds shrouded in mosquito netting, and a climate-controlled wine cellar containing a few hundred bottles of wine. This is a special place. 

Elephants and hippos frequently trudge through camp and the wildlife here is the subject of numerous award-winning National Geographic documentaries by founders Derek and Beverley Joubert — including Eternal Enemies which chronicles the battle for survival between lions and buffalo in the area. Duba Plains guarantees a memorable stay and prides itself on its extraordinary wildlife experiences. In a commitment to the local community, Great Plains facilitates Kids Conservation Education Camps, educating local school children about wildlife and conservation.

Khwai Leadwood Camp

Set within a community-run part of the delta, called the Khwai concession, African Bush Camps’ elegantly designed Khwai Leadwood Camp is beautiful. It features six standard tents and a family tent, all tucked under trees on the edge of the Khwai River. The river is the only thing that separates the camp from the fantastic Moremi Game Reserve and wildlife like hippos, elephants, and even lions crossing the river from time to time. It’s an exceptional experience even for the most seasoned safari veteran. An additional bonus here is that guests can head off on night drives and get an up-close and personal experience with some of Africa’s nocturnal and more elusive animals. African Bush Camps has a number of eco-tourism initiatives that operate in conjunction with the local community.

The Linyanti Wildlife Reserve

The 275,000-acre Linyanti Wildlife Reserve in the northwest of Botswana is a safari destination you’ve quite possibly never heard of. Nestled between the Okavango Delta and Chobe River, here, the Kwando River, Selinda Spillway, Linyanti River, and Savuti Channel create a system of river channels and floodplains. Hundreds of miles from so-called civilization, the Linyanti is one of the most game-rich regions in Botswana, known for its wild dog populations, lions, hyenas, elephants, and huge herds of buffalo. Most of the lodges here are accessible only by light aircraft.

Wilderness King’s Pool Camp

Tucked into a grove of giant jackal berry trees, Wilderness King’s Pool Camp has a vast private concession all to itself overlooking an oxbow lagoon on the Linyanti River. This river forms the border between Namibia and Botswana, and King’s Pool is right at the center of the important wildlife corridor in the reserve. The camp consists of eight spacious thatched-roof chalets set on raised decks near the water’s edge, all connected by raised wooden walkways to the rest of the camp. King’s Pool boasts a sunken hideaway overlooking the lagoon, which attracts an impressive array of wildlife and birdlife — especially elephants — who come to drink the water. Demonstrating its commitment to sustainable tourism, the camp is 100 percent solar-powered and wastewater is treated to ensure it’s safe before passing into the surrounding environment. 

Selinda Camp

Located in the vast 320,000-acre Selinda Reserve, Selinda Camp is one of Botswana’s most exclusive camps and — with just three guest tents — one of its smallest. Selinda is Arabic for “beloved one,” and what’s not to love here? Enjoy game drives, walks, boating, tracking, and birding amongst some of the best wildlife Botswana has to offer. The nearby Selinda Spillway is home to prides of lions and incredible concentrations of buffalo. 

The camp’s spacious, luxury tents sit below cooling thatched roofs and feature ensuite bathrooms and private verandas, each with a swimming pool. The camp’s main dining and lounge area has spectacular views out over the lagoon. Selinda is where Derek and Beverly Joubert filmed Birth of a Pride — a story of survival, of lions returning to an area where they’d once been hunted to near extinction. Selinda Camp has been named one of the world’s Top 100 Sustainable Destinations.

Linyanti Ebony Camp

At the heart of the Linyanti Wildlife haven is Linyanti Ebony , an intimate camp with just four tents — making it perfect, particularly for family-oriented safaris. Built on raised decking overlooking the Linyanti Marsh, this is an intimate camp with panoramic views of the incredible natural wetland surroundings. The camp’s design offers an eco-conscious base from which to explore this amazing wilderness and the main area encompasses a large lounge and dining area, perfect for al-fresco dinners under a star-studded sky.

Planning Your Trip To Botswana

It’s sometimes hard to know where to start when planning an African safari, especially if it’s your first time. Mahlatini specializes in sustainable safaris and has been putting together fantastic African itineraries for over 20 years. They offer an 8-night safari to Vumbura Plains, Duba Plains, King’s Pool, and Selinda Camp, with 2 nights in each camp. It costs $16,060 per person on a fully inclusive basis — including daily activities, international flights, and light aircraft and road transfers.

This article originally appeared on TravelAwaits

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This 7-Night Safari In Botswana Is All About Wildlife, Water, And Sustainability

Luxury travel operator wilderness has lodges across botswana, including in the okavango delta, so people can enjoy night safari in botswana..

By: Stefanie Waldek Published: Apr 13, 2024 04:00 PM MYT

This 7-Night Safari In Botswana Is All About Wildlife, Water, And Sustainability

Less than an hour after landing at a remote airstrip, we’re having sundowners en route to the lodge. A troop of dozens — perhaps a hundred — baboons returns to the trees around us to roost for the night. A nosy kudu slowly circles our makeshift camp. Chatty squirrels chitter away in the branches above our heads. We sip our gin and tonics and watch as the Okavango Delta settles into dusk. So it goes on safari in Botswana.

We hop back into the jeep and make for Vumbura Plains , our home for the next few nights, passing elephants under trees and lechwe antelope spread across the flooded plains. But interestingly, it’s not the wildlife that captivates me on the ride. It’s the water.

Here’s why this Botswana night safari experience should be a part of your itinerary

The Okavango Delta is a sprawling inland delta, and each winter, floodwaters from the Okavango River inundate some three million acres of grassland and desert. It creates a vast waterscape that not only draws human visitors like me but plenty of animal ones, too. So as we’re driving to the lodge, my heart stops as the road disappears into the waters — and I hold my breath as we plunge right in. “You might want to pick up that bag,” our Wilderness guide Dave Luck says to me as the water gurgles beneath the floor of the jeep, seeping in through the crevices.

The floodwaters aren’t very deep, though, and the local guides know where the roads twist and turn, even if I can’t see anything through the murk. It’s a surreal feeling to be navigating these waters in a jeep rather than on a boat.

safari in botswana

We arrive at Vumbura Plains , and there’s plenty more water to be found here. The camp was newly rebuilt in 2022 and now has a series of 14 open-air suites connected by elevated wooden walkways. I sit in my sunken living room adorned with water-lily motifs, and even though it’s after dark, I can hear wildlife wading through the water all around me.

The water remains a source of intrigue for me during our stay at Vumbura Plains, perhaps even more so as we take to the skies in a helicopter. From our aerial vantage point, I can see just how expansive the floodwaters are — and how filled they are with wildlife . Water-loving hippos and crocodiles are spread across the saturated plains, while elephants march single-file through the reeds, creating meandering pathways visible from the air.

Duma Tau Camp

Our next adventure takes us away from the floods, in the Linyanti Concession, where the eight-room DumaTau camp becomes our next home. There is water here, too, as the lodge sits on a riverfront that’s very popular with elephants. In fact, one waltzes right past my tented suite as I’m reclining for an afternoon nap.

On one of our game drives across the dry terrain, we see dozens of vultures perched on every tree within eyesight. And that means one thing: dinner is served. (Not ours, of course, but lions’.)

As we make our way through the tall, rustling grass, we spot a few lounging lionesses and their playful cubs. Then the smell hits us: it’s a slightly putrid buffalo, one that the lions have been feasting on for some time. One lioness is polishing off its exposed ribs, her strong teeth tearing into the flesh and peeling it straight off the bone. Dave hands me a small tin filled with a fragrant salve. “For the smell,” he notes, rubbing some under his nose. The trick works wonders, and we continue our observations of the feast.

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You might think such a sight (and odour) might deter us from our own dinner back at DumaTau, but the cuisine at this camp is too delectable to pass up. The food system, as the printed menu tells me, is responsible for some 30 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. So Wilderness designs “mindful menus” here, incorporating locally sourced, sustainable ingredients into its dishes to reduce its “foodprint.” What’s more, food waste is minimised by the kitchen’s upcycling team, which turns scraps into preserves, pickles, and stocks. Nothing goes to waste in nature, and so it shall be at Wilderness camps, too.

Leopard

Our final leg of the safari takes us back to the Okavango Delta, this time to the camp Jao. And here, I’m awestruck at the architecture. Jao feels like a movie set. It’s a series of striking, modern tree houses that blend natural elements with high design and sustainable engineering. (The thatch, for instance, is actually made from recycled plastic.)

The room that really takes my breath away is the double-height library and wine room, at the centre of which is a giraffe skeleton. Jao is equal parts futuristic and classic safari, and it’s certainly a feast for the eyes.

safari in botswana

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We return to watery adventures in the delta, but not in jeeps. One afternoon, we take a more traditional form of transportation: a hand-carved mokoro canoe. Skilled gondoliers use long poles to propel us through the floodwaters, pausing at points to teach us about the flora of the region. We make necklaces out of water lilies and wear them proudly as we glide through the reeds.

On our last night in Botswana, the staff prepared us a beautiful sundowner send-off — a massive spread arranged on my suite’s terrace surrounding a fire pit. As we watch the light fade over the water, we once more sip on our gin and tonics, the sights and sounds of our trip shining brightly in our memories.

A seven-night, three-camp Bucket List Botswana safari with Wilderness starts at USD 12,120 (RM 57,545) per person; book your trip at wildernessdestinations.com . 

All currency conversions were done at the time of writing

(Feature Image Credit: Wilderness Safaris)

This story first appeared on travelandleisure.com

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Elephant herd in South Luangwa National Park, Zambia

Top 10 safari animals in Africa & where to find them

  • South Luangwa National Park

Sweeping savannas, grassy wetlands, and wind-sculpted dunes play host to hundreds of creatures across Africa, from tiny reptiles to the largest mammals on the planet. Which ones capture the public’s attention the most? We’ve delved into UK Google search data to find out.

Below, we reveal the top ten African safari animals and why they’ve earned a spot on our list. We’ve also gathered expert insights from our Africa specialists to let you know where you can see each species in its natural habitat, unveiling the best safari experiences across the continent.

Despite their apex-predator status in the animal kingdom, lions have captured people’s hearts since childhood, with beloved films and whole documentaries dedicated to their hunting prowess. That’s why it’s no surprise to see them on our list of top ten African safari animals. The good news is that you can see lions across Africa with relative ease, though each destination offers a different experience.

If it’s your first safari and you’d like to see all of the Big Five (lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, and rhinos), you can’t go amiss with a trip to South Africa’s Greater Kruger Region . Or, to witness the drama of the Great Migration, when herds of migrating wildebeest attract opportunistic prides, head to the Serengeti in northern Tanzania .

For a luxury lion-spotting experience, we recommend a trip to Botswana’s Okavango Delta . Alongside safari drives and boat rides, you can head out on foot with a guide who’ll point out the paw prints of resident cats as you walk, before you retreat to your luxury lodge.

Lion in the Okavango Delta

After chimpanzees and bonobos, gorillas are humans’ closest living relatives and share up to 98% of our DNA. It’s perhaps this odd familiarity that makes gorillas one of the top safari animals in Africa. Not only that, but you can only encounter mountain gorillas in the wild — they don’t survive in captivity.

Two of the only places you can get up close with these elusive (and often shy) creatures is in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park or Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Encountering a troop often involves hours of hiking and bushwhacking through primeval forest with an expert guide, but this makes it all the more special when you finally set eyes on them.

To recuperate, you could add on time at the beaches of Zanzibar , doing as much or as little as you want on the sugar-soft sands. Alternatively, expand your safari beyond gorillas and take a primate tracking trip through Rwanda  to spot chimpanzees and golden monkeys as well.

Gorilla in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda

3. Elephant

Towering high above the undergrowth, elephants are the largest land animals currently on the planet, but they’re also gentle giants capable of displaying deep emotions. On safari, you can watch elephant herds frolic in waterholes, walk in convoy trunk-to-tail across the plains, and graze lazily under the sun, all the while learning about their intricate social structures and communication methods.

You’ll spot elephants across Southern and Eastern Africa. However, the highest concentration on the continent is in Botswana’s Chobe National Park, which we suggest pairing with a trip to the Okavango Delta . As you look out for herds among the region’s grassy floodplains, your guide might also point out leopards, cheetahs, and buffalo.

Or, for an entirely different elephant experience, you could opt for Namibia instead . Here, the local population has adapted to the desert climate and you can see herds wander against a stark backdrop of sun-scorched peaks.

Elephant in Damaraland, Namibia

Leaving a trail of dust in their wake, buffalo move in huge herds, often fighting off lions as they go. During drier months, you’ll find them hanging around waterholes and floodplains, congregating in their hundreds for protection. When water is more abundant, they don’t linger as long, moving about constantly in search of food.

You can see buffalo herds in many parks and reserves across East and Southern Africa, but you’re most likely to encounter them wherever there’s a good water source (buffalo need to drink every day). Botswana is one of our top destinations for buffalo sightings, with herds moving between the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park regularly. You can combine the two regions in a single trip , taking boat and mokoro (canoe) rides to spot the resident buffalo from a different perspective.

A buffalo in the Kruger National Park

5. Flamingo

In whimsical shades of coral, pastel, and fuchsia, flamingos appear like something out of a fairytale. When flocked together, they paint the landscape in a pearly pink hue and, during breeding season, the males ‘dance’ in unison, heads bobbing and wings flapping as one.

Our specialists recommend taking a trip through northern Tanzania  to spot flamingos, hippos, and tree-climbing lions in Lake Manyara before heading into the wilds of the Serengeti. If you’re an avid flamingo fan, you could also venture further north to Lake Natron, where around 75% of the world’s lesser flamingo population is born.

Alternatively, spot these fancy-feathered creatures at Lake Nakuru National Park in Kenya, just a couple of hours’ drive from Nairobi, which you can tie in with a wider safari and beach trip . Here, we recommend staying at a lava-stone cottage at Mbweha Camp , heading out on wildlife drives with your guide to watch the birds blanket the lake in a cloud of pink.

Flamingos on Lake Nakuru, Kenya

Coat patterns as unique as our fingerprints. Legs that appear to run in slow motion. Winding tongues that grapple with tree branches high above the savanna floor. Giraffes are curious creatures and unlike any other living animal on the planet. For this reason, it’s easy to see why they rank in third place on our list of top ten African safari animals.

On a trip to Nyerere National Park in Tanzania , you can watch as herds of over 50 giraffes congregate at the lakes, sliding into a splits-like position to crane their long necks down to water level. Or, for a rare opportunity to soar above these gangly creatures, take a hot-air balloon ride over the Masai Mara on a luxury safari in Kenya .

Another of our top destinations for giraffe-spotting is Botswana, at Thamo Telele lodge. Located just outside of Maun, the lodge boasts its own herd of 20 giraffes, which graze at the nearby waterhole. During your stay, its team of naturalists can teach you how to identify each individual by their distinct spot patterns. And, a portion of the money from your stay will go toward the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, which supports the species throughout Africa.

Giraffes in the Masai Mara, Kenya

7. Scorpion

Dozens of scorpion species scuttle around Africa’s deserts, grasslands, savannas, and forests, but they’re not often the star of the show on a safari. Nevertheless, their reputation for being dangerous (not all actually are) is perhaps what reels in more adrenaline-oriented wildlife enthusiasts.

Scorpions tend to emerge at night and often steer clear of people, so you don’t have to worry too much about coming across one unwittingly. However, your guides and lodge staff will give you safety advice should you spot one (our specialists also recommend shaking out your shoes before putting them on, just to be safe).

That said, if you do want to proactively glimpse one of these pincered critters, a trip to Namibia’s dunes  should be top of your list. Just south of Swakopmund, you can head out with a guide who’ll sift through the sand to unearth Namibia’s smaller creatures, including — if you’re lucky — scorpions. You might also spot dancing lizards and cartwheeling spiders.

Burrowing scorpion, Namibia

The fastest land animal in the world, the cheetah makes for a thrilling sight on safari. Even if you don’t catch them darting after prey, you can take the time to appreciate their solid black spots, rounded ears, and fuzzy stomachs as they lounge. Unlike leopards, they come out during the day, but they are typically harder to spot.

Though cheetahs are present in many of Africa’s wildlife reserves, including the Serengeti, Masai Mara, and Kruger National Park, our specialists particularly recommend a visit to Etosha National Park on a wildlife-focused trip to Namibia . It has large swathes of grassy plains, ideal for spotting cheetahs (and an array of other big cats), and is far less visited than Africa’s popular parks, meaning you won’t come across many other vehicles on your drives.

Cheetah brothers relaxing in the shade

9. Chameleon

With striking color-shifting abilities, it’s no wonder chameleons make it onto the list. Contrary to popular belief, they don’t actually change color to blend with their surroundings, but instead to convey mood, communicate with mates, or to adapt to the temperature. Despite that, chameleons still tend to be hard to spot, so exploring with an eagle-eyed guide is a must.

Namibia’s dunes are the ideal place to spot chameleons — specifically, the Namaqua chameleon. These speedy little creatures change color to thermoregulate in the ever-changing desert climate, turning black in the morning to absorb the heat and a lighter shade in the daytime to cool off.

However, if you want to admire a more diverse array of chameleons, head to the rainforests of Madagascar . The island provides shelter for around half of the world’s species, including the tiny Amber Mountain leaf chameleon, just the size of your fingernail.

Brown leaf chameleon, Madagascar

10. Crocodile

With their prehistoric appearance and powerful jaws, crocodiles are always high on people’s safari wish lists and feature in sixth place in our own list of top ten African safari animals. You can watch them basking lazily in the sun, gliding ominously through the water, or grappling with prey as they reveal an impressive collection of serrated teeth.

Perhaps the most exhilarating way to see crocodiles on safari is from the banks of the Mara River during the Great Migration. Here, they lurk and leap out of the water hoping to catch wildebeest and zebras as they dash to the other side. You can witness the drama on a trip to Tanzania  or Kenya  between July and October.

Nile crocodile in the Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

Further reading

  • The Ultimate Guide to Planning Your Unforgettable Safari Adventure
  • Photographic safaris
  • Safaris for less: 3 great-value safari ideas
  • Safari on a budget
  • Walking safaris

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A family adventure through Botswana's wilderness in search of fearsome residents

By Andrew McCarthy

Image may contain Aircraft Helicopter Transportation Vehicle Plant Vegetation Person Outdoors Animal and Elephant

“There.” the whisper is urgent. The Land Cruiser stops. “What?” asks Rowan, looking up from his manga comic. “Lion,” says our guide Will Jones, his tone still hushed, pointing into the yellow grass ahead. “Where?” Rowan shouts. “Shhh,” says everyone in the vehicle, in unison.

A large male emerges from the waist-high grass with languid purpose and crosses our path on the sandy track we’ve been bouncing over – he’s no more than 30 feet in front of us. A large open wound is visible on his right flank. We’re silent as he passes. When the cat slinks back into the grass my nine-year-old turns to me, a wide grin on his face. “Bragging rights,” he says.

aerial view of the river camp and scrub woodland behind

I’ve brought Rowan to the Okavango Delta in northwest Botswana in southern Africa to see exactly this – as well as whatever else the bush might offer up – entrusting this mission to Jones and his Journeys by Design, a curator of bespoke African adventures. I’ve asked Jones to get us as far off the beaten path as one might reasonably take a nine-year-old city slicker who’s never stepped foot on this continent before. So rather than stay in one of the posh permanent camps that Botswana is famous for, Jones has brought us to Kweene Trails, a mobile, seasonal camp in a remote corner of the delta on a private concession that can handle 10 visitors, but hosts only one group at a time. We see no sign of other human life during our stay. This is highly supervised low safari in action, led by head guide Ace Gabanakitso and Kweene cofounder Botswana native Simon Byr.

A family sitting on the landing gear of a helicopter

“The privilege here is in the space, and the personalised experience,” Jones tells me over sundowners under a leadwood tree while a bull elephant makes his way to a nearby seep for an evening drink. The air is clean with the smell of wild sage as two dozen baboons chase over the floodplain. A black-and-white fish eagle alights from the tree above while the orange sun drips toward the hazy horizon. Rowan perches on a large outcrop sipping a normally forbidden Coke. He looks up at the twisting funnel above him. “What’s this chimney thing?” he asks. “That’s a termite mound you’re on,” replies Byron. Rowan jumps up. “You know, I love nature, but this might be a little too much nature for me,” he says.

Later that night we devour a succulent fillet steak cooked over an open fire as Byron points out the Southern Cross in a star-spangled sky. When we zip into our fly tents, Rowan sums up his day. “This camp is crazy. This Africa is crazy.”

Two people in a canoe watching an elephant

The next morning, the aroma of coffee fills the predawn while two helicopters sit in the grass nearby. At first light we’re racing low over the Okavango. It’s just at the beginning of the wet season, the annual flood hasn’t reached this area yet, but within weeks this golden-green savannah will be threaded with rivers and lakes, rewriting the landscape for several months. From above we see a troop of giraffes casting improbably long silhouettes. “Look at their neck shadows,” says Rowan over the scratchy helicopter intercom. “Crazy.” Coming upon wildlife in the vehicle is “super-cool”; spotting a herd of elephants from above is “insane”.

"A herd of Cape buffalo, backlit by the late-day sun, turns heel upon detecting us, kicking up dust that shimmers like diamonds in the dying light."

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Late afternoon has us following Byron on foot along a game trail, a long rifle slung over his shoulder. The rewards here are more subtle: a fresh leopard print, a porcupine’s quill. A lone ostrich turns its head to watch us pass, then a herd of Cape buffalo, backlit by the late-day sun, turns heel upon detecting us, kicking up dust that shimmers like diamonds in the dying light.

silhouetted person in marshland dappled in golden light

Rowan turns to Byron, “Can I hold your gun?” “Probably not a great idea,” Byron replies. Rowan shakes his head. “I didn’t think so.”

The days fall into an easy pattern of early morning and late afternoon game drives. Chess matches and boules tournaments fill the quiet times when the heat is too intense. Sundowners at a different pristine spot each day announce the evenings.

A thunder of hippos

One morning we’re tracking a leopard. The air is suddenly alive with screeching. “That’s a distress call,” Byron tells us. “The monkeys are alerting everyone that a predator is near.” He turns the Land Cruiser in their direction. Creeping through bush so dense no vehicle was made to traverse, we’re all silent, scanning.

A group of people sitting in folding chairs by the water

“Leopard,” Jones whispers and points. The spine of the spotted animal is slinking through long grass. The cat is difficult to detect, but in time we all see him, except Rowan. Disappointed, my son slumps back as the animal vanishes. Byron takes up the challenge. I become distracted by a nearby mother elephant and her calf. “Look at them, Rowie.” “We’re tracking a leopard, Dad. Come on, focus.” I’ve given up hope and Rowan is doing his best to shake the disappointment. Then comes the whisper, “There.” And gliding through dense bush, first one leopard and then a second, make their way. “Yes,” Rowan pumps his fist. “Bragging rights.” He climbs over the seats to high-five Byron.

aerial view of a river meandering through a landscape

On our last evening Rowan is interested to see if we can find the wounded lion again. He’s not far from where we first encountered him crossing the road, asleep in the shade. We park nearby and sit. The heat of the day loses its edge. The sun begins to sink. The lion wakes, yawns, and eyes us with indifferent interest. An elephant emerges from the nearby trees and glides the way elephants do, moving in what appears to be slow motion, yet covering huge tracts of land quickly. The sun drops and night begins to come on. The lion watches us watching him. In the gloaming he rises and stretches. “He’s ready to hunt,” Byron whispers. The lion takes a few steps toward us, and I pull Rowan close. It’s almost too dark to see.

Glowing bonfire with a person in the background

The shadow of the cat in the night veers off and strides through the long grass and we track him until blackness and bush become one. “Bragging rights?” I ask my son. “Way past bragging rights, Dad.”

Africa specialist Journeys by Design curates private family adventures and safaris. A seven-night trip to Kweene Trails in the Okavango Delta starts from £10,860 per person; journeysbydesign.com

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Enjanga Tours & Safaris

3-Day The Magic of Okavango Delta

botswana okavango delta luxury safari

5.0 /5 – 9 Reviews

$1,733 pp (USD)

Your request will be sent directly to the operator

If preferred, you can contact the operator directly

Botswana’s mighty Okavango Delta is one of Africa’s greatest and most pristine wildernesses. To take in its beauty, and all the iconic wildlife that call it home, take to the water on a mokoro (dug-out canoe), with all your camping gear and experienced polers/guides. A mokoro is a traditional canoe used in the African region of the Okavango Delta, particularly in Botswana. The mokoro has become the popular way for visitors to explore the Okavango while on safari.

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Tour Features

Budget camping.

This is a budget camping tour.

Shared tour

On this shared tour, you will join a group of other travelers. Max 12 people per group.

Can start any day

If availability permits, this tour can start on any day.

Can be customized

You can request changes to this tour.

Suitable for single travelers

Single travelers can join this group tour.

Minimum age of 8 years

The minimum age for this tour is 8 years.

Activities & Transportation

Accommodation & meals.

  • Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour can be arranged for an extra cost
  • Day Accommodation Meals
  • 1-2 Budget camping In or near Okavango Delta – Day 1: Lunch & Dinner Included – Day 2: All Meals Included Day 1: Lunch & Dinner Included Day 2: All Meals Included
  • 3 End of tour (No accommodation) – Breakfast Included Breakfast Included

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  • This tour is offered by Enjanga Tours & Safaris , not SafariBookings.
  • This operator reserves the right to change rates advertised on SafariBookings.
  • If you request changes to this tour, the advertised rates will likely change.
  • The exact order, contents and rates of this tour are subject to availability.
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Customer Reviews

Sweden

Safari of a lifetime

I was to attend a conference in SouthAfrica and decided to fulfill a lifelong dream and do a campingsafari in Botswana even if I was to be a solo traveller. A friend recommended Enjanga. I wanted to foucus on archeological sites, Izzy, the...

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IMAGES

  1. Luxury Safari Camps in Botswana

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  2. Best Okavango Delta Safari Lodges & Camps

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  3. Our Best 5 Luxury Lodges in Botswana’s Okavango Delta

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  4. Xigera Safari Lodge, Okavango Delta, Botswana

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  5. Luxury safari in the Okavango Delta

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  6. 20 Best Luxury Lodges & Camps in Botswana

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VIDEO

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  2. Golden Africa Safaris (Main Camp)

  3. Okavango Delta Botswana Drone View

  4. Exploring Okavango Delta: Safari Adventures in Botswana #WaterWonderland #Wildlife #BotswanaSafari

  5. Okavango Delta Exploring the rich biodiversity and Mokoro safari

  6. Okavango Delta Safari: a Botswana Safari in the Okavango Delta

COMMENTS

  1. Xigera Safari Lodge Okavango Delta, Botswana Luxury Safari

    The story of Xigera Safari Lodge is one of renewal. Of rebirth and family legacy, and of the pioneering spirit that drives us to seek out Africa's wild spaces. The same spirit that inspired this remarkable reimagining, perhaps a complete reinvention, of an Okavango Delta safari. This is Xigera (pronounced 'kee-jera'), named for the Pied ...

  2. Top 10 Best Okavango Delta Luxury Safari Lodges & Camps

    Camp Okavango Tours. 4. Camp Xakanaxa. Overlooking the bird-rich Xakanaxa Lagoon, Camp Xakanaxa is a sophisticated tented camp that's one of the best of the Okavango Delta safari camps. Staying here means being in the heart of some of the most famous wildlife areas anywhere in Botswana.

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    lodge style Glamorous gleam. From one of nine rooftop hideoutsa at &Beyond Xudum Okavango Lodge, you will find yourself overlooking a fairy-tale like lagoon with a patchwork of water lilies. In the distance grazing zebras, right behind you a beautiful, luxurious safari suite. from US$ 989 per person per night.

  4. Botswana Safari: 7-Day Luxury Okavango Delta Safari

    7-Day Luxury Okavango Delta Safari. This fantastic safari takes you into the heart of Botswana's Okavango Delta. Visit the Khwai wildlife area, situated along the beautiful Khwai River & the southern Okavango Delta, offering a unique blend of diverse ecosystems. Glide through the waterways on Mokoros, enjoy thrilling game drives & bush walks ...

  5. Okavango Delta

    Discover the Okavango Delta: A Wetland Paradise. The Okavango Delta is a wetland paradise in the otherwise harsh Kalahari that covers the rest of Botswana. Rain waters from Angola slowly make their way south and eventually spill into the desert, spreading out into an alluvial fan and creating one of the last great wilderness areas of our time.

  6. Okavango Delta Safari

    Discover a modern, sophisticated sanctuary on a private island at the heart of the Okavango Delta. Eagle Island Lodge brings timeless luxury to the Botswana wetlands. High-ceilinged tented rooms flood with light; each has a plunge pool and oversized bed with views of the Delta. Get closer to the wildlife of this UNESCO World Heritage Site ...

  7. Okavango Delta

    Safari in the Okavango Delta with Africa Uncovered. Leading specialists in luxury Botswana Safaris to the magnificent Okavango Delta. Skip to content. USA 1-888-539-4662 UK / Int +44 207 357 8947. Search. ... The Okavango also offers quality luxury safari lodges in exclusive, prime wildlife areas allowing for the ultimate African Safari. ...

  8. Botswana Luxury Safari

    With an incredibly strong commitment to conservation, luxury safaris in Botswana can include adventure tours along the waterways of the Okavango Delta, birdwatching and game-drive spotting for endangered species, such as the wild dog, as well as a host of other activities. ... The Okavango Delta is the largest inland delta in the world, and ...

  9. Luxury, Tailor-made Safaris to Botswana's Okavango Delta

    Luxury Safaris to Botswana. Botswana is renowned as one of the most incredible luxury wildlife and safari destinations in Africa. Massive private concessions within the Okavango Delta, a pristine wetland paradise, offer guests an exclusive safari experience where they get to enjoy wildlife sightings all to themselves and when combined with the ...

  10. The Top 10 Best Okavango Delta Lodges in Botswana

    The Okavango Delta is home to some stunning exclusive accommodations too. Get inspired with our list of the top 10 best five-star Okavango Delta lodges in Botswana. 1. Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge. Exceptionally luxurious, Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge is situated in one of the best game-viewing areas in Botswana.

  11. Okavango Delta Luxury Safari Tours

    7-Day Botswana Exceptional Wildlife Luxury Vacation. $10,450 to $10,670 pp (USD) Botswana: Private tour Lodge & Tented Bush Camp. You Visit: Maun (Start), Okavango Delta, Moremi GR (Okavango Delta), Savuti (Chobe NP), Chobe NP, Maun Airport (End) Kubwa Five Safaris. 5.0 /5 - 122 Reviews.

  12. Okavango Delta

    Okavango Delta Safaris. A stunning maze of waterways and lagoons, the Okavango Delta is considered one of Africa's premier wilderness sanctuaries. Synonymous with conservation, incredible wildlife sightings, exclusivity and ultra-luxury accommodation, the Okavango Delta is truly an iconic safari experience. The Delta's permanent water source ...

  13. Our 5 Best Luxury Lodges in Okavango Delta, Botswana

    Xigera Safari Lodge. Xigera Safari Lodge (pronounced 'Kee-jera') is set to open on 1 December 2020, and is found on the western side of the Moremi Game Reserve. Meticulously intended to frame the breathtaking deltas and riverine forests, the lodge is in complete synergy with the Okavango Delta. Xigera is a labour of love, born out of love ...

  14. Okavango & Moremi

    Okavango Delta Safaris really is the home of luxury bespoke Botswana safaris, and hosts some of the world's most opulent and luxurious safari lodges. You will have the chance to see African elephant, buffalo, hippo, lechwe, topi, lion, leopard, cheetah, African wild dog (highly endangered), white rhino, black rhino and much much more.

  15. Luxury Safaris in Okavango Delta, Botswana

    On a game drive with Xigera Lodge in the The Okavango Delta; one of Africa's most iconic safari destinations. Dazzling sunsets, swimming elephants, singing frogs and leopards brushing through papyrus reeds - the Okavango Delta is one of the most extraordinary places on the planet. Located in northern Botswana, it's one of the largest inland ...

  16. Luxury Vintage Safari

    Okavango Delta / Safari / Luxury Vintage Safari. A luxury safari through the same magnificent landscapes which have formed the backdrop to some of Botswana's best Nat Geo documentaries. Staying in the luxury vintage style camps created by their filmmaker owners, this is a truly remarkable safari. The Selinda Reserve and Duba concession have ...

  17. Okavango Delta Luxury Safaris

    The Okavango Delta is hands down the most romantic, ethereal destination in all of Africa. It just doesn't get any more charismatic and effortlessly beautiful than this epic wetland. Explore the Okavango Delta by mokoro, motorized boat cruises, on foot, or on game drives. You can expect to experience an abundance of wildlife, pinch yourself ...

  18. Duke's Camp in the Okavango Delta

    A secluded oasis for the ultimate Okavango experience. Nestled in the heart of Botswana's pristine Okavango Delta, Duke's Camp is an exquisite, eco-conscious luxury safari camp that effortlessly blends chic contemporary design with traditional African elements. This secluded oasis boasts an undeniable sense of style and sophistication, offering discerning travelers a one-of-a-kind safari ...

  19. Luxury Botswana Safari

    A land of breathtaking contrasts, from the vast salt pans of the Makgadikgadi, to the sandy plains of the Kalahari, to the lush oasis of the Okavango Delta, Botswana is for the traveller who chooses to disconnect to reconnect, with themselves and the natural world, captivated by an African safari like no other. Sure, the usual luxury suspects ...

  20. The Best Botswana Luxury Safari Lodges

    Whether visiting the flats of the Okavango Delta in the east, the Linyanti marshes in the west or the vast Makgadikgadi Pan, Botswana's kaleidoscope of contrasting landscapes will imprint on your soul. With the largest population of elephants in Africa and one of the lowest densities of human inhabitants in the world, the only sounds you hear at your Botswana luxury safari lodge might be an ...

  21. This 7-night Safari Is One of the Best Ways to Experience Botswana

    This 7-night Safari in Botswana Is All About Wildlife, Water, and Sustainability — Here's What It Was Like to Visit. The Okavango Delta creates a safari landscape like no other. Less than an ...

  22. A Botswana Safari Primer for Luxury Travelers

    A Botswana safari shifts with the seasons. Water peaks in the Okavango Delta from May to October, attracting herds of elephants, buffalo, and their predators. During the green summer season, between November and April, travelers can catch up to 25,000 zebras and wildebeests migrating through the Makgadikgadi Pans and Nxai Pan national parks.

  23. Why These Sustainable Safari Experiences In Botswana Are ...

    The Okavango Delta is home to over 1,000 species of plants, around 500 species of birds, 130 species of mammals, and numerous species of reptiles and fish — a real wildlife paradise.

  24. This 7-Night Safari Is One Of The Best Ways To Experience Botswana

    Here's why this Botswana night safari experience should be a part of your itinerary. The Okavango Delta is a sprawling inland delta, and each winter, floodwaters from the Okavango River inundate some three million acres of grassland and desert. It creates a vast waterscape that not only draws human visitors like me but plenty of animal ones, too.

  25. Departure of Intimate Hideaway

    30th of June 2024 - Departure Dates - This Classic Okavango Delta Safari Package explores the unique features of the Okavango Delta allowing you to get up close and personal to wildlife

  26. Top Ten African Safari Animals

    For a luxury lion-spotting experience, we recommend a trip to Botswana's Okavango Delta. Alongside safari drives and boat rides, you can head out on foot with a guide who'll point out the paw prints of resident cats as you walk, before you retreat to your luxury lodge. Lions in the Okavango Delta, Botswana 2. Gorilla

  27. A family adventure through Botswana's wilderness in ...

    Inspiration. A family adventure through Botswana's wilderness in search of fearsome residents. Andrew McCarthy takes his nine-year-old camping in the Okavango Delta. By Andrew McCarthy. 10 April 2024. Kyle de Nobrega, Melanie Van Zyl. "There." the whisper is urgent. The Land Cruiser stops. "What?" asks Rowan, looking up from his manga ...

  28. A&K Luxury Travel & Tailor-Made Holiday Company

    When Geoffrey Kent started A&K in 1962, he dreamed of being able to offer the most inspirational experiences in the world. He understood that travel should be awe-inspiring, exciting, intriguing, rejuvenating and memorable. That's why he created a luxury travel company staffed by passionate individuals and specialist luxury travel agents, who ...

  29. Best Tours & Award Winning Package Trips

    In Africa, we offer a range of escorted tours and safaris to see some of the continent's incredible wildlife. From the plains of the Serengeti and Masai Mara in Tanzania and Kenya, to Botswana's Okavango Delta and South Africa's Kruger National Park, you can see it all with our range of camping and lodge safaris.

  30. Botswana Safari: 3-Day the Magic of Okavango Delta

    3-Day The Magic of Okavango Delta. Offered By: Enjanga Tours & Safaris 5.0 /5 (9 Reviews) Overview Day by Day Rates Inclusions Getting There Offered By. Visiting the Okavango delta is so rewarding. The magnificent Okavango offers a diversity of biological productions.