The best safari lodges in Botswana

Wilderness Mombo & Little Mombo

 

Mombo has earned legendary status in the African safari world, and rightly so. Set on an island in the Okavango Delta, its wildlife is undoubtedly the main attraction, with a particularly strong reputation for big cats, including lion and leopard. The area’s abundant floodplains draw an extraordinary concentration of wildlife, meaning game drives are remarkably productive. Add to this elegant suites with their own private pools, copper bathtubs and outdoor showers, and a fully equipped wellness centre and exceptional wine cellar, and you have all the makings of one of Botswana’s best luxury safari lodges. Intimate sister camp Little Mombo offers the same phenomenal setting and wildlife, but on a smaller scale, with just four guest suites. This is a Botswana luxury safari at its absolute finest.

 

 

 

Wilderness Chitabe & Chitabe Lediba

 

Chitabe is a wonderful choice for guests who want to see and photograph predators. The area is renowned for its lion, leopard and African wild dog, while the camp managers and guides are particularly good at photography and helping their guests get the best shots. But beyond the remarkable sightings, Chitabe is a place where guests feel at home, and many who visit here rave about the staff and guides, returning time and time again to a place that feels like home with people who feel like family. Chitabe Lediba provides a more intimate version of the same experience, with just four guest rooms, making it particularly appealing to couples, families or small groups who value a quieter camp. 

 

 

 

Wilderness Vumbura Plains & Little Vumbura

 

For travellers who want the classic Okavango Delta experience of land and water, Vumbura is a natural choice. Here permanent waterways meet seasonal floodplains, open grasslands and woodland, creating opportunities for an impressive variety of wildlife and activities, year-round. Days here can include traditional game drives alongside mokoro excursions, boating and walking, giving a much broader experience of the Delta than one might get at a purely land-based camp. Vumbura Plains is the larger of the two camps and works especially well for families and groups, while Little Vumbura is an intimate six-room camp set on a beautiful island. 

 

 

 

Wilderness Qorokwe

 

Qorokwe is a great option for those looking for a personalised Okavango Delta experience. Located in a remote concession in the eastern Delta, the area is particularly productive for predators, including African wild dogs. Game drives, walks, and year-round mokoro and boating activities are all available and the lodge’s relatively small size adds an intimate feel, making it particularly appealing to families and returning safari-goers. Qorokwe also features a very spacious family tent with its own private plunge pool and outdoor deck with shaded loungers, as well as a shared indoor lounge, dining area and fireplace.

 

 

 

Wilderness DumaTau & Little DumaTau

 

Set in the Linyanti Wildlife Reserve overlooking Osprey Lagoon, DumaTau is particularly well suited to travellers who want exceptional wildlife combined with a more indulgent camp experience. The region is famous for its elephants, which gather around the permanent waterways in large numbers, while the broader concession supports a wealth of predators and other wildlife. Water-based activities, such as sunset barge trips and boating safaris are available while the camp itself has a sophisticated, spacious feel with the Osprey Retreat’s pool, deli and spa providing a true escape from modern life. Sister camp, Little DumaTau offers just four suites, and is perfect for an exclusive-use luxury safari.

 

 

 

Wilderness King’s Pool

 

King’s Pool is made for honeymooners. It is both wildly remote and wonderfully romantic. Set in the Linyanti Wildlife Reserve on a beautiful lagoon, the camp has an exceptionally peaceful atmosphere, while the surrounding area offers superb wildlife viewing, particularly of elephants and predators. Days can be spent exploring by vehicle and, when water levels allow, by boat, before returning to one of Botswana’s most elegant safari camps. Its intimate atmosphere and beautiful setting make it an especially natural choice for honeymoons and special occasions, although couples simply looking for an exceptionally luxurious safari will find plenty to love here too. 

 

 

 

Wilderness Savuti & Linyanti Tented Camp

 

Both Savuti and Linyanti Tented Camp offer a more traditional, unfussy safari experience, making them particularly appealing to travellers who value the feeling of being close to nature. Days are centred around exploring the Linyanti Wildlife Reserve on game drives and on foot while the opportunity for night drives means the safari can continue after sunset. Back at camp, travellers will appreciate the authentic, tented accommodation and the hides which allow for up close experiences without wildlife ever knowing you are there. For those who seek an intimate, old-school safari atmosphere in one of Botswana’s most wildlife-rich regions, these lodges are hard to beat.

 

 

 

Wilderness Mokete

 

Mokete offers a safari quite different from the classic Botswana wilderness experience. It is set in the vast Mababe Depression, one of Africa’s last truly remote and untouched wild places. Known for its huge seasonal concentrations of buffalo, elephant and zebra, the area also attracts some of the region’s most formidable predators. The camp’s open layout and pioneering appeal make it especially well suited to experienced safari-goers and photographers who want something a little different, and to anyone who would rather choose the road less travelled than visit the obvious safari destinations.