Top 10 Luxury Lodges in Botswana

Botswana is arguably the best safari destination on the planet. The country is home to an exceptional variety of habitats, ranging from the famous waterways of the Okavango Delta and its wealth of big game, to the arid Makgadikgadi Salt Pans where you can walk with the Kalahari San bushmen across otherworldly landscapes.

Botswana’s magic lies in its exclusivity and pristine wilderness. It is one of Africa’s most impressive safari destinations, with vast private reserves and carefully controlled tourism numbers designed to preserve this unique natural environment. The Okavango Delta’s annual floods, which shape its expansive wetlands, naturally draw a remarkable concentration of wildlife, and within the Delta’s exclusive private reserves, as well as in the Makgadikgadi Pans and Linyanti regions, you’ll find some of the world’s most refined safari lodges. Read on to discover the properties handpicked by our safari specialists. 

This iconic property is in a prime location on Chief’s Island, within the Moremi Game Reserve – the very heart of the Okavango Delta. Moremi’s grasslands are nourished by super-nutrient soils, a key factor in why such a prolific amount of wildlife congregates here. As a Big Five destination, and with the successful reintroduction of rhino, Moremi has become a significant stronghold for this megafauna, while the sheer quantity of predator–prey interactions solidifies the region’s reputation as a premier safari destination.

The prestigious Wilderness Mombo is a luxury safari camp with eight canvas double suites and one family suite. The suites are situated on elevated wooden walkways, which wind between mangosteen and ebony trees, and each comes with an expansive wrap-around deck, a private plunge pool, and beautiful views across the floodplain. Guests can make the most of the spa and gym and sample African vintages in Mombo’s wine cellar with a private dining experience. Safari activities are centred on game drives, so it is worth combining a stay here with a few days at a water-based camp to enjoy a well-rounded Delta experience. Additional experiences include scenic helicopter safaris and stargazing excursions. Mombo is quite popular and is often booked up over a year in advance, so be sure to plan ahead if you’d like to visit this exceptional option in Moremi.

Also located in the game-rich Moremi Game Reserve, Xigera Safari Lodge is perfect for those who enjoy their modern creature comforts. Unashamedly offering palatial suites with flatscreen televisions, room service, and air conditioning, this is sumptuous Delta living at its finest. Whereas most camps opt for neutral tones that blend in with the surrounding bushland, Xigera has brazenly gone the other way with a wondrous mix of opulent styles and colours. The lodge is surrounded by the channels and waterways of the Okavango, so guests can enjoy the full complement of water and land-based safari activities. There’s an impressive choice of game drives, walking safaris, night drives, motorboat safaris, mokoro canoes, fishing, photographic workshops, sleeping out beneath the stars in the Baobab Treehouse, and scenic helicopter flights. With evocative interiors and soul-stirring safari experiences, Xigera doesn’t hold back when it comes to offering exceptional luxury in one of the most beautiful parts of the Delta.

Set amidst a riverine forest within the private Jao Reserve, Jao is one of Wilderness’ premier properties in a portfolio of outstanding safari lodges! It’s an intimate camp of only five suites and two family villas, each boasting views across the pristine floodplains that surround the camp. The suites are spacious, light-filled works of art. Each is open plan with double-high ceilings, a shaded veranda, and a private plunge pool. At Jao, nature and architecture meet, and the striking sculptural design elements are sure to delight – the camp’s unique bird’s nest-style poolside gazebo is a must-see. Positioned on a beautiful island in the western Okavango, Jao offers a wide range of activities including game drives, night drives, boating, mokoro canoes, fishing, sleeping out beneath the stars in special star-beds, and scenic helicopter flights.

This is a property that effortlessly exudes relaxation - in fact, our experts sometimes even recommend it as a great relaxation option instead of a beach visit! Not many safari lodges have the ability to seamlessly blend safari with relaxation – it’s somewhere you simply won’t want to leave!

Duba Plains is a classic safari camp, famous for its interactions between lion prides and buffalo! Beautifully designed, Duba Plains is set within a private concession of 30,000 hectares. The camp is surrounded by woods, waterways, palm-fringed islands, and floodplains, and these habitats are home to spectacular birdlife, wild dog, plenty of leopard, and red lechwe. The camp is intimate with only five suites and a two-bedroom villa that’s perfect for families of up to five. The canvas suites are designed with the classic 1920s explorer style in mind. Elegant and spacious, each has a private veranda and a plunge pool. Game drives are the main focus of safari activities, while seasonal boating, mokoro canoes, walking safaris, scenic helicopter flights, and a Young Explorers programme for kids are also available. Duba Plains is one of the best destinations for lion and buffalo encounters, perhaps rivalled only by Mokete Camp in the Mababe Concession.

Spread along the banks of the Osprey Lagoon in northern Okavango’s Linyanti Wildlife Reserve, DumaTau is another property with excellent concentrations of lion prowling the surrounding wilderness. DumaTau means ‘roar of the lion’ in Setswana, and the resident DumaTau pride is never far away! Despite its name, the camp is more famous for the incredible numbers of elephant frequenting the waterways here, with ancient pathways, used by herds for generations, passing either side of the camp. There are also plenty of leopard, hyena, giraffe, hippo, buffalo, zebra, and wild dog in the Linyanti. There are seven explorer-style tented suites and a two-bedroom family suite built on raised wooden walkways to make the most of the stunning views. Each suite has a private plunge pool and decks offering scenic views over the water where elephant often wade past! There’s a great list of activities, including game drives, night drives, boating, catch-and-release fishing, walking safaris, birding expeditions, and helicopter flights. DumaTau finds the perfect balance between luxury and a homely, authentic safari experience.

With its unique design and location in the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, Jack’s Camp is unlike anywhere else in Botswana. This is the San Bushmen region, and arid salt flats extend as far as the eye can see. The camp is famous for its glamorous, eclectic, old-world feel, as well as the unique range of activities on offer. Its nine suites are inspired by the early explorers era, and each features a four-poster bed in the midst of opulent décor that pays homage to 1940s campaign safari style – mahogany furniture, Persian and North African rugs, and brass fittings. Activities at Jack’s include classic desert game drives and night drives, and you can spot zebra, wildebeest, Kalahari lion, occasional cheetah and leopard, as well as desert-adapted bat-eared jackal, springbok, and ostrich. Night drives are exciting, with porcupine, aardwolf, brown hyena, and honey badger in residence here. Adventurous guests can race across the pans on a quad bike, embark on horse rides, take helicopter trips, and more. Getting up close with the area’s habituated meerkats is a huge highlight, while guests can spend an unforgettable few hours exploring the pans with the Zu/’hoasi Bushmen. Jack’s Camp offers a wholly unique, luxury stay in Botswana.

Located on the edge of two different habitats, Zarafa is the jewel in the Great Plains Conservation portfolio of lodges. Ebony trees and mopane woodland lie behind the property, while at the front you have wonderful views over the Zibadianja Lagoon. Zarafa is the epitome of exclusivity, with only four tented suites. Each suite is spacious and raised on old railway sleeper decking, with other features including polished wood interiors, a king-sized bed, and a private plunge pool. The camp is set within the private 130,000-hectare Selinda Reserve – this is an exceptional game-viewing area, with only a few camps sharing swathes of pristine savanna. There are plenty of elephant, buffalo, leopard, lion, hyena, cheetah, jackal, and occasional wild dog. Activities include game drives in custom-made 4x4s, seasonal boat cruises, walking safaris, and a fantastic Young Explorers programme for kids. Incredibly luxurious and private, Zarafa is a world-class safari property where you can enjoy total seclusion in one of the most beautiful spots in the Okavango.

North Island is a relatively new addition to the Delta from Natural Selection, one of the premier luxury operators in Botswana.

Located on a private island and offering year-round boating in the Sekwana Concession, this exclusive island retreat is in an area of pristine wilderness! North Island is an intimate camp with only four tents, all raised on wooden platforms. Each suite is elegantly finished, and guests can enjoy the beautiful views out over the floodplain from their free-standing bath or private plunge pool. The firepit is rather wonderful – set at the end of a pontoon, it’s an idyllic spot to enjoy sundowners while surrounded by the sights and sounds of the Delta. The wildlife in Sekwana is excellent, with lion, leopard, elephant, wild dog, and aardvark all present. A full range of activities is available during a stay here, including game drives, night drives, mokoro canoes, boating, fishing, and helicopter flights. Sophisticated and brilliantly run, this property offers a complete Delta experience from a secluded island idyll.

&Beyond Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge is a beautiful lodge located within a private concession on the borders of the wildlife-rich Moremi Game Reserve in the eastern Okavango Delta. There are twelve air-conditioned suites and one two-bedroom family suite, each with stunning views and a rim-flow plunge pool. The main area of the camp’s design is inspired by a pangolin and is bright and spacious with an interactive kitchen, traditional boma, gym, and spa. Safari activities include game drives, night drives, walking safaris, helicopter flights, and the excellent &Beyond WILDChild programme for kids. The wildlife is very good and you can expect to see elephant, hippo, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, and top predators such as lion, hyena, leopard, wild dog, and cheetah. Primarily a ‘dry’ camp, offering top-quality 4x4 safaris, Sandibe is definitely worth combining with a ‘wet’ camp – to experience the Delta by boat and mokoro. That said, as a choice of lodge in the Delta for land-based safari, Sandibe delivers the usual effortless excellence for which &Beyond is famous.

Tawana is a sophisticated, chic property owned by Natural Selection in partnership with Chief Tawana Moremi, of the local Batawana tribe. This collaboration ensures opportunities for the local community and fulfils a joint desire to protect the ecosystems of Moremi Game Reserve for years to come. And this is one of the finest parks in Africa! The wealth of predators here is spectacular, and it’s also home to over 400 species of birdlife. Tawana has eight spacious suites, three of which can be used as family units. The suites are designed to mirror the organic tones and textures of the surroundings as well as the cultural heritage of the Batawana tribe. Each has a private deck, a plunge pool, and an outdoor sala overlooking the savanna. Tawana is primarily a game-driving safari destination due to park rules, so we also recommend combining it with a ‘wet’ camp to get a well-rounded Delta experience.