Where to go if you want to watch elephants from water and from land: these are some of our favourite places.
The Okavango Delta is not what you expect. It is a magical place of upside-down seasons, where the wettest months are also the dry months, from July to October, when the floodwaters arrive from the Angolan highlands.
The Delta is renowned for its incredible wildlife, including some of the most sought-after species such as lions, leopards, cheetahs, buffalos, giraffes, wild dogs, hippos, crocodiles, and many species of antelope. And elephants: Botswana has the largest population of elephants in the world.
The delta is also a birdwatcher’s paradise, with more than 450 species recorded; eyes peeled for the elusive Pel’s fishing owl and rare African skimmer.
Time slows down on a mokoro through the waterways of Botswana’s Okavango Delta.
So vast and so remote, there are places untouched by roads and cars, and the only way to get there is by foot or mokoro.
There are loads of lodges and camps, too, fit for all pockets. We’ve rounded up some of our favourites, where you can slow down to the timeless rhythms of Africa, rising and setting with the sun.
I made a last minute decision to make the trip. They made my planning seamless and effortlessly. Thank you so much!
Edward, from the US
1. Wilderness Vumbura Plains
A lavish and lush luxury camp, Wilderness Vumbura Plains is in the far north of the Okavango Delta. It’s the ultimate watery safari, and is the most spacious of Wilderness’s Delta camps.
And its partnership with the Okavango Community Trust is a model of impactful tourism. Through it, the camp works with local communities to share skills, educate, and uplift villages, inspiring future generations to protect wildlife sanctuaries.
Key points
Vumbura Plains is in a 60,000ha private wilderness area bordering the Moremi Game Reserve.
Activities include twice-daily game drives, mekoro excursions, boating (often with a sundowner), and catch-and-release fishing.
The camp is known for sightings of lions, African wild dogs, buffalo, tsessebe, elephants, hippos, and magnificent birdlife.
Elegantly appointed suites are elevated on wooden decking, each with a private viewing deck, plunge pool, sun loungers, and a covered sala.
There is Wi-Fi.
Cuisine celebrates local and seasonal ingredients, featuring traditional dishes like tswii (powdered root of the Okavango waterlily) and phapata bread.
It’s great for families: children aged six to 12 can get a Bush Buddy, a specially trained staff member who will keep them entertained.
Rates start from $2,220 per person, per night (sharing).
Jolene has been a pleasure to work with – thorough, detailed, engaged – wouldn’t change a thing with her. The range of available options has also been good. Jolene really listened and got us into something that suits us well. Thank you.
Sawyer, from the US
The suites at Wilderness Vumbura Plains have outstanding views
2. Xigera Safari Lodge
Xigera Safari Lodge is that something special, a bespoke return to nature, designed with soul, luxury, space, and stillness.
Every detail of the lodge is handcrafted by African creatives, and it hosts what is said to be Africa’s largest private collection of contemporary art in hospitality. The camp is entirely solar-powered and plastic-free.
Key points
Xigera is deep in the Moremi Game Reserve. And it has a unique Baobab Treehouse experience.
It has 12 suites, each positioned for privacy and front-row views of the wild.
The design reflects an unwavering love for the land.
There is a spa and wellness facility, and activities include private safaris, helicopter safaris, land and water-based activities, photo safaris, stargazing, and bush dining.
Its operations are deeply rooted in sustainability, with partnerships with local farmers, artists, and conservationists.
There are no rules, and activities are guided by your desires.
Rates start from $2,600 per person, per night (sharing).
Great support in organizing our last minute trip, very knowledgeable and friendly.
Rolf, from Germany
You can’t beat a bath at Xigera Safari Lodge
3. Xugana Island Lodge
Desert & Delta Safaris’ Xugana Island Lodge is on a private concession, with an expansive deck and al fresco dining area overlooking the vast and pristine Xugana Lagoon.
It is unique on the lagoon, which is widely recognised as the most spectacular permanent water site in the entire Okavango Delta, offering a profound connection to the environment and true tranquillity.
Key points
Xugana accommodates up to 22 guests in 10 luxury tents (one is wheelchair friendly). There is also a family tent, and each tent has a lagoon-facing private viewing deck.
Activities focus on the water wilderness, including motorboat safaris, mokoro excursions, guided walking safaris on surrounding islands to track larger species, catch-and-release fishing, and absolutely spectacular birdwatching.
Scenic helicopter flights over the Okavango Delta are available at an additional charge, including doors-off options for photographers.
Basic internet is available via a guest laptop in the library, but there is no Wi-Fi.
Rates start from $1,160 per person, per night (sharing).
The agent that I worked with was quick to respond and very knowledgeable. She provided a variety of options for our trip. Most importantly, she seemed genuinely interested in matching our ideas to the itinerary.
Anne, from the US
Xugana Island Lodge hovers over the pristine lagoon
4. Xaranna Okavango Delta Camp
The romantic Xaranna Okavango Delta Camp from &Beyond is inspired by the hues of the waterlily. If you’re looking for luxurious solitude and unique experiences, this is the place for you.
Xaranna is a pioneering camp that has a state-of-the-art Tesla solar power plant, providing 80% of its total energy consumption.
Key points
It’s set within an exclusive 90,500ha wildlife concession, with nine spacious air-conditioned tented suites, each with a private plunge pool and an outdoor sala with marvellous Delta views.
Activities include day and night game drives for BIG 5 encounters, walking safaris, helicopter flights, and bird watching.
Children of all ages are welcome; Xaranna has a Wildchild Programme with fun, interactive activities.
Amenities include al fresco dining in the Africa Boma, complimentary use of Swarovski binoculars, in-room wellness treatments, and a “gym-in-a-bag”.
Rates start from $1,500 per person, per night (sharing). There are long-stay discount rates, and Fly me around Botswana and honeymoon specials.
Efficient service. Very helpful with planning the itinerary. Friendly staff.
Sarah, from Great Britain
Xaranna Okavango Delta Camp is open to the wild.
5. Splash Camp
Kwando Safari’s Splash Camp is a contemporary, family-friendly camp in the heart of the Okavango Delta, in the game-rich Kwara Private Concession. Kwando Safaris converted the concession from a hunting block to a premier photographic destination.
The design is modern but natural, and the accommodations are both beautiful and comfortable.
What makes it special is its reputation as a predator hotspot with healthy lion prides, ideal cheetah ranges, African wild dogs, and herds of elephants. Its guides are known for their exceptional tracking abilities and Splash Camp’s exclusivity allows for very close animal encounters.
Key points
The camp is built around a permanent pan, with the main areas and tents facing water so you get a constant connection to wildlife activity.
Year-round activities are mekoro on the Delta, off-road tracking, game drives, night drives, boating safaris, visiting the Godikwe Heronry (a big seasonal breeding site for all manner of water bird), fishing, nature walks, and helicopter safaris.
There are 10 contemporary suites and two family rooms, all elevated with private viewing decks, and indoor and outdoor showers.
It is powered by 100% solar energy with backup generators.
Splash Enclave is a private area in Splash Camp that can be exclusively reserved for groups of six to 12 guests.
Rates start from $1,300 per person, per night (sharing).
Splash Camp in the Kwara Private Concession is a predator hotspot
Golden hour at Splash Camp, where the crackle of the fire meets the calls of the wild.
6. Wilderness Mombo
Known as The Place of Plenty, Wilderness Mombo is Botswana’s ultimate luxury safari camp and is considered one of the finest wildlife destinations in Africa, strategically located where the main Okavango River splits into its primary channels.
If a flagship luxury safari camp praised for its luxurious accommodations is on your bucket list, Mombo is calling.
What makes it special is its unrivalled wildlife density and exceptional predator-prey interactions, particularly with big cats, and its legacy of conservation, including pioneering rhino reintroduction initiatives.
Key points
Mombo is in the north-eastern corner of Chief’s Island in the Moremi Game Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Known for healthy populations of predators (lions, leopards, wild dogs, hyenas), sizeable elephant and buffalo herds, and an abundance of ungulates.
There are twice-daily game drives, hide viewing, helicopter safaris, and stargazing.
Accommodation includes eight double tented suites and a spacious family unit (with two adjoining safari tents), all with sweeping views, private plunge pools, open-air lounge areas, and outdoor showers.
The camp champions impactful tourism, aiming for the lightest footprint, and supports local communities through its conservation and community empowerment programmes Educate, Empower, Protect.
Foodwise, think healthy, delicious recipes using indigenous heritage ingredients such as baobab powder.
Rates start from $3,190 per person, per night (sharing).
At Wilderness Mombo, even breakfast comes with an elephant sighting.
Sundowners under a baobab at Mombo
7. Baines’ Camp
Baines’ Camp, in the &Beyond portfolio, is a small and intimate camp set under the shady trees of the Okavango Waterways, and is named after the famed explorer and artist Thomas Baines.
When you’re here, make sure to wheel your mobile four-poster bed out onto your private balcony to sleep under a star-studded sky.
Key points
It is located in the picturesque surrounds of the Boro River.
Baines’ Camp has five elegant suites on elevated platforms, offering river and lagoon views, each with a private veranda, where you can have a “star bath”.
Guest areas include a large veranda ideal for outdoor dining and a swimming pool with two salas for relaxation.
Activities include mekoro excursions, specially adapted motorboat safaris, game drives in open 4x4 safari vehicles, and walking safaris.
Rates start from $2,400 per person, per night (sharing).
Anja was a pleasure to deal with. Africa is a large continent so it’s a process to nail down an itinerary with so much choice. We felt she understood our needs & listened to our concerns. We are very happy & excited for our future trip.
Roz, from Australia
Wheel your bed onto your private deck at Baines’ Camp
8. Stanley’s Camp
Another &Beyond property, Stanley’s Camp is a secluded tented camp that has magnificent views over a floodplain.
It is considered one of the best places in the world to view buffalo in large numbers.
Key points
Accommodation includes classically styled tents raised on wooden platforms, featuring private decks with hammocks and Morris chairs, en suite bathrooms, and ceiling fans.
Guest areas offer expansive views over the surrounding floodplains and an inviting swimming pool for cooling off (you will need this; the Delta can get very hot).
Adventures include exhilarating twice-daily game drives on the private concession, informative guided walking safaris, and gentle mekoro safaris along the waterways.
Rates start from $2,150 per person, per night (sharing).
The responses were quick and accurate when we asked questions, even on the weekend, no delay. So we booked the package. Responsibility is a key factor to show a company’s quality.
MK Team, from the US
A quiet visitor on the Delta
9. Tubu Tree Camp
As its name suggests, Wilderness Tubu Tree Camp is a treetop hideaway deep on Hunda Island, within the 60,000ha Jao Reserve.
Here you can have exhilarating wildlife encounters, including with resident leopards, wild dogs, and Pel’s fishing owl. And, of course, there is the Star Bed.
Key points
It is on Hunda Island, the largest dryland area of the Jao Reserve.
The reserve is known for herds of red lechwe, lions, leopards, hippos, zebra, wildebeest, giraffes, and a myriad bird species.
Activities include morning and afternoon game drives, boating, mekoro excursions, and catch-and-release fishing (when water levels allow).
You can also go on a helicopter safari. Believe us when we tell you this is a wonderful way to see the Delta, where the waters are so clear, you can see crocodiles from the air.
Accommodation comprises eight spacious elevated tents, including a family unit, connected by wooden walkways.
Facilities include a pool overlooking floodplains, and Wi-Fi (though connection may be intermittent).
The camp is intimately involved in projects that support sustainable conservation, specifically curbing poaching and overfishing.
Children aged six to 12 can get a Bush Buddy, a specially trained staff member who will keep them entertained.
Rates start from $2,960 per person, per night (sharing).
Dining is al fresco at Tubu Tree Camp in the Jao Reserve.
10. Camp Moremi
Desert & Delta delivers a classic African safari at Camp Moremi, in the world-renowned Moremi Game Reserve.
It holds a well-deserved legacy in the Botswana tourism industry for providing an authentic experience, with diverse ecosystems for exploration.
Key points
A maximum of 24 guests can be accommodated in 11 luxury tents and one family tent (two en-suite bedrooms), keeping it intimate.
Children from six years old are welcome.
There is a sunken bar built around a termite mound, an expansive lounge, a library, an elevated dining area, an open-air boma, and a swimming pool.
Safari activities include guided morning and afternoon game drives, motorised boat safaris through the deeper channels and lagoons of the Okavango Delta, and spectacular bird watching, with frequent sightings of the fish eagle, malachite kingfisher, and occasional Pel’s fishing owl.
There is basic internet via a guest laptop in the library, but no Wi-Fi.
Rates start from $900 per person, per night (sharing).
The Okavango Delta is a vast and mysterious place, with myriad options of camps and lodges. Let us guide you to your perfect safari. And to give you peace of mind on your travels, we offer complimentary travel insurance, too.
The lion king of the castle on a termite mound in the Okavango Delta.
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