49 Best Hotels in Botswana

It's all about the view from this collection of snow-white tents looking out over the surreal, stark landscape of Botswana's Makgadikgadi salt pans. Recline amid a sea of Persian rugs and matching cushions as you munch on miniature teatime scones, gazing out at the infinite horizon; peruse the fascinating fossils and artifacts in the small museum; or make the most of the therapeutic effect of nature's minimalism in the nearby yoga tent. Accommodation is in seven solar-powered en suite tents (including one family tent) that are furnished in old East African style. San Camp may not be as grand as neighboring Jack's Camp, but it is intimate, classically stylish, and more than comfortable. Guides are knowledgeable and personable, and the food, exquisitely prepared, is always served with a smile. Guided activities include fascinating walks with San Bushmen, desert quad excursions, stargazing, and nocturnal wildlife spotting, along with safari game drives. Horse-riding is also possible.

From the moment you walk through the rustic reception area of this old-fashioned camp (pronounced ka-kan-ah-ka), a feeling of unpretentious warmth and relaxation envelops you, though you shouldn't expect unnecessary frills—this is a genuine bush-camp experience. Each spacious tent has wooden floors, plenty of storage space, a huge comfy bed, reading lamps, a semi-open bathroom with an airy feel, and a viewing deck. The staff, many with more than 10 years of experience, get everything right, from their attentive service to the superb, wholesome, home-cooked food. The resident croc, Popcorn, who sunbathes under his very own sign "Beware crocodile," has been here since he was a tiny whippersnapper, and has since been joined by a resident hippo called Oscar. Wooden-decked public areas sprawl along the water, and elephants and hippos wander past your tent most nights.

Situated on private land bordering the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, this striking wood-and-thatch lodge was the first to be built in the Central Kalahari and is arguably still the best. Built largely by hand by the desert-dwelling Naru people, the main thatched lounge, furnished with an African theme, has plush sofas and kilims (flat-woven carpets) leading out onto a wraparound deck, which faces a busy waterhole. You'll sleep in a large thatch bungalow where the roomy lounge has polished wooden floors, more kilims, wrought iron, wood chairs, a deep comfy sofa, and framed bushman memorabilia. Your bedroom will have a hand-carved headboard, crisp white linens, and plump duvets, while a separate en suite bathroom houses a claw-foot bath and outside shower. Enjoy delicious food (try the tender oryx fillet marinated in Worcestershire sauce, olive oil, and herbs) including house-made bread and rolls, before sitting out under the blazing desert stars for a nightcap. Although you'll be taken on game drives, where you will be amazed at the skill of the bushman trackers, the absolute highlight of your stay at this unique lodge will be a walk with the bushmen themselves. Dressed in skins and thong sandals, with their bows and arrows over their shoulders, and carrying spears and digging sticks, they'll lead you through the dry grass and bush on a walk through one of the most remote areas on earth. You'll be shown how to trap a bird or animal, how to make fire, which plants and trees will heal and sustain you, and afterward, they will dance and sing for you. This is pure magic.

Perched on the banks of a tributary of the fast-flowing Kwando River, this delightful camp boasts water views from every angle. Canvas and thatch chalets with claw-foot bathtubs, indoor and outdoor showers, and a lower-level lounge area with floor-to-ceiling views nestle on grassy slopes under the shade of giant jackalberry trees that are hundreds of years old. After a night spent next to one of these mighty trees, a major source of natural energy, people say you wake up rejuvenated, your body buzzing with new life. From the thatch dining and bar area, you can watch herds of elephants only yards away as they come to drink and bathe, or hippos snoozing in the sun. You might also spot a malachite kingfisher darting like a bejeweled mini-jet over the water. Go for a morning or evening game drive, track game on foot, drift along the river in a double-decker boat, or go fishing for tiger fish and bream. Terrestrial wildlife, particularly predators, is plentiful—wild dogs are a specialty—while keen birders will tick off hundreds of species in the wet summer months.

Situated on its own tiny, private island, Little Vumbura has a genuine water-camp feel, yet just a short boat drive away lies the predator-packed Vumbura concession. Conical, canvas roofs peek above tall, wispy papyrus in an almost seamless transition between artifice and nature. Inside the en suite tents, grass mats decorate a wooden floor on which sits a writing desk and twin beds, splashed with aquamarine cushions. Beyond a compact, sunken lounge area with leather sofa, wooden sliding doors reveal your outside deck furnished with a futon. The inviting open-walled lounge has ethnic ornaments and wicker furniture with a hint of cobalt and sapphire, echoing the surrounding waters. A winding walkway climbs up to a small look-out library with comfy armchairs below which mokoro canoes sit ready among the lapping waves. Sip your pre-dinner drink on a floating deck beneath countless twinkling stars, warmed by a crackling fire. Your only dilemma will be whether to leave your intimate, cocooned environment to track the predators that roam the mainland.

From the moment you arrive at this remote, independently owned, Kalahari oasis it's clear that The Lodge represents a welcome break from the safari mold. A giant, elongated pool flanked by lily-white sun-umbrellas dominates the entrance in a scene reminiscent of a boutique hotel. Swinging daybeds hang from square wooden beams in the enticing, thatched main area, where fantastically tasty meals are served to the accompaniment of mellow piped music, with a view out to the pool. During dinner, you may even spot a honey badger or elephant drinking amid the myriad lanterns. The extravagant stone and timber pool suites with oversized plunge pools are a menagerie of retro decor and ethnic culture, with a smattering of trendy appliances (Smeg kettles, Sony stereos) thrown into the mix. It's an eclectic combination that somehow works, but the real treat lies on the roof where a daybed beneath a thatched cover offers stupendous views over the Kalahari. The wood-paneled tented suites—really thatch stilted chalets—offer a more conventional option and there is also a 2-bedroom family villa. Activities reflect the leisure retreat ambience. Instead of a game drive, take a bike ride to the clay tennis court where staff will act as ball boys or a little farther afield to the "driving range," sipping gin and tonics between swings—keep an eye out for gemsbok or an elusive brown hyena along the way. Alternatively, join the bushmen for an illuminating walk and evening trance dance (spiritual nocturnal dance), go horse riding, or simply work out in the gym. Everything is solar-powered and a trust does fantastic local projects with neighboring communities.

Spend the extra on a pool suite—you won't regret it.

A sister camp to South Africa's world-famous Mala Mala Camp, Mashatu's game-viewing lives up to its billing with a deserved reputation for prolific predators. Accommodations are in tasteful stone floor family suites where earth-colored tones complement the natural surroundings. A couch and daybed provide a range of seating options, and fine art wildlife prints—of some of the many species you are guaranteed to see—adorn the walls. Comfort is assured in the hot summer months by air-conditioners, which have a heating function for the cold winter ones. The thatched outdoor dining area (where guests sit separately) overlooks a large waterhole where elephants, zebras, wildebeests, and other Mashatu regulars drink. The Discovery Room is a fascinating natural history and archeological museum that will appeal to all ages. Activities comprise almost every mode of transport imaginable, from bikes and horses to foot and vehicles and the game viewing, particularly of predators, is excellent; there are also several sunken hides designed for keen photographers.

This legendary camp, set on a private corner of Chief's Island, is nicknamed ‘the place of plenty’ after its spectacular wildlife—both BBC and National Geographic have filmed here—but its moniker is equally applicable to the camp itself. Completely rebuilt in 2018, the distinctive conical canvas-roofed suites exude an old-world safari luxury. Your atmospheric cozy lounge is populated by a khaki Chesterfield sofa, Nespresso machine, and mini bar, while a canopied king-size bed is bedecked with golden tassels. Beyond the dressing table, which can be separated by a sliding screen, a brass roll-top bath beckons, or choose from the double indoor or outdoor shower. Mesh screen and dark wood shutter doors line the front of the entire suite keeping you cosseted but still connected to the bush; beyond these lie an expansive deck with a plunge pool and a variety of seating options. Lounging on the hanging double daybed while watching distant munching elephants is a favorite past-time. The main area lounge and bar continue the antique safari theme. Despite the luxury and excellent tailor-made service—like house-made ice cream being delivered to you mid-game drive­—­­the camp successfully cultivates a friendly atmosphere, which sets it apart from its peers. With just four tents, the more intimate Little Mombo is located on the other side of the spa. Mouthwatering à la carte meals are served with innovative twists such as baobab mayonnaise and cashew cream Hollandaise sauce. On game drives, you will need your free-to-use camera and binoculars as the wildlife viewing is second to none­–it's not unheard of to see cheetahs, wild dogs, lions, and leopards in a single outing.

Ker & Downey's oldest camp, and possibly its loveliest, boasts enticing views over a carpet of emerald papyrus and golden reeds, bordering an expansive shimmering lagoon. Rebuilt in 2020, curved wooden walkways connect the split-level elevated main area, where multiple open-fronted dining and lounge areas are furnished with azure and sky-blue cushions mirroring the water below. A smattering of African artifacts and an antique gramophone complete the classic safari ambience. Your spacious tent, with white-lined, billowing ceiling and linen curtains is furnished with a plush cobalt rug, aquamarine divan, writing desk, yoga mat, and indoor and outdoor showers, while outside a comfy daybed lies waiting on your deck. For even more exclusivity and private pampering, opt for Shinde Enclave, which accommodates up to six guests with a private guide, chef, and waiter. As one of the few authentic land and water camps (boating and mokoros are available year-round), you will never get bored: hundreds of bird species vie with an impressive range of mammals, including all the major predators. Alternatively, relax in camp and let the game come to you–grazing tsessebe antelope and impala frequent the floodplain outside the rooms, occasionally joined by a wandering elephant.

Rain trees sprout through the main deck of this delightfully intimate Khwai Private Reserve camp, which serves up a winning combination of classic safari luxury and authentic, unpretentious charm. African baskets and other artifacts adorn the back wall of the open-fronted lounge where a semi-circular bar, decorated with a vivid wildlife fresco, is flanked by sofas, lamps, and rugs, brought alive by emerald and crimson cushions. In front, several hanging chairs swing invitingly from the boughs of the overhanging trees, below which a sunken deck reveals a selection of cozy booths, perfect to savor a sundowner while watching the last rays of light disappear. For an alternative perspective, head to the four-meter-high treehouse library for spectacular views; you can even use a slide to descend to the lower deck–a surprisingly popular route after a few evening drinks! Expansive white-lined, canvas tents feature entrance chandeliers, a desk, armchair, tea and coffee facilities, and a king-sized bed. Beyond a spacious dressing area is an indoor shower while outside, a further shower and claw-foot tub await. Wood and mesh sliding doors reveal a decadent deck with plunge pool, loungers, and oversized hanging chair. Tasty à la carte meals are served at timings to suit you, as are activities that include game drives, seasonal mokoro trips, and a double-decker boat when water levels are high. Wildlife viewing is best in the dry season, when herds of elephant and plains game are tracked by lions, leopards, and, occasionally wild dogs, while migrant birds flock here after the rains. For an extra dose of romance, spend a night at the Sky suite, where just a mosquito net separates you from a stunning, sequined night sky. Complete with en suite bathroom and fire deck, you can even enjoy a romantic private dinner by the fire before retiring to watch the best nocturnal show in town.

When water levels are high room 1 has best view.

Under new ownership and completely rebuilt in 2020, this spectacular camp, pronounced kee-jer-ah, sets a new precedent for luxury and service. Palatial, wood-paneled, glass-fronted suites sit underneath curved canvas roofs overlooking the floodplain and feature Nespresso machines, premium-spirit stocked mini-bars, copper roll-top baths, oversized wooden sculptures, and even a flat-screen TV which emerges from its discreet hiding place by remote control. Set the temperature of each of the lounge, sleeping, and bathroom areas independently or open the dual sliding doors (glass and mesh) and reconnect with nature from one of three seating areas on your wrap-around deck. Activities include seasonal boating as well as year-round mokoro excursions and game drives. Alternatively, stay in camp and book a treatment in the waterside spa, work out in the state-of-the-art gym, or nestle in the cozy library. As the sun goes down, sip an aperitif from the bespoke cocktail menu in the atmospheric bar where a giant circular sunken sofa is warmed by the fire. For those seeking a little more adventure, you can sleep under the stars at the nearby baobab-styled tree house, or if it gets cold, retreat to the covered bedroom a floor below. The staff will accommodate your every whim and anticipate every desire, even handing you a pre-prepared takeaway coffee made-to-your-liking as you go on your early morning game drive. There is a strong conservational focus too: the whole camp is solar-powered while the extensive and mouth-watering à la carte menu (or 7-course wine-paired tasting menu) features hydroponic-grown herbs and an impressive range of locally-sourced ingredients.

There is a welcome air of authenticity surrounding this intimate, luxury, Relais & Chateaux camp set on the banks of Zibadianja Lagoon. A heavy, ornate wooden door guards the entrance to your spacious living area equipped with Wi-Fi, a well-stocked bar, writing desk, and leather sofa. But the real opulence of Zarafa lies in the details: sparkling plunge pools; gleaming claw-foot copper baths; freestanding fireplaces for those chilly winter nights; a cooling system above the bed for summer; and binoculars and DSLR cameras with telephoto lenses to use free of charge. Weathered railway sleepers give the decks a refreshing timeless character, though the ecological aspect is just as important: power is 100% solar; furniture was created using recycled wood from Indonesia’s 2004 tsunami; and a biogas tank converts table leftovers to cooking gas for the next scrumptious meal. Zarafa’s exclusivity—the main camp has just four suites—breeds flexibility: both activities (day and night drives, walks, and lagoon cruises) and meals can be taken whenever and wherever you wish. For ultimate seclusion, opt for the Dhow suite—an adjacent two-bedroom villa with your own private chef, butler, pool, and even a humidor.

This lively tented camp offers a budget option for the Okavango Delta with comfortable no-frills en suite tents either in the campsite or (for a small premium) on raised wooden stilts overlooking the river. There's also a self-catering house that sleeps 10, as well as camping. All accommodation, except camping, includes breakfast. There's a decent bar, situated beside a pool, and a reliable restaurant with a wooden deck for sunset viewing. The camp, 12 km (7 miles) from Maun, offers a wide range of activities and excursions from vehicle and walking safaris to mokoro trips. "Audi" means fish eagle in Setswana, and you can expect to see (and hear) many of these magnificent birds during your stay. 

Renowned for its beauty, Nxabega (pronounced na-becka) is in the very heart of the Delta and offers both a land and a water experience. The camp overlooks woodlands and seasonally flooded grassy plains, which host lions, leopards, elephants, and buffalo, as well as several unique bird species; African ebony and strangler figs shade the main camp. Because it's a private concession, you can take a night drive and search for small nocturnal predators like civets (black-and-white badger-looking creatures), bushbabies (similar to furry, flying squirrels), and genets (small spotted cats). En suite safari tents are on raised teak platforms, each with a private verandah overlooking the water and bush. The main lodge is made of thatch and wood; the high-roofed and paneled dining room has an almost medieval banquet-hall feel and there is also a separate massage sala. The food is excellent but don't worry, you'll lose some of those extra calories by taking a guided walk on one of the nearby islands to track game and spot birds. Boat excursions and mokoro trips are offered, and the staff will even arrange wilderness picnics or breakfast in bed. Like many of the larger safari companies, &Beyond, which runs Nxabega Camp, has a community and sustainable development program in the region which they operate through the nonprofit Africa Foundation.

Sandibe clings to the edge of a pristine channel of the Santantadibe River and has the reputation for being &Beyond's best camp for wildlife viewing in the Delta. Activities here are land-based: walk on a palm-studded island or track big game in an open-sided vehicle. The camp, which is set in a lush forest, has a unique modern design full of light, curves, and cavernous archways with wooden shingled roofs echoing the plated armor of a pangolin. You may find it difficult to leave your cozy stilted cottage with its freestanding fireplace, split-level viewing deck, and plunge pool. However, the main lodge has a massage sala with Delta views that might do for awhile as well as a gym for exercise addicts. After a splendid dinner, enjoy a nightcap around a crackling fire under a star-studded sky. Like the other &Beyond camps, Sandibe welcomes children of all ages and has a special kids' program.

Inspired by the colors of the myriad waterlilies which fill the surrounding waterways in high flood, Xaranna's bright palette has mellowed with age, its pointed canvas roofs and rose, sage, and white decor blending into and complementing the natural beauty of its surroundings. The camp, which offers game drives, walks, and seasonal water activities, is in a permanent channel of the Okavango, so although there is wildlife here, it can be harder to access when the water is high from April to October. Make the most of the water wilderness experience—the beauty of the wide lagoons, the arching papyrus, snorting hippos, and glorious sunsets. Tents are spacious with a living room, bedroom, dressing room, and bathroom with both indoor and outdoor showers. During the day, cool off in your personal plunge pool or lounge in your sala (covered deck), gazing out at a sweeping lily-studded horizon as water birds crisscross the sky.

Offering all the Makgadikgadi activities, Camp Kalahari represents a more down-to-earth and affordable option in this area and is ideally suited to families. Spacious guest tents with wooden verandahs are decorated with grass mats, Persian kilims, canopied iron bedsteads, and polished trunks. The covered bathroom lies behind an ingenious, head-high paneled wall of dried palm fronds allowing light to enter from the back of the bedroom, giving it an airy, roomy feel. Go on a walk with the fascinating San Bushmen, who will charm you with their language of clicks and quirky sense of humor, speed across the flat-as-a-pancake salt pans on a quad bike or on horseback, or visit a colony of habituated meerkats. When you return to the paraffin-lamp-lit main area, a fire will be beckoning as you wash your hands with water from a copper pitcher and sit among an eclectic mix of handmade African wooden furniture, colonial antiques, and emerald aloes nestling in golden ammo casings.

Rebuilt in 2018 to match the style and specification of its sister Camp Okavango with spacious rooms and an expansive multi-level main area, this cleverly designed camp blends seamlessly into the woodland on the banks of Xakanaxa lagoon. Winding wooden walkways connect the bar, library, and elevated lounges, where you can relax among an eclectic mix of African ornaments, weathered chests, and numerous plush sofas replete with dozens of turquoise and marine-blue cushions. Thatched angular rooms with wood floors, desk, sofa, and a decadent mosaic-walled double shower are furnished in subtle tones. A private deck with loungers lies beyond a panel of concertina wood and glass folding doors, which open completely to remove any barrier between your room and the lush landscape outside. This corner of Moremi boasts a phenomenal diversity of wildlife, from elephants, giraffes, zebras and buffalo to lions, leopards, wild dogs, and cheetahs. Birdlife is similarly impressive­– if you are lucky, you might even spot the rare Pel's fishing owl from camp. Boating is also available throughout the year.

Unrecognizable from its former, humbler self, this solar-powered camp was rebuilt in 2016 on a grand scale comprising multi-layered decks and curved walkways that link the thatched dining, library, and lounge areas set among a forest of palm, knobthorn, and jackalberry trees. The fire-deck is the perfect place for the ultimate sunset vista before an alfresco dinner, and on sultry summer days a dip in the refreshing pool, situated on the lowest deck, is unbeatable. The large rooms are equally impressive, raised on stilts and built in harmony with their arboreal surroundings with flat, canvas-covered roofs, and natural wood and rattan furniture. A bank of wooden, concertina, mesh-panel doors opens up a whole wall of your bedroom and lounge, bringing you even closer to nature and leading onto a spacious deck. Inside, cream floor-to-ceiling curtains conceal your bathroom, with twin stone basins, a separate toilet, and a luxurious, double walk-in shower. The activity focus is on the wilderness experience rather than big game, so excursions are foot- or water-based. A highlight is drifting along a river in a mokoro toward a floating bar that's set up in the middle of a lagoon and is tended by a wading barman.

Be sure to have your camera at the ready in this predator-rich concession that borders the Moremi Wildlife Reserve; you'll want to take pictures of everything. With just five tents (two of which are suitable for families), Lediba is run as a smaller sister to the neighboring eight-room Chitabe Camp but is otherwise similar in all aspects. Spacious, comfortable tents on stilts are connected by raised wooden walkways that put you safely above the ground and grant you easy access around camp. You'll sleep in a comfortable, East African–style tent with wooden floors, a fine art wildlife print hanging above the bed, oversized armchairs, and both an indoor and outdoor shower. A separate thatch dining room, bar, and lounge area, also linked by wooden walkways, looks out over a floodplain, although there are no real water vistas. The camp has an excellent reputation for predator-sightings with lions, leopards, wild dogs, and cheetahs roaming a variety of habitats, from marshlands and riverine areas to open grasslands and seasonally flooded plains. Although the camp is theoretically situated on an island, the size of the island and the camp’s location means that water activities are not possible.

The only permanent lodge in the northeastern section of Chobe National Park, this grand old dame—Liz Taylor and Richard Burton got married for the second time here in the '70s—is a cut above the larger Kasane hotels and still maintains a lodge feel despite its size. Terracotta tiles, Rhodesian teak furniture, tribal artifacts with a Moroccan twist, and vibrant cushions create a distinctive pan-African ambience. The solid Moorish-style buildings—with their graceful high arches and barrel-vaulted ceilings—insulate the not-so-intrepid traveler from too-close encounters of the animal kind: baboon mothers have been known to teach their young how to turn a doorknob! The gorgeous gardens are a riot of color, attracting lots of small fauna; the extensive boardwalk above has a variety of decks and alcoves for alfresco group dinners or intimate celebrations. There's a well-stocked curio shop with great clothes and wildlife books. Don't miss out on the well-run daily activities from game drives to river cruises.

Situated on the banks of the Thamalakane River, Cresta Maun is one of Maun's largest and most modern hotels. An impressive atrium, which successfully melds local culture with an unusual flair for design, opens out onto a covered terrace; it's a great spot for sundowners. The terrace is flanked by an alfresco bar on one side and by an enclosed restaurant that serves a variety of international food on the other. The compact rooms, tastefully decorated in neutral tones, are ultramodern, with glass-walled showers in the bedroom. Facilities are as you would expect from this caliber of chain hotel and include air-conditioning, satellite TV, a gym, and free Wi-Fi.

Built around an 800-year-old baobab tree situated among lovely private gardens on the banks of the Chobe River, you'll find this lodge just 8 km (5 miles) from the entrance to Chobe National Park. Like its older sister, Chobe Safari Lodge, farther downstream, this lodge is more like a hotel than a safari lodge. That's not to say that you still won't get your full safari experience; you'll just be a bit cocooned away from the actual wilderness. Pleasantly decorated with an ethnic African theme, all 106 air-conditioned rooms overlook the river, on which you'll probably spend a fair amount of time bird-watching, game-viewing, or fishing. Morning and evening drives are available, but because the river roads are few, your game-viewing can sometimes become rather crowded in peak season. You can take a short flight or helicopter ride over the nearby Victoria Falls, go white-water rafting on the Zambezi, indulge in a spa treatment, or try a host of other activities. Children under 12 stay free.

A Maun institution, this comfortable modern hotel, now under Cresta ownership and situated on the banks of the Thamalakane River, is a far cry from the seven dusty rooms built by the legendary Harry Riley in the 1930s. Harry's Bar is still going, although planes no longer taxi straight up to the bar as in the good old days, and it's frequented more by businessmen than locals. Rooms are comfortable and clean but not particularly imaginative, and Riley's Grill still serves a good meal.  

One of the first tourism properties to open in the Okavango Delta, the focus of this enchanting camp, set on a remote island, is on experiencing the tranquility of the environment. Reed chalets, each with a private bathroom, are furnished with wood furniture and upturned mokoros; they look like something straight out of The Swiss Family Robinson. Each chalet faces northeast to catch the first rays of the sun as it rises above the palm trees, and below your glass-free windows are shallow, bird-filled pools, with deep waterways only paces from your front door. Activities include seasonal guided mokoro trails into the maze of waterways and game walks on adjacent islands with a professional licensed guide. The preservation of the environment is a key goal: materials are sourced locally where possible and a conscious effort is made to support local artisans. It is also strictly 100% solar, which combined with the lack of motorized transport, makes it one of the most eco-friendly camps in Botswana, and also one of the most peaceful.

 Request the treehouse for a truly unique experience and stupendous view.

Completely rebuilt in 2017, this new Relais & Chateaux member has been propelled from the ranks of simple comfort into the echelons of luxury with five giant, safari-style suites bursting with character. Borrowing many of the design aspects from its sister camp Zarafa—think ornate Zanzibar doors and polished wood floors—the rooms exude an understated luxury: leather sofa and armchairs, discreet bar and fridge, elegant writing desk, bedroom cooling system, copper claw-foot bath, and binoculars to use on game-drives. Large mesh panels with floor-to-ceiling curtains keep you connected to the natural world, even at night when chirping reed frogs and guffawing hippos lull you to sleep. Outside, your private deck, made of recycled railway sleepers, houses a plunge pool, sala, and exercise bike for fitness fanatics. The cavernous two-bedroom villa also comes with its own lounge, chef, guide, butler and private vehicle. The main lounge, library, and dining area continue the theme with comfy leather sofas, crimson rugs, and Indian chests that spill onto a spacious deck, overlooking the endless floodplains. But the emphasis here is firmly on the wildlife—the lion prides are famous for their proclivity for buffalo, and although their appetites are now more diverse, they still often hunt in daylight. Breakfast is frequently taken during your morning drive, and lunch can be brought to you so you don't miss out on the action. Return to camp by boat, where the surrounding water has created a paradise for birders, enticing herds of red lechwe, elephant, and other plains game, and the reintroduction of rhino completes an impressive bounty of wildlife riches.

Completely rebuilt in 2021 when it was catapulted into the premier ranks of Wilderness Safaris’s properties, this lavish, solar-powered camp boasts a spectacular location on the banks of the broad Linyanti river. The entrance is dominated by an imposing square bar, decorated with a tiled antique map of the concession—ideal for retracing the day's adventures—which separates the open-plan dining and lounge areas, shielded beneath a series of peaked canvas roofs. Rattan and leather chairs, and weathered trunks complement the lounge's predominantly neutral tones, beyond which a curiosity room houses a handful of natural exhibits and a fireplace. À la carte meals are served on separate tables on the split-level dining deck where you can watch elephants swim across the sapphire ribbon of water that stretches out beneath you. At night, descend to the floating bar, where pre-dinner entertainment is provided by a glockenspiel frog orchestra. Wooden walkways­—with sporadic gaps to allow crossing warthogs and hippos—lead to your luxury room, featuring a phone (for contacting staff), tablet (pre-loaded with guest information), Nespresso machine, bar fridge, and a bed cooling/heating system. A corridor links the bedroom to your private lounge, where you can sink into a leather couch or peruse the collages of wildlife-related sketches and facts that hang on your wall. Take a siesta on the daybed on your outdoor deck or cool off in the plunge pool. Rooms are identical at the more intimate four-room Little Duma Tau, which lies on the other side of the dedicated spa. In addition to the ubiquitous elephants, the concession has a good reputation for predators while seasonal mokoro and boat trips provide a welcome break from game drives. If you can't get enough of the river, you can even have brunch or dinner on the barge, which must be booked in advance. 

Surrounded by pristine waterways, tall palm trees, and vast floodplains, this predominantly solar-powered camp was imaginatively designed to mimic its surroundings. In the main thatched dining and lounge area, textured, conical suspended lampshades are oversized replicas of the weaver nests that hang from the nearby trees. Charcoal-gray, curved walls mirror the color and shape of the dripping elephants you will see emerging from the water while you're ensconced in a plush armchair by the cozy fireplace. The expansive thatched rooms continue the color theme of gray, turquoise, and burnished copper with a host of luxurious details: a marble-topped minibar, a bakelite telephone for contacting staff, automatic sensor lights for nocturnal necessities, a cavernous roll-top bath, and an infinity plunge pool on your deck. Gauze blinds and wide-open windows provide a natural alternative to the air-conditioning, should you prefer. Meals are à la carte and, unusually for a safari circuit, all the Belmond camps offer separate menus and wine-lists. At dawn and dusk hippos chortle, birds call, and hyenas whoop; activities are more experiential than game-focused and are predominantly foot- and water-based, though game drives replace water activities when water levels are low. Glide through crystal-clear water surrounded by a tunnel of towering, emerald-green papyrus in a mokoro; cruise across wide lagoons on a motorboat; or trek across pristine islands. Or stay in camp and sink into a birdcage-hanging chair in the Fish Eagle Bar, which juts out over the water, as the sun sets in a blaze of red and gold.

This is the ultimate back-to-nature experience but you'll be more than rewarded for the lack of luxury by a safari adventure that will live long in your memory. The night sounds are awesome, from roaring lions and whooping hyenas to the tuneful whistles of the Pearl-spotted owlet. Although the emphasis is on learning the secrets of the Okavango on foot, both game and night drives and seasonal water activities (boat and mokoro) are also available, and wildlife is plentiful. With just three tents, the camp, which is completely solar-powered, has a minimal ecological footprint, and small groups or families can have the place to themselves. Your cosy en suite tent, raised on a deck with indoor and outdoor shower, running water, and plug sockets, maintains a safari explorer vibe without sacrificing important creature comforts. Sip sundowners by the crackling fire, listening to the orchestra of bass hippos and descant nightjars before feasting on a three-course meal conjured up by a talented bush chef–you will feel like you have the whole of Africa to yourself. Families with children as young as seven can book the whole camp as a Young Explorers package with a specialist guide and activities tailored to the children's ages.

Rebuilt in 2020 on a grand scale, the new Jack's Camp represents a significant luxury upgrade while still maintaining its classic 1940s East African safari style and whimsical sense of adventure. Cavernous tents on decks, set in a palm grove, are lined with rose-patterned billowing ceilings and curtains, and feature Persian rugs, brass fittings, throne toilets, indoor and outdoor showers, and four-poster beds complete with cooling systems---a welcome addition for the summer months. A separate lounge area offers an array of plush seating among an eclectic mix of antique furniture, ostrich eggs, ancient artifacts, photos, and maps. Outside, on your expansive deck, a hanging daybed is suspended next to the plunge pool. The expanded mess tent comprises a bar area, complete with a snooker table, where drinks are served from a giant wooden chest­; a lounge-museum where oversized sofas and chests are surrounded by glass cases housing hundreds of fascinating natural history and anthropological exhibits; and a dining area where guests swap stories across a long single table, while savoring delicious plated meals, overlooking the surreal Makgadikgadi landscape. Afternoon tea is served in a separate cushion- and rug-laden tea tent, while a huge pool (often very cold) is housed in yet another tent. The camp's highly qualified guides are respected throughout Botswana for their love and commitment to this amazing area. Although the introduction of pumped waterholes means there is a larger resident population of zebra and wildebeest than in the past—elephants, lion, and even cheetah pass through on occasion—the focus is on unique desert-adapted animals and plants like meerkats, bat-eared foxes, brown hyenas, salt bushes, and desert palms. You can also explore the pans on quads or learn about the unique ecosystem from the enigmatic San Bushmen.