50 Best Hotels in Botswana

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.

Be prepared to get wet as you gallop through knee-deep, crystal clear floodwaters among herds of giraffe on your chosen steed at this specialist horseback safari camp. Wade past oblivious, munching elephants, before arriving at the tree house—a deck built into the canopy of a gigantic strangler fig, where dry clothing materializes and brunch is hoisted 5 meters from the ground via an ingenious dumbwaiter pulley system; you can even sleep here if you wish. A laid-back atmosphere pervades the unpretentious 100% solar camp—eight simple but comfortably furnished en suite tents sit on elevated decks, and the mess tent’s sumptuous leather sofas will soothe weary limbs while you gaze at monochrome prints reminding you of the day’s adventures. A much larger honeymoon tent with roll-top bath and his-and-hers basins is available for a supplement. After the morning’s exertions, recline on rattan loungers beneath swaying weaver nests or cool off in the communal plunge pool overlooking an emerald floodplain. Shorter afternoon rides are more sedate, or you can opt for a game-drive, boat excursion, mokoro, or guided walk—activities also available to non-riders. Bush dinners can be a treat, when a live termite mound doubles up as a delicious pizza oven.

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 small and intimate camp offers the same excellent service as Mashatu Lodge and its location, deep in the wilderness, will make you feel part of the heartbeat of Africa as you lie in your tent and listen to a lion's roar, a hyena's whoop, or a leopard's cough. Eight spacious tents with carpeted floors, each with a tiny verandah overlooking the surrounding bush, provide an unparalleled back-to-nature feeling. A fenced walkway leads to an en suite bathroom where the stars are your roof. Knowledgeable local rangers will open your ears and your eyes to the environment. There's plenty of water nearby, so the game is also plentiful, and, with lions, leopards, hyenas, and occasionally cheetahs all in the vicinity, there is a real chance to witness some unforgettable predator interaction. This camp may not be for everyone, but for something truly different, real, and very special, a stay here won't soon be forgotten.

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.

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.

Named after the 19th-century explorer Thomas Baines, whose imposing portraits adorn the dining area walls, the focus of this intimate and innovative camp is more on experiential luxuries such as candle-lit private dinners and à la carte meals served with a selection of artisan breads. Return from an afternoon game drive to find your room-for-two freestanding bubble-filled bath ready and waiting on your private lantern-lit deck beneath a glittering canopy of stars. Relatively compact rooms decorated with playful splashes of color are equipped with desks, simple chairs, tea, coffee, and a minibar, while your four-poster bed can be wheeled out onto the deck so you can sleep under the stars should you desire. A series of rope-lined raised wooden walkways, reminiscent of a miniature suspension bridge, leads to the thatched main area where a marine-blue bar mirrors the water lapping outside, creating a relaxed, almost beach-bar vibe accompanied by guffawing hippos. The neighboring colorful lounge continues the quirky theme, providing a welcome change from the traditional khaki palette. Conservation is also a priority: ingeniously, the lodge’s insulation is provided by 150,000 recycled cans incorporated within the walls. Activities include game drives, which can stretch to the southern tip of game-rich Chief’s Island, walks, and seasonal boats and mokoros.

Ultra-luxurious Chief's Camp is set on its eponymous island, with some of the greatest predator and wildlife viewing on the continent. Gigantic, decadent thatched pavilions blend natural wood and African decor with every mod-con imaginable—think electric blankets, a/c, two-way radios, and Nespresso machines. Admire the view from the freestanding bath or cool off in the plunge pool on the private oversized deck, which has a sala and dining area should you feel unable to tear yourself away from your room for dinner. The Geoffrey Kent suite offers even more exclusivity with a private chef, butler, and guide. A large thatched roof houses the main lounge, bar, and dining area, where a split-level deck leads to an inviting pool overlooking a (frequently) waterlogged floodplain—at high flood, you can mokoro straight from the lodge. Hit the gym to work off your à la carte dinner or indulge yourself at the dedicated spa; there is even a children's room, complete with dress-up animal costumes for youngsters aged six and over.

Smaller and more intimate than most of the accommodation options around Kasane, this peaceful luxury lodge, perched on a small hill on the border of Chobe National Park, is probably the closest fit to the small camps prevalent around the rest of the country. The aptly-named lodge---Chilwero means "high view" in Setswana, the national language---has 15 spacious thatched cottages, which feature en suite bathrooms, private gardens, and viewing decks with stunning vistas of the Chobe River. The Pool Suite also boasts a plunge pool and comes with a private guide. Feast on the gourmet food, cool off in the split-level swimming pool, or pamper yourself with a beauty treatment at the stylish spa. All the Chobe activities are available, from walking safaris and fishing to game drives, day trips to the nearby Vic Falls, and the must-not-miss sunset cruises. There's also a very good children's program featuring treasure hunts and bush walks in the grounds. Although you're not far from town, the privacy and exclusivity of the lodge will persuade you that you are miles away from civilization.

It's worth booking the Pool Suite as it is only marginally more expensive than a regular room.

Named after the famous adventurer who uttered the immortal lines, “Dr Livingstone, I presume”, Sanctuary Baines' Camp’s friendly sister camp is built in a traditional East African style on an island of jackalberry, fever berry, and sausage trees. An assortment of leather sofas, wooden chests, and antique maps create a classic safari explorer theme in the expansive main lounge, spilling into a lively circular bar overlooking an emerald floodplain­, which is waterlogged during the peak flood months. Below this a hidden cushion-filled bench offers ringside seats to gaze at the wildlife wandering across the open plain. Spacious tented rooms with private decks and glass doors are furnished in neutral tones with monochrome wildlife prints, slate-gray armchairs, a kettle, minibar, and indoor shower. Crisp linen curtains flank the oversized mesh windows, which together with the cream-colored ceiling adds a light and homely air. Take a dip in the pool while watching giraffe stroll across the savanna before your afternoon game-drive, walk, or mokoro. The private concession is located on the edge of Moremi Game Reserve, resulting in dependable game-viewing and a fantastic variety of wildlife including several nearby spotted hyena dens.

Situated in the thriving Savuti region famed for its elephants, this lodge, the most luxurious in the area, is 100% solar-powered, offers à la carte meals and features a ground-level hide to gawp at drinking pachyderms. Air-conditioned tented rooms are elegantly furnished with a natural wood desk, leather and cane chairs and plush navy-blue sofa, the color of which is complemented by the rest of the room's refreshing cobalt and aquamarine décor. Choose between an indoor or outdoor shower, and for cold winter mornings and evenings, the air-conditioning unit even features a built-in heater function. Beyond the wood and glass sliding doors lies your private viewing deck, with comfortable chairs and a canopied day-bed, overlooking the now-dry Savuti Channel, where pumped waterholes are a magnet for thirsty elephants in the dry season. As the camp is in Chobe National Park, night drives and walking are against regulations, but you'll still see plenty of animals and birds during the day; Savute is particularly well known for its predator populations. If you are here during full moon, the sight of masses of great, gray, elephantine shapes gleaming in the moonlight is truly unforgettable.

You will lose count of the number of elephants you spot from your room in this friendly lodge, nestled on the banks of the now-dry Savuti Channel. The exterior of the main building and the safari suites are traditional thatch and timber; inside, the neutral tones of the soft furnishings complement the view outside your windows. A wall of glass patio doors leads to your oversize veranda, from which you can watch game drinking from the riverbed's pumped waterhole in front of camp. Scrumptious late-morning brunches and candlelit buffet dinners are served on a raised open-sided deck almost within touching distance of the gray, ghostly shapes of elephants who saunter past on their nocturnal wanderings. In winter, you will appreciate the cozy bar's open fireplace as you sip your aperitif and swap stories of the day's events and excellent wildlife sightings, no doubt including some spectacular predator action.

This intimate friendly camp has only six thatched chalets, which are raised on stilts above the seasonal Savuti Channel. Several bridges allow you to traverse both sides of the river in search of the many resident predators—lions, leopards, cheetahs, and wild dogs can all be spotted here—during day and night game drives. Keen photographers and those looking for a break from the safari vehicle can take advantage of either a sunken hide or a log-pile hide close to camp. Both are most productive when the water is low (normally before the flood arrives in August) and the latter may be inaccessible at high flood. The elevated thatched main area (including a bar, pool, and viewing decks) has armchairs and wicker furniture with khaki and umber tones matching the environment outside. Comfortable en suite rooms with canvas walls, snug armchairs, and writing desks continue the natural earth color scheme. For something a bit more adventurous, you can spend the night on one of three sleep-out decks located a short drive from camp, with just a mosquito net separating you from a giant dome of sparkling stars.

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.

Situated en route to Moremi Game Reserve, this lovely lodge sits on the bank of the Thamalakane River with 32 very comfortable stone-and-thatch en suite chalets that overlook the river. Breakfast is included and there is also a pool. There are two Kingfisher family units, which have two bedrooms and a shared bathroom. Dinners are either à la carte or plated set menus, depending on numbers.

Recently rebuilt, renovated, and renamed, this giraffe-themed camp (formerly Royal Tree Lodge) is the closest you will get to a safari camp in Maun. In addition to the giraffes, which are being sensitively habituated by resident zoologists, you can walk or ride on horseback among zebras, wildebeests, kudus, elands, gemsboks, impalas, and ostriches. Nine comfortable and vibrant en suite, air-conditioned tents on decks are adorned with playful giraffe patterns and feature indoor claw-foot baths and outside showers. Two larger thatched chalets provide a slightly more cosseted option. Meals are taken on the scenic patio, shaded by leadwood and bird plum trees. There is enough to occupy two nights here if time allows and the sunset giraffe activity promises to be a unique not-to-be-missed wildlife experience.

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.

If it's old-style African safari ambience you're looking for, then this camp, which was renovated in 2022, is not for you as these modern-style buildings are all about space, shape, light, and texture on a grand scale. Public areas are furnished with aquamarine sofas, wall stencils, enticing hanging chairs, and some exquisite indigenous African artwork. The art deco–style carved wooden bar divides the lounge area from the dining area, which is decorated with dry hollow palm trunks and hanging lamps that mimic the local sausage trees. Sip your coffee or after-dinner drinks in deep padded L-shaped sofas by firelight on the deck as frogs pipe and fireflies dance. Each en suite room has a huge wooden outside deck, with comfortable lie-out chairs, a thatched sala (daybed area), and a plunge pool. Inside, the enclosed living spaces have floor-to-ceiling windows and mesh doors that capture every source of light, from the early rays of dawn to the blazing sunset. Curl up with a book in your cushioned, sunken lounge, snooze in your king-size bed, or cool off in the emperor-size, mosaic-floor shower. Underwater waterlily landscapes line the back wall and shower screen providing a welcome splash of color amid the predominantly neutral decor. A hot air balloon based nearby provides a novel break from the regular safari activities in winter.

Don't miss out on the superb curio shop; it's one of the best in Botswana.

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.