49 Best Hotels in Botswana

Aptly rhyming with ‘wow’, this opulent, inventive camp, which was completely rebuilt in 2021, is a cocktail of innovative modern design and sustainability, with a squeeze of African flavor. The awe-inspiring entrance library-cum-natural history museum has a spiral staircase built around a life-size giraffe skeleton, above which a wine cellar shares space with rows of fully-stocked bookshelves. Tantalizing à la carte meals are served in the glass-fronted bar and dining room (with winter fireplace) or outside on the deck where the elevated perspective is akin to living in the treetops. Hanging chairs and comfy sofas provide plenty of chill-out areas in the evening, or descend to the firepit at the water’s edge below. Cavernous suites dwarf the size of most city apartments, and come complete with kitchenettes with designer coffee machines, minibars, dining tables, lounge areas, a/c, fireplaces, electric blankets, freestanding baths, indoor and outdoor showers, tablets, and phones. Doze on your circular suspended daybed on the deck or take a dip in the infinity plunge pool–the views are spectacular whichever you choose. Family-size villas sleep up to 6 and include a private chef and fire-pit. Despite the glamour, conservation is a priority–thatched roofs are in fact made from recycled plastic, as is the pseudo-wood deck floor. Spot buffalo, red lechwe, elephants and fish eagles as you speed through narrow channels by boat (when the flood is high), glide in a mokoro through meadows of water lilies or search for big game by vehicle. For weary travelers, the tranquil spa might be just the ticket.

The simple, natural charm of solar-powered Kanana makes you feel part of the Delta, not cocooned away from it. Game drives, glass-bottom mokoroing, boating, and bush walks (nearby islands host resident Pel's fishing owls) are all part of the experience, but a visit to the Thapagadi Lagoon is a must. The lagoon is home to a fantastic heronry, where maribou, open-billed, and yellow-billed storks nest with all kinds of herons, cormorants, pelicans, darters, and egrets—you'll never forget the sounds of this avian community. Game viewing on land is similarly impressive with elephants, buffalo, lions, leopards, wild dogs, and cheetahs all roaming the palm-studded landscape. Roomy safari tents (where tea and coffee are brought at dawn by a cheerful staff member) with wooden decks overlook dense reed beds and a papyrus-thick floodplain. Dark wood furniture is complemented by colorful rugs and throws, while the bathroom features a walk-in shower and twin basins. You'll fall asleep to the sound of hippos munching, squelching, and splashing outside your tent and awake to tumultuous birdsong. Public areas are built around a massive, ancient fig tree, with an open dining deck where imaginative silver-service dinners are served under the myriad twinkling stars. With 360-degree views of the surrounding floodplain, the über-romantic, raised sleep-out deck located a short drive from camp is an unforgettable experience.

Despite its traditional thatched roof and African artifact adornments, a handful of modern design elements distinguish this regal camp, overlooking the Linyanti River. Monochrome geometric prints line the dining area walls and next door, copper leaf-shaped light shades are suspended above a marble-topped bar. A double-sided fireplace separates the cozy library—complete with antique-style maps and lamps—from the lounge's tan-leather sofas. Below, two sunken, semicircular alcoves, filled with earth-color cushions and each set around a fire, inevitably delay diners before they finally succumb to the appetizing smells from the à la carte menu emanating from the individually laid, bleached wood tables above. Take a break from your game viewing to relax on a couch (or eat brunch) aboard the Queen Silvia barge (only when the water is high) as you watch elephants swim across to Namibia. Alternatively, take a guided bush walk, go fishing, or visit the sunken blind where you're eye-level with splashing elephant feet. The massive hand-carved door of your mega-size thatched chalet leads into an entrance hall with a dressing table and minibar, bedroom with four-poster bed, a huge bathroom with double tiled showers, and twin wing-back armchairs with access to your outside deck, sala, and plunge pool. 

If you want to escape the real world for a while, then this small, quiet, attractive lodge on the banks of the Chobe, which prides itself on its seclusion, is right for you; it has no phones, radios, or TV in its rooms. Situated where Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Zambia meet, the 11 en suite thatch chalets are on stilts and are unpretentiously but comfortably furnished in earth tones. After your Chobe National Park game drive or boat cruise, come back and take a leisurely saunter around the Kubu Lodge Nature Walk—be on the lookout for dozens of birds and the endemic Chobe bushbuck—or go next door to the Crocodile Farm and eyeball some immense reptiles.

Looking out over the endless floodplains of the Kwando river, Lebala (the sister camp to Kwando Lagoon Camp) is aptly named (it means wide, open spaces) and benefits from the same fantastic wildlife arena. The elevated timber and canvas tents have sliding mesh doors that open onto a teak deck. After a long day in the bush, soak off the dust in your Victorian claw-foot tub or if you want to get even closer to nature, indulge in the double outside shower. Climb the raised hide to marvel at the stunning endless vistas; on morning or evening game drives you'll see loads of game, with predator tracking a specialty; guided walks are also possible.

Spun from the same cloth as the properties in the Kwando concession, this 100% solar camp is a rare year-round land and water camp, located in a prolific wildlife area. Spacious canvas-and-wood pole tents have lined ceilings, a cotton-white canopied bed, and a separate lounge area furnished with a sofa, armchairs, and rug in neutral earthy tones. Luxuriate in your claw-foot bath or venture outside to revel in the outdoor rain shower. On the back wall dark-wood shutters aid ventilation in summer, while in front, wood and mesh sliding doors lead to a deck with lagoon views. Rooms are well spaced out on either side of the main area, ensuring complete privacy, and each side of camp has its own pool, complete with a drinks fridge. Meals tend to be taken communally unless specifically requested, where the dining area is separated from the leather-sofa-filled lounge by a small bar. If the camp’s public areas appear to prioritize functionality over aesthetic embellishments, it is probably a reflection of Kwara’s primary focus, which is firmly on safari activities. Wildlife viewing can be spectacular with lions, leopards, cheetahs, and wild dogs all frequently seen, as well as hordes of plains game, and having a dedicated tracker and guide further enhance your potential sightings on both day and night game drives, which come equipped with complimentary binoculars. For birders, the cacophonous Godikwe heronry, accessible by boat, comes alive from September through February when hundreds of storks, herons, egrets, and pelicans arrive to breed. For a change of pace, float along crystal clear channels in a mokoro after which you might arrive at an impromptu gin bar, where you can choose from multiple flavors of gins, tonics, and even ice.

Perched on high wooden stilts amid a forest canopy on a small island surrounded by enormous open plains, this intimate, unpretentious camp exudes an authentic safari atmosphere. The public areas overlooking the floodplains are built around huge sausage, marula, and sycamore fig trees, with a giant jackalberry dominating the bar. Each spacious canvas-roofed room is set like a child's building block in the middle of a large wooden walkway built high into the trees. Glass sliding doors provide easy access to your deck with commanding views while inside, white linen ceilings, natural wood floors, coir mats, cow-hide ottomans, and L-shaped sofas create a warm, homey atmosphere. Rooms are also equipped with tea, coffee, biscuits, and both indoor and designer outdoor showers. After an afternoon game drive or mokoro trip, end your day with a sundowner (cocktail) by the lagoon illuminated by flickering lanterns, with entertainment by the best in local talent—snorting hippos, whooping hyenas, and singing nightjars. Ask for the honeymoon suite when you book—it is the only one with a romantic stone bath on the deck.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.