With a lack of major cities (truly no bad thing) boutique hotels in Botswana don’t normally spring to mind, and sleek urban boltholes are certainly hard to come by! But, that doesn’t mean there isn’t some top-notch accommodation to tempt your fancy – and these are are absolute favourite boutique spots in Bots…
San Camp
Makgadikgadi Pan
If it’s old-school safari luxury you seek, San Camp is it. This classically-styled camp in the heart of the Makgadikgadi sings with history, from the evening banquets under starry skies, butlers to attend your every need, paraffin lanterns twinkling in the dark and the beautiful vintage accents sprinkled throughout. The bedouin tents, Persian rugs and luxe furnishings will beckon you in and make you wonder if it’s ever possible to leave – and we’ll tell you now, it’s not easy. But it’s so much more than just the aesthetics at San. Spend your time exploring the vast, moon-like pans that surround the camp enjoying otherworldly sunsets accompanied by the local mob of habituated meerkats and meeting the Bushmen. Style, luxury and a fantastic experience? That’s San for you.
Little Mombo Camp
Central Okavango
An Okavango Delta icon, Little Mombo Camp is the epitome of a boutique Botswana stay. The tiny camp has just three tents to ensure the utmost privacy, and the contemporary interiors are beautiful, from the rooms through to the stunning main areas. Each room has an outdoor rain shower and shady deck to make the most of the spectacular views, and there are plenty of spaces in camp to relax between game drives with a G&T. Otherwise, book a spa treatment, enjoy a woodfired pizza overlooking the floodplains, or allow the sommelier to select something for you to be enjoyed around the firepit as you reflect on what’s no doubt been a pretty spectacular day on safari.
Jao Camp
Central Okavango
If your Botswana research has led you to the Okavango Delta, chances are you might have already stumbled across Jao Camp. This quintessential spot was one of the region’s first luxury camps and feels entirely apart from the rest of the Delta. With both land and water based experiences on offer, every day is an adventure here, and the continuous rising and falling of the flood waters mean that no two days are ever the same. But Jao is also a place to truly relax: sleep under traditional thatch, shower in the great outdoors, sink into plush beds at the end of the day, or enjoy an evening slumbering under the stars. This is an unforgettable safari experience and the kind you’ve previously only dreamt of.
Linyanti Expeditions
Linyanti
A remote location, wildlife viewing fit for a storybook, nobody else in sight, and gorgeous, authentic tents in which to lay your head? It sounds too good to be true but we’re very happy to report that you can find it all at Linyanti Expeditions in the Linyanti Reserve. When it comes to camping, there are tents and then there are tents, and the ones at Linyanti rise above them all. Expect fluffy bedding, ensuite bathrooms with flushing loos and hot bucket showers, and a private, mesh-enclosed extension, perfect for sleeping under the stars and getting as close to nature as possible. Wildlife-wise, expect plenty of elephants (especially in the dry season), lion, hippo, wild dog, and the unique sable antelope. The birds here are also plentiful and their dawn chorus will likely be the first sound you hear in the morning, as the sun rises through the crisp morning air and the scent of coffee drifts towards you. Now, that’s what we call luxury…
Duba Plains
Central Okavango
If ever there was a picture-perfect location for a camp, Duba Plains occupies it. Set beneath fairytale trees, epic vistas stretching for miles, it’s in the heart of a private concession in the Okavango Delta and so remote that you can only reach the camp by air – bound to make you feel just a little like James Bond as you touch down. The luxuriously-appointed rooms all have four-poster beds and rich leather furniture, and the views in the morning as you peel your head from the (finest feathered!) pillows are unbelievable. Foodies can rest assured that the food is sublime. From gourmet dinners to the delectable canapes served with sundowners, and firepit breakfasts, everything is mouth-watering and adds a certain something to one of the best boutique hotels in Botswana.
Tuludi Camp
Khwai, Okavango Delta
In the northern fringes of the Delta, the Khwai concession is remote and (very often!) much quieter than some of her counterparts. Up here there’s just a sprinkling (four to be precise) of camps, meaning you’ll feel like the area’s all your own – well, yours to share with an abundance of wildlife that is. It’s not just the blissful isolation that entices here, and Tuludi Camp’s vibrant interiors practically beg you to come in and look around. We’re talking brightly-patterned cushions atop lime-green sofas, mirrored bars, cosy library treehouses – and a slide! Twice-daily game drives and mokoro trips will scratch any itches you have for adventure and once you’ve returned from your expeditions, the rooms call. As big as palaces and raised on decks, all of them have enormous beds resplendent with beautiful linens, ‘Evening Breeze’ cooling systems, vast outdoor decks and views for days. What’s not to love?
&Beyond Chobe Under Canvas
Chobe National Park
What if boutique was less about the art on the walls or the in-room Italian espresso maker and more about private, wild, once-in-a-lifetime experiences? Let us introduce you to &Beyond Chobe Under Canvas. Yes, this might be ‘camping’ but it’s camping with all the added extras, so really, you’re not roughing it at all! And whilst the interiors are more than comfortable, it’s the exterior that makes Chobe Under Canvas truly one of a kind. The camp moves every five to six days, meaning you’ll always be optimally positioned for the best wildlife sightings, and to make the most of the stunning terrain. Meals (and delicious treats) are prepared over an open fire and each night, you’ll gather around it, G&T in hand, to fully debrief on the day, perhaps accompanied by the sound of a lion roaring…. So go on, review your definition of boutique and fall in love with &Beyond Chobe Under Canvas.
Little Vumbura Camp
Central Okavango
Intimate, stylish and beautiful, Little Vumbura is right at the top when it comes to boutique lodges in Botswana. The small camp has just 6 tents, guaranteeing you top-tier service throughout your stay, and the cosy, soft-hued interiors are calming and restful. Location-wise, Little Vumbura occupies an island (you can actually only reach the camp by boat) in the heart of the Delta and is surrounded by the trees of an ancient forest. The famous waters of the Delta offer traditional mokoro rides and boat safaris, as well as fishing and incredible birding opportunities. But make some time to relax in camp too, however, either by the plunge pool for a spot of sun-lounger wildlife-viewing, outside your room with a traditional ‘marula’ cocktail, or on the Star Deck as darkness falls and the sky comes alive.
Xigera Safari Lodge
Central Okavango
We’ve given you humble stays beneath the stars and picturesque camps in the middle of nowhere, but we thought we’d finish with a little out-and-out luxury. Xigera Safari Lodge (previously known as Xigera Camp) re-opened on the aptly-named Paradise Island in the Delta. With a private wine cellar, library, sparkling pool, extensive spa menu and stunning artwork and sculptures sprinkled throughout, Xigera is luxurious with a capital L. The lodge is not oblivious to its surroundings, however, and the interiors are a celebration of African design and art, and highlight the wild landscape at every turn. There is also a real commitment to sustainability, and partnerships with the local communities in both realms are inspiring. The lodge is also powered almost exclusively by solar with no single-use plastics on the property.
