Known for its mega-watt camps, gourmet meals in the bush cooked by internationally-acclaimed chefs, and helicopter flights above the astounding scenery, it isn’t difficult to enjoy Botswana in (total) luxury. Surrounded by wild beauty, you’ll be treated like royalty whether that’s on boating safaris or in the spa. If you fancy a safari where luxury is never far away, read on for our guide on how to do it.
Classic Botswana
This quintessential journey will whisk you through Botswana’s favourite spots in the ultimate luxury. The trip begins in Botswana’s most famous destination, the Okavango Delta, an 18,000 square-kilometre wilderness that teems with wildlife. Explore from the sky on helicopter safaris and slightly closer to ground level with mokoro adventures on the spindly waterways, before making your way to the wildlife wonderland of Linyanti. Here you can expect big cats, enormous herds of elephants and (the biggest luxury of all) not too many other people. Your last stop will be Chobe where you’ll take to the river on lazy sunset boat cruises and tick off the last of your bucket-list sightings. Your final stop will be Victoria Falls, one of the most magnificent waterfalls in the world. Technically not in Botswana, it’s worth the extra travel as truly, there’s not another sight quite like it in the world.
Opulent spots to stay
Designed with impeccable taste and an artistic vision, Xigera Safari Lodge occupies its own island in the Okavango Delta. Expect plenty of private moments including sleep outs atop the three-storey baobab-inspired deck. Surrounded by waterways and hippo-filled lagoons, Linyanti’s Duma Tau Camp promises glorious views from every corner, waterside plunge pool included. In Chobe, traverse the great Chobe River on the Zambezi Queen, a five-star vessel with world-class cuisine, designer suites and incredible wildlife-spotting from the top deck. Just a short boat ride away from Victoria Falls, Tongabezi Lodge is the riverside retreat of dreams. We highly recommend the pontoon experience, during which your lunch is paddled to you via canoe!
Falls and Deltas
Your trip begins on an adventurous note at the thrilling Victoria Falls. Peer into the depths of the rumbling Batoka Gorge from the walkway as plumes of mist rise around you, or go one step further with a helicopter flights, a dip in the precipitous Devil’s Pool or even a bungee jump (phew!). Your next stop is the great Chobe National Park, a place that’s famed for its surreal numbers of elephant that gather along the banks of the river. Other camera-worthy moments included the thousand-strong herds of antelope that are pursued daily by hungry predators… Your journey comes to an end in the Okavango Delta with a few days in the Khwai Private Reserve. Explore shimmering waterways by mokoro and drive across the floodplains in search of leaping sitatunga, elephant, leopard and incredible birdlife.
Opulent spots to stay
On a private island just upstream from Victoria Falls, the River Lodge Island Treehouses are wonderfully intimate and elegantly designed, and we’ll bet your favourite spot will be the plunge pool suspended above the river. The views are to die for… At &Beyond Chobe Under Canvas, the luxury lies in its closeness to nature and in the Okavango Delta, choose Sanctuary Chief’s Camp, which lives up to its reputation as one of Botswana’s finest with private pools, unmatched exclusivity and a seriously dreamy view. Round things off in Khwai Private Reserve at Sable Alley; the elegant tents sit along the edge of the floodplains where a parade of animals come to drink – and you can lap it all up from the pool.
From the desert to the Delta
Wonderous scenery and mind-boggling experiences are the theme of this trip, which starts with a bang in the Makgadikgadi Pan. In this otherworldly landscape, you’ll zoom across the shimmering salt pans by quad bike, meeting a colony of meerkats along the way and joining local Bushmen on an illuminating walk – and a lesson in survival. Enter an entirely different world as you travel to the Okavango Delta, a juicy green wetland where mokoro rides, walking safaris and wildlife in abundance are the name of the game. Finally, you’ll arrive in Linyanti, one of the most untouched regions in Botswana. Game drives will reveal enormous herds of elephant as well as a plethora of predators including lions, leopards and the rare African painted dog. Talk about the best of both worlds.
Opulent spots to stay
An island of opulence in the Makgadikgadi Pan, gorgeous Jack’s Camp is all sumptuous vermillion tents filled with antiques and vintage-style furnishings. You’ll even find a swimming pool in one of them! In the Okavango, we rather like Little Mombo on Chief’s Island in the Moremi Game Reserve. Occupying prime real estate, the camp has just three handsome tents, all styled to the nines with high-end amenities – a massage on your private deck is just what you need after a day spent on safari. Or plump for one of the Zarafa Dhow Suites, a place where exclusivity is redefined behind stunning Zanzibari doors.
Vic Falls and Botswana for adventurers
This trip begins at Victoria Falls with a whole host of activities on the water, in the air, or somewhere in between. Before long, a game vehicle will be calling your name from Chobe National Park, and you’ll head off to spot elephants, antelope, zebra and prowling big cats along the iconic Chobe River. Next up, you’ll be whisked off to the Okavango Delta to fill your days with meandering mokoro rides, walking safaris and helicopter rides for the most luxurious of views. Your final stop is the surreal Makgadikgadi Pan, a sun-baked landscape where you can learn about what it takes to survive there from local Bushmen, watch the goings-on of a meerkat colony and enjoy some of the most scenic sundowners on the planet.
Opulent spots to stay
Only accessible by boat, Royal Chundu Island Lodge has just four beautifully-decorated villas (say hello to your extra-length King-size bed) set along the banks of the Zambezi River. The food is divine and the view is as dreamy as they come. Overlooking the mighty Chobe River, Sanctuary Chobe Chilwero has guides of the highest standard and a spa for the most indulgent of massages after a day of safari-ing. In the Okavango Delta, Gomoti Private Camp is distinctive and eclectic and in the Makgadikgadi Pan, San Camp manages to combine the finest standard of living (plush tents and gourmet dining) with a truly authentic safari experience.
