Botswana lodges are the crème de la crème of the world of luxury safari. As the country is made up of private concessions unless you go to the extremely busy Chobe National Park or Moremi Game Reserve, the prices naturally inflate. Botswana has followed a model of high quality, low quantity in their approach to tourism and it is exceptional at just this. Botswana is home to some of the most spoiling experiences on the continent. The private reserves mean that a lodge which would cost you $700 per person per night in say, southern Tanzania, would cost you $1,300 per person per night in the watery and beautiful Okavango Delta… To get fantastic wildlife viewing and a huge diversity in activities, all in the privacy of your own slice of wilderness, you have to pay a premium!
Best value quality safari lodges in Botswana
Prices have inflated a lot in Botswana in recent years, and they just seem to be going up and up. A lodge like Pom Pom, which admittedly is in an exceptional game viewing area, is now $1,150 per person per night. Aside from the exceptional guiding and wildlife, the actual accommodation is fairly rustic. A fantastic option for some people, though we wonder whether Botswana isn’t going a bit over the top in prices across the board...
A fantastic new property has opened in the Kwara concession; Splash Camp which is a part of the Kwando range. It is very nicely presented and offers a bit more luxury for your money in an exceptional wildlife area but still comes in at $1,416 per person per night.
In order to slash the price of being in these private wildernesses though, we would recommend travelling off season in either May or November, to get still exceptional wildlife, but for a lot less. For example, Pom Pom over these months decreases to $826 per person per night, and Splash reduces to $1,040.
The best barefoot luxury safari lodges in Botswana
Barefoot-luxury safari lodges are a pretty special experience. Little Vumbura in particular is an office favourite. Set on a little island surrounded by water and in one of the most enviable parts of the Delta, Little Vumbura is a seriously special experience. The style is understated, yet authentically luxurious and we absolutely love it. It is not cheap though! Even without all the added luxuries like private pools and a more glitzy design, Little Vumbura is priced at $2,830 per person per night.
Going a little more intrepid, but no less luxurious is Duba Explorers. This is a tented camp, and really does capture the spirit of exploration in the wilderness, certainly without compromising on luxury. Duba Explorers is for those who crave authentic experiences, but expect a certain standard of opulence on their adventure. It is not a cheap camping experience at $1,900 per person per night.
The most luxurious safari lodges in Botswana
The most luxurious safari camp in Africa, and probably one of the best hospitality experiences in the world comes in Mombo Camp located on Chief’s Island in the heart of the Okavango Delta. Private pool galore, the world’s most impressive wildlife viewing opportunities, golden bathtubs, huge rooms and excellent food; it doesn’t get much better than this. As it is one of Africa’s flagship safari lodges… There is again, a price tag to match! In recent years, prices have soared and now in peak season, for one night the per person price is $3,800 USD… If you want the life of luxury, have a good Botswana budget, but can’t justify that per night amount, you could look at the still exceptionally spoiling Vumbura Plains, Duba Plains or Zarafa which are all priced at $3,000 per person per night.
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Denis Island - Other Islands
Our View
Denis (like Des Roches ) is a wonderful private island. Great private beaches and diving and water sports. The joy of these lodges is that within a 10 minute cycle ride you can find completely deserted beaches
Our Rating:
Cost: $337
Des Roches - Other Islands
Our View
Des Roches is a wonderful private island, a great simple lodge with diving and water sports. Des Roches and Denis are very similarly priced and similar islands. The joy of these lodges is that within a 10 minute cycle ride you can find completely deserted beaches
Our Rating:
Cost: $690
Desert Nights Camp - Wahiba Sands
Our View
The Desert nights Camp is the only fixed and permenant camp in the Wahiba sands desert area. It offers fixed Bedouin style air conditioned tents. This is a good option for those wishing to experience the Wahiba desert in less personal but slightly more comfortable surroundings.
Our Rating:
Cost: $500
Desert Rhino Camp - Damaraland
Our View
Desert Rhino Camp is located in the private Palmwag Concession in the heart of Damaraland. The reserve is home to the highest concentration of wildlife outside Namibia’s Etosha National Park and most importantly the largest free roaming black rhino population in Africa. These desert rhino are one of Africa’s most unique species and subsequently one of Namibia’s primary attractions. The camp itself is a great base to explore the area, is well built and utterly charming but the rhino are the attraction here with the camp focussed around education about this endangered species. Tracking rhino on foot is the highlight of a stay here.
Our Rating:
Cost: $824
Dinarobin - Mauritius, West Coast
Our View
The flagship Beachcomber property in the south-west of the island is the up-market version of Le Paradis and is right next door. This area is wonderful for water sports and golf and the backdrop of Le Morne makes a great setting. This is a great option for all those seeking peace and tranquillity; but also offers more for anyone wanting external restaurants and golfing opportunities as a result of their tie-up with the neighbouring Paradis Hotel & Golf Club, who allow Dinarobin guests access to all facilities, including their 18-hole international golf course, and 4 restaurants.
Our Rating:
Cost: $530
Doro Nawas Camp - Damaraland
Our View
Doro Nawas Camp is located in the heart of Damaraland, approximately an hours drive from Damaraland Camp itself. The lodge is much larger than any of the other lodges in the area and subsequently loses that sense of authenticity that we believe this area deserves. Whats more, Doro Nawas is priced at approximately the same rate as nearby Damaraland Camp which is a far superior product. We therefore encourage people to book early and get into Damaraland Camp which we can guarantee gives a far better experience of Damaraland itself.
Our Rating:
Cost: $574
Duba Plains - Okavango Delta
Duba Plains was definitely a step up from Kwara. Smaller - only 6 rooms all well spaced out - and the last night we were the only guests and received star treatment with dinner laid out under the stars. Martin stood out as being an excellent camp leader. We spent a lot of time in our two days there watching a potential lion kill which eventually happened hours after we had left! On the last morning the 'boys' all went on a slightly scary speedboat trip looking or hippos, which were plentiful. Probably not as much variety of game as at Kwara but great to see the lions at close range. We were all sad to leave. - N Smith
Our Rating:
Client Rating:
Cost: $2,900
Ducret Congo River Cruise - Odzala-Kokoua National Park
Our View
The Congo Basin is the second largest forest in the world – and yet it’s largely untouched by tourism. This 4* cruise takes guests to the heart of this wonderful ecosystem bursting with species and life, and the rooms are spoiling too with spacious floor plans and muted, classy décor. It’s one of the most special – yet reasonably priced – excursions in Africa. There aren’t many places – or any we can think of for that matter - you can be trundling along a beautiful river in the heart of the African bush one moment and spending an hour with a family of gorillas the next.
Our Rating:
Cost: $
Dulini Leadwood | Sabi Sands - Sabi Sands
Our View
Dulini Leadwood is the most intimate and private of the Dulini properties in the Sabi Sands. It is perfect for larger families or couples, especially those on honeymoon, who want to escape into the African wilderness without any crowds. The smaller lodge size doesn't come at an extra price, making Leadwood the best value property of the three.
Our Rating:
Cost: $1,165
Dulini River Lodge - Sabi Sands
Our View
Dulini River Lodge (formerly Exeter River Lodge) is located in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve to the West of the Kruger National Park. This area of South Africa is well respected as being one of the finest game viewing areas on the planet and Dulini is now owning a number of great properties in the Sabi Sand's western sector. Dulini may not be as luxurious as the Singita’s nearby, but what really sets these lodges apart from their competition however is their price. It is superb value for money considering the level of accommodation on offer.
Our Rating:
Cost: $1,165
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