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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Our View
The only resort in the unspoiled divers’ paradise of Faafu Atoll, Filitheyo is a 4-star-plus resort, 120km from Male International Airport.
Our Rating:
Cost: $286
Flame Tree Village - Rwanda
Our View
Flame Tree Village is a small lodge in a good location in Kigali, perfect for a quick overnight before or after visiting the Mountain Gorillas. It is not a luxury option but is clean and comfortable, and good value.
Our Rating:
Cost: $100
Flatdogs - South Luangwa
Had deliberately chosen Flat Dogs as something a bit different from Old Mondoro & Tafika primarily because wasn’t sure how the girls would find the camps. Thought they might want something a bit larger with the chance of more company plus the pool. Whilst they certainly enjoyed the pool at Flat Dogs they much preferred the seclusion/exclusivity of the smaller camps. Tree House was a great location with some great viewings of elephants & giraffe in particular. However, the fact the tree was fruiting inevitably attracted vervet monkeys & baboons & we had a few interesting encounters with them! Alice also experienced a close encounter with 1 of the vervet monkeys when it leapt on to our table & stole her food at lunchtime. The staff were great & ensured she was ok & replaced her food.dn’t fault the camp or levels of service but the volume of vehicles in that area probably lets it down. We had some great sightings particularly wild dog, my favourite, but within minutes the vehicles start to queue. I do think that some guides develop their skill in spotting other vehicles rather than game! I guess it is a classic case of what you pay is what you get.
We enjoyed it but were ready to move on.
- C Gee
Our Rating:
Client Rating:
Cost: $300
Four Seasons - Mahe
Our View
With views that could rend even the most discerning of travellers speechless this resort really is unlike any other of its sister chain hotels. An unrivalled service, a unique blend of the Seychelles atmosphere, and the authenticity of the Four Seasons touch make this not just a Resort, but an experience.
Our Rating:
Cost: $413
Four Seasons Safari Lodge - Serengeti, Central
Bilila Lodge Kempinski - The location is of course beautiful, situated in the Seronera area of the Serengeti. We were collected from the airstrip by a superb driver who turned-out to be our guide/driver for all the private game-drives we'd organised through the hotel.The hotel itself is luxurious and stylish, delivering all modern requirements yet somehow without losing the true feeling of being in the middle of the Serengeti with the most perfect of views available from hotel rooms, infiniti pool, terrace or restaurant.
Staff were brilliant and incredibly friendly, providing world-class service. The food was again world-class and to rival some Michelin rated restaurants in my opinion.
The real star of the show is of course the Serengeti itself and our very skilled and friendly driver/guide showed superb knowledge and got us around to see everything possible. That included two sightings of leopards and even a pair of mating lions, which I'd assume is relatively rare. My wife and I were very impressed none-the-less.
This Kempinski hotel demonstrated what's possible with some thought and attention, offering true luxury in the middle of the Serengeti for those wanting to experience the place without perhaps sleeping under canvas.
Definitely a place we'd visit again..!! - M. Dennison
Our Rating:
Client Rating:
Cost: $725
Foxes Katavi Wildlife camp - Katavi
This lovely little camp, although simple, is what we think Katavi and safari is all about. Very comfortable considering where you are, the camp benefits hugely from having a prime spot at the mouth of the Katuma River. Every day, during the dry season, a whole host of game can be seen wandering into what is the only water source for miles around. It is common to have lion feasting right by your tent! Katavi is definitely one of the three parks in Africa where the wilderness experience has not been tamed.
Our Rating:
Cost: $575
Fregate Island - Other Islands
Our View
Fregate island used to be the jewel of the Seychelles – the ultimate private island lodge with boundless nature all around. The rooms are staggering and its beaches are some of the best in the Seychelles
Our Rating:
Cost: $2,317
Our View
Set in a Natural Heritage Site, Fugitives’ Drift overlooks the historical battlefields of both Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift. With daily tours out to the battlefields area anyone interested in the history of the 19th Century will love this place; it will give you a unique insight into the extraordinary battles fought out between the British Empire, Boers and Zulus.
Our Rating:
Cost: $250
Fumba Beach Lodge - Zanzibar, West Coast
On the whole, this is a very good hotel with the Suites standing out as a very good option. The communal area for the hotel is really what makes it and while the rooms are all very clean and tidy, the only drawback for us is that, unless you are in one of the suites, the beach is pretty much non-existent. The only bit of beach here is yellow and not the white sand like on the other side of the island.
Our Rating:
Cost: $290
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