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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Ankarana Lodge - Ankarana Special Reserve
Our View
This simple but comfortable hotel is the most convenient location from which to visit Ankarana Special Reserve, and offers lovely views of the surrounding dry deciduous forest.
Our Rating:
Cost: $97
Anna of Zanzibar - Zanzibar, East Coast
Anna of Zanzibar is a great smaller option for those looking to relax in style, but in a more intimate setting than some of Zanzibar’s larger resorts. It sits on one of the islands best beaches, the rooms are large and comfortable and the food is delicious.
Our Rating:
Cost: $340
Ant's Nest - Other Reserves
Our view
Ants Nest is an old school homestead and one of the best horse-riding bases in Africa. It’s all about outdoor exploration and campfire tales. That said, the rooms are spacious with a classic barefoot luxury feel. It encapsulates what safari accommodation has always been about: incredible locations with an adventurous heart, but without any of the added fuss.
Our Rating:
Cost: $
Apoka Lodge - Uganda
Our View
Located in the extraordinarily remote Kidepo Valley National Park, Apoka is a must do for any safari die hards. The park is so far off the beaten track, right up in the North of Uganda on the border with South Sudan, that it just isn't right for every trip. But for those willing to commit to the time and expense of getting up here, it is well worth it - game viewing here is exceptional and the park has come to be known as Uganda's Serengeti (but with far less visitors than the real one!). Apoka has a prime location in the park and is brilliantly run, really the only option that we would recommend.
Our Rating:
Cost: $300
Arathusa Safari Lodge - Sabi Sands
Our View
Arathusa Safari Lodge is one of the best options in the private Sabi Sands reserve if you don’t want to splurge on luxury, but are after a world-class safari location. Many of the options in this reserve - that sits happily next to the Kruger - are super luxurious, exclusive, and therefore come at a huge cost. However, Arathusa hits a unique middle ground in this region. It is perfectly comfortable, has delicious food and fabulous rooms, a swimming pool, but isn’t bothered about any extra fuss. As a result, it’s affordable - and still offers an exceptional stay.
Our Rating:
Cost: $
Arusha Coffee Lodge - Arusha
Another of the exceptional Elewana properties, the Arusha Coffee Lodge is in the pick of the lodges that surround Arusha. It can feel a little like it is just a passing through point at times as most faces only remain for a night and are then gone, but staying for a couple of nights can be a very enjoyable experience and it is great for families. The main benefits for the lodge are that it has a great outside area with tables set out amongst the green grass. However, it is one of the most expensive options for Arusha and when usually just staying a night, there are other choices that keep the cost down.
Our Rating:
Cost: $237
Atzaro Okavango Camp - Okavango Delta
Our view
Atzaro offers a luxurious hideaway in the Okavango Delta without going over the top. As one of Africa Bush Company’s flagship ‘icon’ properties, this is some of their best work, with chic designs, private pools - and quite honestly, anything your heart desires - in a wonderful game viewing area. It’s a brilliant Delta option for earthy luxury, and the wildlife experiece is equally as impressive.
Our Rating:
Cost: $
Azura Bazaruto - Benguerra Island
Our View
We regard Azura as a great choice of lodge to experience a complete getaway from normal daily lives. Most importantly, it is located in a national park which offers this sense of remoteness coupled with nature. Azura have taken all of this into account when designing the lodge and its features to create Mozambiques first proper eco lodge. Each of the individually designed rooms are just feet from the beaches of a typical Indian ocean paradise.
Our Rating:
Cost: $795
Azura Selous - Selous
Recently purchased and renamed by luxury brand Azura, this lodge is now set to compete with the major players in Selous. The level of accommodation at Azura Selous (previously 'Amara Selous') is no doubt one of the highest in the reserve with plunge pools and air conditioning in every room. The lodge is south-west of the main cluster in an area known as Upper Selous and its location is a bit of a double edged sword. The area was, until 2005, a hunting concession, meaning game is slightly less abundant than around the other lodges. That was a decade ago though now and substantial quanitites of game have returned. The flip side is that you are incredibly unlikely to see another vehicle, making Azura Selous one of the only camps that can offer a total wilderness experience while on game drives.
Our Rating:
Cost: $751
Babylonstoren - Cape Town
Our View
A refreshing, inspiring and wonderfully different take on the winelands. This is the place to visit. Whether you plan to stay here the night or not, the new wine tasting rooms, with bakery, cheeses and meats promise to make Babylonstoren a must on all driving tours of this region.
Our Rating:
Cost: $350
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