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.
ALL COUNTRIES
TANZANIABOTSWANAZAMBIAKENYAZIMBABWEMOZAMBIQUENAMIBIASOUTH AFRICARWANDAUGANDAEGYPTMADAGASCARCONGOMAURITIUSSEYCHELLESMALDIVES
See more:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
Manafiafy - Manafiafy
Our View
A great small lodge combinng a lovely cosatline with assorted activities with nightwalks in their nearby reserve
Our Rating:
Cost: $550
Manda Bay - Lamu
Our View
Manda Bay is definitely up there with the best (but also the most expensive) of the luxury beach properties on the Kenya Coast. Set a mere 20 minute boat ride from Lamu Island, the lodge is set on the west side of Manda Island which gives it a protected outlook onto the inner waterways that run between the islands. This is both a blessing and a drawback in our book.The blessing is that it does not suffer from the trade winds that can blow fairly heavily up and down the coast, and it gives the lodge access to one of the best water skiing areas I have seen! The drawback is that, where Kiwayu has idyllic white sand for the beach, Manda have more of a yellow sand beach…but this is not much of a drawback. The communal area is one of our favourites of any lodge.
Our Rating:
Cost: $310
Mara Plains - Greater Mara
This is probably the best camp I have ever stayed at! The rooms were drop dead gorgeous with great views of wildlife from the comfort of your own bed! The game was spectacular with great sightings of lion and cheetah and thousands of wildebeest. A truly amazing camp!- J. Roberts
Our Rating:
Client Rating:
Cost: $1,930
Maramboi Tarangire - Tarangire
Maramboi Tented Camp has a unique location. Although it sits on the shores of Lake Manyara and enjoys impressive views, the nearest game viewing area is in fact Tarangire. It’s larger than we’d like and it’s not inside the park but it’s an excellent camp at an unbeatable price.
Our Rating:
Cost: $423
Our View
Marataba is a modern, yet traditional safari lodge set in the vast the private reserve that is surrounded by the beautiful Marekele National Park. Offering a non-malarial, big five safari, Marataba can offer something for everyone. Game viewing is plentiful and is matched by one of the most stunning backdrops you can find on safari.
Our Rating:
Cost: $860
Mashariki Palace Hotel - Stone Town, Zanzibar
The new kid on the block in Stone Town, Mashariki Palace Hotel has sought to establish itself at the highest end of Stone Town accommodation options. The rooms are all well-appointed but with high or low ceilings and varying levels of spaciousness, it can be a bit of a lottery. That said, hidden away down an unassuming alley, this 18 room ex-Sultan’s Palace represents a cool and calm oasis from the hustle and bustle of Stone Town.
Our Rating:
Cost: $130
Masoala Forest Lodge - Masoala National Park
Our View
Opening onto the warm waters of the Tampolo Marine Reserve, Masoala Forest Lodge does really feel like a place nestled on the edge of the world - a perfect hideaway from the stresses and burdens of the outside world.
Our Rating:
Cost: $492
Matemwe Bungalows - Zanzibar, East Coast
I am very glad that we decided to end our trip at Matemwe Bungalows where the foods was fantastic and again the level of service exceptional.- L Hacking
Our Rating:
Client Rating:
Cost: $404
Matemwe Retreat - Zanzibar, East Coast
Matemwe Bungalows already has some of the best rooms on Zanzibar; so these new exclusive retreats really are special. When you walk in to them you really feel like you’re staying in a place unlike anything you’ve experienced before. They are perfect for honeymooners or couples who are looking for genuine peace and quiet in beautiful surroundings with great views out to Mnemba.
Our Rating:
Cost: $437
We create fabulous safari itineraries and honeymoons throughout Africa and the islands of the Indian Ocean. Our knowledge and experience will guarantee you the very best possible itinerary for
your budget and travel dates, and your money is protected
by our ATOL bond.
your budget and travel dates, and your money is protected
by our ATOL bond.
