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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Ol Tukai Lodge - Amboseli
Our View
If you want that classic elephant with a Kilimanjaro backdrop view, then Ol Tukai is the place to go. But be warned: this isn’t a safari lodge but a hotel, with 80 rooms. So if you’re looking for that authentic safari experience, then you’d be better looking into Tortills.
Our Rating:
Cost: $
Olakira - Serengeti, Mobile
The camp is well managed, good food, very nice people, comfortable accomodation for the price. Our two guides were so friendly they made you feel very welcome. Fadhil Deo and Francis, thanks again, brothers.- F Carli
Our Rating:
Client Rating:
Cost: $946
Old Cataract - Aswan
Our View
We have always loved the historic charm of the Old Cataract, with its unparalleled Nile-side location, elegant terraces and Agatha Christie suite, although it was, in the past, a little dusty and run down. But now, after four long years of meticulous, painstaking renovations, the Sofitel Hotel group have reopened this fabulous hotel, and it is a real treasure. The swimming pool and sun deck have been lavishly extended, and the rest of the hotel is restored to its former glory.
Our Rating:
Cost: $150
Old Mondoro Bush Camp - Lower Zambezi
A very special place, so full of soul. Ryan & Pam were great hosts & all the staff were great with the girls (including extra hot water bottles & ‘beanie’ hat for Lucy on the cold morning game drives, special cooked breakfast for them both on final morning & involved them in conversations). Food was excellent & topped off by a surprise bush lunch & also a birthday cake for Claire. Watching & listening to 1 of the males roar, just feet away from us is a memory that will last with us all forever (so too the sound of 3 giggling girls, who, after all the excitement needed a comfort break on the trip back to camp!) Loved the variety of activities at OM. Just to top off the whole experience as we headed to Jeki for our flight out we came across a beautiful black manned lion with the remains of a male waterbuck he’d killed. - C Gee
Our Rating:
Client Rating:
Cost: $1,390
Olepangi Farm - Laikipia
Our View
Set in the foothills of Mount Kenya, Olepangi Farm is a real home away from home. It’s not somewhere to go if you want all the pristine, modern bells and whistles - although it does have a fantastic pool with sweeping views. The accommodation is more traditional than cutting edge, but all in all, this farmhouse offers a fantastic base in a setting you could stick on the back of a postcard and write home about.
Our Rating:
Cost: $375
Oliver's - Tarangire
The Camp manager Ken picked us up at the Tarangire airstrip, and every one else on our flight went to other vehicles, so we had the most amazing personal first safari before going to the camp. We even saw Wild Dogs. Michelle really made us feel welcome and like everything we saw on our drives or walks were important. The staff, from Andrew who looked after us with wake up calls, our room, and evening escorts was so friendly, the rest of the staff were so great... you never told us we would put on weight, food was fantastic! The guides; Mizanga our driver, and Alex our walking guide were not only informative, but had amazing eyes, told us such great stories and history, and we all had a lot of laughs. Highlight included our first day and not being able to return to our tent because a group of elephants were on the trail, or just sitting on our little deck and watching the elephant troops wander across the valley in front of us. - We were really sad to leave our first camp, and I wouldn't hesitate to go back their again... Tarangire is stunning!!!! - D Warfield
Our Rating:
Client Rating:
Cost: $817
Ololo - Nairobi
Our View
Given the horrendous traffic situation in Nairobi it is often quicker to spend a night in Nairobi National Park rather than a main hotel. Ololo fits this bill and is roughly the same price as one of the horrid Nairobi hotels, and you get game to boot!
Our Rating:
Cost: $260
Omali - Sao Tome
Our View
As the only real option on the island of Sao Tome, it is lucky that Omali is handily located 1.5km form the airport and is a beautiful spot with fantastic service and rooms.
Our Rating:
Cost: $200
Our View
The One & Only Reethi Rah Resort is located in the North Male Atoll just a short 45 minute speedboat from Male International Airport, One & Only Reethi Rah is a luxury five star resort.
Our Rating:
Cost: $1,365
One and Only - Cape Town
Our View
Located in the heart of Cape Town’s fabulous Victoria & Alfred Waterfront the new One & Only is a contemporary hotel with one of the best locations in the main tourist hotspots of the city. Although it is a large corporate hotel, the standard of service and attention to detail is very high.
Our Rating:
Cost: $350
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