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
Sandibe - Okavango Delta
Our View
We visited Sandibe a month before its re-opening in September 2014 and found a brave but successful redesign of an &Beyond lodge we used to dislike because of its concrete foundations. It is one of the best concessions in Botswana for game and it now has a very good lodge to match.
Our Rating:
Cost: $2,560
Santorini Mozambique - Mozambique Mainland
Our View
If you were to pick up Santorini, plonk it in Mozambique and springle some African magic on it, this hotel would be the result. On the mainland coast, Santorini is a blissful island escape, with sweeping ocean views, scrumptious food and calming accommodation.
Our Rating:
Cost: $705
Sapi Explorer Camp - Mana Pools
Sapi Explorer Camp is the new camp from Great Plains. Small, intimate and located in a very large private concession that runs adjacent to the Eastern borders of Mana Pools National Park, Sapi is a must for safari lovers. This is a newly opened concession which has some wonderful game viewing opportunities and is an excellent addition to a Mana Pools safari.
Our Rating:
Cost: $1,073
Sarara - Mathews Range
Sarara is in the middle of the wilderness, yet the accommodation are amazingly comfortable, the staff are incredible and the meals were delicious and elegantly served. Not as much game in this part of Kenya but great views of the waterhole from the camp we here all sorts of animals including elephant and hyena coming down to drink!- K. Winterton
Our Rating:
Client Rating:
Cost: $975
Saruni - Greater Mara
Our View
Saruni is a great little lodge, set up in the hills that overlook the Mara Plains and is the perfect escape from the heat and bustle of the Reserve. Each of the rooms is an eclectic mix of Italian and African styling, each with fantastic views to the plains below. The main benefit of the camp is that it is set all on its own and so, if you need to get away from it all, then the walking and game driving in the area is great….but it is not the in Mara and access to the park is limited, but possible.
Our Rating:
Cost: $936
Sasaab - Samburu
Really lovely camp, enjoyed the lack of people and sense of isolation. Reminded us a little of camps in Namibia. Had great leopard sightings, including a kill, but just generally really enjoyed the camp. It was really beautiful, camp was gorgeous, facilities excellent.- S. Goatley
Our Rating:
Client Rating:
Cost: $1,078
Sasakwa Lodge - Serengeti, Grumeti Reserves
Our honeymoon was perfection!We absolutely LOVED Singita Sasawaka Lodge....5 paws all the way! The service was incredible, the food, the wine, the guide...they thought of things that we weren't expecting and blew us away. Huge Singita fan now! - L Orabona
Our Rating:
Client Rating:
Cost: $1,963
Sausage Tree - Lower Zambezi
Our View
Sausage Tree is certainly in the running for the most opulently luxurious lodge in the Lower Zambezi. Whether this is actually a good thing, we will let you decide! The activities and guiding are set as high as any of the camps in the park and the location is good. To be honest, when compared with other lodges in Africa, Sausage is pretty great. However after the office vote, we have come to agreement that we prefer the slightly less opulent Chiawa Camp and adventurous travellers would certainly prefer the stunning Old Mondoro. But be under no misconception, this is still a great camp.
Our Rating:
Cost: $1,080
Savanna Private Game Reserve | Sabi Sands - Sabi Sands
Our View
Savanna Private Game Reserve is situated on the South Western boundary of the Sabi Sands and is one of the best value options in the area. The lodge overlooks endless grassy plains which is host to an abundance of predator and prey animals. Riverine thickets and rocky outcrops also provide gorgeous landscapes in an area where game viewing is often spectacular.
Our Rating:
Cost: $775
Savuti - Linyanti
Botswana - both the Chitabi and Savuti Wilderness Safari camps are first rate and pretty luxurious. The staff and service at both camps were outstanding although I would rate the staff at Chitabi somewhat higher. They seemed a bit more at ease and confident. But both were great and no complaints at all. At Chitabi, they brought hot water to the room when they woke us in the morning and we could make coffee or chocolate in the room while getting ready. They did not do so at Savuti and they should. It's a nice touch particularly on cold mornings.Game viewing was better at Chitabi - it's easier to see animals and they seemed more plentiful. We saw lions, a cheetah, 2 leopards, wild dogs with pups, hyenas and pretty much everything else.
We did have some good sightings at Savuti - several herds of elephant coming to the channel to drink in the late morning. At least 100 elephants and the other guests thought many more than that. We also saw 3 leopards (2 with kills) and a huge troop of baboons. Late afternoon game drives were closer to camp and not productive. The mopani scrub around the camp doesn't make for good viewing and there just were not many animals on the other side of the channel adjacent to the camp.
- D Trice
Our Rating:
Client Rating:
Cost: $1,593
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.
