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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Unguja Resort - Zanzibar, South Coast
We like Unguja Resort. Ralph and Elies have created a superb lodge that they can be proud of... its only flaw (a potentially major one) is the location; the beach is simply very disappointing. If you can get over this fact then there are few better value lodges on Zanzibar.
Our Rating:
Cost: $230
Vakona Forest Lodge - Mantadia National Park
Our View
Andasibe’s most popular hotel, Vakona has 28 Madagascan-style bungalows nestled in the forest bordering a man-made lake. Vakona also has its own small reserve, Lemur Island, with habituated lemur species including the Bamboo Lemur, Black and White Ruffed Lemur, Brown Lemur and Diademed Sifaka.
Our Rating:
Cost: $97
Vamizi - Quirimbas Archipelago
Vamizi, impossible to leave. Absolutely incredible. recommend it highly enough. Staff, diving, food, accommodation all fantastic. We just want to go back. - Andy C-D
Our Rating:
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Cost: $890
Vamizi Villas - Quirimbas Archipelago
Our View
For large groups or families the 2 private Vamizi Villas are the best beach villas in Africa, and offer exceptionally good value when staying in groups of 12 or more. Set in their own private grounds on this 12km tropical island the villas are separate to Vamizi Lodge with private management for each villa, incredible food and access to the one of the best beaches on the east coast of Africa.
Our Rating:
Cost: $25,000
Verney's Camp - Hwange
Our View
Verney’s Camp is a brilliant Hwange option for that classic tented safari-style camp elevated with a hefty sprinkling of luxury in its pool and spacious rooms. The beauty of Hwange is you can get Botswana-level opulence, but for half the price. It also helps that the wildlife is phenomenal.
Our Rating:
Cost: $
Victoria Falls Hotel - Victoria Falls
In Zimbabwe we stayed at the Victoria Falls Hotel which was absolutely lovely with great managers and staff and brilliant location with plenty to do. A great location for Victoria Falls and other activities. Overall a great success. many thanks.- K. Power
Our Rating:
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Cost: $265
Virunga Lodge - Rwanda
Virunga lodge was spectacular and the food was outstanding, everyone was raving! And the birding there just hanging out at the lodge...sunbirds endemic to the Albertine Rift were just common garden birds! - A. Hile
Our Rating:
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Cost: $650
Vumbura Plains - Okavango Delta
I wanted to drop you a note and tell you what an absolutely fantastic trip I had to Mombo and Vumbura Plains. I walked away with 2900 photos and am, by no means, a serious photographer. Thank you again for all your wonderful suggestions. They really paid off for me. You can be certain this is not my last trip there.- A Luchechko
Our Rating:
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Cost: $2,723
Vundu - Mana Pools
Our View
Vundu and its smaller sister camp Little Vundu are owned and run by husband and wife team Nick and Des Murrary, both excellent and well-respected professional guides, who also continue to oversee the Bushlife Conservancy charity which has helped eradicate poaching in the region. Both camps are located in a small private concession next to Mana Pools National Park which gives them access to both of these wildlife-rich areas.
Our Rating:
Cost: $1,073
Waterberry Lodge - Victoria Falls
In Zambia we stayed at Waterberry Lodge which was absolutely lovely with great managers and staff and brilliant location with plenty to do. A great location for Victoria Falls and other activities. Overall a great success. many thanks.- S. Power
Our Rating:
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Cost: $331
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