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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Xaranna - Okavanga Delta
Our View
Xaranna is a different camp with a very current feel to it. Not the type of place you would expect to stay in on safari. The prominent colours of the camp are lime green and white! It has tried to be contemporary and it just doesn’t fit in with its surroundings. More to the point, when the floods are up, which is when the delta is in peak season, there is very little land for game driving and night drives are hindered by the flood levels, therefore limiting activities. If you’re not after an authentic safari but more so the current and spruced up feel to life, then Xaranna is a good best bet.
Our Rating:
Cost: $1,947
Xigera - Okavango Delta
Our View
This camp is all about an area of stunning beauty and nature at its most delicate. When the flood water comes down from Angola, the Kalahari changes from an arid desert into a lush lily covered wetland filled with life. Nowhere in the whole of the Okavango is this more beautiful that in the area surrounding Xigera. Look at the camp and you will see that it is very close to the famous Mombo….but the sheer volume of big game that Mombo is so famous for is cut off by water and cannot get to the Xigera concession; a genuinely stunning area.
Our Rating:
Cost: $1,160
Xudum - Okavango Delta
Our View
Xudum belongs to &Beyond who have some fantastic lodges, but this one, as amazing as it is, really lets the product down. Designed for those wanting all the creature comforts you get in smart city hotels and it really takes the safari out of safari. The lodge itself is lovely if you are after this and not so great if you want to experience the wilderness. That aside, the game in the area is very poor and when the floods are up, there is very little land to game drive on.
Our Rating:
Cost: $1,947
Zambezi Expeditions - Mana Pools
Our View
As per the other Expeditions camps run by Africa Bush Camps, Zambezi Expeditions is an excellent yet simple option along the banks of the Mana Pools National Park. The camps has a unique feel and strcuture and is styled similarly to the East African mobile tented camps instead of your typical Southern Africa permanent camps.
Our Rating:
Cost: $1,073
Zanzibar Ocean Paradise - Zanzibar, East Coast
This is a very good option in the family/resort style of hotel. The comparisons with Breezes, which is located about 100km further south, are inevitable as they are approximately the same size and offer the same sort of experience. With the choice of rooms being between standard and suite all of the rooms are very nice. All in all this is a good hotel if the resort style is what you are after, but for a better beach, facilities and service for around the same price, go to Breezes.
Our Rating:
Cost: $150
Zanzibar Palace Hotel - Stone Town, Zanzibar
This is a great hotel! Zanzibar Palace Hotel is a nine room boutique hotel in which Zanzibar's rich history is integrated by Arabian, Indian and English designs, this in combination with all modern comfort. Each room has its own unique decor with many local originating antique pieces of furniture, magical beds, Persian rugs, colourful silks, etc. The hotel has quickly become one of our favourites if you wish to stay in the middle of Stone Town and experience what the ancient capital of this island is all about!
Our Rating:
Cost: $188
Zanzibar Serena Inn - Stone Town, Zanzibar
Zanzibar Serena Inn, Stonetown. How I wish we had booked in for more than 1 night! we didn't even get breakfast because we had to leave at 5am and this hotel is really beautiful. We explored a bit of stonetown with my friend, went on a daladala to her house (quite an experience!) and had goodfood in Al Johari (delicious crab!). It was a stunning holiday, and we have fabulous life-long memories. Thank you!- A Glarvey
Our Rating:
Client Rating:
Cost: $282
Zarafa - Selinda
Camp was gorgeous and wildlife viewing was amazing. We went to Kruger also and I definitely preferred Botswana - for the most part, untouched by mankind. Rueben was an excellent guide. Food was incredible. Staff was very polite and helpful. Could not have asked for a better experience. We will hopefully be back!- T King
Our Rating:
Client Rating:
Cost: $2,900
Zarafa Dhow Suites - Selinda
The Dhow Suite is absolutely stunning! A huge room which is more like a house in the bush! Went as a family and the staff were brilliant we had our own space so great for the kids to play in safety, brilliant guiding and outstanding game viewing a definite must do!!- C Maitland
Our Rating:
Client Rating:
Cost: $3,480
Zawadi - Zanzibar, East Coast
Definitely the most luxurious small lodge on Zanzibar. The lodge has the best rooms on the Island for those of us who want all the creature comforts and also has seriously great food and service. Privacy and intimacy are what this place is all about, and what it excels at. It is super personal and with the luxury of your own plunge pool and butler service…what more would you want!
Our Rating:
Cost: $384
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