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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Chobe Safari Lodge - Chobe
Our View
As far as large safari lodges and hotels go, this is the most convenient and best value in the Chobe area. The atmosphere is authentic and comfortable with a safari character while in the lodge, which a lot of big lodges fail to do. Located in Kasane, on the banks of the Chobe River, the Chobe Safari Lodge has great access to Chobe National Park for the most animal filled drives you’ll get in Botswana, and most of all, offers arguably the best big river safari in Africa. If you are looking for an economical and action packed safari, then add this to your itinerary, but you should make sure you are staying in other camps on private concessions to make this work. It delivers!
Our Rating:
Cost: $190
Chobe Savanna Lodge - Chobe
Our View
Chobe Savanna Lodge sits on the Namibian bank of the Chobe River, right at the northern tip of the Chobe National Park. The main emphasis of Chobe Savanna Lodge in the words of camp manager John is to ‘chill down’ and this lodge is definitely geared for that. Relaxing at the lounge bar sipping a cold G&T while watching the game pass by is a fantastic way to start or finish a safari.
Our Rating:
Cost: $615
Chobe Under Canvas - Chobe
Our View
This camp is run by &Beyond whose focus on quality food and drink as well as a high standard of guiding has meant that they are regarded as a company providing some of the best safari product in Africa. Chobe Under Canvas certainly lives up to the reputation. Overall a truly stunning mobile camp that is remarkably similar to the style and character of East Africa’s mobile outfits, but this one is always based on the Chobe River and moves every 5 days to comply with National Park camping rules. We love Chobe Under Canvas and the lodges value is undeniable….a very good choice indeed for a more adventurous type of stay.
Our Rating:
Cost: $650
Chole Mjini - Mafia Island
The main drawback of Chole Mjini is its lack of beach – it’s more like a creek but then again, Mafia is not so much about great beaches. Again, we bang on about the pool. Tanzanian heat is just too strong to not have one and as at some points of the day you cannot swim because of the tides, a pool is essential. However, the accommodation is fantastic, with lovely rustic rooms set up on stilts in the trees. It is also now under new management which will give the place a new lease of life.
Our Rating:
Cost: $210
Chongwe River Camp - Lower Zambezi
Chongwe River Camp wasn’t quite our thing (although we had a great time anyway). We felt it was a little geared towards first-timers, a bit ‘touristy’. The Fred Flintstone pretend-mud walls sort of set the scene, we thought, and the guiding was a little cynical. They worked pretty hard to persuade everyone in camp to do the same activity at the same time, (on one occasion resorting to fibs to achieve this) which was strange as they had no shortage of guides… On the other hand, the Cassia Suite was lovely, and camp manager Flossie is a lovely friendly lady. No specific problems, just not our ideal camp. - V. John
Our Rating:
Client Rating:
Cost: $785
Chongwe River House - Lower Zambezi
Our View
Chongwe River House does have that certain Flinstone feeling to it - it is quite a remarkable and unique design. Having been refurbished recently, the house is a destination in itself - one that would cater perfectly for families or small groups who want to have all the benefits of a private home. The location is just as superb with fantastic activities on offer giving you the full picture of what the Lower Zambezi has to offer. We can certainly assure you that Chongwe River House is one of a kind, and ultimately a breath of fresh air from typical lodge design!
Our Rating:
Cost: $1,200
Chula Island - Lower Zambezi
Our View
Chula Island is a charming bush camp in the heart of the Lower Zambezi National Park, perfect for those who want to go back to basics without scrimping on safari experience. Here, wildlife encounters will blow your socks off, and back at camp a personalised experience that most hotels simply cannot compete with awaits.
Our Rating:
Cost: $
Chumbe Island - Zanzibar Islands
Just off Zanzibar itself is the first marine sanctuary in Zanzibar and a colourful little island surrounded by a shallow reef alive with 90% of all coral species ever recorded in East Africa, estimated around two hundred species. The fronds and shadows of this wide coral garden are home to over 350 species of fish, sea turtles and lobster, and the small coral rag island rises up at the centre with a host of other living creatures in its protective embrace.
Our Rating:
Cost: $280
Clouds Lodge - Uganda
Our View
Clouds lodge has to have one of the most amazing settings of any of the lodges we work with in Uganda. It is located high up into the hills and the lodge commands views over the entire region, it really is a magical little place. A real favourite in the office here due to its unpretentious charm and links with the local community, people do need to know that the advantage of the location comes with a slight negative – it can be a hard walk back up to Clouds Lodge after a long day of gorilla trekking! The rewards of making the trek back however are one of the most charming hotels we work with.
Our Rating:
Cost: $600
Our View
Located in the South Male Atoll just 40 minutes by speedboat from Male International Airport, Cocoa Island is a luxury resort with two private house reefs.
Our Rating:
Cost: $603
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