Walk alongside elephants, see baboons climb through the trees as you tuck into breakfast and climb into a traditional mokoro canoe to spot the Big Five.
Botswana has some of the best safari opportunities in Africa, with incredible lodges that let you enjoy everything from following wildebeest as they migrate to seeing flocks of flamingo glide overhead.
Below, we pick out five of the very best Botswana lodges and camps for meeting the local wildlife:
1. &Beyond Sandibe Safari Lodge
5. Jack's Camp
Best Accommodation in Botswana For the Perfect Setting
Our Choice: &Beyond Sandibe Safari Lodge
Tucked under the shade of palms and creaking fig trees on the edge of the grassy floodplains of the Okavango Delta, the stunning &Beyond Sandibe Safari Lodge makes the most of Botswana's most spectacular location.
The curving walkways and hand-carved decks swerve around ironwood trees and bridge lagoons before revealing sweeping views over papyrus fields or peeping above the tree canopy for vistas across the delta.
In addition to this, the open-fronted construction is built to offer serendipitous encounters with blockbuster wildlife stars.
Watching baboons swing through the branches at breakfast or spotting elephants from the comfort of your own private plunge pool is unforgettable.
Best Accommodation in Botswana For a Safari by Canoe
Our Choice: Belmond Eagle Island Lodge
To get the most from the Okavango Delta, you need to get your feet wet.
The flood plains, papyrus swamps and hippo pools are the drinking hole of choice for the Big Five and hundreds of other creatures great and small.
Stay at Belmond Eagle Island Lodge, where you can leave the Land Rover at home and instead step directly into your very own wood carved mokoro boat for a safari along the waterways.
Pole wielding guides will punt you through the papyrus to spy elephants and giraffes lapping at the water’s edge. Back at base, you can watch the sun sink from the al fresco dining room that stretches over the water.
Stay at Belmond Eagle Island Lodge on our Botswana At Its Best tour.
Best Accommodation in Botswana For Seeing Elephants
Our Choice: Sanctuary Baines’ Camp
At Sanctuary Baines' Camp, it’s all about getting up close and personal with the elephants.
While other camps offer the thrilling opportunity to drive out and see the creatures, Sanctuary Baines' Camp actually has three semi resident elephants.
Jabu, Thembi and Morula are orphans rescued by the charity, Living with Elephants.
The elephants act as ambassadors to educate local schoolchildren about the history and ecology of the African elephant.
But if you're a guest at Sanctuary Baines' Camp, you also have the chance to meet the trio – watch them roll around in the water and walk alongside them.
It’s an experience unlike any other.
Best Accommodation in Botswana For a Family Safari
Our Choice: Kwando Lebala Camp
With your own specialist guide, an individually tailored programme and flexible meal times, we strongly recommend Kwando Lebala Camp, as it adds enormously to the quality of a safari experience for the whole family.
Linyanti Wildlife Reserve has all the options covered when it comes to finding the Big Five, in addition to a good chance of following lion, wild dog and cheetah as they hunt.
The camp, which is surrounded by the game-rich wetlands and the floodplains of the Kwando Reserve, pairs well with Kwando Lagoon Camp thanks to their contrasting habitats that make for two different safari experiences.
Stay at Kwando Lebala Camp on our Kwando Five Rivers Botswana And Victoria Falls Safari.
Best Accommodation in Botswana For Enjoying the Great Migration
Our Choice: Jack's Camp
In the north east of Botswana, you’ll find the Kalahari Desert, the largest continuous stretch of sand in the world and the parched landscape of the Makgadikgadi Pans.
But don’t let the desert tag fool you – when the rains sweep through this landscape unfolds into lush vegetation and tempts stampeding herds of wildebeest and zebra and the lions and cheetahs that hunt them.
It’s also home to Jacks Camp. The safaris here are led in conjunction with local bushmen who live at the camp, which lends a local flavour to your introduction to the wildlife.
The bushmen and women can also introduce you to traditional hunting and food gathering skills, show you how to make their ornate jewellery and find your rhythm with a traditional Zu/’hoasi dance.
Explore Botswana with Rainbow
The breadth of awe-inspiring wildlife experiences in Botswana are unmissable.
By speaking with one of our Africa Travel Specialists, we can help design a tailor-made itinerary for you that includes everything you want to see and do on a holiday to Botswana.
Simply Make an Enquiry or Call Us today!
