A Luxury Safari in Botswana With Desert & Delta

Discover Africa safari expert, Alice Lombard, recently journeyed through one of the best safari destinations in Africa: Botswana. Besides the incredible landscapes and wildlife, the trip was made all the more remarkable by the lodges she stayed at, all part of the Desert & Delta portfolio.

If a luxury safari in Botswana appeals to you for your next vacation, keep reading to find out what wowed even a seasoned safari-goer like Alice.

A Refurbished Favourite: Savute Safari Lodge

In the late 1990s, the well-known Lloyd’s Camp on the Savute Channel was brought into the fold by Desert & Delta, and Savute Safari Lodge was born.

This lodge recently underwent a complete rebuild to upgrade the space, further cementing it as a fantastic choice for travellers wanting a luxury safari experience in Botswana.

One of the highlights of this renovation was the main public area in front of the watering hole, which includes a firepit area to enjoy drinks after dinner or your morning coffee while listening to the sounds of the animals.

There’s also a photographic hide that gives you a front-row seat to the very active waterhole.

According to Alice, “This lodge will appeal to anyone as it’s great for families, couples, etc., but I would say it’s the perfect lodge for first-time safari goers.”

The lodge’s position makes it ideal for exploring the Savute Marsh. This region is well-known for its large concentrations of elephants, spectacular bird sightings, and significant predator populations.

Savute Safari Lodge’s staff make an experience here extra special. “I loved the staff; they’re really friendly and attentive, and the safari guides are amazing. The food was also excellent.”

For Alice, hearing the sounds of the elephants all night long from her tent was priceless.

For a Peaceful Safari: Nxamaseri Island Lodge

Situated in the panhandle of the Okavango Delta and on a private island, Nxamaseri Island Lodge offers a truly unique experience compared to other lodges and islands in the region.

The eight chalets here are under the forest canopy and all include a private deck from which to look out upon the wilderness.

After a warm welcome from the staff, Alice took off to see the Tsodilo Hills, a UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring ancient rock art representing thousands of years of human habitation in the area.

For those on safari here, Alice advises a helicopter transfer back to the lodge – a beautiful experience with aerial views over this stunning area.

Due to its uniqueness, this lodge isn’t for every safari-goer, but it’s the perfect addition to a trip for those wanting a few days to relax and unwind from the usual busy safari schedules that other lodges offer.

The waterways and birdlife make for incredible mokoro safaris. In a dugout canoe and with a guide, you glide along the water to see the array of species, including kingfishers, herons, storks, and waterfowl. Tiger fish and other marine life swim underneath you. This is the perfect location for safari-goers looking for excellent birdwatching and fishing opportunities.

“I love that the schedule is flexible, allowing guests to enjoy the activities on offer at their own pace. I also had the pleasure of enjoying a massage at the spa, which was one of the best I have had in a long time, if not the best ever!” says Alice.

A Romantic Safari Getaway: Xugana Island Lodge

Xugana Island Lodge provides the ideal opportunity for a true Okavango Delta safari. From either a mokoro or a motorboat, you can explore this lush, rich environment.

“The mokoro ride here is just incredible, with the narrow waterways allowing you to enjoy all the smaller things like reed frogs and birds. Of course, you also have the opportunity to see water animals like elephants, sitatungas, and lechwes. The sunset drinks during the mokoro safari were very special,” says Alice.

Private dining is on offer at Xugana on the floating jetty. A beautiful and romantic experience, you and your partner can enjoy a dinner, just the two of you, while floating in the middle of the lagoon.

As Xugana is a water-based lodge, this is an African safari that appeals to those who want a truly authentic Delta experience complete with boating and mokoro rides through the waterways. There are also walking safaris on offer, rounding out this safari.

An Exclusive Experience: Chobe Game Lodge

As the only safari lodge inside Chobe National Park, guests here get the benefit of starting out early for game activities and finishing later, without having to enter and exit the park, avoiding the crowds that can sometimes gather in this national park.

While the lodge is large with 44 rooms, it retains its exclusivity with private terraces overlooking the Chobe River and infinity plunge pools in the suites.

Chobe Game Lodge offers a fully female guiding team as part of their female empowerment initiatives, as well as solar-operated vehicles and boats, “Boating in a solar-powered boat is just amazing, as it’s so peaceful and serene – one of the best ways to see spectacular African sunsets.”

When Alice builds out a unique safari itinerary, she likes to include this lodge at the beginning of a trip to Botswana so guests can be introduced to the wildlife or at the end of a trip once the wildlife boxes have been ticked and it’s time to unwind and enjoy boating along the Chobe River.

From the predator-rich Savute region to the waterways of the Okavango Delta, Desert & Delta has positioned its lodges in prime safari locations in Botswana, making a trip to any one of these accommodations memorable for all the right reasons.