Okavango Delta, Botswana
Baines' Lodge
Soak beneath an open sky in your outdoor bath, gazing out to the waters of the Okavango Delta
Perched on the Boro River near the Moremi Game Reserve, Baines’ Lodge is an intimate safari retreat in Botswana that fully immerses you within the magnificence of the Okavango Delta.
With its location in a private concession, you can embark on heart-pulsing game drives to search for big cats and wild dogs. Or follow your guide into the bush on foot, in pursuit of the Okavango’s most elusive wildlife. When the waterways of the Delta swell during its annual flood (typically between May and August), explore its labyrinth of channels and lagoons onboard a mokoro (a traditional dugout canoe). As you drift, the finer details reveal themselves, like tiny reed frogs perched on papyrus stalks and the delicate movements of migratory birds.
Just six suites rise on stilts between feathery reeds along the Boro River. Framing soft-coloured walls decorated with timber, enormous glass windows slide away to invite in the sunshine and the natural symphonies of the Delta. The design palette mirrors the rich textures and tones of the landscape. Step onto your private deck and gaze out to an uninterrupted sight of the wetlands. It’s here that you’ll discover an outdoor bath – the perfect spot to soak away the day while watching the sunset over glassy waters.
Follow elevated wooden walkways to the lodge’s communal areas. Gather around the firepit for starlit evenings after enjoying masterfully prepared dinners enriched with the flavours of Africa. There’s also a cosily furnished lounge where you can find a microscope, spotting scopes and interactive maps to deepen your understanding of life in the Okavango. Watery vistas stretch out from every spot. Take in the endless sweep of the landscape at the swimming pool whose clever design places you at eye-level with the wetlands.
Highlights
Savour sweeping views of the Boro River and the Okavango Delta
Search for big cats and wild dogs during day and night game drives
Track rare wildlife on walking safaris with highly experienced guides
Glide through the Delta’s waterways onboard a traditional mokoro
Watch mirrored waters unfold in complete privacy from your outdoor deck
Spend memorable evenings gathered around the lodge’s firepit
Trip Inspiration
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Places to combine Baines' Lodge with
Linyanti
Overlooking a tranquil lagoon, King’s Pool is a luxurious camp tucked away in a grove of jackalberry trees. The eight spacious canvas suites covered with thatched roofs are raised on wooden platforms to take in the views below. Families travelling together can enjoy the two bedroom family suite with sunken deck and private plunge pool.
The camp sits overlooking the Linyanti River and the oxbow lake of Wilderness King’s Pool from which it derives its name. Communal areas include a lounge dining area, bar and a shared pool. These all sit on raised decking allowing for excellent armchair game viewing of the river and lake. This part of the Linyanti borders the Chobe National Park, meaning that great numbers of elephant frequent the area during the dry months as they visit the lagoon and river. Other game is abundant too during these months including giraffe, lechwe, zebra and impala, all helping to draw the large predators; lion, leopard, cheetah and wild-dog.
As well as game drives the camp offers seasonal barge cruises along the river (dependent on the river level) , basic fishing and walking safaris (on request in advance). The camp also has two wildlife hides, excellent for close up observation of game.
Okavango Delta
Sister camp to the Wilderness Chitabe Lediba, these eight traditional Meru tents in the Chitabe Concession occupy an island in the south-east of the Okavango Delta, providing very luxurious accommodation with a reassuring amount of space.
Suspended on stilted wooden decks amongst the riverine trees of the Chitabe concession, each tent features twin or double beds, en-suite facilities and both indoor and outdoor showers. With public spaces, such as the bar and lounge, built on raised decks, the views across the Okavango floodplain are brilliant to wake up to.
With the area at large renowned for its broad range of habitats and substantial biodiversity, both night and day game drives are the activity of choice, and where bird watching also excellent. As your game drives take place in the same area as the Wilderness Chitabe Lediba, the viewing experience is identical.
