Classic Botswana

Overview

A neo-classical stately home complete with balustrades, immaculate lawns, gilded moldings and fountains, Fairlawns, which was originally built by the Oppenheimer family and is still lived in by the current owners John and Anna Thatcher, has successfully retained its relaxing park-like ambiance and palatial peacefulness.

Resembling more of a sprawling English countryside estate than a hotel in Johannesburg’s business district of Sandton, Fairlawns is a regal sanctuary in this busy city with a Balinese spa to boot.

There are 40 individually-designed suites range from a monochrome Manhattan bedroom to the Ryokan-themed Kyoto suite, the earthy colours of terracotta-wash and deep browns in ‘Marrakesh’, the flashy Miami suite, to the Louis XVI-style Viennese bedchamber. Further accommodation includes a two-bedroom studio and the private Villa Moji.

The restaurant features an award-winning wine list and high-tea on one of the many terraces is a fitting way to see the afternoon in.

A convenient 20 minutes-drive (or 25 kilometres) from the international airport, Fairlawns makes a stopover to a lengthy stay in Johannesburg feel very enjoyable and exclusive.

Overview

The Saxon is the most elegant mix of class, quiet gardens, history and luxury service.

Even though this hotel is known for being Nelson Mandela’s home whilst he penned his ‘Long Walk to Freedom’ autobiography after being released from prison, it has been made famous by its attentive staff, excellent Spa, chic African style and for being an intimately smart sanctuary in this busy city.

Located in the upmarket business district of Sandhurst, the Saxon’s 24 suites are contemporary with definitive African influences and impressions throughout. The overall effect is a deluxe boutique one which never fails to remind you of the vibrant character and culture around you.

Overview

Located on Hunda Island, the largest area of permanently dry land in this region of the Okavango Delta, Wilderness Tubu Tree Camp is surrounded by palatable grasses which lure many species of plains game. A range of diverse habitats, ranging from dry Kalahari sandveld to mopane and riverine forest on the edge of permanent waterways, ensure truly spectacular game viewing.

Along with its sister camp of Wilderness Little Tubu, Wilderness Tubu Tree reopened in 2024 after stunning renovations that were completed with minimal environmental impact. Its eight tents, including a family suite, blend seamlessly into the surrounding indigenous trees, with their upgraded interiors having been inspired by the earthy palate of the Hunda Island plains. Overlooking the vast grassy floodplains from raised platforms, these tents connect you to the lounge areas via elevated walkways. Here you’ll find features meticulously crafted with light oak, live-edge wood, rattan and thatch, to interweave the element of wilderness into every aspect of your stay.

Spend your days at Wilderness Tubu Tree following majestic elephant herds, fearsome lions, Burchell’s zebra and other wildlife across the plains, or head out in a mokoro boat and glide down one of the Okavango Delta’s peaceful channels. Between May and September, the water levels around Wilderness Tubu Tree rise and the floodplains become covered with water, making this a great time for boat adventures and catch-and-release fishing.

Like the rest of Botswana, the variety of bird life here is impressive. Listen out for the spine-tingling cry of the fish-eagle or spot dry-land species on the large islands.

Overview

Caught on a riverine island in the Delta’s Moremi Game Reserve, Xigera is a truly excellent camp amidst the wetlands for its dynamic and varied activities, altered slightly according to the season so guests get the most out of the wildlife and terrain. It’s also the only camp in the area, giving you total privacy and where it doesn’t get much wilder.

Ten simple, standalone, and sublimely comfortable stilted tent rooms are shrouded in the riverine forest, and its main areas are typically and tastefully African: thatch roofs, wooden floors and furniture, warm lantern light, bonfire, a traditional boma and a plunge pool to cool off in.

Xigera’s (pronounced Keejera) position amidst permanent water all year round means you can embark on the area’s signature mokoro (canoe) safari, game drives and motorboat outings. The camp is also a good choice for keen birdwatchers, with Pel’s Fishing-Owl, African Skimmer, Slaty Egret, Wattled Crane and a host of raptors, other waterbirds and colourful kingfishers to be seen.

Overview

One of the most unforgettable safari experiences in Botswana, this is the area where Dereck and Beverly Joubert have spent years filming and photographing the amazing lions and buffalo that inhabit this part of the Delta. What makes the lions of this area so special, is their tendency to hunt during the daylight hours for the buffalo, meaning that you have a much greater chance of seeing the hunt (and the kill) in action that in other areas. This makes for dramatic, exciting game viewing when you are lucky enough to witness these amazing creatures in action.

This is a private 77,000 acre private reserve, helping to protect and conserve the amazing wildlife of the area. The lodge itself has just 6 comfortable tents with a maximum of 12 guests. The tents are comfortable and cosy, decorated with brass fittings and period pieces, harking back to the style from the 1920’s. Photos of the Joubert’s work adorn the walls of the lounge and bar area, where guests are encouraged to mingle and exchange stories of the day’s viewing.

Overview

Very intimately placed in the private Jao Concession area bordering the Moremi Game Reserve in the Okavango Delta, Wilderness Jao Camp offers a luxurious way to experience this beautiful part of the world.

You will be well looked after in the nine tented rooms here, with incredible service and excellent guiding. Each of the tented rooms is situated a short distance from the main area and accessed via charming raised walkways. All of the tents have their own deck area with great views over the expanse of floodplains. Inside, you’ll find peace and comfort in the luxurious canvas setting. Wilderness Jao Camp also has a great wine cellar where you can enjoy a private dinner and a great spa where you can enjoy some superb treatments.

Within the camp itself, you have access to two plunge pools, ideal in the afternoon heat if you aren’t relaxing inside with a book from the library. Activities here are entirely dependent on the flood levels at the time of year you visit, however as a rule of thumb you can expect a split of about 30% game drives and 70% water activities, which gives you a brilliant perspective of the animals that call this place their home. Mokoro trips are highly recommended. As the camp is within its own concession area, it also can also provide night drives (weather permitting) to spot the elusive nocturnal creatures found here.

Overview

In the south west of the Delta on the Xudum River is Kanana Camp, a beautiful and tranquil spot from which to explore the lush waterways and diverse wildlife.

The camp consists of seven luxury tents and one family tent, all with en suite bathrooms. The spacious tents offer enough privacy while being just a short distance from the main camp where you’ll find a comfortable lounge area that looks out over the beautiful surroundings. There is also a sleep-out deck that offers guests the opportunity to spend a night under the star-studded African sky.

The annual floods transform the Kanana Concession into a a watery paradise, rich in bird, animal and plant life. Explore the Delta’s waterways in a glass-bottomed mokoro and enjoy exclusive motorboat access to some of southern Africa’s largest heronries.

You can also discover the Delta by foot accompanied by expert guides who will point out things than can easily be overlooked. Morning and late afternoon game drives allow you to appreciate the diverse wildlife and from March to December, you can fish for tilapia, African pike and sharp tooth catfish.

Overview

With uninterrupted views over Osprey Lagoon, and a fantastic vantage point from which to watch the areas mega-herds of elephants, Wilderness DumaTau and nearby Wilderness Little DumaTau are perfectly located for making the most of your stay in the Linyanti Wildlife Reserve.

Each spacious tented guest suite has been positioned to offer great views whether you’re relaxing on your deck, or cooling off in your plunge pool. You’ll also find the tents include spot-cooling, meaning you can find respite from the hot afternoons indoors. Spend time investigating the ‘curiosity boxes’ you’ll find mounted on the walls in your room and the drawers filled with fascinating artefacts and information. They’re a great way to learn more about the area’s wildlife and rich history. Look out for unique elephant and wild dog art in the rooms and library made from reclaimed snare wire.

Wilderness Safaris have constructed both camps to give maximum comfort and offer guests a large array of facilities. In addition to the in-tent cooling systems, you’ll discover that the central Osprey Retreat which sits between the two camps boasts a pool, drink and snack counter and a Safari Boutique area, offering you more space to mingle with your fellow guests if you choose to do so. Large decks, plunge pools and awnings are attached to each of Wilderness Duma Tau’s eight tented suites as well as at the four at Wilderness Little DumaTau.

The Wilderness DumaTau team continues to focus on the sustainability of wildlife corridors, as they have done since 1997. They believe that it is more vital than ever to protect large wildlife corridors of wilderness,  like those within the vast Linyanti Wildlife Reserve – especially for the African elephant and wild dog that cover extensive ground.

Staying at Wilderness DumaTau offers you easy access to the Linyanti floodplain as well as the Savuti Channel, in fact, it’s the only concession from which you can access both. The region has all the habitat diversity to make it a haven for wildlife, and is well-known for its elephant concentrations as they congregate along the waterways and lagoons during the dry winter months. General wildlife viewing is excellent year round including impala, wildebeest, red lechwe, Burchell’s zebra, giraffe, Cape buffalo, chacma baboon, vervet monkey, and warthog. Predator sightings of lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog and spotted hyena are good. As well as day and night game drives, you can explore on nature walks or take to the water on motorboats or the river barge (depending on water levels).

Overview

This is one of the most luxurious camps in Botswana, with nine huge canvas ‘tents’ with thatched roofs set on raised wooden platforms. Each comes equipped with a private plunge pool, four poster bed, indoor and outdoor showers.

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.

Overview

Zarafa Camp is set inside the 320,000 acre Selinda Reserve, created to conserve and protect the wildlife of the area alongside connecting Botswana’s Okavango Delta to the Linyanti waterways. This reserve is home to a diverse and rich abundance of species similar to those found in the Savuti and Chobe National Parks, but with the exclusivity of a private reserve.

Simply one of the most beautiful tented camps in Africa, Zarafa is a triumph of conservation and attention to detail. There are just 4 immense tented suites set on raised wooden platforms overlooking the floodplain of the Zibadianja Lagoon. The tents are decorated in a style befitting of the explorations of the early 20th Century, matched with modern comforts and technological surprises. Outdoor decking wraps around each guest suite and offers guests a private plunge pool, private outdoor shower, and outdoor seating.

Within the suite your lounge flows into a well-decorated bedroom and an open layout indoor bathroom that is adorned with a polished copper bath tub and fireplace. The main camp, made up of a generously-sized main lounge, library, dining area and bush boutique, is nestled under a canopy of  trees a slight distance from the suites. An outdoor gym and in-room massages are also available.

Environmentally, Zarafa has a number of initiatives in place to ensure they have as light an impact on their surrounding as possible, from solar power and water filtration systems, to vehicles that run mostly on vegetable oil. The camp also supports the notion that conservation can only be successful if communities living alongside wildlife and protected areas are given opportunities to learn, interact, and benefit from these conserved areas.

As part of Great Plains Conservation, Zarafa is involved with the Great Plains Foundation’s launch of the Great Plains Academy, which provides enrichment opportunities for a community in the upper reaches of Botswana’s Okavango Delta. The academy will supply vocational training, supplemental education, and scholarships with a conservation and tourism focus. All programmes seek to invest in the skill and capacity of the individual whilst displaying respect for natural heritage and a solid conservation ethic.

Overview

Open, relaxed and resting on the banks of the eastern Selinda Spillway in the heart of the 320 000 acre Selinda Reserve, this safari camp has a prime location within a territory rich with wildlife.

Having been recently rebuilt, the camp provides a blend of old colonial elegance, updated with contemporary amenities. This is an old-world luxury experience for the modern-day traveler.

Tucked away under its sweeping thatched roof, the camp remains cool in the midday heat, and commands excellent views out over the floodplains and savanna of the Selinda Reserve. The extensive raised decks surrounding both the main lodge and guest tents facilitate wildlife viewing directly from the camp, meaning you can sit back and enjoy a delicious meal and never keep your eye off the local animals.

When you want to get more up close and personal, the camp offers both day and night game drives, on which you will be highly likely to see antelope, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, elephant and buffalo. Whether you choose to travel by foot, boat or 4×4, you’ll have a unique experience of the African wilderness.

Overview

Wilderness Linyanti Tented Camp overlooks the Linyanti marsh and floodplain, and with easy access to a range of habitats including open savannah and woodland, this is a great place for game viewing.

The camp operates on an exclusive-use basis and consists of four large en-suite tents, designed to evoke the spirit of the early explorers. The main area of the camp is built on a slightly raised desk and offers impressive views of the landscape and its inhabitants.

After a day in the wilderness, come back to camp to relax around the crackling fire or in the traditional boma. As well as game drives, guests can head out on a nature walk, visit the log pile hide and head out after dark to see a variety of animals that stay hidden during the day.