Okavango Delta lodges
Botswana's best safari camps compared
We have slept in these camps. Below is what each one is genuinely good at, who it suits, and the months to book it – without the brochure adjectives.
Permanent channel camp - the classic Delta experience
Mokoro from the deck, motorboat cruises through papyrus, walking on the islands. Almost no vehicle time, which some guests love and others miss. Best June to August when the flood is at its peak.
Private concession land camp - off-road and night drives
The best all-round choice for a first Botswana safari. Off-road access to sightings, spotlit night drives, guided walks, and a strong wild dog and leopard record. Water activities in the flood months as a bonus.
Moremi reserve camp - classic game viewing, gentler rates
Inside the public reserve, so no off-road or night drives, but the game density around Khwai and Xakanaxa is superb and the saving over a concession is significant. The right choice if you want more nights for the same budget.
Take the whole camp - families and small groups
Your own guide, your own vehicle, your own chef and mealtimes that suit children. For a multi-generational group it often costs less per person than four separate suites at a bigger lodge, and it removes every compromise.
Choosing between Botswana safari lodges
Four questions decide it, and none of them is the photograph on the website.
Then weight towards land. You want the big cats you have been picturing for twenty years.
A water camp in November can mean very little water. A land camp in July is excellent. Match the camp to the flood.
Minimum ages vary from six to twelve, and family tents are limited. This narrows the list fast, so tell us early.
Serious photographers should pay the private-vehicle supplement. It is the single best money you will spend.
How many camps should I stay at?
Two or three, three nights each. One camp for a week gets repetitive; four camps in seven nights means you spend your mornings packing. Three nights lets a guide show you the area properly.
Are Botswana safari lodges child-friendly?
Some are, many are not. Minimum ages of six, eight or twelve are common and family tents are limited to one or two per camp. It is the first thing we check when you tell us there are children travelling.
Do the camps have wifi and power?
Most run on solar with 24-hour power in the tents and wifi in the main area. Signal in the vehicles is patchy to non-existent, which most guests decide they like by day three.