Best hotels in Botswana

Chobe Safari Lodge lies on the banks of the Chobe River, the artery of life for the Chobe National Park. The lodge is large (and popular, as its location dictates – this is where Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia meet), but its lovely setting in an area rich in indigenous flora and fauna, its comfortable accommodation and good food make this an ideal stopover for a few nights before or after a safari. The lodge has recently been renovated, and is an excellent launch pad for Chobe, Victoria Falls or the Caprivi Strip.

We've noticed recently that something strange is happening in the world of safari camps: Wi-Fi when you should be tuning your senses to the bush? Three course meals with all the queen's cutlery when you should be eating a finger-licking meal around the fire? Not at the Skybeds! Located northeast of the Okavango Delta in Khwai Private Reserve, bordering Moremi Game Reserve, these rustic platforms are the ultimate immersion in the wilderness. Head to the top of your three-storey platform for uninterrupted views over the vast, unfenced reserve and then fall asleep under a star-splattered sky. Here, there's nothing to worry about and everything to enjoy.

This stylish eco-conscious tented camp is situated in the bountiful Linyanti concession, near the source of the Savute Channel, in northern Botswana. Set amongst swamps, floodplains and mopane woodlands, Duma Tau is surrounded by lagoons teeming with hippo and water birds. Duma Tau means ‘roar of the lion’ and, as its name suggests, the camp offers great big cat sightings. Predators aside, it is also known for its large concentrations of elephants, as well as a rich variety of other game. Overall, a high quality facility that roars with offerings.

Five-star Camp Kuzuma lies on a small land concession in the 12,000-hectare (and very little-known) Kuzuma Forest Reserve in north-eastern Botswana. What makes this region especially important is its position, for this is the wildlife corridor between Chobe National Park (in Botswana) and Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park. At various times of the year, particularly in the dry winter months, the area sees as many elephants as anywhere in Africa, as the giants move between their two favourite parks. Additionally, the small, strategically placed camp draws wildlife to its own waterhole, making game viewing easy (if somewhat lacking in diversity).

Planet Baobab is a quirky oasis in the middle Botswana's lunar-like Makgadikgadi Pans, announced by a giant pink anteater statue on the road outside. Famous amongst the overlanding community (the camp sites are some of the best on the continent), the cool Baobab Huts make an excellent rest point for just about anyone looking to experience this strange slice of wilderness. It’s easy-going, festive and every likes a cold St. Louis beer, but rest assured that it’s also professional and well-organised with a host of accommodation options and a blockbuster of activities to suit all tastes and styles.

Elephant Pan is a comfortable and rustic small tented camp in a remote part of the huge Khwai Private Reserve. This vast wilderness area falls within some of Botswana’s finest game viewing areas, with Chobe National Park to the east, and Moremi National Park along the southern region. The camp overlooks a permanent waterhole, which acts as a magnet for a variety of species, particularly during the harsh dry season when water is scarce. Game viewing is superb, and the simplicity of the camp puts the focus firmly on a truly wild safari experience.

Be inspired by Africa's majestic animals as they quench their first at Elephant Valley Lodge's waterhole overlooking the Lesoma Valley in the Chobe District of Zimbabwe. The area is known for having the largest population of African elephant in the world but it's also home to honey badger, giraffe, antelope, leopard, lion, hyena and more. Eight of the 20 tents overlook the waterhole; the remaining 12 face the lush forest lawn and swimming pool. When you're not watching animals, or listening to their cacophony of calls, take a game drive or boat cruise, and a day trip to Victoria Falls.

You'll find easy-going hospitality and the utmost in professionalism at Nata Lodge. There's something for every class of tourist - from the budget-minded to those seeking a more civilised bush experience. The main draw to this region is the Makgadigadi Salt Pans - a vast, barren, occasionally palm-flecked site of an ancient mega-lake (37 000 sq km). However, this is also a bird-haven with over 165 species in the vicinity. Where the Nata River delta feeds the Sua Pan it forms a breeding ground for multitudes of water fowl, including pelicans and flamingo in their thousands, which appear as a shocking mirage of pink amidst this muted landscape.

On the northern fringes of the Okavango Delta, there is a beautiful private reserve called Khwai. Currently, there are only three tiny camps in the almost half a million acres of wilderness – and Tuludi now makes four. The camp itself is stylish, sophisticated and refined but the real luxury is the space. From the iconic Delta floodplains, stretching as far as the eye can see in all directions, to the enormous rooms (100 square metres, just for you), to the vast tracts of land reserved for game drives and walking safaris, Tuludi is the place to be for a refined Okavango Delta experience with all the trimmings.

Tlouwana Camp lies in northern Botswana, at its intersection with three other nations – Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Set just outside Chobe National Park, famous for its life-giving waters and its impressive numbers of elephants (said to be the greatest on Earth), this is an ideal base for exploring the park's varied habitats. Chobe's vast green floodplains lead to dry savannas, woodlands to riverine forests – all forming a complex ecosystem that supports a wealth of species. With modern tented accommodation, excellent guides and a range of activities at a very fair price, Tlouwana is definitely an option to consider.

Meaning 'hello' in Botswana's Bukakhwe San dialect, Mbamba is a welcome addition to the landscape of the northern Okavango Delta. Cloistered among the trees in the private NG12 concession, Mbamba is brought to you by the renowned Uncharted Africa and Natural Selection team and promises a good helping of epic safari experiences - the area is becoming well-known for its predator sightings. Sitting under metres of billowing canvas, the interiors are a visual treat of plush fabrics and Persian rugs, harnessing the magic of safaris of times past. As far as the eye can see, there are tawny grasslands interwoven with shimmering channels and ilala palm islands, making for the dreamiest of settings.

This far-flung lodge in the northern reaches of Botswana's Chobe National Park may seem unduly far off the beaten path for some – and ideally placed for others. But Nogatsaa Pans follows its own logic, one that falls in step with the bush. Surrounded by a cluster of natural clay-bottom pans that attract huge numbers of wildlife in the dry season, Nogatsaa is strategically placed on the largest pan, Kwikamba. The lodge's structures, all on stilts, range across the thicketed bank. The main attraction? The landscapes, which are sweeping and silent, and the creatures that flock to the water sources.

Follow the wooden walkways, through a gathering of shady trees, and you'll find a huddle of tents, strategically positioned to offer idyllic views of a shimmering lagoon and passing wildlife. This is Kwai Expeditions, perfectly situated between the Moremi Game Reserve and Chobe National Park. The camp enjoys a diversity of habitats and you'll have the chance to explore on sensational game drives as well as mokoro rides. As its name gives away, the camp promises adventure and close encounters with nature - and every detail is seen to by the cheery team, from your first welcome song to the very last bush breakfast.

Ensconced by miles and miles of iconic Delta channels, floodplains and grasslands, Duke's Camp occupies a tranquil corner of a private island in the northern Okavango Delta. Designed by the minds behind Jack's Camp, the same flamboyant, adventurous spirit lives within Duke's. The tents are vintage, glamorous and adorned with vividly-patterned rugs, antique furnishings and knick-knacks collected on the Bousfield family's travels. You may be tempted to spend all your time soaking up the atmosphere at camp but there's plenty of adventure to be had, whether it's an idyllic mokoro ride or exhilarating game drive in search of elephant, buffalo, lions and the elusive African painted dog.

You'll find Duke's East on private island concession along the shores of a beautiful seasonal lagoon. Created by the same family behind Botswana stalwart, Jack's Camp, it's full of vintage artefacts, eye-popping colour palettes and knick knacks collected by the Bousfields whilst travelling across the world. Named after the island's longtime custodian, 'Duke' Sarefo, the camp is perfectly in tune with the unique beauty of this corner of the Okavango Delta. You also don't have to venture far to find the wildlife, as elephant and red lechwe are common visitors. And with just four tents, you won't have to share these moments with many others...

With views of the Okavango Delta's lush palm islands, Atzaro is an idyllic trifecta of stunning interiors, sustainability, and fabulous game viewing. At the lodge, the picture-perfect suites are designed to mirror the beauty of the landscape with their soft shades of cream, sand and pale green. The ancestral boma is especially loved by guests and has beautiful collection of local and historical pieces to take you on a journey through the Delta's heritage. Sustainability, conservation and a commitment to the surrounding communities are also a core feature of a stay here, with plenty of experiences to engage with. And then there's the wildlife. Perched next to a shimmering lagoon, you'll spot elephant wading from your private deck - and that's before you've even left camp...