Best hotels in Okavango Delta

It may not seem like you could step any further off the beaten track than the Okavango Delta, but how does a private island sound? Welcome to North Island, a gorgeous lodge on an island ensconced by the boughs of ebony, mangosteen, leadwood and fig trees, and watched over by a lagoon that's popular with the ample wildlife. With only three enormous tents, it's incredibly exclusive and the views and surrounding landscapes are sublime. During the day, discover the Okavango by land, water or from the sky, and in the evening, plonk yourself down and listen to the symphony of bell frogs as fireflies blink above the water. Magic.

Tapping into an incomparable spirit of safari adventure, Beagle Expeditions offers unmatched access to the Kweene Trails. This region of the Delta is extremely remote, set along a system of waterways that boasts a thriving ecosystem. As well as being exclusive use, the camp is accessed exclusively by helicopter. Promising endless discoveries, this once-in-a-lifetime expedition will introduce you to the wild and wonderful landscape of the Delta. This modest mobile camp offers the ultimate authentic safari experience.

Recently refurbished, Camp Okavango now offers some of the most beautiful and elegant accommodation available in this pristine region of the Delta. This part of the private Shindi concession has a wide range of habitats but is dominated by permanent channels and shallow floodplains, making activities primarily water-focused. There is no vehicle traffic to disturb the peace. This camp suits a traveller whose priority is relaxation and experiencing the stunning landscape surrounding this private, luxurious camp. It offers an altogether different experience of the wilderness, where seeing big game is not the sole focus.

Set in its own private concession just 18km south of the renowned Chitabe area, Gomoti Plains Camp embodies the seasoned expertise of the Machaba team. Drawing on their success with Machaba and Little Machaba camps, the owners have created an intimate retreat that captures the essence of an authentic Botswana safari experience. This chic, modern camp pairs perfectly with the beauty of the region and the diversity of activities on offer.

Sable Alley is a recent addition to Botswana’s luxury safari camp portfolio, in a stunning and remote part of the private Khwai Concession alongside Moremi Game Reserve. This part of northern Botswana has an incredible diversity of landscapes, with the permanent waters of the Okavango Delta providing a vital lifeline in this otherwise arid wilderness. The camp overlooks a lagoon with fabulous views across the lily-covered waters and Moremi beyond, with twelve elegant safari tents stretching along the waters’ edge on either side of the main lodge. Game viewing is excellent, the level of guiding is first class and you get it all for a very reasonable price.

The Okavango Delta is close to our hearts – a geologically unusual depression of desert that traps run-off water from mountains nearly 1000 kilometres away, thanks to three well-placed fault lines. Those fissures are the difference between a vast wetland that sustains a bounty of wildlife, and a muddy seep. Mma Dinare (mother buffalo) is a new jewel of a lodge at the south-east edge of the delta, overlooking the Gomoti River and its sprawl of wildlife-filled floodplains. Set within a private concession of 27000-plus hectares, there's an immense wilderness that's just waiting for you to explore its treasures.

The lodge is inspired by the openness and tranquillity of the Delta. The spaces feel relaxed and welcoming, never formal or over designed. While Daunara offers exceptional game viewing, the camp is equally a place to unwind between adventures. The kind of place you look forward to returning to after a day in the wild.

Machaba Camp is tucked away on the sycamore fig-sheltered bank of the Khwai River to the east of the Okavango Delta. Here, 10 stunningly luxurious tents provide tranquil comfort to visitors returning from a day in the delta. The camp overlooks the river to Moremi Game Reserve, where thick wooded areas are the perfect habitat for leopard and abundant wild dog. From the tent, watch predators and plains game wandering down to the river to drink, and inspect the diverse birdlife in the surrounding lagoons.

Having made its grand entrance in May 2024, Natural Selection's latest gem is set amongst a gathering of ebony and sausage trees in the south-east Moremi Game Reserve of the Okavango Delta. The camp was created alongside the paramount chief of the Batwana tribe (after whom it's named), whose forebears were instrumental in the conservation of the wild areas that would one day become Moremi. The design of Tawana is striking, from its arched entrance inspired by fishing nets to the chic, palatial suites that occupy three thatched areas. Add to that the impressive numbers of lion on the plains surrounding the camp, and you've got an all-round excellent safari.

Maun is the well-established gateway to the Okavango Delta, where tiny planes depart every few hours, filled with eager travellers. Set in a 250-hectare private reserve on the outskirts of the main town, Thamo Telele offers an amuse-bouche before the real safari begins. Meaning 'long neck' in Setswana, the lodge is named after the youngest of its resident giraffe who wander the grounds - the staff will teach you how to identify each one based on their pattern! Thamo has an easygoing feel and families are very welcome - the gardens are big and lush, and the reserve is predator-free.

As you might have guessed, Great Plains' latest camp is set on a gloriously private island in the Northern Okavango. On arrival, you'll scarcely believe such a place exists, with every corner providing a front row seat to this startlingly beautiful corner of Botswana. Hosting a maximum of eight guests, you'll have your guide's utmost attention whilst exploring the channels and lagoons, watching hippos wallow, elephant swimming, and the birdlife a-fluttering. And how could we forget the shy sitatunga antelope dwelling in the reeds of the Delta from which the camp takes its name?

Wild Expeditions is on a mission to take intrepid travellers into the remotest corners of Africa, encouraging visitors to establish a meaningful connection with nature, sans frills or flourishes. The latest outpost, Karangoma, is located in 30,000 hectares of exclusive terrain near the origin point of the Selinda Spillway in the Okavango Delta. A name that harkens a good future in the Sembukushu language, Karangoma was established in close partnership with local elder, Olatotse Sarefo, and the camp is committed to maintaining genuine and reciprocated engagement with surrounding communities. And of course, its exceptional location means top-notch wildlife sightings from both land and water - and not another soul around to interrupt.

Well, it might not be a brand-new camp but The Jackal & Hide, the supplier of some of the best photographic safaris in the region, has been renamed Little Sable. Expect a camp of pared-down luxury with comfy rooms, subtly stylish touches and excellent views across the floodplains of Khwai. In the field, it’s all about an authentic, back-to-basics safari experience with classic game drives, mokoro safaris and boat trips all on offer – and all this comes at a truly fantastic price. What’s not to love?

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.

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.