Ultimate Botswana

Victoria Falls Hotel

Popularly known as “the grand old lady of the falls” the historic Victoria Falls Hotel overlooks the Victoria Falls Bridge and the gorges below. Situated in acres of private garden, the charm and tranquil atmosphere of this five-star hotel has earned international acclaim. The elegant decor and the old-world charm of this gracious hotel is reflected in the wide colonial verandahs. The hotel’s 180 rooms are decorated in a manner that recaptures the comfortable charm of a bygone age, with colonial prints, four poster and canopied beds, antique furniture and well-chosen artifacts. Modern facilities and amenities mingle well with the old-fashioned ambience, including such 21st century travellers’ necessities as personal safes, minibars, bathrobes, digital satellite television and umbrellas for the convenience of guests visiting the Rain Forest surrounding the Falls. The main lounge with its old-fashioned traditional elegance and decor has a warm welcoming style, providing a perfect backdrop for relaxing with friends. The Bulawayo Room offers surroundings of exceptional comfort and luxury, going back to the turn of the century.

Savute Safari Lodge, Chobe National Park

Located on the banks of the Savute Channel, Savute Safari Lodge is intimate with just 11 thatched chalets built of local timber. The chalets, which have been elegantly furnished in calm neutral tones to blend with the natural environment, feature expansive private decks, a combined bedroom and lounge area and en-suite facilities. Sink into one of the numerous comfortable sofas in the lounge and library or sip a cocktail in the stylish bar. All these facilities are situated in a beautiful two storey thatch and timber main building. Savute Safari Lodge offers a shaded viewing deck, an al fresco dining area and swimming pool with spectacular pool loungers –ideal for watching the varied wildlife, including the resident elephants, as they make their way to the channel to drink, bathe and play. Twice daily activities are organised around game drives throughout the Guest Room Lounge Outdoor Dining on the Lodge Barge Savute area in open 4x4 safari vehicles. Many trips will incorporate a visit to the Savute Marsh to give you a chance to see the historic presence of the Savute Channel at the marsh against a backdrop of teeming wildlife.

Xugana Island Lodge, Okavango Delta

Xugana Lagoon is widely accepted as being the most spectacular permanent water site in the entire Okavango Delta. Xugana Island Lodge, situated on a wooded island abutting the lagoon, takes full advantage of this magnificent site. The lounge, bar and dining areas are set back under an ebony and African mangosteen tree canopy in open sided thatched structures, and the swimming pool, located within the mature gardens in the centre of the island, Xugana Island Lodge is a perfect place to relax. It accommodates just 16 guests in large raised reed and thatch lagoon-facing chalets, with en-suite facilities and private viewing decks situated on the shaded fringe of the island. Mokoro trips in eco-friendly dugout canoes, built to the traditional design, boat safaris to lagoons, and islands and wilderness walks offer the chance to see the Delta denizens such as Sitatunga and Lechwe antelope, crocodile and hippo, as well as the other big game that frequent the islands and riverine fringes. Bird-watching opportunities are outstanding, and the bream and tiger fishing can be excellent at certain times of the year. The peaceful boat ride back across Xugana Lagoon during the spectacular African sunset provides a lifelong memory. Two activities a day are included and conducted by experienced naturalist guides, who, are keen to impart their vast knowledge and love of this unique area.

Camp Moremi, Moremi Game Reserve

Peeking out from under a lush green woodland canopy, Camp Moremi, in the Xakanaxa area of Moremi Game Reserve, is a truly hidden gem. At the point where the life-giving waters of the Okavango Delta meet the vast plains of the Kalahari Desert, Mother Nature has created a sanctuary of Mopane forests, open grasslands, seasonal floodplains and riverine habitats, resulting in one of the most magnificent and welcoming animal environments in all of Africa. Shaded from the African sun by a forest of ancient ebony trees, Camp Moremi is an elegant thatch and timber lodge consisting of an elevated main lounge, wildlife reference library, dining room and cocktail bar. Facilities at Camp Moremi include a secluded swimming pool and sundeck, an elevated viewing platform with a breathtaking panorama of Xakanaxa Lagoon, and a thatched boma where brunch or afternoon tea can be enjoyed. For an authentic and personal safari experience, Camp Moremi accommodates just 22 guests in East African-style individual safari tents, each situated on a raised teak platform with private adjacent facilities and viewing deck. A complimentary laundry service is also offered.