The Okavango Delta is one of Africa's most stunning wilderness areas and is home to a diverse array of wildlife. There are many lodges in the area, but here are five of the best: Mombo and Little Mombo Camp: A luxury safari camp that will fulfill your wildest dreams. Revel in Mombo's chic sustainability. The Okavango Delta has some of the best game viewing on Earth. This luxury safari camp is in a prime position - where the main Okavango River splits into its primary channels. Discover what some say is Botswana's best year-round game-viewing destination, with thrilling predator-prey interaction dominated by big cats. Xigera Safari Lodge: Xigera Safari Lodge offers 12 beautiful suites, each resting effortlessly in this wild landscape. Amid this remarkable setting, Xigera's design aesthetic is wholeheartedly dedicated to celebrating African art, design, and creativity. Each piece has been handcrafted and inspired by the incredible natural surroundings in Botswana; every experience can be tailor-made to your wishes… an entirely new imagining of the African bush. Duba Plains Camp: Duba Plains Camp, the epitome of the Botswana safari, sits in the heart of the Okavango Delta. The private 33,000-hectare Duba Plains reserve is a palm-dotted island, flood plains, and woodland matrix. This is the area that Great Plains Conservation co-founders, National Geographic filmmakers, conservationists, and explorers Dereck and Beverly Joubert chose for their home base for filming. The camp at Duba Plains offers five bespoke suites. The camp design ensures it blends into the landscape while evoking the classic African safari style of the 1920s. All the rooms are on raised recycled railway sleeper decking. Each suite affords guests stunning views of the surrounding floodplain and the steady stream of wildlife parading past. Each suite has a lounge area and beautifully appointed en-suite facilities: a flush loo, double vanities, indoor and outdoor showers, and a luxurious bath. Ceiling fans and an environmentally friendly air-conditioning system over the bed ensure a comfortable climate. Enjoy your private verandah, complete with a plunge pool and shaded sala. Jao Camp: Where Earth meets river meets wetland lies Jao. Surrounded by riverine forests and vast floodplains, Jao is the archetypal Okavango Delta camp and a lush haven for wildlife. Boat in when the waters rise or travel by game drive vehicle when summer warms the land. At Jao, the endlessly dynamic waters provide a continuous element of surprise and all manner of experiences to explore this Botswana paradise. Sandibe Camp: In the heart of the Delta, on the edge of a waterway, you'll find Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge. Situated on a diverse, wildlife-rich, private concession, Sandibe has exclusive traversing rights over a vast 22,500 hectares (55,600 acres) of wildlife land bordering the Moremi Game Reserve. The inspired organic design of the lodge melts into the surrounding forest canopy of wild palms and gnarled fig trees. Trees will shade you as you approach the lodge; an intriguing curl and sweep of shingled wood come into view, resembling a giant-scaled pangolin at rest. Stairs open onto the high ceilings of the copper-toned, glassless guest area overlooking the Delta. The wooden deck stretches beyond the roof from this central dining area, while the upstairs bar and lounge extend along an elevated walkway to a viewing platform. A series of decks descend to the forest floor culminating in a log boma, with a small gym and private massage sala close by. Interior finishes showcase Botswana's artisans' craftsmanship and feature intricate basket ware, sculpted wooden tables, and unique feature pieces. While the main guest area is within the forest, the twelve guest suites peep out from beneath its canopy. Raised above the papyrus-lined banks like golden weaver nests, each is a cocoon of privacy with breathtaking views, a private plunge pool, and a cozy fireplace.

• published: 17 Mar 2023
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