Choose Botswana for an unbeatable game viewing experience
Wildlife outnumbers humans in Botswana, which is reason enough for us to choose this country for an unspoiled African safari. And that’s before we tell you all about the specular wildlife oasis that is the Okavango Delta. It’s honestly one of our favourite spots in Africa because it never fails to offer some of the most unique game viewing experiences on the continent.
Old-world charm
Your first stop is at the newly rebuilt Jack’s Camp in the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park in northeastern Botswana. We love that the camp is now bigger and better but has still retained its old-world charm and nostalgic 1940s safari style. Think rich textiles, Natural History Museum cabinets, and your very own private plunge pool.
Location, location, location
Then you’re off to Selinda Camp in the Selinda Reserve, a 130 000-hectare private wildlife reserve in northern Botswana. As far as location goes, you don’t get any better than Selinda, which overlooks the spectacular Selinda Spillway (a seasonal waterway linking the renowned Okavango Delta and the floodplains of the Linyanti swamps). The camp’s star deck and luxurious tents provide all the luxury you need as your base, but we really love Selinda for its sheer variety of activities, including twice-daily game drives (plus night drives), boating trips, and short guided walks from camp.
A luxurious Delta delight
Next up is two nights at one of the Okavango Delta’s most luxurious camps – Jao Camp. The camp (located in the private Jao game reserve within the Delta) consist of five suites and two villas, and each villa comes with its own private vehicle, guide, chef and butler. We love Jao for its opulence, but also for its friendly, welcoming staff and the unique chance to spend a night under the stars in Jao’s sleep-out platform, getting you closer to nature than ever before. The camp also boasts a spa, a small gym, and various water-based options, such as mokoro trips, motorboat cruises, and catch-and-release fishing (on a seasonal basis).
Attention to detail is everything
Your time in the Okavanga Delta ends at Xigera (pronounced ‘kee-jera’) Safari Lodge. This beautifully bold, carbon-careful lodge is all about luxury and attention to detail. The lodge employs 120 people to service 12 individually designed suites. Not only does that impressive guest-to-staff ratio make the lodge an absolute YPA favorite, but it’s especially admirable from a job creation point of view in a very rural, impoverished area.
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