Exceptional Safari Camps in Botswana (Beyond the Flagship Lodges)

Botswana is home to some of the best safari camps in Botswana — but the most rewarding experiences are not always found in the most high-profile lodges.

Beyond the flagship camps, there is a group of properties that quietly deliver an equally exceptional safari experience, often in some of the Delta’s most sought-after and well-positioned areas, with guiding of an equally high standard and consistently strong wildlife viewing.

All of the camps featured here are located within private concessions, allowing for a more flexible style of safari. Off-road driving, night drives and a general absence of crowds all contribute to a more immersive and rewarding experience.

These camps remain firmly within the luxury category — offering very comfortable accommodation, excellent service and beautifully positioned settings. The difference is often more subtle: a slightly less design-led approach, a more relaxed atmosphere, and dining that is refined and generous, rather than overtly fine-dining in style.

The Okavango Delta itself is also evolving. Areas once known primarily for water-based activities are now offering a more balanced mix of land and water experiences, as changing water levels open up new areas for game viewing.

In many cases, it is not the safari that differs, but the level of finish.

These are the camps we return to time and again when shaping the most rewarding itineraries.

Kanana Camp

Kanana sits in a particularly beautiful part of the Okavango Delta and has long been one of those quietly dependable camps. Recently rebuilt in 2025, it now offers a noticeably higher standard of accommodation, blending a more traditional Okavango camp feel with a fresh, contemporary finish. The camp itself remains relaxed and unpretentious in feel — a place where the focus is firmly on time out in the bush, now paired with a very comfortable and well-considered base.

With shifting water levels in the western Delta, this area has in recent years offered some of the best game viewing in the Okavango, alongside a more balanced mix of land and seasonal water activities.

And when the new sister camp, Kanana Nyana, opens in October 2026 we expect this even more exclusive and luxurious camp to soon become one of the best safari camps in Botswana.

Sable Alley

Set within the Khwai Private Reserve, Sable Alley offers access to one of the Delta’s most consistently productive wildlife areas. The mix of habitats supports a wide range of species, and sightings here are often excellent.

Rebuilt in early 2026, the camp now presents a very high standard of accommodation, adding a more refined and contemporary feel to an already strong location. The combination of excellent game viewing and upgraded design makes this a particularly compelling option.

It works particularly well as part of a broader itinerary, offering a strong contrast to camps deeper in the Delta.

Kwara Camp

Kwara is set in the eastern Okavango, within a large private concession offering year-round land and water activities. The diversity of habitats here supports consistently strong wildlife viewing, and the experience is shaped very much by time spent out exploring the concession.

Game drives are taken seriously, led by both a guide and tracker, with early departures before dawn and extended afternoon drives that often continue into the evening. The rhythm of the day is built around the safari itself, rather than the camp.

Meals are shared communally, creating a relaxed and sociable atmosphere, and the overall experience strikes a very good balance between strong guiding and comfortable, unpretentious accommodation. For serious wildlife enthusiasts and safari goers, this is one of the best safari camps in Botswana.

Shinde Camp

Shinde sits on a private concession in the eastern Okavango, in a classic Delta setting of waterways and islands, with year-round land and water activities.

It offers a gentle, immersive experience, where the setting plays as much of a role as the wildlife. The camp has a long-established, traditional feel, with a relaxed pace and a strong connection to its surroundings.

Meals are enjoyed together around a shared table, creating a warm, informal atmosphere that many guests value. It is a camp that feels easy, welcoming and quietly immersive.

Gomoti Plains Camp

Gomoti Plains is set on a private concession in the southern Okavango, an area that has become increasingly well regarded for its wildlife. While water activities are seasonal, the focus here is very much on game drives, with consistently strong sightings.

The camp has a relaxed, down-to-earth feel, balanced with thoughtful touches such as private dining as standard. It offers a very comfortable and well-run experience, without feeling overly polished or formal.

Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp

Nxabega is set in a particularly scenic part of the Delta, combining waterways and dry land to create a varied and engaging safari experience. It offers a reliable mix of activities and a strong sense of place.

The camp itself is tented in style but offers a high level of comfort, with features such as air conditioning and well-appointed interiors. Guiding is of a very high standard, and the food, beverages and service are consistently excellent — as you would expect from an &Beyond property.

Chitabe Camp

Chitabe is widely regarded as one of the Delta’s strongest wildlife areas, particularly for predators. The combination of habitats creates excellent year-round game viewing, often making it one of the most productive stops on an itinerary and frequently considered one of the best safari camps in Botswana.

Following a full rebuild in 2025, the camp now presents a fresh, contemporary take on its classic tented style. The focus remains firmly on the safari itself — strong guiding, excellent wildlife and time spent out in one of the Delta’s most productive areas — now paired with a more refined and comfortable base.

Duba Explorers Camp

Duba Explorers offers a more classic, canvas-style safari experience, drawing inspiration from the under-canvas safaris of the 1920s. It is elegant in its simplicity, with a strong sense of character and place.

With just five tents, the camp feels intimate and quietly friendly. Subtle modern touches — such as discreet air conditioning above the bed — add comfort without detracting from the experience.

Set overlooking the river, it offers a beautiful setting, with reliable game viewing year-round and seasonal water activities.

Belmond Eagle Island Lodge

Eagle Island Lodge sits on a private island on the western side of the Okavango Delta, an area that has evolved in recent years. Historically known for its water-based focus, changing water levels have opened up larger tracts of dry land, and with it, increasingly strong game viewing.

The camp offers a more polished, traditional lodge feel, with a high level of comfort — including air conditioning — which sets it apart from many camps in the Delta. It works particularly well for those looking for a well-established, design-led property in a beautiful setting, and for those familiar with the Belmond brand, it will feel reassuringly consistent.

While the experience here may feel slightly less overtly “bush-focused” than in some more remote concessions, it offers a very well-balanced and often good value luxury safari.

Choosing the Right Camp for you from the best safari camps in Botswana

There is no single “best” camp in Botswana — rather, these are the camps we return to time and again when shaping the most rewarding itineraries.

The Okavango Delta is a dynamic environment, and the experience can shift subtly with the seasons — particularly in terms of water levels and the balance between land and water activities.

For this reason, choosing the right camp is not just about the property itself, but about how it aligns with the experience you are looking for.

Combining two or three camps across different areas often creates the most complete safari, allowing you to experience different landscapes, wildlife dynamics and pace.

If you would like to explore which of these camps might best suit your plans, we would be very happy to guide you through the options and shape something around your interests.