About this hotel
General information
Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge sits beneath wild palms and gnarled fig trees on the edge of a waterway in the heart of the Okavango Delta. Its main building, clad in curling wooden shingles, takes the shape of a giant pangolin at rest: under the high, glassless roof is a dining area with a deck over the water, while the upstairs bar and lounge lead along a raised walkway to a viewing platform. Basketware, sculpted wooden tables and one-off pieces by Botswana’s artisans fill the interiors.
Twelve suites peep out from the canopy, raised above the papyrus like golden weaver nests, each with its own plunge pool and fireplace. The lodge has a private Big Five concession to itself, and its own solar plant, the first in the Delta, covers about 70 % of its energy. Meals, most drinks, game drives, laundry and airstrip transfers are included.
Location
The lodge stands on a 22,500-hectare private concession bordering the Moremi Game Reserve, where its guests have exclusive traversing rights, and the suites look across the Santantadibe Channel. Airlink flies daily to Maun from Johannesburg and Cape Town, and from Johannesburg to Kasane; from there a Mack Air light aircraft continues to Chitabe airstrip, followed by a game drive to the lodge. Guests can also arrive by Helicopter Horizons, whose helicopter is based at the lodge.
Spa
There is no full spa: Healing Earth treatments are given in an intimate massage room with Delta views or in the suite, at additional cost.
Sports & leisure
Game drives head out twice a day, early in the morning and late in the afternoon, carrying on after nightfall, in customisable vehicles with bucket seats, charging points and camera bean bags on clamps, with no more than six guests aboard; guides stop for a bush cappuccino in the morning and a sundowner in the evening. Guided walks, photography, stargazing and birding are included too, as are a visit to a village school built with the Wild Impact community partner and a behind-the-scenes tour of the lodge’s solar plant. The gym has a treadmill, rowing machine, stationary bike and weights. At additional cost:
- a private vehicle with a dedicated guide;
- scenic helicopter flights over the Delta’s islands, floodplains and lagoons, with the doors removed for photographers on request.
For children
Younger guests can join the &Beyond WILDchild programme, interactive activities introducing children to Botswana’s nature and culture, always supervised by guides and lodge staff. Childminders are available on request.
Restaurants & bars
Meals are plated and served at the table, and the setting can change from the deck to a private dinner or a brunch out on the concession:
- Dining area and deck — main meals over the Delta, locally inspired cooking;
- Upstairs bar and lounge — sundowners or a morning cappuccino above a sea of papyrus;
- Boma — pan-African dinners around an open fire in the traditional enclosure after the evening drive;
- Interactive kitchen — guests join the chefs to make pizza in the traditional oven or build their own burgers;
- Wine cellar.
Soft drinks, house wines, local spirits and beers are included; champagne, cognac, fine wines and premium brands are charged separately.
Swimming
There is no shared pool: every suite has its own rim-flow plunge pool on the deck, looking out over the Delta.
Rooms
Twelve suites, one of them a family suite, stand about 30 m apart above the papyrus, facing the Santantadibe Channel and its golden reed beds; each is air-conditioned and warmed by a fireplace in winter. The lodge takes up to 24 guests, and a private butler looks after each of them.
Air conditioning and heating, a fireplace, overhead fans, mosquito nets, a personal bar, a walk-in wardrobe, indoor and outdoor showers (no bath), a separate WC, telephone, safe, hairdryer, Wi-Fi and a pair of SWAROVSKI OPTIK binoculars for the stay.
Suite
A spacious suite with an open-plan lounge, a king-size or twin beds, a walk-in wardrobe and an en-suite bathroom; wooden sliding doors open onto a multi-level deck with seating, a daybed, an outdoor shower and a plunge pool. Sleeps two; one suite takes a child under 16 as a third guest.
Family Suite
Two suites joined by a covered walkway, each with its own bedroom, bathroom, lounge and deck with a plunge pool. Sleeps four: two adults and two children.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.