andBeyond Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge stands in a private concession of 22,500 hectares (55,600 acres) on the edge of the Moremi Game Reserve, with sole traversing rights across it. The building is the first thing guests remember. Designed by Nicholas Plewman Architects with Michaelis Boyd, the main lodge curves in the shape of a pangolin, its roof covered in Canadian cedar shingles laid like scales, and it won an A+Award in 2016. The 12 suites are raised above papyrus-lined banks like the nests of golden weavers, each with a plunge pool and a fireplace. This is a land-based camp. Days are spent on game drives by day and after dark, in vehicles fitted with bucket seats and camera mounts, on guided walks or on scenic helicopter flights, and a helicopter is based at the lodge for transfers. Meals revolve around an open kitchen with a pizza oven, and there is a massage sala and a gym. Children of every age are welcome, with the WILDchild programme and childminders on request. Sandibe installed the first solar plant of its kind in Botswana in 2014, and supports wild dog research by the Botswana Predator Conservation Trust and the Rhinos Without Borders project.
- Nearest airport
- Maun (MUB), 37 Miles / 59 Kilometres, then light aircraft to Chitabe airstrip and a game drive
- Rooms
- 12 suites, including one Family Suite
Insider tip Ask for a behind-the-scenes look at the lodge's solar plant, which supplies around 70 per cent of its energy.
Why I choose it The design statement of the Delta, open all year and welcoming children of every age.
