The best -7 luxury tourist hotels in Botswana

Botswana is known for its incredible wildlife and natural beauty, and there are several luxury tourist hotels that offer a memorable experience for travelers. Here are some of the best luxury hotels in Botswana:

1. Belmond Eagle Island Lodge: Located in the heart of the Okavango Delta, this luxurious lodge offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape. The lodge features spacious suites with private decks, a swimming pool, a spa, and exceptional wildlife viewing opportunities.
2. Mombo Camp: Situated in the Moremi Game Reserve, Mombo Camp is renowned for its abundant wildlife and luxurious accommodations. The camp offers elegant suites with private plunge pools, a gym, a spa, and gourmet dining experiences.
3. Chief’s Camp: Located on Chief’s Island in the Okavango Delta, Chief’s Camp provides a luxurious safari experience. The camp offers well-appointed suites with private decks, a swimming pool, a spa, and game drives led by expert guides.
4. Zarafa Camp: Situated in the Selinda Reserve, Zarafa Camp offers a high-end safari experience. The camp features spacious tents with private plunge pools, a gourmet restaurant, a spa, and activities such as game drives, walking safaris, and boat cruises.
5. Sanctuary Chief’s Camp: Another exceptional luxury camp in the Moremi Game Reserve, Sanctuary Chief’s Camp offers exclusive accommodations and personalized service. The camp features luxurious suites with private pools, a spa, a gym, and thrilling wildlife encounters.
6. Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge: Nestled in the heart of the Chobe National Park, this lodge offers luxurious accommodations and unforgettable wildlife experiences. The lodge features stylish suites with private decks, a swimming pool, a spa, and game drives to see the park’s abundant wildlife.

These are just a few examples of the best luxury tourist hotels in Botswana. Each offers unique experiences, but all provide top-notch service, luxurious amenities, and breathtaking surroundings to make your stay in Botswana truly unforgettable.

If you’re looking for luxury hotels that are closer to the national parks in Botswana, here are some recommendations:

1. Belmond Khwai River Lodge: Located in the Khwai Concession, which borders the Moremi Game Reserve, this lodge offers luxury accommodations and excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. The lodge features elegant tents with private decks, a swimming pool, a spa, and game drives to explore the surrounding wildlife-rich areas.
2. Chobe Game Lodge: Situated in the Chobe National Park, Chobe Game Lodge is the only permanent luxury lodge within the park. It offers spacious rooms with private terraces, a riverside spa, a swimming pool, and game drives and boat cruises to witness the park’s diverse wildlife, including large elephant herds.
3. Xugana Island Lodge: Located on a private concession in the Okavango Delta, Xugana Island Lodge provides a luxurious retreat close to the Moremi Game Reserve. The lodge offers stylish chalets with private decks overlooking the delta, a swimming pool, a bar, and activities such as mokoro (traditional canoe) excursions and guided nature walks.
4. Savute Safari Lodge: Situated in the heart of the Chobe National Park, Savute Safari Lodge offers luxury accommodations in a prime wildlife viewing area. The lodge features spacious chalets with elevated decks, a swimming pool, a viewing deck, and game drives led by experienced guides to witness the abundant wildlife of the park.
5. Camp Moremi: Located within the Moremi Game Reserve, Camp Moremi is an intimate luxury camp offering a personalized safari experience. The camp provides comfortable tents with private decks, a bar, a dining area, and game drives to explore the diverse ecosystems and wildlife of the reserve.

These luxury hotels are strategically positioned near the national parks, allowing you to immerse yourself in the natural beauty and wildlife of Botswana while enjoying the comforts and amenities of a high-end accommodation.

For a family vacation in Botswana, I would recommend the following luxury hotels that cater well to families:

1. Belmond Khwai River Lodge: This lodge offers spacious tents and family suites, making it suitable for families traveling with children. The lodge provides a range of family-friendly activities, including game drives tailored for children, guided nature walks, and cultural experiences.
2. Chobe Game Lodge: With its prime location in the Chobe National Park, this lodge offers family rooms and interconnecting suites, accommodating families of different sizes. The lodge provides a kids’ club with supervised activities, child-friendly menus, and game drives suitable for children.
3. Xugana Island Lodge: This lodge offers family chalets with multiple bedrooms and shared living spaces, providing ample room for families. It offers a range of activities suitable for families, such as mokoro excursions, boat trips, and guided nature walks.
4. Camp Moremi: Although this camp does not have specific family rooms, it offers a welcoming atmosphere for families. The camp can arrange private safari vehicles for families, ensuring a personalized experience. Game drives and guided walks can be tailored to accommodate children’s interests and attention spans.

These luxury hotels prioritize the comfort and enjoyment of families, offering suitable accommodations, engaging activities, and amenities that cater to guests of all ages. It’s always advisable to check with the hotels directly about their specific family-friendly offerings and any age restrictions or guidelines they may have.

Belmond Khwai River Lodge offers a range of cultural experiences that allow guests to immerse themselves in the local culture and traditions of Botswana. Here are some cultural experiences you can enjoy at the lodge:

1. Village Visits: The lodge can arrange visits to nearby local villages, providing an opportunity to interact with the local communities. You can learn about their way of life, traditions, and customs, and gain insights into the daily routines of the villagers.
2. Cultural Performances: Traditional dance and music performances are organized at the lodge, showcasing the vibrant cultural heritage of Botswana. You can witness energetic dances, listen to rhythmic music, and experience the rich cultural expressions of the local communities.
3. Bushman Walks: Guided walks with San Bushmen, who are indigenous hunter-gatherer communities, are offered at the lodge. The Bushmen share their extensive knowledge of the bush, demonstrating survival skills, tracking techniques, and traditional uses of plants for food, medicine, and other purposes.
4. Craft Demonstrations: Local artisans often visit the lodge to showcase their craftsmanship and demonstrate traditional skills. You can observe the creation of intricate beadwork, basket weaving, woodcarving, or other crafts, and even purchase unique handmade souvenirs as a memento of your trip.
5. Cultural Talks and Presentations: The lodge may organize informative talks or presentations by local experts, providing insights into the cultural heritage, history, and conservation efforts of the region. These sessions offer a deeper understanding of the local culture and its significance in Botswana.

Please note that the availability of specific cultural experiences may vary, and it’s recommended to check with Belmond Khwai River Lodge directly to confirm the cultural activities they currently offer during your stay.

The San Bushmen, also known as the Basarwa or San people, are one of the oldest indigenous groups in Southern Africa, including Botswana. They have a rich cultural heritage and a deep connection to the land. Here is more information about the San Bushmen and their traditional practices:

1. Hunter-Gatherer Lifestyle: Traditionally, the San Bushmen were nomadic hunter-gatherers, relying on hunting, gathering wild plants, and fishing for their sustenance. They have intricate knowledge of the local flora and fauna, understanding the behaviors and habitats of different animals and plants.
2. Tracking and Survival Skills: The San Bushmen are renowned for their exceptional tracking abilities. They can read signs in the environment, such as animal tracks, scat, and broken twigs, to find water sources, locate game, and predict weather patterns. These skills have been passed down through generations, enabling their survival in the challenging African wilderness.
3. Traditional Medicine: The San Bushmen possess extensive knowledge of medicinal plants and their applications. They use various plants to treat ailments, injuries, and other health conditions. Their healing practices often involve herbal remedies, poultices, and specific rituals associated with the use of medicinal plants.
4. Rock Art: The San Bushmen are famous for their rock art, which can be found in various parts of Southern Africa. These ancient paintings depict scenes from their daily lives, animals, and spiritual beliefs. The rock art provides insights into their cultural practices, mythology, and connection to the natural world.
5. Language and Click Sounds: The San Bushmen have a unique language characterized by click sounds, known as a click language. These clicks are produced by different parts of the mouth and are integral to their communication. Click languages are known for their complexity and the ability to convey subtle meanings.
6. Dance and Music: Dance and music play an essential role in San Bushmen culture. Their traditional dances often involve rhythmic foot stomping, clapping, and expressive body movements. Music is created using various instruments like drums, rattles, and mouth bows. These forms of expression are used for celebrations, storytelling, and rituals.

The San Bushmen’s traditional practices and cultural heritage are significant not only to their own communities but also to the broader understanding of human history and the relationship between indigenous peoples and the natural world.

Dance and music are integral to the storytelling and rituals of the San Bushmen, serving as powerful forms of expression and communication. Here’s how the San Bushmen use dance and music in their storytelling and rituals:

1. Storytelling: Dance and music are employed to enhance storytelling within the San Bushmen community. Through rhythmic movements, lively dances, and accompanying music, the storyteller brings narratives to life, captivating the audience. The dances often mimic animal behavior or depict significant events, while the music sets the mood and rhythm for the storytelling session.
2. Rituals and Ceremonies: Dance and music play a central role in San Bushmen rituals and ceremonies. These practices are deeply intertwined with their spiritual beliefs and are conducted to seek guidance, express gratitude, or mark important life events. Ritual dances are performed with great energy and enthusiasm, often accompanied by rhythmic drumming, singing, and chanting.
3. Trance Dancing: Trance dancing is a notable practice among the San Bushmen. It is believed to facilitate a connection with the spirit world and channel ancestral wisdom. During trance dances, participants enter altered states of consciousness through repetitive movements, rhythmic music, and intense physical exertion. It is believed that trance dancers can communicate with the spirits and receive messages or healing powers.
4. Social Bonding and Celebration: Dance and music also serve as a means of social bonding and celebration within the San Bushmen community. Festive dances and music are performed during various occasions, such as weddings, initiations, and harvest festivals. These communal gatherings strengthen social ties, foster a sense of belonging, and provide opportunities for artistic expression and joyful celebration.

Through dance and music, the San Bushmen preserve their cultural heritage, pass down traditional knowledge, and strengthen community cohesion. These expressive forms are deeply intertwined with their spiritual beliefs, storytelling traditions, and rituals, contributing to the richness and diversity of their cultural practices.

In addition to storytelling and rituals, the San Bushmen have other cultural practices that involve dance and music. Here are some examples:

1. Healing Dances: The San Bushmen believe in the power of dance and music to promote healing. They perform specific healing dances accompanied by rhythmic music and chanting to address physical or spiritual ailments. These dances are often conducted by healers or individuals with specialized knowledge of traditional medicine.
2. Initiation Dances: Initiation ceremonies are important milestones in the lives of young San Bushmen. Dance and music play a significant role in these rites of passage. During initiation dances, young individuals are taught traditional dances, songs, and cultural practices by experienced members of the community. These dances serve to pass on cultural knowledge, promote social integration, and mark the transition to adulthood.
3. Seasonal Celebrations: The San Bushmen celebrate various seasons and natural phenomena through dance and music. For instance, they may perform dances to celebrate the arrival of rain, the blooming of specific plants, or the migration of certain animals. These celebrations are accompanied by songs, rhythmic movements, and musical instruments, expressing gratitude for the abundance of nature.
4. Courtship Dances: Dance and music play a role in courtship and romantic rituals among the San Bushmen. Young individuals may engage in dances to attract potential partners or express their affection. These courtship dances often involve graceful movements, intricate footwork, and expressive gestures accompanied by melodic tunes or rhythmic beats.
5. Communication and Signaling: Dance and music also serve as forms of communication and signaling within the San Bushmen community. They may use specific dances and songs to convey messages, relay important information, or communicate across distances. These forms of non-verbal communication are often understood and interpreted by community members.

Dance and music are deeply embedded in the cultural fabric of the San Bushmen, permeating various aspects of their lives. These practices foster social cohesion, transmit cultural knowledge, express emotions, and establish connections with the natural and spiritual realms.