Skip to main content

Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge: A Botswana Escape Worthy of Hemingway

Africa is the world’s most vast, rugged, and unforgiving continent, so it’s easy to find trips that embrace its harsh nature. But, there are also myriad boutique lodges and luxury safari guides to facilitate a posh, bucket list-worthy trip that would make even David Livingstone envious.

The aptly named &Beyond is arguably Africa’s premier boutique luxury travel company. Their lodges and camps are among the continent’s most architecturally breathtaking. The design of Botswana’s Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge, for example, is inspired by the nests of golden weaver birds and the overlapping body armor of the pangolin, seamlessly woven into the fabric of the Okavango Delta’s endless papyrus reeds. The interior decor is awash in locally-sourced craftwork including traditional basketware, hand-sculpted wooden furniture, and copper-clad mekoro. In true five-star safari lodge fashion, every room is decked out with thoroughly modern amenities. Standard in all 12 rooms are fireplaces, Wi-Fi, luxurious outdoor showers, and plunge pools that overlook your own seemingly private slice of the delta. There’s even a full library, a gym, a spa, and a gourmet restaurant with a dining area anchored by a massive table carved from the root of a single ironwood tree.

But, &Beyond’s luxury lodges aren’t just about superficial beauty and high-tech trappings. They’re also situated in Africa’s most impossibly stunning destinations, including Sabi Sand Game Reserve, the Namib Desert, and Victoria Falls. Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge’s location on the banks of the Okavango Delta is no different, and the real adventure of a stay here lies off-property. The delta is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with good reason — it’s the largest inland delta in the world, and it supports a staggering amount of biodiversity. The unique geography and topography mean that it’s dry for most of the year and the water never flows into any ocean or sea. When the banks flood each winter, however, it draws a massive variety of wildlife. While elephants, hippos, and giraffes are plentiful, some of the continent’s most endangered animals — African wild dogs, lions, cheetah, and black and white rhinoceroses — call the delta home as well. The lodge is ideally situated to see them all in the adjacent Moremi Game Reserve. Plus, daily excursions into the Delta include land and boat safaris, bush walks, and scenic helicopter tours over the plains.

Recommended Videos

Rates start at USD $1,140 per person per night. (Vacationing like a modern day Hemingway doesn’t come cheap …)

Mike Richard
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…
25 U.S. states set for spectacular fall colors, AccuWeather says
Amazing autumn leaves are coming to 25 states
AccuWeather

A riot of reds, oranges, and golds is on the way for much of the country this autumn, according to AccuWeather’s newly released fall foliage forecast. The weather service predicts that 25 states will see vivid, eye-popping color displays (a brighter outlook than last year) while some of the nation’s most popular leaf-peeping hotspots could face a lackluster season.

“There will be drastic differences in fall foliage across this country this year,” said AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Expert Paul Pastelok. He points to New England, the Rockies, and the Midwest as the top regions for dazzling autumn scenery but warns travelers not to wait too long: the peak color window may be shorter than usual.

Read more
This new wine country hotel is a dream escape for food lovers
A Michelin chef’s new Sonoma retreat is redefining wine country luxury
Appellation Healdsburg

A fresh chapter in Sonoma’s luxury scene has arrived with the opening of Appellation Healdsburg, the flagship property for the new culinary-driven hotel brand co-founded by Michelin-starred chef Charlie Palmer and hospitality veteran Christopher Hunsberger. Nestled in the heart of Sonoma County, the 108-room retreat offers agrarian elegance and immersive food experiences, offering guests a taste of wine country living from the moment they arrive.

Check-in sets the tone: visitors are welcomed at a custom butcher-block front desk with a seasonal treat, whether it’s a sun-warmed tomato from the hotel’s own culinary gardens or a still-warm chocolate chip cookie.

Read more
The best times to book flights and hotels for fall, according to Expedia
Expedia reveals the best days to fly and stay this fall
travel in fall

Last week, Expedia dropped its Fall Travel Outlook, outlining everything travelers need to know to score the best prices on fall travel during shoulder season. The report, which outlines the best times to fly, best times to stay, and top fall destinations, showcases why fall is the perfect "sweet spot" time to travel for savvy travelers.

Not only do airfares drop during the shoulder season, but vacation rentals and hotels also drop, making fall the perfect time to explore destinations on your bucket list. These key takeaways from Expedia’s Fall Travel Outlook will help you plan your fall trip smarter.

Read more