What accommodation can be expected in Botswana?
When planning a trip to Botswana you may be concerned about the types of facilities and accommodation that can be expected, but you shouldn’t be. There is such a vast range of accommodation options available to you – from really rustic camping to luxurious tented camps and lodges – allowing for the best possible safari experience, without missing any creature comforts.
For those who want a truly rustic experience, full participation camping is an option – this is a hands-on experience where you will be responsible for setting up your camp and preparing your own meals.
Non-participation camping is a less labour intensive option, while tented camps and lodges offer the more luxurious options, depending on your expectations and budget. It is important to note that many of these lodges and camps are in remote areas, so you need to consider that at some lodges electricity is provided through a generator, and so is only on for certain times of the day, with oil and gas being used as alternatives.
In the luxury lodges and camps electricity is more consistent – however this should not be the determining factor when considering accommodation options, eating by lamp or candlelight adds to the authenticity of your safari experience and is a novel concept for many people.
You should also not be confused between the National Parks and the private concessions in Botswana. The National Parks are open to the public, should you be staying in a camp or lodge within one of these parks, expect to share the area with day-visitors and guests from other camps and lodges within the park. In National Parks, rules are expected to be observed by everyone using the facilities.
Private concessions are usually tracts of land within the borders of a National Park, which offer exclusive use to the lodge which sits on this land. These are usually the more luxurious lodges. Choosing a lodge on a private concession means that you have more flexibility when it comes to game drives, drive times and where you are allowed to go. The Mombo or Chief’s Camp are excellent examples of this type of lodge – set in a remote concession, which has absolutely fantastic game viewing.
