For decades, the chiefs of the Batawana tribe have fiercely protected a pristine corner of the Moremi Game Reserve in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, preserving a wilderness teeming with predators, herbivores, and antelopes.
Recently, the paramount chief has allowed safari specialists Natural Selection to build an exclusive lodge in this untouched area.
As the sole camp in the entire concession, it offers guests unparalleled access to the region’s abundant wildlife, superior cuisine, and immersive accommodations, creating one of the most life-affirming safari experiences available.
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The lodge, designed by safari architect Michael Kornmuller, features a striking conical tunnel entrance resembling a traditional sikuku fishing net, casting intricate shadows as you pass through.
This leads to the main area, an open lounge and dining terrace with expansive views of the Gomoti River floodplain. Here, guests can watch warthogs, antelopes, and elephants grazing. Occasionally, animals wander close to the terrace, offering thrilling encounters. The terrace’s public toilet, with its open front wall, provides a unique and exhilarating connection to the surrounding landscape.
The story of this lodge begins with Chief Tawana Moremi’s father and grandmother, who recognized the ecological value of their ancestral hunting grounds and established the Moremi Game Reserve in 1963. Decades later, Chief Tawana allocated a concession within the reserve and invited tenders for building a lodge. Natural Selection won the bid and began construction in 2023, opening the lodge in May 2024.
Standing out in a 53-hectare game-viewing area, the lodge feels like a private reserve. With no other lodges nearby, guests enjoy the unfenced landscape for uninterrupted wildlife viewing.
Seven-seater open vehicles depart for game drives twice daily, with private vehicles available for added exclusivity. The area, rich in wildlife, often fulfills guests’ specific animal sighting requests. The game drives reveal incredible scenes: cheetahs hunting, lionesses interacting with other animals, and leopards, among others.
Between game drives, guests can enjoy activities like scenic helicopter flights over the delta, motorboat, and makoro (canoe) rides. The lodge’s villas, accommodating up to 22 guests, are connected by an elevated walkway designed to allow elephant crossings. Each suite includes three thatched huts for the bedroom, bathroom, and lounge, cooled by ceiling fans and air conditioning.
The suites feature recycled cork floors, patio windows with views of the grasslands, outdoor showers, private plunge pools, and fitness equipment. Prices range from $2,195 to $3,495 per night, inclusive of airstrip transfers, meals, activities, non-premium drinks, and laundry.
Tawana elevates safari cuisine with Executive Chef Lungile Mbangi, trained in Italian and French culinary arts. The menu offers vegan, vegetarian, and meat-based dishes with European and African influences.
Highlights include arancini risotto, blinis with chakalaka, pan-fried beef fillet, kingklip with double-fried potatoes, and desserts like pavlova with whipped coconut cream. Meals are served in the main area, with drinks available from the well-stocked wine cellar featuring top Western Cape wines.
The service is attentive and friendly, provided by locally raised staff familiar with the wildlife. Families are welcome, with special accommodations for children under 12. The camp operates entirely on solar power, with a backup generator if needed. Open year-round, the best time to visit is during the dry season from April to October, though the green season from November to March also offers unique experiences.
Guests can reach the lodge via flights from Cape Town and Johannesburg to Maun, followed by a helicopter or light aircraft transfer. The lodge is accessible, with ramps and modified facilities for guests with mobility needs. Wi-Fi is available in the rooms, and downtime between game drives can be spent in the gym, pool, spa, or gift shop.
All listings featured on Condé Nast Traveller are independently selected by editors. Bookings made through provided links may earn an affiliate commission.
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