andBeyond Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge

Located in the heart of the Delta, on the edge of a waterway, is the stunning andBeyond Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge. Situated on a diverse, wildlife-rich, private concession, Sandibe has exclusive traversing rights over a vast 22,500 hectares of wildlife land bordering the Moremi Game Reserve.

The inspired organic design of the lodge melts into the surrounding forest canopy of wild palms and gnarled fig trees. Trees will shade you as you approach the lodge; an intriguing curl and sweep of shingled wood come into view, resembling a giant scaled pangolin at rest. The stairs open onto the high ceilings of the copper-toned and glassless guest area overlooking the Delta. From the central dining area, the wooden deck stretches beyond the roof, while the upstairs bar and lounge extend along an elevated walkway to a viewing platform.

The main area features a series of decks that descend to the forest floor culminating in a log boma, with a small gym and private massage sala close by. Interior finishes throughout showcase the craftsmanship of Botswana’s artisans, and feature intricate basket ware, sculpted wooden tables and unique feature pieces. While the main guest area is set within the forest, the twelve guest suites peep out from beneath its canopy. Raised above the papyrus-lined banks like golden weaver nests, each is a cocoon of privacy, with breathtaking views, a private plunge pool and a cosy fireplace.

The Suites

Each suite looks over the Santantadibe Channel and golden reed beds. Large wooden and mesh sliding doors open onto a private multi-level deck, with a seating area, daybed, outdoor shower and rim-flow plunge pool. Enjoy king-size or twin beds, serving hatch, well-stocked personal bar, walk-in wardrobe, open-plan lounge area and ensuite bathroom.

The Family Suite

The spacious family suite comprises two suites with a covered interleading walkway. Enjoy a king-size or twin beds, ensuite bathroom, serving hatch, personal bar, walk-in wardrobe and open-plan lounge area. Large wooden sliding doors open onto a private multi-level deck, with a seating area, daybed, outdoor shower and rim-flow plunge pool.

About the Okavango Delta

The largest inland delta in the world, the Okavango Delta is the most unexpected wonder – water present in a desert. The broad Okavango River sinks into the dry sands of the Kalahari Desert, creating a lush and waterlogged oasis with crystal clear lagoons and channels, reeded islands and fertile floodplains. Dubbed “the river that never finds the sea”, this magical oasis spreads over more than 15 500 km² (almost 6 000 square miles) and yet is so fragile that, if it were denied water for even a decade, it would revert to a semi-desert.

This breath-taking environment constantly adapts and changes with the ebb and flow of the floodwaters that seasonally inundate large portions of the Delta. Although dry for two-thirds of the year, during the winter months the rising floodwaters create a maze of marshes, small wooded islands and shallow lagoons. Water lilies and other aquatic plants flourish in the shallow water, while water birds inhabit the banks of papyrus. As relatively little water can be found elsewhere during this time, the wildlife is drawn to the clear waters of the Delta.

On the edges of the Delta, where land blurs with water, breeding herds of elephant splash gently through shallow channels, the long necks of a family of giraffe materialise slowly out of the Delta skyline and graceful sitatunga antelope hide in the reeds. It is a place where you can wonder at the antics of wild dog in the morning and cast a line for tiger fish in the afternoon, wake in the dappled shade of a forest and enjoy dinner beneath the boughs of a massive baobab at full moon.

Beautiful little reed frogs cling to the water grasses and a variety of incredible bird species make their appearance, from jewelled kingfishers and bee-eaters to ponderous herons and cranes and solemn-looking owls. Red lechwe scamper through the shallows and wild cat, serval and pangolin can be spotted at night, when the moon reflects off the backs of a family of hippo coming out of the water to graze, turning them into slabs of shining silver.