Botswana rewards travellers who venture beyond its best-known safari circuits. From desert pans in the Central Kalahari to island lodges in the Okavango’s panhandle, these five remote safari lodges offer remarkable wildlife, space, and a deeper sense of place. They’re ideal for safari visitors seeking something different – without sacrificing comfort.
This guide highlights where to go, what makes each lodge special, and when to visit, drawing on Cedarberg Africa’s first-hand safari planning expertise.
Botswana has no shortage of outstanding safari camps. Many sit in famous wildlife hotspots and belong to well-known safari brands. But step slightly off the main safari circuit and you’ll find something rarer: lodges where silence still dominates, landscapes feel vast and untamed, and the experience is shaped as much by place as by wildlife.
These remote safari lodges don’t compromise on comfort, but what lingers longest is the sense of being immersed in nature.
1. Kwando Tau Pan, Central Kalahari
Staying at Kwando Tau Pan Camp means sharing an immense reserve with just one other lodge. Set on the edge of the vast Tau Pan, this camp delivers uninterrupted Kalahari horizons and some of Botswana’s most evocative desert scenery.
In a desert setting like this, it is apt that the 8 custom-built rooms are desert-adapted. Throw in an en-suite with an alfresco shower and private viewing deck and you’ll be right at home. There is a central lounge area with dining room, a curio shop and even an interpretation centre/library.
Game drives explore Central Kalahari’s surprisingly rich wildlife, while guided walks with San Bushmen offer rare insight into survival, culture, and ancient knowledge systems.
If you are considering some of the remote safari lodges in Botswana and want some experienced safari assistance, chat to us!
2. Ghoha Hills Lodge – Savuti
If there’s a lodge where the view steals the show, it’s at Ghoha Hills Savuti Lodge! Set high on the Ghoha Hills escarpment, it overlooks the Savuti plains; a landscape known for dramatic predator encounters. Whether you are sitting on the balcony of your luxury tented room, in the main lodge, or taking a swim, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to the scenery!
As the name suggests, this lodge lies on the ledges of Ghoha Hills in the Savuti area of the Chobe National Park. Being eco-friendly in this sensitive environment is a goal of this lodge. Everything is solar powered and self-sustaining, without compromising on providing guests with a first class safari experience.
Watch the sunrise every morning and admire animals drinking from the waterhole as all tents are east facing. Between game drives on private road networks, guests can enjoy the spa, gym, pool, or fire boma – all with that sweeping Savuti backdrop.
3. Leroo La Tau – Boteti River, near Makgadikgadi Pans
Perched above the Boteti River, Leroo La Tau offers front-row seats to one of Botswana’s great seasonal wildlife spectacles. During the dry months (July to October), vast herds of zebra and wildebeest funnel towards the river, drawing predators close behind, as they migrate from the pans north to the Okavango Delta or Chobe.
The raised vantage point of the lodge and its photographic hide ensures unsurpassed views of these animals as they quench their terrible thirst.
While lion, zebra and wildebeest sightings are a highlight, the area also supports leopard, brown and spotted hyena, bushbuck, kudu, jackal, porcupine, and an unexpectedly resilient population of hippos and crocodiles.
The surrounding Makgadikgadi landscape shifts dramatically with the seasons, making repeat visits surprisingly rewarding.
Insider tip: A three-night stay includes either a sleep-out on the salt pans or a full-day excursion to Nxai Pan National Park. For an added flourish, travel in by road and return to the lodge by scenic helicopter flight (for an additional cost) .
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Major Game Reserves, Sample Tours & Camps, plus the low-down on Best Time to Visit! Get our free guide here4. Nsamaseri Island Lodge & Tsodilo Hills Sleepout. Delta Panhandle
Nxamaseri Island Lodge a charming lodge, set on an island in the remote panhandle of the Okavango Delta. This must be one of the most breathtakingly beautiful areas in Botswana.
The lodge offers water-based activities, including boating and mokoro trips among the network of channels that make up the area. Nxamaseri is one of the top bird watching and fishing destinations in the country and specialises in both, with expert and enthusiastic guides.
Tsodilo Hills Visit and Sleepout
Close by is the magical Tsodilo Hills, a UNESCO world heritage site and and one of Botswana’s most sacred landscapes. Home to over 2,000 ancient San rock paintings, the hills offer profound cultural depth.
Nxamaseri have built a fly-camp close to the Hills so that now you can head out to the Hills in the afternoon, explore the rock art in the late afternoon, sleep near the hills, and return after a sunrise walk. A rare and quietly moving experience.
Insider Tip: I would recommend at least 3 nights here so that you have time to enjoy the water actvities at the camp (caught my first tiger fish here!) and also the moving visit to the Tsodilo Hills.
5. Mashatu Lodge
If you are someone who prefers a little more pampering on their travels, Mashatu Lodge is ideal! Although still considered to be ‘off the beaten track’, it definitely contrasts with the more rustic tented camps. Set within the vast Mashatu Game Reserve, it combines colonial-style elegance with access to one of Botswana’s most wildlife-rich private concessions.
With air-conditioned rooms and family suites designed for absolute privacy, and deliciously comfortable colonial-style bedrooms, you’ll certainly feel relaxed.
Mashatu Game Reserve has an exciting landscape of sandstone outcrops, giant baobabs, and riverine forests, unique in Botswana, with a high concentration of elephant as well as cheetah and leopard.
There is also plenty to keep you busy at this camp. Beyond game drives, Mashatu offers walking safaris, mountain biking, horse riding, photographic hides, and cultural excursions, making it one of Botswana’s most varied safari experiences
If you want something more rustic, you can opt for Mashatu Tented Camp or check out the architecturally striking Mashatu Euphobia Camp
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to visit remote safari lodges in Botswana?
It depends on the region. The dry season (June to October) offers concentrated wildlife, while the green season (November–March) brings dramatic landscapes and fewer visitors, but with the chance of summer rains.
Are off-the-beaten-track lodges suitable for first-time safari travellers?
Yes, if you have enough time to combine them with more classic safari areas. A well-balanced itinerary offers variety without sacrificing game viewing.
Do remote lodges mean less comfort?
Not at all. These lodges prioritise location and experience, but comfort, excellent guiding, and thoughtful service remain central to the Botswana safari experience.
Planning Your Botswana Safari
Many of our clients prefer the charm and intimacy of more remote safari lodges over the larger, more commercial safari camps. So how to go about planning your Botswana safari?
- Start with your travel style: what are you looking for? Wwildlife focus, unique landscapes, or cultural depth
- Chat to us – and we’ll suggest complementary regions and camps for contrast and flow
- Let our specialists refine the details, from logistics to lodge pairings
Thinking of a safari trip to Botswana?
Talk to us and we’ll design an itinerary that fits your pace, interests, and sense of adventure.
Contact Us Now5 Remote Safari Lodges in Botswana – was written by Kate of Cedarberg Africa
Cedarberg Africa is a travel and safari company specializing in Southern and East African safaris. Kate co-founded Cedarberg Africa in 1995 with her sister Ginny and has lived in South Africa for over 30 years. She has explored Botswana extensively, from classic Delta safaris to remote desert camps in the Panhandle, Makgadikgadi Pans and Central Kalahari. With decades of first-hand experience designing tailor-made safaris, the team at Cedarberg Africa brings a deep understanding of how to balance wildlife, landscapes, and logistics to create safaris that feel both seamless and quietly extraordinary.
