Where to Stay for an Okavango Safari

From a riverside chalet in Maun to a tent deep in the delta — here is where to sleep.

Where you sleep in Botswana largely defines your safari. There are three sensible bases: Maun, the gateway town with riverside lodges and hotels; camps in and around the delta, from comfortable tented lodges near Maun to luxury fly-in camps; and Kasane, on the Chobe River near Victoria Falls.

Trip.com carries a good choice of Maun and Kasane properties but only a few of the delta’s fly-in camps — most of those are sold as all-inclusive packages through safari agents. For the delta itself, a multi-day safari that includes accommodation is often the simplest option.

Rates below are indicative starting prices for a double room and change constantly with season and demand — every card links out to Trip.com for live availability.

Where to stay

Staying in Maun

Most safaris start and end here. Choose a lodge on the Thamalakane River for atmosphere, or a hotel near the airport for early light-aircraft departures.

Thamalakane River Lodge

★★★

8.3 41

Stone-and-thatch chalets under big riverine trees on the Thamalakane, a short drive north of town. The classic first or last night of a delta safari.

Right on the Thamalakane River
Pool, restaurant and river deck
Mokoro and boat trips can be arranged

See rates & availability

Island Safari Lodge

★★★

8.0 51

A long-running riverside lodge on the Thamalakane with chalets, two pools and its own boat, mokoro and Moremi day trips — excellent value.

Riverside chalets and two pools
Delta day trips from the lodge
One of the best-value beds in Maun

from €55 / night See rates & availability

Maun Lodge

★★★

8.2 48

A dependable town hotel on the river with a pool and a gym, five minutes from the airport — easy for a late arrival or an early charter.

About 5 km from Maun Airport
Pool and fitness centre
Restaurant and free Wi-Fi

from €83 / night See rates & availability

Sedia Hotel

★★★

8.5 44

A long-established riverside hotel beside the Thamalakane with a pool, a bar and a restaurant. Strong guest scores for the price.

One of the best guest scores in town
Pool, bar and restaurant
Short drive to the airport

from €85 / night See rates & availability

Cresta Riley’s Hotel

★★★

7.8 20

Maun’s historic hotel, founded as a trading post in the early 1900s, in the centre of town on the river. Walkable to the airport and the malls.

Central — walk to the airport
Pool and riverside bar
Reliable chain standard

from €115 / night See rates & availability

Cresta Maun

★★★★

7.3 46

The largest full-service hotel in Maun, on the Thamalakane with a pool, restaurant and conference facilities. Predictable rather than characterful.

Full-service four-star
Pool and river views
Good for groups and families

from €138 / night See rates & availability

Staymorr Boutique Guesthouse

★★★

8.1 48

A small, well-reviewed guesthouse with a pool in a quiet part of Maun — a good-value base between a mokoro trip and a flight.

Small and personal
Pool
Among the cheapest well-rated rooms

from €45 / night See rates & availability

Airport Hotel Maun

★★★

Exactly what it says: a hotel directly opposite the terminal, for the night before a dawn light-aircraft transfer into the delta.

Opposite Maun Airport
Ideal before early charters
Simple, practical rooms

from €88 / night See rates & availability

See all Maun hotels

Camps in and around the delta

From tented lodges and private reserves on the edge of Maun to a true fly-in camp in the permanent delta. Trip.com coverage of the camps is limited — use the search link to see what is available for your dates.

Boteti Tented Safari Lodge

★★★★

8.2 77

Safari-style tents in the bush on the edge of Maun — a taste of a tented camp at a fraction of fly-in prices, without the charter flight.

Canvas tents in the bush
No light-aircraft transfer needed
Strong guest reviews

from €141 / night See rates & availability

Thamo Telele

★★★★

The former Royal Tree Lodge: a private game reserve 20 minutes from Maun where giraffe, zebra and antelope wander between the rooms.

Private reserve with plains game
On the Thamalakane River
Luxury without a charter flight

from €500 / night See rates & availability

Eagle Island Lodge, A Belmond Safari

★★★★★

9.8 14

Belmond’s fly-in lodge on Xaxaba Island deep in the permanent delta — tented rooms with plunge pools, helicopter flights and mokoro from the doorstep.

True fly-in camp in the delta
Mokoro, boat and helicopter trips
Top-end, all-inclusive

See rates & availability

Search delta & Ngamiland lodges

Staying in Kasane (Chobe)

The base for Chobe National Park and a short drive from Victoria Falls. Riverfront lodges with boat cruises and game drives from the doorstep.

Chobe Safari Lodge

★★★★

8.9 49

Kasane’s heritage lodge (founded 1959) on the Chobe River at the park boundary. Boat cruises and game drives leave from the jetty.

On the Chobe riverfront
Cruises from its own jetty
Rooms, chalets and camping

See rates & availability

Chobe Marina Lodge

★★★★

8.7 45

A polished riverfront lodge in landscaped gardens at the edge of Kasane, with a spa, pool and sundowner bar over the water.

Chobe River frontage
Spa and pool
Easy access to the park gate

See rates & availability

Cresta Mowana Safari Resort & Spa

★★★★★

8.1 50

Kasane’s big resort, built around an ancient baobab on the Chobe River, with two pools, a spa and a nine-hole golf course.

Five-star resort on the river
Two pools and a spa
Good for families

from €296 / night See rates & availability

Tlou Safari Lodge

★★★

8.6 31

A mid-range lodge on the Chobe riverfront in Kasane, with a pool and easy access to the park’s cruises and game drives.

Chobe riverfront location
Pool
Mid-range price, high scores

from €94 / night See rates & availability

See all Kasane hotels

Maun, the delta or Kasane?

Base	Good for	Less good for	From
Maun	Arrival and departure nights, day trips, scenic flights, budget	Wildlife from your room; you commute to the delta	€45
Delta & fly-in camps	Immersion, mokoro from camp, exclusive game viewing	Budget; strict luggage limits; booked far ahead	€140 (edge) – €1,000+
Kasane	Chobe cruises, Victoria Falls day trips, easy logistics	No delta access; busy riverfront in peak season	€94

How to choose

On a budget or short on time? Stay in Maun and take a mokoro day trip, a Moremi safari and a scenic flight.
The trip of a lifetime? Two or three nights each in a water camp and a land camp in the delta, plus a night in Maun.
Combining with Chobe and Victoria Falls? Two nights in Kasane, then fly or drive to Maun for the delta.
Want the bush without the price tag? A mobile camping safari includes tented accommodation in Moremi or Khwai.

Booking tips

Book July to October early — delta camps often sell out a year in advance, and Maun lodges fill up too.
Stay close to the airport if you have an early light-aircraft departure.
Ask about luggage storage in Maun if you have more than the flight limit.
Check whether rates include meals and activities — especially at lodges outside town.

Once your bed is sorted, choose your experiences: our ranked tour comparison covers the mokoro trips, flights and safaris worth adding.

Accommodation links go to Trip.com. Ratings, review counts and starting prices were taken from Trip.com and are indicative — check the live page for current availability. We do not accept payment for inclusion in this list.

Plan your safari

Make the Okavango Delta the heart of your Botswana trip

Glide through papyrus channels by mokoro, fly over the floodplains and track lions in Moremi. Compare day trips from Maun, multi-day safaris and Chobe & Victoria Falls combinations — and book in a couple of taps.

Browse Okavango Delta tours Compare all tours

Good to know

Where to stay: FAQs

Frequently asked questions

Should I stay in Maun or in the delta?

Ideally both: a night in Maun on arrival or departure, and at least two or three nights in a camp. If your budget does not stretch to fly-in camps, stay in Maun and do day trips, or join a mobile camping safari.

How much does a fly-in camp cost?

Prices vary widely by season and camp, from several hundred euros to well over €2,000 per person per night, usually including meals, activities and sometimes drinks. Green-season rates are much lower.

Where should I stay near Maun Airport?

Airport Hotel Maun is directly opposite the terminal, and Cresta Riley’s, Maun Lodge and Sedia are only a few minutes’ drive away.

Can I book delta camps on Trip.com?

Only a few. Most fly-in camps are sold as packages with flights through safari specialists. Trip.com is best for Maun and Kasane.

Is it worth staying in Kasane?

Yes, if you are visiting Chobe or Victoria Falls. Two nights allow a boat cruise, a full game drive and a day trip to the falls.