Extraordinary Africa>Botswana>Okavango Delta and Moremi>Baines’ Lodge
Baines’ Lodge is small, stylish and very comfortable. Tucked into the edge of the Moremi Game Reserve, it sits on raised wooden decks above the seasonal floodplain, giving it that dreamy “floating in the Delta” feeling.
What’s Baines’ Lodge really like?
What makes it special is its intimacy: with just a handful of suites, you get to know the other guests – and the friendly team – well, but not in an intrusive way.
A recent refurb has given the lodge a sleeker, more modern feel – clean lines, pale woods and woven textures (thatch and reeding never looked as chic as it does here). The main area – quirkily arranged around a dormant termite mound – has an Explorers Lounge, circular bar, open-sided restaurant and dining deck as well as a small pool (bliss on hot Delta afternoons), all overlooking the water. Meals are generous, beautifully presented and served privately rather than communally unlike many safari camps in Botswana, which is ideal for travellers who prefer a little more space and quiet.
The six air-conditioned suites are spacious, light and raised on stilts with wide views across the floodplain. Each has a super king bed, sitting area, en‑suite bathroom (as well as an outdoor shower) and private deck. It may have had a revamp but one of Baines’ loveliest features remains: your four‑poster bed can be rolled out onto the deck for a night under the stars, and mercifully their romantic star baths for two are still a thing.
Baines’ welcomes over 16s, but because the camp generally has a grown up feel, it’s best for those who are comfortable with a quieter, more refined safari.
What can I do at Baines’ Lodge?
As always in the Okavango Delta, activities at Baines’ Lodge depend on the water levels, however both game drives and water-based activities should be possible for most of the year. There are morning and afternoon game drives in open 4×4 vehicles (we were entranced by young hyenas tumbling around outside their den) – the bonus being that each vehicle seats just 4 guests and you have the same guide throughout your stay making for a pretty personal experience. Mokoro trips are also available from just nearby the lodge. These were wonderfully peaceful, except for the young elephant who was fairly determined we were not going in the same direction as him. Lastly, there are walking safaris and night game drives on the concession. Baines’ has a splendid additional activity- there’s a 3-seater helicopter for flips over the Okavango Delta– particularly wonderful for landscape photographers. Please let us know if you would like to do this as it needs to be arranged in advance.
Giving back at Baines’ Lodge…
In such a fragile part of the world, protecting the environment is key, and we were pleased to see that when Baines’ was built, sustainability was firmly in mind- if you peek at the wall just inside the entrance you’ll see that much of the lodge is built from recycled tin cans! Today, the camp continues to operate with the same strong eco‑ethos: constructed with a leave-no-trace ethos and it’s fully solar powered.
Want to know more? We’ve stayed here so just
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