Baines’ Lodge, Okavango Delta, Botswana

Baines’ Lodge is the smallest and most intimate of our camps and lodges, with just six impeccably refurbished suites. Raised on stilts and linked by wooden walkways, they have a nautical feel – albeit transplanted into the reedy, wildlife-rich water-world of the Okavango Delta. Interiors are elegant but understated, pairing soft tones inspired by local flora with rich timbers and walls in muted colors that reflect the changing seasons on the delta. Open-plan spaces, defined by columns rather than walls, create fluid transitions between indoors and outdoors and frame views of the Delta that look like paintings.

Outside, large overhangs provide shade while the sustainably sourced timber used throughout is light and durable but can be removed after 20 years, leaving no trace. Communal areas – arranged, uniquely, around a dormant termite mound – include a Bush Boutique selling local arts and crafts and the Explorer’s Lounge, equipped with a microscope, spotting scopes, interactive maps and books from the library. Leica binoculars are provided at check-in, so guests can view nature from their deck. Another big selling point is the swimming pool, flanked by two of the thatched suites. The entire property is solar-powered, with a backup generator, amplifying the back-to-nature ethos.

WHY CHOOSE BAINES’ LODGE?

• Ideal for honeymooners and other romantics, with its intimate scale and ravishing landscapes
• Located on a private concession allowing walking safaris and night drives
• Excellent wildlife-spotting opportunities, especially for elephants and lions
• A maximum of four passengers per vehicle on game drives
• Seasonal excursions by mokoro (canoe) or motorised boat to explore the wetland habitat