Botswana is a hot destination… and we don’t mean amazing wildlife, pristine ecosystems and fascinating cultures, but actual heat! For some, the thought of being hot on safari can be off‐putting, so it’s good to know that there are safari lodges and camps with air‐conditioning!
The appeal of a Botswana safari is being the only people in an intimate camp in a remote wild corner of paradise. But in these wilderness areas where electricity is produced either by solar power or a generator, air‐conditioning is not common. Most of these solar systems cannot generate sufficient power for air-conditioning as well as run the camp. Instead there are ceiling and/or standing fans and the tented design of the camp allows for natural flow-through of air.
It’s worth noting that peak safari season in Botswana is actually in the cooler months between May-September where fans are sufficient. October is the hottest month when temperatures can reach 40°C/104°F, and then from November-April the temperatures are around 30-34°C/86-93°F.
If you insist on air-con in BOTSWANA, consider these lodges and camps
NOTE: Chobe and Kasane lodges have not been included because these areas are connected the electricity grid.
– Belmond Savuti Safari Lodge –
SAVUTI SAFARI LODGE is in a superb location overlooking a busy waterhole allowing for animal action right in front of the lodge. The spacious air-conditioned rooms have a large en-suite bathroom and an outdoor shower. 95% of the lodge’s energy is provided by a state of the art solar plant.
– Belmond Eagle Island –
EAGLE ISLAND – This luxurious lodge is in a prime position overlooking the floodplains. Each of the 12 large tented suites is built on a platform under a thatched roof which offers good shade with air-conditioning for the hot months as well as a refreshing pool. The lodge is entirely run on solar energy.
– Tawana –
TAWANA – This exciting new camp opens in May 2024. There will be 8 contemporary suites (including 3 family suites), all with air-conditioning over the beds. Each luxurious suite will have its own lounge, private terrace, plunge pool and outdoor sala positioned for perfect privacy amid lush riverine forest.
– Atzaro –
ATZARO – This is an architect’s render of the new state-of-the-art Atzaro safari camp in the Okavango Delta. Powered entirely by solar energy, offering the perfect balance of sustainable living and opulent comfort. Each luxurious tent comes with air-conditioning and private plunge pools.
– Tuludi –
TULUDI’S tented rooms are a wonderful 60 square metres in size! Wooden boardwalks wind through the leadwood trees to connect the seven ‘treehouse-style’ tents and each is kept cool by the shady boughs as well as air-con when it’s really hot. The ensuite bathrooms have indoor and outdoor showers, and splashy bathtubs. Plus there’s a private plunge pool on the outside deck overlooking those enormous floodplains.
– Xaranna –
XARANNA is a delightful camp with nine ensuite safari tents. Each of the air-conditioned tents has a romantic sala, private plunge pool, indoor bathtub and al fresco shower with Delta views. The camp is cool, light and airy, in keeping with the gentle beauty of its environment.
– Chief’s Camp –
CHIEF’S CAMP has ten elegant and breezy suites, some of the largest in the Delta! These sprawling 1,500 ft2 (140m2) bush pavilions have air-conditioning as well as traditional fans. The bathrooms boast floor-to-ceiling windows and folding glass doors that reveal outdoor showers and lavish tubs, perfect for luxuriating.
– North Island –
NORTH ISLAND – With only 3 spacious tents in camp, each resting on a raised wooden deck under the shady boughs of wild ebony trees. Each tent offers stunning views of the lagoon in front of it and a private plunge pool with a sunken sundeck for cooling off, for you to enjoy while watching the wildlife that comes into view. At night sit on the deck listening to the bell frogs tinkle like windchimes and watch as fireflies wink at you across the water. For the hotter summer nights there is ‘over-the-bed’ air-conditioning.
– Sandibe –
SANDIBE has 12 beautifully appointed air-conditioned suites each designed to look like a weaver bird’s nest. Each is a cocoon of privacy, with breathtaking views, a private plunge pool. The lodge is a tribute to the craftsmanship of Botswana’s artisans, and feature intricate basketware, sculpted wooden tables and unique feature pieces.
Alternative cooling systems
Some leading luxury tented camps and lodges opt for more natural, ‘eco’ ways of cooling down tents in the hot months with innovative overhead cooling systems and evaporative coolers. The most popular being Evening Breeze Cooling System, a silent unit set above the bed that focusses simply on cooling the sleeping area.
– Selinda Camp –
SELINDA CAMP has 3 expansive guest suites and 1 two-bedroom tented villa, the Selinda Suite. Evening-Breeze Cooling is provided over the canopy bed and is solar-powered. The billowing silks, which adorn the ceilings of the lounge area, are a tribute to air and the afternoon breezes that ripple the endless sea of nearby grasses.
– Zarafa Camp –
ZARAFA CAMP – An exclusive safari experience with only 4 suites in the private Selinda Reserve. The suites are set under a canopy of ebony trees on raised decking with flowing canvas walls. Each suite features a very large bedroom, complete with an Evening Breeze Cooling System over the bed, an open plan bathroom and an outdoor space complete with swimming pool and relaxation areas. All the camp’s electricity comes from its solar farm and a bio-gas system converts vegetable waste into usable cooking gas.
– Jack’s Camp –
JACK’S CAMP is located in Botswana’s remote Makgadigadi salt pans. Each lavish bedouin style tented suite features a lounge area extending out to a deck with a private plunge pool, a bedroom and a large open-plan bathroom and dressing area complete with a chaise longue and twin basins. All 10 tents have an over-the bed air cooling system incorporated into the four poster beds. The camp is 100% solar powered.
– Jao –
JAO CAMP has both suites and villas all featuring private plunge pools, lounge and dining areas. The bedrooms are fitted with an isolated Evening Breeze Cooling Systems over the bed at a fraction of the energy used by conventional air-conditioning.
– Duba Plains –
DUBA PLAINS – The elegant 1920’s style tents are on raised platforms made of recycled railway sleepers. Each tent has a lounge area that opens up to a private veranda with a plunge pool. The ceiling fans, environmentally friendly air-conditioning system over the bed, and careful design maintain a comfortable climate.
– Duma Tau –
DUMA TAU – Overlooking the magnificent Osprey Lagoon where big herds of elephants come to drink, Duma Tau has modern, sophisticated style with very big suites that feature a large outdoor deck with a private plunge pool. The beds are fitted with an Evening Breeze Cooling System. Duma Tau runs on 100% solar energy.
Get in touch with one of our experienced safari experts who will help you to create the “coolest” safari ever!
