Testing the Waters: Why We Vetted 16 Botswana Camps (So You Don't Have To)
Alex & Carolyn with habituated meerkats in the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, Botswana.
There is a vast difference between simply booking a safari and getting to know the destinations and camps you recommend to your guests.
Last month, Carolyn and I traveled through Botswana on a fast-paced scouting mission. Over two weeks, we navigated a historic flood season to personally evaluate sixteen properties across the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, the Okavango Delta, and the Savuti-Linyanti region. Our goal was simple: to test the waters firsthand so our guests receive tailored recommendations from someone who has been there and knows exactly what makes a stay exceptional.
The Reality of a Field Inspection
To ensure our guests enjoy the effortless romance of the bush, we went to work on the ground inspecting camps, participating in activities, and assessing accommodations. We checked mattress comfort, tested water pressure, evaluated menus, and ensured that vehicle, boat, and helicopter transfers run exactly as expected.
Additionally, we experienced how seamlessly a camp handles the unexpected. On one site visit, our vehicle picked up a nail and needed a tire change. Instead of a stressful disruption, the situation folded beautifully into camp life—we were handed cold drinks, ended up in a great conversation with the camp manager, and relaxed in the lounge while the tire was repaired. That's what true hospitality means: being completely looked after without having to think about the logistics.
We even pay attention to the little things at night. When a hippo is grunting right outside the tent deck at 2:00 AM, we stay awake assessing whether the experience feels delightfully charming or perhaps a little too intense for a first-time traveler.
Discoveries Across the Regions
By being on the ground during this year's massive floods, we saw exactly how each property handles nature’s extremes—knowing which routes required vehicles to cross deep lagoons, and which camps required helicopters just to reach the main deck.
Our focus spanned three incredibly distinct areas, each of which we are excited to share with you:
I. The Makgadikgadi National Park
In this desert expanse, we stayed at San Camp, Jack's Camp, and Camp Kalahari. The San Bushmen spent time walking with us, sharing how survival here is built entirely on attention—reading tracks, interpreting subtle environmental cues, and noticing what is often overlooked. For many, this is where a safari shifts from what you see to how you see it.
The next morning, we sat with a habituated meerkat colony. Within minutes, they were climbing onto us, using our heads and shoulders as elevated lookout points. In the Kalahari, the experience is defined by pure proximity and connection to the little things, as opposed to searching for the Big Five.
II. The Okavango Delta
We then moved into the heart of the floodwaters, inspecting Splash, Four Rivers, Kwara, Sable Alley, Tuludi, and Chitabe Lediba. In this stunning inland sea, we vetted everything from the layout of the raised viewing decks to the nighttime acoustics—ensuring you get that classic Delta immersion while still getting a peaceful night's sleep.
III. The Linyanti and Savuti Game Reserves
Venturing north, we put Selinda, Zarafa, DumaTau, Savuti, and King's Pool through their paces. Thanks to the exceptional floodwaters, we were able to explore winding channels by boat, rounding bends to find pods of hippos wallowing in the water and elephants quietly munching on the bordering papyrus.
On our final evening drive, we followed a female leopard moving with deliberate precision through the fading light. But just as the anticipation built, a hyena lumbered out of the shadows and completely spoiled her plans. The leopard paused, reassessed, and disappeared into the bush.
There was no grand resolution—but that is often where the best memories form.
Safari is rarely about predictable outcomes. It is about a rhythm and timing that belongs entirely to the animals, not the observer.
Alex’s photo of two brothers from the Linyanti region.
The Art of the Perfect Fit
Because we stepped inside these sixteen different camps back-to-back, we know how they compare. We know which property offers complete, quiet privacy, which are ideal for a seasoned traveler, which cater beautifully to families, and which camps naturally draw guests together around a roaring fire.
The perfect safari is never about simply picking the most popular or expensive lodge on a map; it is about matching your personal vision of Africa with a property whose unique personality matches yours.
Tett Safaris is built on thirty-five years of collective expertise. Traveling through Botswana to test the currents and scout these lodges ensures our clients benefit from a deep, multi-generational knowledge that is constantly, freshly validated. The waters are high, the wilderness is alive, and we are ready to design your next journey.