The Okavango Delta in Botswana is one of the planet's great natural paradoxes: an intricate mosaic of waterways, lagoons, and verdant islands that thrives on the edge of the Kalahari Desert. Although it is generally flooded during the summer months, it retains its aquatic characteristics throughout the year, becoming a refuge for extraordinary biodiversity and home to many of Africa's iconic species. Exploring it by motorboat or mokoro, the traditional dugout canoe, means encountering hippos, elephants, rare birds, and even elegant painted frogs, while lions, leopards, and wild dogs defend their territory here in every season.
At the heart of this unique environment stands Baines' Lodge, recently rebuilt and reopened in mid-2025 to the highest standards of sustainable design. It is the smallest property in the collection, with only six suites, but also the one that leaves the deepest impression. Elegant and understated, the lodge is named after the 19th-century explorer and painter Thomas Baines and evokes his pioneering spirit: independent wooden suites, built on stilts among swaying papyrus, connected by raised walkways leading directly to the water.
The bright and open interiors blend shades inspired by local flora with fine woods, creating a natural continuity between indoors and outdoors. The common areas are built around an ancient inactive termite mound and include the Explorer's Lounge, a Bush Boutique selling local crafts, and a swimming pool overlooking breathtaking views of the delta. Powered by solar energy and designed to leave a minimal footprint on the environment, Baines' Lodge is an oasis within an oasis: a place where the desert meets the wetlands and luxury blends harmoniously with the wilderness.
