Baines' Lodge, an A&K Sanctuary
Baines' Lodge, an A&K Sanctuary
Baines' Lodge, an A&K Sanctuary
Baines' Lodge, an A&K Sanctuary
Baines' Lodge, an A&K Sanctuary
Okavango Delta, Botswana
Botswana’s Okavango Delta is a paradox: a vast patchwork of waterways, lagoons and islands on the edge of the Kalahari Desert. Generally flooded in the summer months, it retains its watery features all year and is home to many of Africa’s iconic species. Exploring the Okavango Delta by motor launch or seasonal mokoro (canoe) from your boutique safari lodge, you see everything from hippos to exquisite painted reed frogs, while lions, leopards and wild dogs hold their territories here all year. Completely rebuilt in 2025 to the highest design standards and now fully solar-powered, Baines’ Lodge is among the most intimate eco lodges in Botswana. Chic but understated, its six suites rise on stilts from the swaying papyrus reeds and could not be closer to the water. The turquoise slice of a pool practically floats within it, edged by a wooden deck for delicious downtime between the delta excursions – not that there’s ever truly a break from wildlife viewing, with elephants and buffaloes among the animals you’ll see from the lodge. Honeymooners will be especially besotted with Baines’ Lodge, where romantic Star Baths can be set up on your private deck.
Small and intimate, with just six suites
Rebuilt in 2025 with a focus on sustainability
Romantic Star Baths make it a perfect retreat for honeymooners
Located on a private concession, so night drives and walking safaris are allowed
Seasonal excursions by mokoro (canoe) or motorized boat to explore the wetland habitat
Facilities include a swimming pool, continuing the watery theme
4x4 adventures, walking safaris, night drives, mokoro excursions
Delicious cuisine and daily sundowners
Wildlife tracking with local specialists
For refreshing dips
Keep cool in the wild
THE SAFARI EXPERIENCE
The Safari Experience at Baines' Lodge
Days at this chic boutique safari lodge in the UNESCO-protected Okavango Delta begin with coffee on the deck or in the sunken lounge of your roomy suite. Breakfasts in the main area – across an elevated wooden walkway – deliver the first wildlife sightings of the day: hippos, buffaloes and elephants. That’s before you’ve even set out on a thrilling morning game drive across the floodplains with your brilliant guide – eyes peeled to spot grazing zebras or languishing lions. The beauty of Baines’ Lodge is that its 4x4s are four-seaters, rather than the usual six, so safari excursions feel private and bespoke; plus you have the same guide throughout your stay, meaning your game viewing is adapted just for you, organically. In flood season when the delta is transformed into a patchwork of winding waterways, lagoons and forested islands, skim across the wetland in a mokoro, with cranes and kingfishers for company. There’s plenty of time for post-lunch poolside lounging before pulses quicken again when spotting big cats and African wild dogs (among the delta’s most endangered predators) on an afternoon game drive. The lodge’s location within a private concession opens up the possibility of walking safaris to see another side to the bush, following in the prints of the more elusive animals and learning about their behavior, as well as discovering the tiny flora and fauna that are an equally crucial a part of the delicate Okavango Delta ecosystem. Incredible pink-streaked sunsets signal wind-down time, with cocktails and snacks in the wilderness or back at the circular bar of your intimate Botswana eco lodge. Dinner in the breeze-cooled, open-sided restaurant is a three-course feast, or it could be barbecue or pizza night. From dawn to dusk, the sensitively constructed timber-frame design of the communal spaces is angled just so for incredible delta views, no matter the season. Once darkness has fallen, the sounds of the bush are a cacophonous backdrop to night drives tracking nocturnal honey badgers, or romantic Star Baths for two, filled with ludicrous amounts of bubbles and surrounded by the glow of lanterns under pinpricked African skies.
Watch spectacular pink skies from the brilliantly located circular bar with a glass of something refreshing in hand
Guests build a special rapport with their expert Bayei guide who naturally tailors wildlife viewing based on what animals are seen each day
Hippos, elephants and buffaloes wander into frame from every angle at this cleverly designed, light-touch timber hideaway
Spot big cats and big game in 4x4s, listen out for rare bird calls in a seasonal mokoro (canoe) and take in the great expanse of the delta in a helicopter
The sounds of the delta springing to life accompany morning showers; romantic Star Baths are set up on your deck as night falls
Discover a curated selection of extraordinary experiences
Game Drives
Night Drives
Mokoro Excursions
Walking Safaris
Scenic Helicopter Flights
Play the film
THE LODGE
Our most intimate Okavango Delta lodge
A small lodge in a vast wetland wilderness
Baines’ Lodge is a beautifully crafted, boutique safari lodge in the Okavango Delta – and the smallest in the A&K Sanctuary portfolio – 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 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 of the surroundings. Open-plan spaces, defined by columns rather than walls, create fluid transitions between indoors and outdoors and frame views that look like paintings. This feeling of being embedded in a luxury cocoon deep in the wilderness is heightened by features such as outdoor showers and lantern-lit baths on the private decks overlooking the Boro River floodplains.
Large overhangs and locally thatched roofs provide shade while the sustainably sourced timber used throughout is light and durable but can be removed after 20 years, leaving no trace. Sustainability was a core principle when the property was completely rebuilt in 2025 and now Baines’ Lodge runs off 100 per cent solar power. 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, located next to the Explorer's Lounge, lined with sun loungers and open to sweeping views of the delta. The view from the elegantly designed restaurant is an ever-changing delight, no matter what time of day you’re dining: hippos wallowing, zebras crossing, birds swooping. The open-sided circular bar is perfectly pitched for 360-degree sunset views and expertly mixed cocktails as the skies of the delta become saturated with peachy pink; just beside it, the traditional boma by the water is beautifully set up for stargazing and swapping tales around the firepit. It all adds up to create one of the most desirable, and intimate, addresses in the delta.
WILDLIFE & SURROUNDINGS
Prime position in Botswana's uniquely beautiful wetlands
At the heart of the Okavango, the world's largest inland delta
Stilted and sustainably designed, Baines’ Lodge occupies a prime location on the Boro River flood plains, at the edge of the Moremi Game Reserve. This is the heart of the UNESCO-listed Okavango Delta, a unique and uniquely beautiful wetland habitat – the largest inland delta on earth, in the midst of the Kalahari. It is fed by the mighty Okavango River, which flows from the mountains of Angola almost 1,000 miles to the west. The grassy plains of the delta flood seasonally and, from May to September, may be transformed into a 5,800-square-mile patchwork of winding waterways, lagoons and forested islands rich in wildlife – elephants, zebras, impalas, buffaloes, lions and birdlife in particular. The Boro River is one of the main channels that helps to drain the delta, hence the extraordinary biodiversity along its banks. Baines’ Lodge is a light-touch oasis within this oasis, a place where desert meets wetland and wilderness meets low-impact luxury; simply put, it’s the finest Boro River lodge in Botswana.
The neighboring Moremi Game Reserve was the first wildlife sanctuary created by the Batawana people. Named in honor of Chief Moremi II, it is a pioneering reserve in the Okavango Delta, serving as a model for eco-tourism in Botswana. It comprises a network of waterways surrounding two large islands, Mopane Tongue and Chief’s Island – the historical hunting grounds of the great Batawana leaders and now known as the predator capital of Africa. Protected by the local community, the reserve offers excellent game viewing year-round, and is home to many endangered species such as cheetah, African wild dog and black and white rhino. The terrain of mopane woodland, acacia forest and floodplains also harbors around 500 species of bird, from forest dwellers to waterside waders, and 1,000 species of plant. This exceptionally diverse flora and fauna spills over into the 260,000-acre private concession in which Baines’ Lodge is set, meaning the possibility of an animal sighting is ever-present, with the clever stilted design ensuring far-reaching views around the clock.
2026
Baines' Lodge Offers
Stay longer, pay less at A&K Sanctuary in Africa
The longer you stay, the more rewarding the journey. Stay between four and six nights at A&K Sanctuary properties and your journey includes savings between 10%-20%. Extend your stay to seven nights or more for up to 25% savings.
Solo Traveller Offer with A&K Sanctuary
Freedom, rewarded. Travel solo without the extra cost during selected seasons, opening the door to spontaneous journeys and independent exploration — without compromise.
Save on a safari honeymoon with A&K Sanctuary
Begin married life in the wild. Newlyweds receive 50% off one partner’s stay, transforming an already unforgettable safari into a once-in-a-lifetime beginning.
Stay 5 nights, pay 4 in Africa with A&K Sanctuary
Linger a little longer. Spend five nights at our safari camps and lodges and enjoy your fifth night on us — a gift of unhurried sundowners, extra game drives and deeper connection to place.
Plan your trip for
Jun 1 - Sep 30, 2026
Plan your trip for
Jun 1 - Sep 30, 2026
All meals and beverages
Game drives, night drives, walking safaris, mokoro excursions, boat trips and stargazing
Return transfers from/to the nearest local airstrip
All meals and beverages
Game drives, night drives, walking safaris, mokoro excursions, boat trips and stargazing
Return transfers from/to the nearest local airstrip
International and internal flights
Travel insurance, boutique purchases, gratuities, and all other items of a personal nature
International and internal flights
Travel insurance, boutique purchases, gratuities, and all other items of a personal nature
Prices per person per night. Prices are in USD.
Looking to book a full journey instead of just a stay?
Frequently Asked Questions
Baines' Lodge is located on a 260,000-acre private concession in Botswana's Okavango Delta, bordered by the Moremi Game Reserve. The lodge sits on the banks of the Boro River, offering direct access to some of the Delta's most rewarding wildlife areas.