Leroo La Tau: Our full report

Leroo La Tau is situated on the eastern side of a bend in the Boteti River, just outside the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park but surrounded by it on three sides. The Boteti was for many years a dry, desolate stretch of sand which attracted game to a small number of mostly man-made waterholes, but in 2008 it began to flow again – and the area is now unrecognisable from what it was just a couple of years ago.

The game densities at Leroo La Tau are good in the late dry season (July-November) when the animals rely on the Boteti as the single source of water in a dry, parched landscape. When there's plenty of ground water around however (December-April) it's fair to say the game viewing can be sparse - the animals simply don't have to rely on the river as their main water source anymore.

Accommodation at Leroo La Tau consists of 12 large chalets well spaced in an elevated position on a 1.5km stretch of riverfront, with fantastic views across the Boteti River to the national park. Most are built into the tree line, whilst a few are set back in the bush.

The chalets are of solid construction, raised on individual wooden platforms, with short spurs from the main pathway leading to wooden steps up to the side entrance. Each chalet has wood flooring throughout, with double or three-quarter-sized beds in the bedroom From here, expansive glass sliding doors open onto an extended wooden veranda. The lodge's east-facing direction makes this a great place to watch the sun rise over the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park as its rays creep into your room.

A door from the bedroom leads to an en-suite bathroom with a flush toilet, his and hers washbasins and a large shower – and more of that view.

The main communal area at Leroo La Tau has one side largely made of glass, overlooking a neatly clipped lawn (with a small swimming pool surrounded by sun-loungers) which leads down to a fire pit and then lower still to a hide overlooking the Boteti River. The main building itself houses a large and rather ornate wooden dining table, with a bar at one end, and a comfy sitting area and curio shop (which also sells some good books) at the other. Above these is a smaller, loft-style room with more comfy seating and a large window overlooking the river.

Activities at Leroo La Tau centre on game drives in the lodge's own concession as well as river trips and 4WD game-drives in the adjacent Makgadikgadi Pans National Park. Generally game drives spend the daylight hours inside the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park where the emphasis is on combing the Boteti riverfront for game. When dusk falls, activities retreat to Leroo La Tau's own concession - a relatively narrow neck of land enclosed by a loop of the Boteti which juts into the park. For many guests, down time spent in the hide at the lodge can be a highlight in itself.

The lodge also offers day trips to Nxai Pan and the famous Baines' Baobabs for guests staying three or more nights. If this is something that appeals to you then please mention it as we'll need to request it in advance.

Our view

Leroo La Tau was completely rebuilt in 2008 by Desert & Delta. A member of the Expert Africa team hasn't yet seen the lodge in its new guise, but from our experience of the previous lodge, and the current owners, we still expect this to be a very good-quality lodge in an area that can provide remarkable game spectacles when the surrounding area is dry.

Geographics

Location: Kalahari's Salt Pans, Botswana

Extras

Laundry facilities: 0