Tawana: Our full report

On the edge of the Gomoti River, within Botswana’s wildlife-rich Moremi Game Reserve, Tawana will open in May 2024.

This exclusive lodge will be run by an established safari company in partnership with the Batawana tribe, whose people have lived here for centuries.

A team from Expert Africa has yet to visit the new lodge, but this is the information we have about it.

Shaded by mature ebony trees, Tawana will sit within the south-east of the reserve, looking across the perennial Gomoti River to the floodplains beyond. The style is intended to be “contemporary … with a distinct sense of place”.

Guests will stay in one of just eight suites – two of them designed for families – and all with views over the plains. Raised up on decks, they’ll feature a bedroom, separate lounge area, deck with plunge pool and an outdoor sala, so you can expect a real sense of space and privacy.

To counter the effects of Botswana’s hotter months, each suite will have ceiling fans and an air-conditioning unit over the beds. Drinks will be immediately to hand, with an inclusive minibar, tea-making facilities and a Nespresso machine.

En-suite bathrooms, with both a bath and a shower, are enhanced by an outdoor shower so you can make the most of the natural setting. Power will be entirely solar, with 24-hour electricity throughout, and Wi-Fi in all the suites.

Raised walkways will link the suites to the main area, allowing guests to move around in safety as animals wander through.

The heart of the lodge will be substantial, from the lounge and dining area to a library featuring reference books that are relevant to the area. Dining can be indoors or out in an open-air kgotla, with a wood-fired pizza oven adding variety to the menu. There’ll be a walk-in wine cellar, too, an added bonus to dining here, while an outdoor lounge around a firepit will be the best spot for pre- or post-dinner drinks.

Game drives will be the focus of activities from Tawana, with experienced guides, some of whom have grown up in the area, to help you seek out the predators and prey for which Moremi is renowned. Hippos and crocodiles patrol the river, which also attracts herds of antelope, including sitatunga and red lechwe. Birding in the reserve can be impressive too, especially in the summer months, with some 400 species recorded. And if you fancy seeing the Okavango Delta from the air, consider a helicopter trip (at extra cost).

Back at camp, counter the effects of good living and game drives with a gym and a 16m swimming pool, or dip into the menu of treatments at the on-site spa. Then there’ll be a gift shop for those special souvenirs – some of them crafted locally.

For those seeking an exclusive Botswana safari, Tawana would combine well with its siblings: Jack’s Camp, Tuludi and North Island Okavango.

Our view

While we have yet to visit Tawana, we have worked for many years with the owners and are confident that their new lodge will match their typically high standards of comfort, service and guiding.

Tracy Lederer

Country manager: Botswana

Geographics

Location: Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana
Ideal length of stay: 3 nights
Accessible by: Fly-and-Transfer

Food & drink

Usual board basis: Full Board & Activities
Dining locations: Indoor and Outdoor Dining

Children

Attitude towards children
Equipment: Tawana’s accommodation includes two family suites.
Generally recommended for children: Although there are raised walkways linking the buildings at Tawana, it remains an open site with access to a permanent river, so children must be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times.