Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge

A maze of meandering water channels, papyrus-fringed banks and floating islands teeming with wildlife: known as the river that never finds the sea, Botswana’s Okavango Delta is the jewel of the Kalahari.

In the heart of the Delta, on the edge of a waterway, you’ll find Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge. Situated on a diverse, wildlife-rich, private concession, Sandibe has exclusive traversing rights over a vast 22,500 hectares (55,600 acres) of wildlife land bordering the Moremi Game Reserve.

The inspired organic design of the lodge melts into the surrounding forest canopy of wild palms and gnarled fig trees. Trees will shade you as you approach the lodge; an intriguing curl and sweep of shingled wood comes into view, resembling a giant scaled pangolin at rest.

Stairs open onto the high ceilings of the copper-toned and glassless guest area overlooking the Delta. From this central dining area, the wooden deck stretches beyond the roof, while the upstairs bar and lounge extend along an elevated walkway to a viewing platform.

A series of decks descend to the forest floor culminating in a log boma, with a small gym and private massage sala close by. Interior finishes throughout showcase the craftsmanship of Botswana’s artisans, and feature intricate basketware, sculpted wooden tables and unique feature pieces.

While the main guest area is set within the forest, the twelve guest suites peep out from beneath its canopy. Raised above the papyrus-lined banks like golden weaver nests, each is a cocoon of privacy, with breathtaking views, a private plunge pool and cosy fireplace.

CUSTOMISABLE SAFARI VEHICLES
Enjoy the best game viewing in the Delta: safari vehicle enhancements include bucket seats, customisable seat configurations, padded roll bars, charging points for cameras and equipment, strip lights in the bin of the vehicles, camera bean bags on clamps, and a cooling canvas covered roof.

GUIDED WALKING SAFARI
If you’re looking for a thrilling view-from-the-ground, this is your chance to discover a multitude of natural wonders in the company of your experienced safari guide. Tread in the tracks of the Delta wildlife, breathe in the scent of crushed wild grasses, and feel your senses come alive.

HELICOPTER FLIGHTS
Take to the air: scenic helicopter flights over the Okavango Delta’s mosaic of islands, plains, channels and lagoons perfectly illustrate its ever-changing beauty. The Delta is one of the world’s greatest natural phenomena, featuring a series of both permanent and seasonal waterways and floodplains.

INTERACTIVE KITCHEN
Join our chefs in Sandibe’s interactive kitchen and play with fresh ingredients: create delicious meals and learn about local cuisine and flavours. Food and fun combine as you create your own pizza and watch it cook to perfection in the traditional pizza oven, or make-your-own gourmet burgers.

SUITE
Each suite at &BEYOND Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge looks over the Santantadibe Channel and golden reed beds. Large wooden and mesh sliding doors open onto a private multi-level deck, with a seating area, daybed, outdoor shower and rim-flow plunge pool. Enjoy a king size or twin beds, serving hatch, well-stocked personal bar, walk-in wardrobe, open-plan lounge area and ensuite bathroom.

FAMILY SUITE
The spacious family suite at &BEYOND Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge comprises of two suites with a covered interleading walkway. Enjoy a king size or twin beds, ensuite bathroom, serving hatch, personal bar, walk-in wardrobe and open-plan lounge area. Large wooden sliding doors open onto a private multi-level deck, with a seating area, daybed, outdoor shower and rim-flow plunge pool.

SAFARI GAME DRIVE
Game drives in the Okavango Delta are remote and secluded, with very few safari vehicles sharing the private concession. &BEYOND’s professionally trained guides tailor drives to your preferences, promising up-close views of unique wildlife and flourishing vegetation.

In this untamed landscape, sensitive off-road driving practices allow you to get up close the area’s exceptional wildlife. Each game drive is an adventure, balancing along narrow wooden bridges and splashing through shallow crossings in a rugged open safari vehicle.

Set out in search of the Delta rich wildlife, including its semi-aquatic antelopes, the elegant red lechwe and shy sitatunga antelope. Search from the area’s predators, from lion prides to cheetah, leopard and African wild dog.

Explore the open woodlands in search of roan and sable antelope or keep an eye out for graceful giraffes and frisky zebras on the floodplains. On the edges of the Delta, where land blurs with water, marvel at breeding herds of that elephant splash gently through shallow channels.

Afternoon drives continue into the night, allowing for nocturnal wildlife encounters. Look out for the rarely spotted serval and pangolin or watch the moon reflect off the backs of a family of hippo coming out of the water to graze, turning them into slabs of shining silver.

GUIDED WALKING SAFARI
For those looking for a fresh and thrilling view-from-the-ground, discover a multitude of natural wonders in the company of your experienced walking safari guide. Tread in the tracks of the Delta wildlife, breathe in the scent of crushed wild grasses, and feel your senses come alive.

Discover the complexities of tracking, how every bent blade of grass and imprint in the soil has a meaning; observe how your guide interprets the signs and sounds of the bush; smell and taste wild herbs, as your guide explains their traditional uses; explore the small miracles of the bush, from the magnificent tapestry of a spider’s web to the microscopic world of the dung beetle.

Listen for the alarm call of the grey go-away bird; watch for the iridescent flight-sparkle of the lilac breasted roller, or use your Swarovski Optik binoculars to zoom in on the dark shape of a brown snake eagle perched regally on the high branches of a dead tree.

Look out for the bright red bill of a grey-headed kingfisher, as it perches silently on a branch watching the ground for insects or small lizards. This is a dynamic experience guaranteed to captivate and engage all your senses.

SCENIC HELICOPTER FLIGHTS 
Scenic helicopter flights over the Delta’s patchwork landscape of islands, plains and lagoons perfectly illustrate its raw and spectacular beauty.

The Delta is one of the world’s greatest natural phenomena, featuring a series of both permanent and fleeting waterways and floodplains created when the waters of the Okavango River sink in to the sands of the Kalahari Desert.

With many of the Delta’s most remote areas not reachable in any other way, an aerial perspective is the ideal way to gaze onto the vast Delta and its meandering labyrinth of crystal-clear channels. Keen photographers can choose to have the doors removed from the helicopter, allowing for unrestricted views and photographs of the spectacular panorama stretching below.

The incredible diversity and amount of wildlife encountered in the Delta becomes clear from above. Soar above pods of hippo sleeping the day away in the depths of a lagoon, watch a herd of elephants slowly amble along open grasslands or marvel at the fleet moves of red lechwe antelope as they leap through a fringe of papyrus reeds in the shallows.

Rooms: 12

Price: from 2.670 EUR per night

Source: www.andbeyond.com