Regular visitors to the Okavango Delta of Botswana, the natural phenomenon, which is one of iconic destinations in Africa, are about to be treated to a new premium nature lodge.
This latest premium safari accommodation in the Oasis of the Kalahari is rising from the waterways of the Okavango Delta in Botswana.
Scheduled to open in December, just in time for Christmas 2026 and New Year 2027, holidays, the Singita Elela will become the renowned conservation and hospitality brand’s first property in Botswana.
Derived from Setswana, the name “Elela” means “to flow”, the resort is said to be a fitting tribute to a wilderness transformed by the seasonal movement of water.
The luxury facility occupies the 170,000-hectare NG26 concession in the central-western Delta, where floodplains, lagoons, grasslands and islands sustain exceptional wildlife.
Singita Elela will feature eight private camps comprising elevated circular structures designed to blend quietly into the landscape.
Guests will be able to explore the Delta by safari vehicle, on foot, by boat or aboard a traditional mokoro.
A central hub is also going to provide dining, wellness and conservation facilities, while the property will also support a regional community culinary school.
Planned as a year-round destination, Elela promises an intimate encounter with one of Africa’s greatest wetlands, where guests can wake to the sounds of wildlife and glide silently through the reeds of the Okavango.
The Okavango Delta, on the other hand, is a vast inland river delta in northern Botswana.
It was formed where the Okavango River fans out across the flat sands of the Kalahari Desert.
Covering between 6,000 and 15,000 square kilometres, depending on the season, the lush delta is one of Africa’s premier safari destinations.
Once named among the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa, Okavango is also home to all of the Big Five, boasting close to 500 bird species, and some of the most exclusive wilderness camps on the continent.