Baines' Lodge

Overview

Rebuilt entirely from the ground up and reopened in 2025, Baines’ Lodge sits on the floodplains of the Boro River, at the edge of the Moremi Game Reserve in Botswana’s UNESCO-listed Okavango Delta.

It is the smallest and most secluded property in the A&K Sanctuary collection. Working with design studio Luxury Frontiers, the lodge was reimagined around a simple idea: the Delta as a living gallery. The concept draws on the field sketches of Thomas Baines, the 19th-century explorer and watercolourist after whom the lodge is named, with the architecture designed to frame the surrounding landscape rather than compete with it.

The result is an open African pavilion, with columned spaces that flow naturally between indoors and outdoors. Just six suites and the lodge’s communal areas are raised on stilts above the floodplain and connected by timber walkways that wind through the papyrus reeds.

Soft greens, weathered timber and natural papyrus tones reflect the colours of the surrounding wetland, while the public areas are built around a dormant termite mound that was preserved as part of the original landscape.

Each of the six suites spans around 1,280 square feet and opens onto a private deck through floor-to-ceiling windows, with sweeping views across the river and floodplain.

Handwoven ceilings, crafted by Daliwe artisans in South Africa, take their patterns from termite-mound interiors, with navy strands tracing the shapes of the Delta’s waterways. Carved wooden details echo the texture of elephant skin, creating subtle links between the design and the landscape beyond.

Inside, super-king beds dressed in high-thread-count linens give the suites a sense of understated luxury. Spacious ensuite bathrooms feature soaking tubs, rain showers and double vanities.

An open-air shower and the lodge’s signature Star Bath invite guests outside after dark for a private soak beneath the stars.

At the heart of the lodge, the Explorer’s Lounge pays tribute to Thomas Baines and his expeditions. It features spotting scopes, a microscope, interactive maps and a curated library.

Every guest receives a pair of Leica binoculars at check-in for wildlife viewing from their private deck. A swimming pool overlooks the floodplain, while the Bush Boutique offers crafts made by local artisans.

Dining is intentionally intimate, with a single restaurant and bar serving safari-inspired dishes shaped by African flavours and ingredients. The menu ranges from oven-baked kingklip to dishes prepared over a ceramic barbecue that can grill, smoke and even bake pizza.

As the light changes over the water, meals can also move outdoors to the boma for a more atmospheric dining experience.

Being on a private concession also means access to night drives and walking safaris, alongside twice-daily game drives in open 4×4 vehicles capped at four guests.

Seasonal mokoro and motorboat trips explore the Delta’s waterways, with scenic helicopter flights available for a view from above.

With a minimum age of 16 for most activities, Baines’ Lodge is particularly suited to couples and honeymooners.

Intimate, beautifully designed and deeply connected to its surroundings, it offers a refined base from which to experience one of Africa’s most extraordinary wetland ecosystems.