andBeyond to reopen Botswana camp as Xaranna Okavango Delta Lodge in August 2027
The reimagined lodge sits in a 90,500-hectare concession and adds a two-bedroom Family Suite.
andBeyond will reopen one of its Botswana properties as andBeyond Xaranna Okavango Delta Lodge in August 2027, after a full renovation. The lodge is within an exclusive 90,500-hectare concession in the Okavango Delta, one of the planet's great seasonal wetlands.
The interiors have been conceived by LIFE Interiors Architecture Strategic Design, a multidisciplinary practice, with a brief to carry the landscape into every part of the guest experience. The redesign reflects the unhurried qualities of the Okavango and the shifting relationship between its land and water.
Creative references run from the slow movement of the floodplains and the linearity of reeds to Botswana's weaving traditions. These translate into layered natural materials and tactile finishes, including subtle rope detailing throughout. A palette of sage and forest green meets blonde linen and textured weaves.
Timber and beaten brass add warmth and depth, while the connections to the landscape keep the Delta's changing character present in every room. Guests arrive by boat or vehicle and move through open, light-filled interiors that reveal the Delta gradually, finishing in lounges framed by uninterrupted views.
The main guest area acts as Xaranna's social heart, drawing on the Setswana tradition of gathering to bring lounge, dining and creative spaces into one. Evenings can pass beneath the stars in the boma, in the library, or over carefully selected wines in the sculptural wine bodega.
Above it all, a stargazing nest offers panoramic views across the floodplains and night sky. The lodge has been reimagined for greater space and privacy: nine expansive suites, each measuring 160 square metres, hold elevated living areas, a personal bar and a two-way fireplace.
Each air-conditioned suite extends outdoors to spacious seating, a private pool and a shaded sala. A new two-bedroom Family Suite of 404 square metres strengthens the offering for families and small groups, with two suites joined by interleading passageways to a central lounge and shared deck.
The passageways can be closed so the two suites work individually when needed, keeping the arrangement flexible. Wellness comes through a dedicated centre with a hammam, rain and Vichy showers, an outdoor hot tub and a hydrotherapy deck, while a new fitness area adds Technogym equipment and a cold plunge pool.
Jason King, Managing Director of andBeyond Southern Africa Lodges, said the lodge's defining quality is its ability to deliver a multidimensional sense of place held by the Delta. He called the redesign a more immersive and holistic approach to luxury safari travel, and a significant step for the Botswana portfolio.
andBeyond is one of Africa's most established luxury safari operators, known for conservation-led camps and lodges across the continent. On our pages we have covered its island offering in the Indian Ocean, and it returns the company's Botswana footprint to a fuller circuit.
King listed Xaranna alongside Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge, Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp and the Under Canvas camps, saying the four together strengthen the Botswana circuit while offering a Delta-led perspective on the Okavango experience's depth and diversity.
The lodge is designed to give guests a sense of the Delta's moods rather than a single safari itinerary. From the arrival experience to the wellness decks overlooking the wetlands, each space keeps the floodplain close, with a relaxation deck added beside the training area for recovery in the open air.
For travellers comparing Botswana's camps, the new Xaranna is among the Delta's higher-end addresses, with Suites at 160 square metres and the Family Suite more than double that. The reimagined lodge moves andBeyond's Botswana portfolio toward longer-stay, family-friendly travel rather than fly-in overnight safaris.
What we have covered
We have written before about andBeyond Mnemba Island, the operator's all-inclusive private-island resort off northeast Zanzibar, known for its crab lasagna and conservation work. Xaranna marks the same operator applying its island-grade comfort to a riverine concession, which is a different kind of andBeyond stay.
Our guide to the best luxury resorts in Zanzibar names andBeyond Mnemba Island among the conservation-minded private islands leading the eco-chic mood. The Xaranna reopening extends that philosophy inland, tying wellness, family accommodation and a light-touch design language to the Delta's water levels.
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Images: sleepermagazine.com; Sleeper
