AndBeyond is rebuilding its Xaranna camp in Botswana’s Okavango Delta as a nine-suite lodge with private pools, a full wellness centre and a family suite.
In the Okavango, the day is set by water. The flood arrives months after the rains and spreads across the floodplains until islands appear where there were none. A mokoro poler’s route can change from one week to the next. From August 2027, one of the Delta’s most private camps will be built around that rhythm. andBeyond Xaranna Okavango Delta Camp reopens next year andBeyond Xaranna Okavango Delta Lodge, and now is the time to plan your visit.
The setting stays the same, and it’s the main reason to go. Xaranna sits on a 90,500-hectare private concession inside the UNESCO-listed Delta, where about 450 bird species have been recorded. Almost everything else is changing.
When it reopens next year, the current camp will still boast just nine tented suites, each of which now measures 160 square metres and comes with its own bar, a two-way fireplace, air conditioning, a private pool and a shaded sala. There’s also a new 404-square-metre Family Suite made up of two suites linked by passageways to a shared lounge and deck. It’s the clearest sign the lodge now has three-generation trips in mind.
Built From Reeds & Rope
The interiors are by the design practice LIFE Interiors Architecture Strategic Design. They take their cues from the straight lines of reeds and from Botswana’s weaving traditions. The palette is sage and forest green with blonde linen, timber and beaten brass, and rope details run through the lodge. Guests still arrive by boat or by road and then pass through a series of light-filled rooms that save the full Delta view for the main lounge.
After dark, there’s more to do than before, from fireside dinners and visits to the library and wine bodega, to an interactive kitchen with an al forno, and a stargazing nest above the floodplains. Days follow the established Xaranna programme. That means twice-daily game drives, walking safaris, seasonal mokoro trips and boat cruises. Helicopter flights and private safaris will cost you a little more but are well worth it.
The biggest addition is wellness. A new spa will offer Healing Earth treatments, a hammam, a Rasul therapy and a separate treatment tower. It also adds rain and Vichy showers and a hydrotherapy deck. The fitness area has Technogym equipment, a cold plunge pool and a Kneipp circuit, all overlooking the wetlands.
Bring the Family
Children of all ages are welcome, and younger guests can join andBeyond’s WILDchild programme. Activities open up with age, with shared game drives, at the lodge manager’s discretion (ages 6-11); seasonal boat cruises (12 and up); and walking safaris and mokoro excursions (16 and up).
From Asia, the usual route is through Johannesburg to Maun, then a light aircraft. The Delta’s flood typically peaks in the dry winter months, so an August 2027 opening should mean high water for the first guests.
