Eagle Island Lodge, a Belmond Safari (Botswana)

Wednesday newsletters all the time characteristic a lodge or flight evaluate.

Final summer time, I loved one among my greatest holidays ever, an ultra-luxe safari in Botswana. You’ll be able to learn my journey studies right here:

Immediately: Evaluate of Eagle Island Lodge, a Belmond Safari (Okavango Delta, Botswana)

Positioned on a personal island surrounded by the Okavango Delta’s epic landscapes, Belmond Eagle Island Lodge is taken into account one of many final luxurious safari lodges in Botswana. Right here, company can silently glide previous hippos in canoe-like mekoros, take within the vastness of the Delta and see elephants, giraffes and zebras from above in a helicopter, go on a horse driving or motorboat safari, go to native villagers, or just loosen up in the great thing about the lodge. Belmond’s flagship safari lodge reopened in November 2015 after a ten month rebuild that took each the lodge’s design and environmental credentials to a brand new stage. Every of the 12 spacious and light-filled deluxe tented rooms has its personal plunge pool and deck, positioned in such a method that when company retire to their rooms they’re afforded whole privateness and might see no indicators of human life – solely Botswana’s distinctive animals and birds.

Have you ever ever stayed at Eagle Island Lodge, a Belmond Safari? In that case, what was your expertise? Depart a remark.

Eagle Island Lodge, a Belmond Safari options in my high 10 checklist of the greatest safari lodges in Botswana.

On this evaluate (extra information and pictures beneath my YouTube video):

PROS & THINGS I LIKE

The one thousandth UNESCO World Heritage Web site and one of many seven pure wonders of the world, the Okavango Delta in northwest Botswana is an oasis within the Kalahari desert. The most important inland delta on the planet, this uncommon ecosystem is dwelling to a few of the world’s most endangered animals and a few of Africa’s most luxurious lodges. A stone’s throw from the safari lodge, limitless floodplains, pristine waterways and considerable meals appeal to elephants, buffalo, antelope and different massive herds, all adopted intently by the attentive eye of the infamous African predators. When the Delta’s flooded, often between Might and October, the water wonderland involves life and is greatest explored by boat. Within the different months, the main focus is extra on land-based actions together with nature walks, village visits and exhilarating horseback & helicopter safaris.

Xaxaba Island, the house of Belmond Eagle Island Lodge, was one of many first camps within the Okavango Delta within the early 1900s. As explorers and crocodile hunters alike have been drawn to the Delta, the Wilmot household established Xaxaba, which suggests “island of tall bushes”, as the primary everlasting safari camp within the space. When the household determined to vary the lodge to a different island a brief method upstream in 1975 they took the Xaxaba title with them. After altering arms to the Zimbabwean couple Paul and Penny Rawson, Xaxaba turned a part of the Belmond portfolio in 1993, earlier than altering its title to Eagle Island Camp in 2000, and eventually changing into Belmond Eagle Island Lodge in April 2014. After a ten-month closure and nearly whole rebuild, since reopening in November 2015, the lodge ranks among the many most well-known safari lodges within the nation, providing a luxurious tented safari expertise.

After arriving by bush aircraft on the lodge’s personal airstrip, company are taken by safari automobile to Eagle Island Lodge’s fundamental pavilion, which is only a 5 min drive from the airstrip. Housing a lounge and eating space, the pavilion’s design was impressed by the huge ant nests which are discovered within the space, with natural shapes rising from the bottom and bending across the camp’s historical bushes. Within the lounge company can loosen up by a big fire and artisanal type bar created from regionally sourced timber, whereas within the eating space they’ll collect across the open-style kitchen and pizza oven at meal instances. Each areas have beautiful Delta views, and are linked by an exterior deck. The design includes a white, brown and vivid yellow color scheme, impressed by the chook the lodge is called after. In entrance of the principle pavilion is an open camp, an ideal setting to swap safari tales with fellow company beneath a blanket of stars.

Every of the 12 spacious deluxe tented rooms has its personal plunge pool and deck. Housed on raised picket platforms and shaded by conventional African thatched roofs, the centerpiece of the room is an outsized mattress that appears out over the Delta. The bizarre gray mosquito netting makes for simpler viewing of animals at evening. Botswana’s mining custom impressed the copper end of the mattress heads; each perforated with tiny holes in a water lily sample that enables gentle to filter by and flicker on the mattress. The open-plan lavatory is provided with a free-standing bathtub, two wash basins, and indoor and out of doors showers. Elegant echoes of colonial camp days are felt all through, together with hand-stitched leather-based pockets for binoculars on custom-designed tables and a mini bar that appears like an explorer’s toolbox and divulges drawers and hidden cabinets filled with complimentary drinks and visitor facilities.

Stays at Belmond Eagle Island Lodge embody full board with breakfast, lunch and dinner together with drinks together with alcohol (some premium manufacturers and imported champagnes come at a further price). Rotating menus are provided with choices starting from gentle and wholesome to indulgent; particular dietary requests may be catered for. Most meals are served in the principle pavilion, though the lodge workers may arrange a romantic desk on the personal deck of your room for a extra personal eating expertise. On chosen nights, the lodge additionally gives bush picnics between the morning and afternoon safari actions, in addition to barbeque dinners across the campfire. Previous to dinner, company may have an aperitif within the Fish Eagle Bar, which is housed in a small hut in entrance of the principle pavilion; the bar is called after the majestic chook of prey that swoops to catch fish in close by waters.

Eagle Island Lodge is without doubt one of the greatest lodges within the Delta to take a helicopter flight, for the reason that Delta’s largest helicopter tour firm – Helicopter Horizons – has a base close to the lodge. Out on the water, company can really feel the way in which that the Delta flows, however within the air they’ll see simply how huge the system is, how the channels match collectively, and the way the animals are unfold out over islands and within the water itself. After being safely strapped right into a helicopter with no doorways, company can really feel the wind on their face, have uninterrupted views of the panorama and animals beneath them, and take pictures with out reflections in home windows. Helicopter excursions may be blended with champagne lunches on islands, with fishing journeys through the fishing season, and with a horseback driving safari. These half- or full-day excursions begin with a game-viewing flight over channels and islands, earlier than reaching the stables on the border of the Moremi Sport Reserve.

When Belmond Eagle Island Lodge was rebuilt in 2014, it was designed with the lightest footprint and greatest sustainability practices in thoughts. Throughout renovations concrete buildings from the outdated lodge have been demolished and 1350 tons of concrete rubble faraway from the realm. Whereas the outdated lodge relied on diesel powered turbines, the brand new lodge has round 850 photo voltaic panels in a 210kWp Picture Voltaic (PV) system, saving an estimated 144,000 litres of diesel a 12 months. Round 30,000 liters of water a day are used on the lodge however because of the Delta, Belmond is ready to keep away from transporting provides onto the positioning. Water is pumped in from the Kavango River throughout excessive water intervals and from a borehole in instances of low water. This goes by a remedy plant involving a collection of settling tanks, multi sand filters, carbon filters and ozone. A reverse osmosis system then processes the handled water for ingesting and cooking, and company are given reusable bottles to refill.

Eagle Island Lodge belongs to the portfolio of the Belmond Resort Group fomerly generally known as Orient Categorical till its rebranding in 2014. Belmond is a lodge and leisure firm that manages a ultraluxe assortment of 49 iconic lodges, trains and river cruises in 24 nations, bringing collectively a few of the world’s most sensational journeys and locations. It ranks among the many most unique lodge manufacturers on this planet. With Belmond, you possibly can keep in timeless lodges in Venice, Rio and St. Petersburg, embrace the spirit of journey at Machu Picchu or Angkor Wat, glide alongside the rails by the Swiss Alps, soar throughout the Andes, or discover the mystifying rivers of Myanmar. In 2018, Belmond was acquired by LVMH (‘Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy’), the proprietor of manufacturers like Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton and Fendi.

For the complete Botswana nature expertise, Belmond Eagle Island Lodge may be mixed with stays at Belmond’s different luxurious Botswana lodge: Savute Elephant Lodge, a Belmond Safari within the Chobe Nationwide Park. The center of essentially the most biologically numerous sport reserve in Botswana, the Savute is the place the BBC and Nationwide Geographic have captured a few of their greatest wildlife documentary footage and the place company can watch the dwell wildlife present on daily basis and evening. At Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge, company can exit on safari each morning and afternoon, however some of the memorable experiences comes from merely sitting on the personal deck of their tented room as a parade of elephants walks by, mere metres away. The 12 tented rooms are shaded by conventional thatched roofs and constructed on raised picket platforms for higher viewing over the Savute. Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge is a 50 min bush flight from Belmond Eagle Island Lodge.

CONS & THINGS TO KNOW

Belmond Eage Island Lodge is greatest visited through the Okavango Delta’s annual flood (June to September), when water from Angola makes its method by the delta from the north to the south. That is when wild animals are drawn to remaining sources of water and thus simply seen. When the flood recedes (usually between October and Might), sport viewing may be patchy and disappointing (however that’s the case for many lodges within the Okavango Delta that lack a everlasting water physique close by).

Belmond Eagle Island Lodge is situated within the southern parth of the Okavango Delta, and is without doubt one of the final areas to get flooded through the annual flood. Sadly, over the previous years, local weather change has affected the Okavango Delta, with extended droughts and lowered rainfall in Angola, resulting in decrease water ranges within the delta – particularly the southern space the place the lodge is situated – and affecting animal life. For instance, I visited the lodge on the finish of June – when the annual flood is meant to be in full swung – however the water ranges across the lodge have been fairly low and your entire space seemed very dry. That mentioned, regardless of the dry situations, the wildlife viewing across the scarcer water was distinctive (with unbelievable leopard and lion actions, as you possibly can see in my YouTube video).

Though Eagle Island Lodge lacks a devoted spa facility, a collection of therapies may be given by therapists within the room (indoor or out of doors) or in a small spa room proper subsequent to the principle pavilion. Africology therapies are used, with potent pure components resembling hydrating aloe ferox, mineralrich inexperienced rooibos and marula, hailed by the sweetness business as a “miracle oil”.

Belmond Eagle Island Lodge is not fenced off, so company are required to be vigilant always. Leopards, lions, buffalos, and elephants are current within the Okavango Delta, and there’s no bodily obstacle to them getting into the realm across the lodge. Certainly not are company allowed to stroll across the lodge at evening, except accompanied by a workers member. Don’t worry although because it’s all a part of the thrill of being immersed in a real African safari.

Belmond Eagle Island Lodge can solely be reached by small plane, both from Maun (30 min flight) or from one other camp in Botswana. The considered flying in a small one-engine aircraft could make some vacationers – together with myself – nervous. That mentioned, the flight itself is spectacular and gives beautiful views of the delta, with wildlife gathering or galloping beneath. Belmond Safaris makes use of Mack Air a 3rd get together for the flights between its lodges. Since its launch in 1994, Mack Air hasgrown to develop into some of the superior air constitution corporations in Southern Africa. The present fleet of Mack Air is kind of trendy and consists of 19 Cessna Grand Caravan EXs and three Cessna 206 Stationairs.

Malaria is widespread within the northern elements of Botswana such because the Okavango Delta (the place Belmond Eage Island Lodge is situated) and Chobe Nationwide Park, significantly throughout or after wet season from November to April. Medicines can be utilized to stop the probabilities of contracting malaria. For recommendation on using any malaria prophylaxis, you should contact the well being authorities or your native journey clinic previous to your travels. Along with any prophylactics, the next mitigation measures are beneficial: cowl your arms, legs and toes within the evenings and apply a mosquito repellent containing DEET.

MY VERDICT

Location: 9/10
Design: 8/10
Pool: 8/10 (solely personal plunge swimming pools)
Rooms: 8/10
Meals: 8/10
Breakfast: 8/10
Spa: 8/10 (solely in-room therapies)
Service: 9/10
Wow issue: 8/10
Worth for cash: 8/10
Total expertise: superb 8,2/10

TIPS FOR FUTURE GUESTS & SAVE MONEY

Get monetary savings: get complimentary VIP perks when reserving Belmond Safaris through Virtuoso:
- Room improve
- Every day breakfast
- Early check-in
- Late check-out
- A non-public eating expertise for as much as two company as soon as throughout keep, served on the balcony of your room or at a personal location throughout the lodge
- Stays of 6+ nights may also obtain a wellness credit score for two company, as soon as throughout their keep, relevant in direction of a 60-minute remedy).

Get monetary savings: get complimentary VIP perks when reserving Belmond Safaris through Belmond Bellini Membership:
- VIP welcome treats with an area style
- Buffet or full breakfast for two day by day
- Complimentary improve based mostly on availability at time of check-in
- As much as $200 USD lodge credit score per keep ($200 per keep for choose suites; $90 per keep for rooms)
- Complimentary WI-FI entry

Get monetary savings: learn right here my suggestions for getting the perfect deal at a luxurious lodge of the Belmond Resort Group (and/or obtain many free perks).

Learn my suggestions for getting ready your journey in time.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

Eagle Island Lodge, a Belmond Safari gives year-round safari actions. Whereas every season brings a novel attraction, wildlife numbers are concentrated between June and October. These drier months additionally permit for seasonal sport drive alternatives.

The very best time to go to the Okavango Delta is through the dry season from June to September. Though known as the ‘dry season’, the water ranges of the Okavango Delta are at their highest level in these months because the flood waters are arriving from Angola, with animals flocking to the waters from the dry hinterland. That is additionally when many camps can supply water actions (e.g. boat rides, mokoro excursions). Going by the rule of thumb, water within the Delta begins to move in June (when it arrives from the Angolan Highlands), whereas by the top of August, a lot of the water has handed by the Delta and water ranges begin to drop once more.
In the summertime months (December to February), the temperatures are hovering and thundershowers are frequent. Throughout this time of the 12 months, some areas within the delta develop into waterlogged, making street journey difficult and airstrips trickier to traverse. That mentioned, glorious sport viewing may be loved in the summertime months too, in the fitting areas with good resident sport and everlasting water channels. Additionally, in case you are a birder, the perfect time to go to the Okavango Delta is mostly through the summer time months when the Okavango is bursting with resident and migratory birds.

HOW TO GET THERE

Eagle Island Lodge, a Belmond Safari can solely be accessed by gentle plane into the close by airstrip, which has day by day flight connections with different camps in Okavango, Chobe, Maun Airport (which is the principle vacationer getaway to Botswana) and north to Kasane (for connections to Livingstone and Victoria Falls). Flight tim from Maun to the lodge is 20 minutes and Belmond takes care of reserving all transfers and flight.

PHOTOS

Beneath is a collection of my pictures of Eagle Island Lodge, a Belmond Safari. To view extra pictures (together with meals and safari actions), click on right here.