Kings Pool | Linyanti Wildlife Reserve One Of Botswana’s Best Safari Lodges

As we touch down in our tiny Cessna, our guide is waiting to meet us in an open-air vehicle. We shake hands, but the noise of the aircraft taking off again drowns out proper introductions, and only once in the car do we properly meet our guide, Reuben. He tells us the journey to Kings Pool will take the form of a 45-minute game drive through the 125,000ha Linyanti Concession, which borders Chobe National Park’s western boundary – or longer, if we choose to linger at wildlife sightings! The drive doesn’t disappoint; several large elephant, vervet monkey, impala and giraffe later we arrive at camp to a warm welcome and offerings of the ‘Kings Pool Cup’, a refreshing mocktail. Reuben tells us the name ‘Kings Pool’ originated before this area was dedicated to conservation, when the former king of Sweden used to camp here to hunt big game.

After a quick safety briefing, we’re escorted along a raised wooden walkway to our room. From our terrace we can look out over Kings Pool Lagoon and a slow-moving bend of the Linyati River – all the way into Namibia. A plunge pool, large daybed and outdoor shower, shaded by a thatched sala and magnificent jackalberry and leadwood trees, are built into the polished teak deck. We sit down and soak in the views for a while; hippo wallow in the lagoon and it’s possible to spot elephant crossing the channel from here! One of nine tents decorated with African artefacts, including a beautifully-carved West African Dogon wooden door, our suite opens into a vaulted space with an enormous four-poster bed and seating area. While unpacking I discover a mini gym in the wardrobe, with a yoga mat and weights that we can use to exercise out on our deck. I walk barefoot across the carpet to the spacious en-suite bathroom, where twin basins are built into a large piece of wood serving as a vanity. I peek out to call excitedly to my partner, who is journaling at the desk – there’s a double indoor shower! Finished exploring, I return to the terrace and lie on our private daybed with a book, occasionally glancing into the wild and feeling unutterably peaceful in this remote and untouched space.

Kings Pool is wonderful not only because of its spectacular location, it’s a tranquil and friendly camp that makes you feel at home. Many enjoyable hours were passed getting to know guests and staff at the fire pit, and we had our own private terrace for quiet moments. A particular highlight was the sunken hide, where we could watch elephant frolicking in the shallow water at eye level. Though the river was too low for a cruise, we enjoyed sundowners and even a romantic dinner on the barge, to the honks of happy hippo as backing vocals. With the help of our informative guide, we had some exceptional wildlife sightings – a female leopard napping in a tree, sunbathing warthog and numerous birds including a colourful carmine bee-eater and several raptor species. The lodge’s photo download centre was soon put to good use!

• Intimate, exclusive safari camp with eight luxury tented suites and one two-bedroomed family suite, each with private plunge pools. Each suite has twin three-quarter beds, which can be converted into emperor-sized bed. The lodge has a swimming pool, curio shop and library.
• Private concession adjacent to Chobe National Park, exclusive lagoon views, Swarovski binoculars (on request) and individual dining.
• Game drives, night drives, walking safaris, two wildlife hides, birding, stargazing, fishing, sleep-out hide at nearby DumaTau Camp (additional cost), spa treatments and cruises, sundowners or dinners on the colonial-style barge (depending on water levels).
• Children welcome from age six, but certain activities are age restricted. Two-bedroomed family suite available, and rooms can be converted to triples.

• Not only do African safari lodge prices shift with the seasons, they also change based on your length of stay, room type, travel party composition, special offers, if your trip involves stays at sister lodges – and for more reasons besides.
• It’s worth noting that depending on your itinerary, your lodge cost will make up about 75–85% of your total safari trip cost.
• Our safaris are tailor-made to match your personal safari dream, we’d be delighted if you’d allow us to create a bespoke proposal for you.  Simply enquire now – our quotes are complimentary and obligation-free.
• However, to help you get an idea of safari lodge prices we’ve created three safari-lodge categories with various price ranges, to find out more click here.