The panoramic vista, the beautifully finished all-wood bar and lounge and the adjacent restaurant are perfect venues for wining, dining and just chilling out.
Island Safari Lodge and campsite, established in 1973, is situated just 12km North of Maun Airport along the Thamalakane River.
About Island Safari Lodge
The large river-front paved patio lends a cafe-style to the leisure area for alfresco entertainment on hot summer nights.
Nostalgic bar and restaurant patrons should be in high spirits knowing that the popular climbing pole still stands tall in the pub, while first time visitors can look forward to the adventure that lies ahead as well as the much sought after trophy rewarded to those who make it to the top and back down again in one piece.
The restaurant features a diverse a la carte menu with memorable meals including the 'elephant's leg' lamb shank and the 'not for the faint hearted' Island Burger.
To beat the heat, the lodge offers a choice of two swimming pools: the smaller of the two temptingly close to the bar and the larger one situated near the campsite.
With newly refurbished comfortable and affordable accommodation and a well equipped camping site, Island is the perfect place to launch your attack on Botswana's Wilderness Areas.
The shadows surrender to the sun, rising, it stretches wide over the banks of the Thamalakane River.
In no hurry, dawn breaks, waking a multitude of birds, an extended family of squirrels and a bunch of cheeky monkeys.
And with that the tranquil, laid-back atmosphere is set for the day. What else would you expect from Island Safari Lodge?
Accommodation at Island Safari Lodge
Despite being over 30 years old, Island Safari Lodge is still offers comfortable, basic and spacious rooms
Guests are accommodated in 12 thatched chalets or in 6 standard rooms.
All accommodation is en-suite and equipped with air-conditioning and DSTV.
The rooms are simply decorated with furniture made from wood sourced in the area surrounding Maun.
Standard Rooms
The en-suite standard rooms are adjoining and are therefore very popular with families exploring the Okavango Delta and other regions of Botswana.
Thatched Chalet
All rooms and chalets provide free wifi. People can tend to forget how isolated the lodge is even though this is the very thing that brings them to Botswana in the first place.
Camping
Island Safari Lodge also offers shady campsites, with shared ablution facilities, a braai area as well as power points.
Campsites are not grassed, but regular travelers to Botswana will know that few, if any, campsites in Botswana are grass covered.
The campsite offers a very large swimming pool where everybody can relax and play while the nature lovers can enjoy a more restful experience at the pool near the bar.
Sit back, relax and enjoy a sundowner on the patio while the children get rid of all their pent-up energy in the one of the two swimming pools.
The serene, spacious sites have access to a centralized braai area, swimming pool, localised plug points as well as hot water ablution facilities. A bar and restaurant are also available.
The camp grounds are sprawled alongside the Thamalakane River and each site is differentiated by a shady copse of trees - not only providing shade but a welcome perch for the prolific birdlife.
What to do at Island Safari Lodge
Specialized Bird Walks: Binnoculars at the ready, guests are treated to a ramble through our extensive grounds or along the banks of the Thamalakane River.
Bird-life is prolific throughout the year and with the diverse vegetation, our experienced guides are not too challenged when it comes to providing tickers with the opportunity to site both the rarely seen and the equally beautiful 'little brown jobs' within the area.
This activity is best undertaken in the early morning or late afternoon and is the perfect 'gap filler' for guests on the move.