Drotsky's Cabins

On the Okavango Panhandle in north-west Botswana, Drotsky's Cabins sits directly on the river, shaded by jackalberry trees and bordered by lawn running down to the water. Jan and Eileen Drotsky founded the lodge more than 35 years ago, among the first built at Shakawe, and the family still runs it today. Ten wooden chalets face the river, each sleeping two, with a private patio, en-suite bathroom, air conditioning, and mosquito nets. A separate campground offers 20 sites with shared bathrooms, a lounge, and a boma fire for evenings under the trees. The main lodge serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner in one open dining room, and the bar and pool look out over the garden and river beyond. Guides take guests out for tigerfish, bream, and catfish, or along quiet channels in search of crocodile and the elusive sitatunga. More than 400 bird species have been recorded here, from fish eagles to carmine bee-eaters, and sunset cruises put hippos and roosting birds within easy view. Guided walks follow the riverbank and surrounding bush at an easy pace. It is a lodge built on decades of local knowledge, still tied to the community through local staffing and support for nearby farmers and shops. Wifi reaches the bar and lounge, and laundry is available on request.