Eagle Island Lodge, A Belmond Safari, Botswana

Set beneath ilala palms on Xaxaba Island in the Okavango Delta, Eagle Island Lodge faces floodplains and channels that draw elephant, buffalo, antelope, and predators to the water's edge. Twelve tented rooms occupy 82 m² each. An oversized bed faces the delta through floor-to-ceiling canvas. A private plunge pool sits on the outdoor deck; a walled outdoor shower opens onto the wetland through a viewing window. Inside, a bathtub, double vanity, walk-in wardrobe, air conditioning, fan, and mosquito nets are standard. The lodge includes a lounge, library, poolside bar, and a waterside open-air bar. A wellness pod offers treatments using local ingredients. Safari activities vary by season. Mokoro canoe trips glide over shallow water past papyrus and waterlilies. Motorboat safaris and barge cruises depart from the lodge jetty. Walking safaris track game on foot across the island. Game drives in open vehicles run morning, afternoon, and after dark with spotlights. Helicopter flights lift above the delta for aerial views of herds crossing channels and isolated islands. Bird-watching records more than four hundred species. Catch-and-release fishing operates seasonally. Xaxaba village lies nearby; visits run on request. The private airstrip is 20 minutes by air from Maun, 60 minutes from Kasane. Wireless internet, laundry, and minibar are complimentary.