Thamo Telele

Thamo Telele, previously known as Royal Tree Lodge, is located just twenty minutes from the iconic safari town of Maun, the perfect gateway to the Okavango Delta. Situated on the banks of the Thamalakane River boasting an abundance of wildlife including giraffe, zebra, springbok, ostrich, eland, gemsbok and kudu and an extensive variety of birdlife.

The camp offers 10 Luxury Tents and 2 Thatched Honeymoon Suites that are well-appointed featuring wonderful views of the natural surrounds. Each guest can enjoy world-class cuisine served by candlelight on the lodge’s expansive teak deck.

The spacious, thatched guest area is the heart of Thamo Telele. Large doors open onto a wide-angle teak deck shaded by Motsentsela trees, under which guests exchange stories, meals and drinks. Inside, you’ll find plush leather furnishings from which to enjoy a drink from the bar. Explore the large selection books on the nation’s explorers and history.

Enjoy a warm drink around the communal fire as personal safari hosts and Royal Tree Lodge managers share life stories from over decades of safari experience. Relax by the pool or create your own adventurous safari by setting out on the well-marked walking trails. For the more adventurous, set off on a horseback safari, scenic flight over the delta, or mokoro canoe trip down the river.

Overnight here on your way home to conduct your COVID testing.  It will generally work out cheaper than doing the in-Camp testing.

About Maun, Botswana

On the south-eastern edge of the Okavango Delta, straddling the banks of the Thamalakane River, the bustling frontier town of Maun serves as the gateway to northern Botswana. If you’re on a fly-in safari, you’ll likely not leave the airport, instead of making a quick change of planes before winging off into the central Delta.

Those arriving by vehicle, however, usually stay a night or two, replenishing supplies, making repairs, getting laundry done and so on.

Maun has large shopping centres, garages, banks, bars and camping supply stores, serving not just the steady stream of 4x4 visitors, but the hundreds of lodges, hotels, campsites and safari tour operators that ply their trade in the region.

A number of companies offer light aircraft and helicopter scenic flips – with a minimum flight time of 45-minutes. As it takes a few minutes to get over the Okavango Delta properly, booking at least an hour is a good idea. Helicopters are more expensive, but the visibility and photo opportunities over the Okavango Delta are worth paying the extra.