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New Luxury Safari Lodge in the Okavango Delta Opens in 2026
We are delighted to share the exciting news of a brand-new Singita safari lodge that will open in the stunning Okavango Delta in 2026. The lodge has been aptly named Singita Elela, meaning ‘to flow’ in Setswana, and will be designed with the fluidity of the Delta at the heart of its design. Singita Elela will be situated in the northern Okavango on a private concession surrounded by 170,000 hectares of highly protected wilderness.
Singita Elela will be designed and operated in a way that adapts to the dramatic seasonal changes experienced in the area, from flooding to dry savannahs. The lodge will be created with local luxury finishes that celebrate the essence of the Okavango Delta, immersing guests in the complex ecosystems of one of Africa’s most biodiverse regions.
Singita Explore, Grumeti, Serengeti, Tanzania. Agency HKLM. Art Director: Paul Henriques. Stylist/Producer: Janine Fourie. Photographer: Mark Williams. 10/02/12.
Combining Luxury Tourism with Environmental Conservation
The focus of Singita Elela Lodge is to provide an immersive experience that connects guests with the unique ecosystem of the Okavango Delta while maintaining Singita’s reputation for luxury and conservation-focused tourism. Singita lodges are dedicated to safeguarding wildlife populations and wilderness areas, as well as ensuring that the communities living alongside them prosper, to ensure the future longevity of both the wilderness and the people who live within it.
Singita lodges focus on biodiversity conservation, community partnerships, wildlife management, and a commitment to leaving the Earth a better place. This wonderful ethos helps ensure that luxury safaris also do their part to benefit the wilderness people come to see through conscious safari experiences.
Why Choose the Okavango Delta for a Luxury Safari?
In short, the Okavango Delta is an incredibly special place with unmissable game-viewing all year round. For bird lovers, the area boasts over four hundred species. This unique wetland attracts a variety of both resident and migratory birds, which can be spotted via guided safaris, boat trips, or walking tours. The Okavango is a prime destination for birdwatching, especially between the months of October and April.
In addition to its extensive birdlife, the Okavango Delta is home to the Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and buffalo). Many predators can be found in the area, including cheetahs, wild dogs, hyenas, and even unique antelope species such as the lechwe and sitatunga.
The Okavango Delta hosts the world’s largest inland delta, which draws huge numbers of animals to its waterways. Luxury safari lodges make the most of the landscape, positioning themselves perfectly for visitors to easily view animals passing through the Delta from the serenity of their lodges. The Okavango is made up of meandering waterways that fill to the brim when the rains come and recede as the seasons change. This means the landscape features ever-changing lagoons, grasslands, swamps, and islands, which form a haven for game-spotting.
Mokoros – A Unique Way to Explore the Okavango Delta
In the wet season, it may also be possible to explore the area via mokoros, a traditional dug-out canoe typically used to navigate the shallow waters and narrow channels of the Delta, allowing for close encounters with wildlife without disturbing their natural behaviour. Mokoros are pushed along by a ‘poler’ who stands at the stern and uses a long pole to push through riverbeds (similar to punting). The quiet nature of this movement means guests can enjoy silent navigation through the shallow waters of the Delta, minimising disturbance to wildlife whilst ensuring visitors experience close encounters with animals such as crocodiles, birds, elephants, and hippos.
When you’re in the Okavango, you cannot help but sit in awe of the incredible sense of space all around you. This vast, wild, and pristine area makes it the perfect place to escape.
Visit the Okavango Delta
Singita Elela is still in the early stages of its creation, and therefore it’s not yet possible to provide full details of booking dates, rates, and final designs. If, however, you would like to be one of the first to visit, please register your interest with one of our Africa experts, who will be happy to ensure you get priority on any new information released about the lodge.
If you can’t wait until 2026, we have many other luxury safari experiences within the Okavango Delta that we would be happy to help you with. Please speak with a member of the team to craft your bespoke experience.
