The Valise Insider: new openings, fresh trends and the places we’re excited to share with you.
Some of the most magical safari moments happen in the quiet hours: the hush after an evening game drive, the call of a fish eagle over the water, a lantern-lit dinner under an enormous sky. That’s why we’re so excited about the return of &Beyond Xaranna Okavango Delta Lodge in Botswana, reopening in August 2027 with a beautifully renewed guest experience.
We partner with &Beyond often, and we have the highest regard for their lodges, their guides and the care they take with every guest. When they reimagine one of their properties, we pay attention.
Why it caught our eye
Xaranna has just nine suites set on a private concession of more than 220,000 acres in the heart of the Okavango Delta. That means space, privacy and wildlife without the crowds. Each suite has its own private plunge pool, a shaded sala and uninterrupted views over the Delta, and a new two-bedroom Family Suite gives families and friends room to spread out and still come together.
The Delta, layer by layer
What makes the Okavango so special is that you experience it on land and on water. At Xaranna, days can include game drives, guided walks and, in season, gliding through the channels by mokoro (a traditional dugout canoe) or by boat. Back at the lodge, there’s time for wellness treatments, yoga, dinner around the boma, the wine cellar and a rooftop stargazing nest.
Who will love it
Couples looking for a romantic, unhurried safari. Families who want room for everyone. Friends traveling together who value privacy as much as adventure. And anyone who wants a safari that feels personal rather than packaged.
How we’d plan it
Xaranna pairs beautifully with one or two other camps in the Delta, so you can see it from different perspectives. For a first trip to Africa, we love combining a few nights in Cape Town or the Winelands with a week on safari in Botswana. Special offers are sometimes available when you book a combined journey, so just ask.
Rooms at intimate lodges like this book up early, especially in the first season after a reopening. If an Okavango safari is on your wish list for 2027 or 2028, now is a great time to start the conversation. Explore our Africa journeys, or let’s start planning your journey.