“While the guide sets up the High Tea, we enjoy watching the elephants and buffaloes coming to drink and bathe at the waterhole.”
We spent three nights at the safari lodge of Sable Alley in Khwai Private Game Reserve (KPGR). Sleeping at Sky Beds? A great plan. After the morning game drive, we return to the lodge for brunch as usual. The evening before, we had already packed our lightweight bag for the upcoming adventure that awaits us. Sleeping at Sky Beds, a unique safari experience under the starry sky of Botswana!
Underground Hyde
Sky Beds is located deeper in the Khwai Private Game Reserve (KPGR). By car, it’s about a 3-hour drive from the airstrip. This shows how vast the safari concessions in Botswana are. We opt for a helicopter flight. This takes us in 10 minutes flying over the Okavango Delta and woodlands to the landing spot near Hyena Pan. This is a safari lodge where elephants play a leading role. Upon arrival and after a short briefing, we depart with our guide in a safari vehicle to an “Underground Hide”. In other words, an excavated container by a waterhole. This offers a view at water level, and the wild animals have no idea that anyone is inside.
While the guide prepares the High Tea, we enjoy watching the elephants and buffaloes coming to drink and bathe right in front of us. Being at water level allows us to take stunning photos from the hide. After 1.5 hours in the hide, we get back into our safari jeep. Why? For a short ride to Sky Beds, one of the most unique safari overnight experiences in Botswana!
“The fantastic staff has already lit the campfire and is preparing our dinner; we listen attentively to the wonderful anecdotes from the guide.”
High up close to nature
Upon arriving at Sky Beds, we quickly realize that this is going to be a very special safari overnight stay. Add Sky Beds to your bucket list if you’re planning a safari in Botswana ;-)) Near a waterhole, we see four wooden towers, three for sleeping and one where breakfast and dinner are served, with a sky bar at the top of the tower offering a beautiful view over the savannah. Our tower for the night consists of 2 floors; on the first floor, we find a luxury bathroom, and on the top floor, there’s a huge bed with a mosquito net in the open air. WOW! What a view, at sunset, we see a giraffe leisurely drinking at the waterhole. The wild animals come and go, and the feeling of being so close to nature at this height is indescribable. After we get settled, we first enjoy a sundowner at the sky bar; as the stars come out, we hear the elephants trumpeting in the background. Meanwhile, the fantastic staff is lighting the campfire and preparing our surprise dinner. During dinner, we listen attentively to beautiful safari anecdotes from the guide. We enjoy a nightcap by the campfire before heading to bed.
“Before dawn, we wake up to roaring lions and just catch the moon disappearing on the horizon. That is really safari in Botswana…”
Safari in Botswana? Sleep under the stars.
After the guide checked to see if the coast was clear, he takes us to our tower. In bed, we look at the countless stars and wait for that one shooting star; we make a wish and fall asleep, tired but content. Before dawn, we wake up to roaring lions and just catch the moon disappearing on the horizon. After coffee and rusks by the campfire, we set off for a walking safari through this super pristine area; you suddenly realize that it must have looked exactly the same here a thousand years ago. After the walk, a hearty breakfast awaits us, including croissants, before we head towards the helicopter. Sky Beds has stolen our hearts, an adventure we’ll never forget….
