Island Safari Lodge

Safari Island Lodge did not live up to expectations at all. The photos online are misleading, and the reality falls far short. The breakfast was the weakest we’ve had anywhere – extremely limited: just a small bowl of fruit, some yogurt, bread with jam. Eggs are available, but it takes about half an hour to get them. Overall, a very poor breakfast experience. The lodge itself is outdated and certainly not worth the premium price being charged. On the positive side, the staff were friendly and helpful, and the mokoro guides did their best and were very kind – though don’t expect to see the wildlife they promise during the trip. William was very kind upon arrival, but on the return trip his attitude changed – he drove recklessly and was visibly irritated by even simple questions. All in all, not worth the money and a disappointing stay.

Lovely and tranquil. Private and serene. It's a lovely getaway for the family. Beautiful views. The bird life is incredible and there are animals around the Island. Staff are very helpful and accommodating. The food was absolutely delicious. We highly recommend you stay here when in Maun.

Perfectly comfortable accommodation a little way out of town. Would have been good to have more time to explore. Not changed all that much from many years ago. Staff were very friendly and helpful. Food fresh and tasty. Would be happy to stay again.

Review We’ve been here twice, and the lodge is marvelous. It is surrounded by beautiful nature and wildlife, with really nice chalets and family rooms. The price is absolutely reasonable. However, the experience depends on the staff working during your stay. During our first visit, we had an amazing team, including one staff member named Wuame, who was very attentive and cared for all the customers, as did the others on his shift. Unfortunately, during our second visit, we were not as happy with the staff. The waitresses seemed more interested in chatting in the kitchen and checking their phones. They even ran out of butter for breakfast, and there wasn’t enough salt available. The pappa was already hard, and the steak was burned on the outside. We definitely recommend this lodge because it is beautiful, but we also encourage the owners to pay closer attention to the performance of their staff. There were significant differences between the shifts, and the service quality needs improvement.

Front desk and bar/restaurant staff was lethargic and unenergized or motivated for two nights in a row. When we arrived, we were missing basic items such as pillowcases on our pillows. We had to request a kettle for morning coffee as it is hard to prepare tea or coffee without hot water. The facilities were run down. For example, our sink leaked on the floor, toilet took multiple flushes, and hot water handle on our shower spun freely and hot water was only attained by pressing in the handle and twisting. Overall, the facilities need some very minor rehabilitation. Property was nice and location nice and felt safe...but it needs some love and staff improvements.

We had a lovely time at Island Safari Lodge and found the staff extremely helpful. We had a lovely view of the river from our particular campsite. The restaurant served a very nice breakfast. We would go again if we were ever back in Botswana