Singita Elena will feature eight stilted camps set high above the floodplains of a vast private concession in the Okavango Delta. Olivia Palamountain reports

Singita is expanding its footprint in southern Africa with a new lodge in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, scheduled to open on December 11, 2026. The property will mark the group’s first presence in the Delta, one of the continent’s most important wetland ecosystems.

Named Singita Elela, the lodge is set within the 175,000-hectare NG26 concession (also known as Abu concession), offering guests private access to one of the Delta's most expansive and ecologically rich regions. The area features a mosaic of floodplains, islands and waterways inhabited by more than 400 bird species and abundant wildlife.

Elela, a Setswana word meaning "to flow", has been designed to adapt to the seasons. While no renders have been released as yet, each of its eight circular camps (ranging from one to four bedrooms) will be raised on stilts to allow for the uninterrupted passage of the Delta's seasonal waters. The camps open in all directions, with no clear front or back, dissolving boundaries between architecture and environment. Organic materials and hand-finished details celebrate the artistry and spirit of Botswana.

Each camp will be supported by its own dedicated team consisting of a safari guide, tracker and host, creating what the brand describes as an atmosphere of care and freedom. Guests can explore reed-lined channels or gather beneath the Botswana sky at their own pace.

Jo Bailes, chief executive of Singita, says: "As a brand built on a shared love and reverence for nature and Africa – passed down through generations – Singita has longed to create something meaningful here, with the people of Botswana."Singita is a conservation and ecotourism brand driven by what it describes as a 100-year purpose to facilitate the protection and preservation of Africa's wilderness for future generations, in partnership with various non-profit national and regional funds and trusts.

Through partnership and collaboration, Singita aims to create lasting, equitable benefits for both people and place. Over the past 30 years, the brand's safari experiences and lodges have spanned South Africa, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Rwanda.