First look
Singita has spent three decades building conservation-led safari lodges across South Africa, Tanzania, Rwanda and Zimbabwe. Elela is its first step into Botswana — and into the Okavango Delta, the seasonal floodplain that draws more wildlife per acre than almost anywhere on the continent. CEO Jo Bailes has said the group waited years for the right concession; NG26, the 175,000-hectare Abu concession, is what it held out for.
The build itself is the headline. Eight circular camps — five one-bedroom, two two-bedroom and one four-bedroom — sit raised on stilts above the floodplain, so the Delta’s water can pass beneath them as the seasons shift. Elela means “to flow” in Setswana, and the design leans into that: structures that open in every direction, with private vehicles and guides attached to each camp.
On paper it reads like Singita doing what it does best, in a place built for it. We haven’t stayed — doors open 11 December 2026 — so we’ll find out then whether the stilted architecture lives up to the renderings, and whether eight camps on a concession this size deliver the low-traffic, high-density game viewing the Delta promises.
What we’ll be watching
Whether the dispersed camp model holds up operationally. Eight fully self-contained camps spread across a 175,000-hectare concession is a larger footprint than any other Singita property — the brand’s reputation runs on private guides and consistent service, and we’ll be watching whether that standard scales across eight separate teams all opening at once in December.
Whether the Abu concession delivers on its game-viewing reputation under new management. The area sat dormant as a luxury address since Abu Camp’s elephant-back safari era ended in 2016; it hasn’t run a high-end lodge in nearly a decade. The wildlife is there — the NG26 concession is genuinely productive — but a ten-year gap between camps means guides and on-the-ground logistics are being built from scratch. We’ll be watching whether the first season lives up to the Delta’s promise or needs a year to bed in.
Whether the Okavango’s seasonality catches first-time guests off guard. Elela opens in December — dry season in the Delta, before the floods arrive in May or June. The camps sit on stilts specifically because the water passes beneath them in flood season, and mokoro rides and boating are listed as activities. Guests booking December arrival should know they’re getting the dry-season Delta, not the flooded one; the property at peak flood (June through September) will be a materially different experience. We’ll be watching how clearly Singita communicates that trade-off.
Whether the price holds relative to the competition. At USD 3,100 per night on the low end for a one-bedroom camp — a higher floor than comparable Okavango operators — Singita is pricing Elela as a top-tier Delta address on day one, before it has any track record here. That’s a bet on brand name translating directly. We’ll be watching whether the first-season reviews justify the premium over established camps.
Before it opens
When does Singita Elela open?
Singita Elela is slated to open on 11 December 2026, per Singita’s official site and confirmed trade press. It will be the brand’s first property in Botswana, so treat the date as expected rather than fixed — though it has held steady across multiple announcements.
Where is Singita Elela located?
It sits within the NG26 concession, also known as the Abu concession, in Botswana’s Okavango Delta. The concession covers approximately 175,000 hectares in the southwest of the Delta, characterised by winding channels, palm-fringed islands, and seasonal floodplains.
Is this Singita’s first hotel in Botswana?
Yes. Singita has operated lodges across South Africa, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and Rwanda for three decades, but Elela is the brand’s first property in Botswana and its first foray into the Okavango Delta specifically. CEO Jo Bailes has said the brand waited years for the right concession.
How many rooms or camps will Singita Elela have?
It comprises eight stilted, circular camps — five one-bedroom, two two-bedroom, and one four-bedroom — each raised above the floodplain so the Delta’s seasonal water can pass beneath. Every camp is self-contained with a private pool, kitchenette, dining and lounge areas, outdoor decks, and a dedicated guide, tracker, host, and vehicle.
What dining and facilities will Singita Elela offer?
A central hub includes indoor and outdoor dining spaces, a conservation lounge, and a Singita Community Culinary School campus. Wellness treatments are offered privately within each camp rather than in a standalone spa building. The four-bedroom camp adds a dedicated chef and private fitness and wellness spaces. Activities include game drives, mokoro rides (seasonal), boating, fishing, and bush walks.
Will Fat Voyage score Singita Elela?
We publish a Fat Score only once a hotel is open and real guests have stayed and written about it — drawn from luxury travel communities, editorial publications, and verified guests, never paid placements. This is a first look, not a verdict; we’ll score it once there’s enough independent signal to be fair.
