Sediba Sa Rona opens a new chapter in sustainable safari lodge development

Sediba Sa Rona, meaning Our Source of Water, marks a new phase in the sustainable development of safari lodges, taking shape on the existing footprint of the historic Khwai River Lodge in Botswana.

The lodge is a joint initiative by Desert & Delta Safaris and Savanna Expeditions and is scheduled to open on 16 March 2026. It is located on the banks of the Khwai River, at the meeting point of the eastern Okavango Delta and the Moremi Game Reserve.

Developed on the site of one of Botswana’s first exclusive photographic safari lodges, Sediba Sa Rona has been designed to minimise environmental impact while introducing a contemporary architectural approach that integrates natural textures, organic forms and modern design elements aligned with the surrounding landscape.

The lodge will accommodate up to 30 guests in 15 tented suites, including one two-bedroom family tent positioned beneath mature leadwood and fig trees. Each suite features an en suite bathroom and a private deck overlooking the Khwai River.

Communal areas will include open-air dining and relaxation spaces, a swimming pool, elevated viewing platforms, a fire deck, a bar, a spa offering wellness treatments, and a curio shop presenting handcrafted items inspired by the region.

Guests will have access to twice-daily game drives, guided walks subject to conditions, night drives within the Khwai Concession, optional excursions into the Moremi Game Reserve, mokoro river excursions, birdwatching with more than 400 recorded species, and optional scenic helicopter flights at an additional cost.

The architectural redevelopment is led by Jack Alexander Architecture Studio and follows an adaptive reuse approach. Existing materials, including salvaged timber and repurposed teak furniture, have been retained where possible. The original concrete pool has been restored, while brick walkways were removed and donated to local communities.

“Wherever possible, we have sought to carefully dismantle, recondition and then reuse existing elements and materials in the new lodge. We also wanted to ensure that we would not need to cut down a single tree,” says Jack Briscoe, one of the founding partners of Savanna Expeditions. “Our architectural philosophy is not to compete with nature. Instead, we work with and around the natural features, echoing the landscape, such as patterns between communal spaces mimicking the winding flow of the Khwai River. Together, with Desert & Delta Safaris, we are building something with depth and reach; it is a collaboration rooted in mutual respect and a shared belief in Botswana’s potential.”

The sustainability framework of Sediba Sa Rona aligns with the Desert & Delta Safaris CARES philosophy, which focuses on people, place and purpose through waste reduction, resource conservation, renewable energy use and ecosystem research support.

The lodge will operate 100% off-the-grid, powered by a newly installed solar farm with battery and inverter systems, a comprehensive water treatment plant, and a repurposed steel water tower serving both the lodge and staff village.

Interior design is led by Sigourney Kinnear of Dakota Design, with a focus on materials, textures and colour palettes drawn from the surrounding environment. Suites are designed without internal walls, using light, texture and ceiling transitions to define spaces.

Also read → Desert & Delta Safaris announces its brand-new Okavango Awakening Wellness Retreat

Sediba Sa Rona represents the continuation of a long-standing lodge legacy, integrating sustainability, community engagement and conservation principles into its operations and guest experience.

“As custodians of our country, we’ve made it our mission to preserve, protect and empower entire ecosystems,” says Andrew Flatt, Marketing Director at Desert & Delta Safaris.

“Sediba Sa Rona is an extension of the company’s values, where homegrown success is not a box to tick. It’s a priority that makes us better, stronger and, importantly, informed. This is what sets journeys with us apart. Safari journeys and travel must be about more than passing through. We’re pulling down the veil between travellers and the destinations they visit to offer immersive exploration that is symbiotic. The same applies to our ecological footprint. The result is travel that changes for the better, or travel that leaves places as untouched as we found them.”

On 16 March 2026, Sediba Sa Rona will formally join the Desert & Delta Safaris collection, marking the reopening of a reimagined safari lodge with a renewed focus on sustainability and long-term environmental stewardship.

The article Sediba Sa Rona opens a new chapter in sustainable safari lodge development first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

The post Sediba Sa Rona opens a new chapter in sustainable safari lodge development appeared first on Travel Daily News