Elela Information

Please note: Children of all ages are welcome at Elela. However, in the interest of safety, children’s participation in game activities is at guides’ discretion.

Festive Season:
Arrivals and departures on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day at any lodges or camps are on a request basis only.

Single Supplement:
A single supplement will apply if three or more single camps are booked in a reservation. A supplement of 25% of the adult rate will be added from the third single camp onwards.

Payment Options:
We accept Visa, MasterCard, and American Express cards.

Please note that guests wishing to check in before 14h00 and/or check out after 11h00 are required to book an additional night at the day-use rate.

Singita Reservations
For booking enquiries, please reach out to our reservations team in Cape Town, South Africa.

The Okavango Delta is a year-round travel destination that experiences a distinct dry season (winter), when the floods arrive, and rainy season (summer), with more transitory climatic periods in between.

The Delta’s landscape – and therefore its wildlife movements – vary significantly with these seasons. Because of this, visits should be planned based on what you wish to experience, as there is no objectively ‘best’ time to be here. To ensure your comfort, we recommend adjusting your clothing choices to the time of year:

January – March:
The Delta experiences its heaviest rainfall during this period, usually in thunderous afternoon storms or showers lasting between a few hours and days. Mornings and evenings are cool, but daytime temperatures remain high. We recommend bringing waterproof gear (jackets, long pants, and closed shoes), as well as comfortable casual clothing to manage the heat and humidity during the day.

April – June:
This is the beginning of the Delta’s dry season. As the rains start to dwindle, floodwater from the Okavango River fills the delta, rendering the landscape lush and lively. This period is dry and bearably hot. Days are clear and the nights are cool, making this a pleasant time of year for visitors. We recommend bringing comfortable clothing for the daytime and a light jacket or warmer attire for the cooler evenings.

July – September:
This is the coolest and driest time of year in the Delta, with little to no rain and low humidity. Days are often still warm and pleasant but mornings and evenings can get very cold, with temperatures sometimes approaching freezing. We recommend bringing a combination of warm clothing for early morning game drives and boat trips and comfortable casual clothing for relaxing in, and if days are warm.

October – December:
Temperatures rise considerably during this period. Days are hot and sunny, broken by occasional cloud cover, cooling rains, and thunderstorms. Nights and early mornings are warm and pleasant. We recommend packing for the heat. Bring comfortable, breathable clothing for the daytime and light waterproof gear for the cooler mornings and nights.

What to Bring?
Your safari suitcase, packed properly, will ensure that you have everything you need for the ultimate African bush experience. We recommend bringing neutral-coloured cotton clothing for all game drives and bush walks. It’s best to avoid white clothing and dark colours for bush activities as they tend to attract certain bugs. Formal wear is not required at any of our lodges.

Tips for travellers

Health Requirements
Elela is situated in a malaria-risk area. We recommend that you consult your doctor or a travel clinic regarding anti-malaria requirements prior to your journey. Insect repellent (spray or wipes) is provided in your camp and on game drive vehicles.

Passport Requirements
All travellers to Botswana require a passport valid for six months from their initial date of entry into the country. For each entry, the passport must have at least three consecutive pages that are completely blank (not including the final page or endorsement pages). You may be refused entry if these conditions are not met. Travellers must also be prepared to show a round-trip or onward ticket and evidence of sufficient funds to support their stay.

Visas
Citizens of over a hundred countries can enter Botswana for tourism purposes without a visa. The list of visa-exempt countries includes the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and most European countries, as well as South Africa and Namibia. If you’re still unsure, you can check whether you need a visa on the Botswana evisa website.

Travel Insurance
We strongly encourage our guests to take out sufficient travel insurance as Singita does not take on the liabilities and risks associated with travel and cannot be held liable for delays, cancellations, or trip interruptions. We recommend the services of Global Rescue. Please note that Global Rescue is an independent third-party service provider, and Singita accepts no liability in terms of the services rendered.

Airlink offers daily flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town to Maun. Ethiopian Airlines also flies into Maun, and there are connections with Mack Air between Kasane and Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.

Mack Air offers daily scheduled flights from Maun/Kasane to the Singita Airstrip. These are shared flights and may have stops along the way. Mack Air also offers private charter flights along the same route.

We can also arrange helicopter flights from Maun to Elela for a more scenic flight over the Delta.

All flights land at Elela’s airstrip, located 15 minutes from the camp.

On scheduled flights, the weight of luggage is restricted to 20 kg (44 lbs) for checked and hand luggage. Only soft-sided luggage is permitted.

*Please note that there may be stops on other airstrips on scheduled flights.