Elela Information

Please note: Children of all ages are welcome at Elela. However, in the interest of safety, their participation in wilderness experiences is at the discretion of a guide.

Festive Season:
Arrivals and departures on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day are only possible on request.

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

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 with a distinct dry season (winter), when the floods arrive, and rainy season (summer), and gentler transitional periods in between.

Its landscape shifts significantly with these seasons, as does wildlife presence and movements.

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.

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 tends to be consistently yet bearably warm. Days are clear and nights are cool, making it a comfortable time of year.

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.

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.

What to pack?
Neutral tones and light colours are best for exploring the Delta, as they allow you to blend in with the landscape, ensure minimal disturbance to wildlife — and therefore a better, more natural viewing experience — and attract the least amount of insects.

Drives take place throughout the day, meaning temperatures may fluctuate from very cold to hot, depending on the time of year. We recommend layering clothing to account for this.

Please note: in the event of rain during a drive or walk, waterproof ponchos will be provided for your comfort.

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 is provided in your camp and on all 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 blank pages (not including the final page or endorsement pages).

Minors should have an original copy of their unabridged birth certificate when travelling with both parents and a letter of consent from the other parent if travelling with only one parent. You may be refused entry if these conditions are not met.

Visas
Citizens of over 100 countries can enter Botswana for tourism purposes without a visa. The list of visa-exempt countries includes the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and most European countries, as well as South Africa and Namibia. If you’re unsure, you can check whether you need a visa on Botswana’s e-Visa website.

Travel Insurance
Singita does not take on the risks and liabilities associated with travel and cannot be held liable for delays, cancellations, or trip interruptions. For these reasons, we strongly encourage you to take out sufficient travel insurance. We recommend the services of Global Rescue, an independent third-party service provider.

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 and Kasane to the Singita Airstrip (these are shared flights and may have stops along the way), as well as private charter options. Alternatively, charter flights are available through Helicopter Horizons.

All flights land at the Singita Airstrip, a 15-minute drive from Elela.

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.