The lodge is built of shingled wood that curls and sweeps through the forest canopy of wild palms and gnarled fig trees, in a shape that resembles a giant scaled pangolin at rest. Stairs lead up to a copper-toned guest area with high ceilings and no glass, overlooking the Delta. The wooden deck runs beyond the roof, and the bar and lounge sit upstairs. Seventy per cent of the lodge's energy comes from solar power.
Twelve suites, each designed to resemble the nest of a golden weaver, look out over the Delta. One is a Family Suite with a covered interleading walkway, and children of all ages are welcome, with childminders on request.
The central dining area looks over the Delta. Dinners are served on decks and in the boma, and an interactive kitchen lets guests cook with the chefs, from pizza in a traditional oven to gourmet burgers. A gym and a TV room are in the lodge.
The vehicles are fitted for the Delta, with bucket seats, customisable seating, padded roll bars, charging points for camera equipment and a cooling canvas roof. Game drives run by day and night, guided walks cover the concession, and scenic flights by on-site helicopter show the islands, plains and lagoons of the Delta from above. The same helicopter handles transfers, and Sandibe also works with SA Airlink flights from Johannesburg or Cape Town to Maun and charter flights onward.
Guests arrive by air from Maun to the Chitabe airstrip and continue by game drive, unless they come by helicopter. It suits couples and families who want the Delta in view from a deck, and travellers drawn to the architecture.
