01Questions

What people ask before they come.

What is Elo Villas?

Elo Villas is an estate of six private villas in concession NG17, in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. Each villa has its own main house, lounge house, pool, sauna, gym, chef, guide and vehicle. By enquiry only.

Where is Elo Villas?

In concession NG17, a private concession in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. Elo is the only lodge in it, and the estate is fifteen minutes by light aircraft from Maun.

Is Elo the only lodge in NG17?

Yes. Concession NG17 is a private concession in the Okavango Delta, and Elo is the only lodge in it.

How do I get to Elo Villas?

By light aircraft from Maun, in Botswana: the flight to the Elo airstrip, in concession NG17, takes fifteen minutes. Flights are not included, neither international flights nor the light aircraft between Maun and the Elo airstrip. The light aircraft, a private charter and helicopter transfers are arranged on request and quoted separately.

What does a stay include?

The villa for your sole use, your own guide, chef and villa host, a private vehicle for every experience, all meals and house beverages, wellness in the villa, laundry and complete flexibility over the day. Premium drinks and all flights are not included.

What is arranged on request?

The light aircraft from Maun, helicopter flights or a private charter, premium wines and rare spirits, specialised wellness treatments, and bespoke or extended experiences.

Are the guide, the vehicle and the chef only for us?

Yes. Every villa has its own guide, its own vehicle and its own chef. Nobody else decides when you leave, where you stop or when you eat.

Who shares my vehicle?

Each villa has its own vehicle and its own guide: a four-seat vehicle for a villa for two, and a six-seat vehicle for a family villa. No one outside your villa shares it.

What is inside an Elo villa?

Nothing in an Elo villa is shared. Each of the four villas for two is, in essence, a lodge for two, of around 530 m²: a main house with the bed in the loft and a lounge below, a lounge house with sofas, billiards, chess, a kitchen and a bathroom, and a pool, sauna, gym, cold plunge, fire circle and massage deck used by no one else.

What does each villa have to itself?

Each villa has its own main house and lounge house, a temperature controlled pool, a sauna, a cold plunge, a full gym, a fire circle and a massage deck. It also has its own chef, villa host, guide and vehicle. It runs on solar power, with wifi over Starlink. Nothing is shared with another villa.

What is a family villa?

Two of the six villas are built for families. They have everything the other villas have, with a second main house and a small service house with a bed and a bathroom. A family villa has three bedrooms and sleeps up to six. Children aged 12 and over are welcome, as everywhere at Elo; exceptions can be made on request.

How many guests does a family villa sleep?

Up to six, in three bedrooms. A family villa has its own guide and a six-seat vehicle.

Can we reserve the whole estate?

Yes. The entire estate of six villas can be reserved, for absolute seclusion.

When does the water arrive in the Okavango Delta?

The rain falls on the highlands of Angola from November to March. The water reaches the top of the Delta in March and April, spreads through the fan in May, and is at its highest in July and August. From September it begins to fall back and the floodplains open again.

What can we do during the day?

Mokoro trips with a master poler all year, game drives, horseback rides across the floodplains, boat trips down the open channels from May to October, depending on the rain in Angola, walking safaris, birding at first light, catch and release fishing for bream, a night out under the stars in converted safari trucks, and helicopter flights on request.

Is there a fixed schedule?

No. The day has no fixed schedule: the programme is composed for each guest.

When can we go out by mokoro and by boat?

The mokoro goes out all year. The motorboat runs from May to October, depending on the rain in Angola.

Can we fish?

Yes. Fishing is for bream only, and always catch and release.

Can we ride?

Yes. Horseback rides are arranged with a partner who operates nearby.

What can we do by helicopter?

The helicopter can land anywhere in concession NG17, for a breakfast or a remote sunset. There are also day trips to the Makgadikgadi Pans, Tsodilo Hills, Baines' Baobabs and the Victoria Falls. Helicopter flights are arranged on request.

Can we see the stars?

Yes, with the naked eye. The guides are trained as specialists in the night sky.

Is there wifi?

Yes. Every villa has wifi, over Starlink.

Does Elo hire locally?

Yes. Elo hires in the village of Ditshiping, 30 km away.

How is the estate powered?

Every villa runs on solar power.

Is it cold in winter?

Botswana winters are cold at dawn. Every villa has a wood burner and heating for the winter mornings, and the pool is temperature controlled.

What wildlife lives along the channels?

Lion, leopard, buffalo, hippo and red lechwe, and a great many birds.

What is the minimum age?

The minimum age is 12 across Elo, in every villa. Exceptions can be made on request.

Do we need to take anything for malaria?

Please ask your own doctor before you travel. There has been no recorded case of malaria at Elo in the last three years.

What happens in a medical emergency?

Elo has a contract for medical evacuation by helicopter with Okavango Air Rescue. There is a doctor on call and a nurse on the estate.

Do the guides carry a rifle?

Yes. The guides carry a rifle and are trained in its handling and in safety.

Are the flights from Maun included?

No. Flights are not included, neither international flights nor the light aircraft between Maun and the Elo airstrip. The light aircraft, a private charter and helicopter transfers are arranged on request and quoted separately.

How much luggage can we bring?

On the light aircraft from Maun, 20 kg per person, in soft bags.

Can we drink the tap water?

Yes. The tap water is safe to drink, and there is bottled water too.

What plugs do the villas have?

The villas have US style sockets. European adaptors are available.

Should we tip?

Tipping is at the guest's discretion.

How much does a villa cost?

A villa for two is USD 10,000 per villa per night. A family villa is USD 20,000 per villa per night. The rate includes the villa for your sole use, your own guide, chef and villa host, a private vehicle for every experience, all meals and house beverages, wellness in the villa, laundry and complete flexibility over the day. Premium drinks and all flights are not included. Rates are in US dollars and include the levies in force at the time of booking and are exclusive of value added tax (VAT).

How do we book?

Elo Villas is by enquiry only. Write through the contact page or to reservations@elovillas.com, and a person, not a system, replies within a day.

How do the deposit and payments work?

A non-refundable deposit of 20% secures the dates. The balance is due 60 days before arrival. A booking made less than 60 days before arrival is paid in full on confirmation. Rates are in US dollars, and payments are non-refundable.

How long is a provisional booking held?

A provisional booking is held for 14 days, unless agreed otherwise in writing. If it is not confirmed in that time, it is released.

Should we take out travel insurance?

Yes. Travel insurance that covers cancellation, interruption and medical evacuation is recommended.