Leroo La Tau
Leroo La Tau is situated on the western bank of the Boteti River, which forms the boundary of the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park. The Boteti River provides a lifeline for the wildlife which inhabit the arid national park and is a critical link in the annual zebra migration. Leroo La Tau is the perfect base from which to explore this truly unique piece of Botswana paradise.
SAFARI ACTIVITIES
GAME DRIVES | Morning and afternoon game drives conducted in the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park as you bear witness to the iconic zebra migration |
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CULTURAL EXCURSIONS | For guests interested in cultural interactions and experiencing daily life in a Botswana community, excursions to the nearby Khumaga Village can be arranged. |
MOTORISED BOAT SAFARIS (SEASONAL) | Depending on water levels, boating safaris are offered on the Boteti River. The boats are equipped with comfortable seats and a foldaway canvas roof. |
SALT PANS SLEEP OUT (Three Night Stay) | This extraordinary, experiential sleep out, under the stars on the vast Makgadikgadi Salt Pan is a truly amazing encounter. |
NXAI PAN DAY TRIP (Three Night Stay) | Explore the vastness of Nxai Pan, Baines Baobabs and the Makgadikgadi salt pans on an exciting day excursion. |
LODGE FACILITIES
FAMILIES | Accepts children from six years and older. |
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ROOMS | 11 Luxurious thatched and glass-fronted chalets and 1 Family suite (consisting of 2 en-suite bedrooms) accommodating a maximum of 24 guests. |
PILOT/GUIDE | 1 x Pilot/Guide Room (not same standard as guest rooms). |
DINING | Various indoor and outdoor dining locations including bush dinners. |
CAMP FIRE | Situated near the boma, on the cliffs of the Boteti River. |
SWIMMING POOL | Overlooking the Boteti River. |
CAMP HIDE | Hidden hide, below the lodge at water level with the Boteti River offering panorama views over the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, ideal for viewing wildlife on the rivers edge. |
BAR | Fully stocked bar. |
CURIO SHOP | Accepts cash and credit card payments. |
LAUNDRY | Daily, inclusive laundry service available |
WATER | Reverse osmosis water treatment plant supplies drinking water (bottled water on request). |
ELECTRICITY | Operates on AC 220V generator power which is available during the day and evening. The generator is switched off at night and inverted 12-volt DC lighting provides room and bathroom illumination overnight. |
INTERNET | Wi-Fi is available in the rooms. Wi-Fi is via remote satellite link and constant connectivity is not guaranteed. |
ROOM FACILITIES
RAISED DECKS | Luxurious thatched and glass fronted chalets on raised wooden platforms |
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PRIVATE VIEWING DECK | Each chalet is raised on the high banks of the Boteti river with 270˚ panoramic views. |
EN-SUITE BATHROOM | En-suite bathrooms with showers, hand basins and toilet facilities. |
FANS | Fans are available in all rooms - there is no air-conditioning in the rooms. |
POWER | 220V multi adaptor plugs for charging of photographic equipment. |
SAFE | A small pass-code protected safe for storing valuables. |
FLASHLIGHT | For use in the rooms at night. |
HAIRDRYER | A small hairdryer is available in each room. |
BATHROOM AMENITIES | A range of bathroom amenities including biodegradable soaps, shower gels etc. |
TEA & COFFEE FACILITIES | A small kettle with tea and coffee available. |
THE LODGE & ACCOMMODATION
The lodge features twelve luxurious thatched and glass-fronted suites with en-suite bathrooms, each unit raised on a wooden platform overlooking the Boteti River Valley below. With the lodges unique location poised on the edge of the Boteti River enjoying the zebra migration and abundant wildlife that access the river is possible from various vantage points including the guest rooms.
The main lounge and dining area, with its inviting wooden and thatch finish, allows you to relax at the bar while listening to the wide variety of night sounds so characteristic of the African bush. Alternatively you can lounge around the swimming pool or enjoy the panoramic river vista from the game-viewing hide built into the bank of the river.
ACTIVITIES & WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS
The lodge offers guided game drives in the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park focusing on the exceptional wildlife sightings along the Boteti River. Depending on the water level, boat activities are also provided. Optional cultural excursions can be arranged to Khumaga Village as well as day trips to Nxai pan and Baines Baobabs (three-night stay only). For those looking for a truly unique experience, enjoy a sleep out under the stars on the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans (three-night stay).
Leroo La Tau translates as ‘lion’s paw’ but, although the surrounding area features abundant Lion, Zebra and Wildebeest, it also boasts Chobe Bushbuck, Leopard, Cheetah, Brown and Spotted Hyena, Impala, Kudu, Jackal, Porcupine, Genet and Caracal, to name but a few.
Please note: Owing to their remote location within the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, the Makgadikgadi Pans themselves are not visited on daily scheduled activities from Leroo La Tau.
A UNIQUE HISTORY
The Boteti River is the main outflow of the Okavango Delta, collecting the water that flows past Maun and stretching about 250 kilometres southeast to Lake Xau on the extreme south-western edge of the great Makgadikgadi salt pans.
In the mid-1980s the flood waters of the Okavango Delta started to decline as the region entered a cycle of low rainfall, and consequently the Boteti River began to recede. The river stopped short of Leroo La Tau in 1988, and by the mid-1990s had dried up completely.
Leroo La Tau was left with a few waterholes in the riverbed which continued to offer refuge to a small pod of landlocked Hippo, together with Crocodiles which became completely terrestrial, making dens in riverbank ‘caves’ downriver from the lodge. Large numbers of Zebra and Wildebeest continued to graze the rich grass plains, migrating to the Boteti River at the end of winter to access the remaining waterholes.
In 2009, two decades after the Boteti River stopped flowing, record rainfall resulted in the highest Okavango flood levels for 25 years, and the river once again flows past Leroo La Tau.
Leroo La Tau is built on cliffs over 10 metres above this changing riparian environment, offering a vantage point that ensures unsurpassed views of the river and the Makgadikgadi Pans to the east.
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