Belmond Eagle Island Lodge
botswana, botswana · ★★★★★
The Verdict
Worth it for your honeymoon?
Belmond Eagle Island Lodge is the Delta camp for couples who want helicopter-flown postcards as much as they want classic game drives. Perched on Xaxaba Island on the Xakanaxa Lagoon inside Moremi Game Reserve, the camp's twelve tented suites sit under a canopy of ebony and jackalberry trees with long views onto permanent water. Eagle Island's signature experience is the helicopter safari — doors-off scenic flights over the floodplains that reveal the geometry of the Delta in a way no land vehicle can. The other differentiator is the evening fire pit suspended over the lagoon, one of the most photographed sundowner spots in southern Africa. For honeymooners, the combination of water, land and air safaris makes it one of the most versatile luxury camps in Botswana.
- ✓Trust couples-verified reviews
- ✓Prioritise spa & wellness
- ✓Are willing to invest in once-in-a-lifetime
- →Need a strictly adults-only resort
- →Have a budget under $1,000/night
- →Want a direct beachfront
- →Prefer boutique & intimate properties
Score Breakdown
94/100
At a Glance
Room Recommendation
Which room to book
The Fish Eagle Suites are the pick for honeymooners — elevated decks, deeper privacy, individual plunge pools, and the best lagoon views. The two Baobab suites sleep larger groups and are not what you want. If you can stretch, the Geoffrey Kent Suite is the flagship with an outdoor copper bath, a larger deck and the most secluded position, worth the upgrade for a special-occasion splurge.
No Surprises
True cost breakdown — 7 nights for two
Based on mid-range rooms, premium-economy flights from Europe, full dining and signature experiences. Adjust for your actual travel profile.
| Item | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Room (7 nights avg $2,750/nt) | $19,250 |
| Flights (2 pax, economy/premium) | $1,800 |
| Airport transfers / seaplane | $200 |
| Dining & drinks (beyond room) | $28,875 |
| Excursions & experiences | $700 |
| Spa / signature treatments | $300 |
| Tips & service (8%) | $3,850 |
| Total estimated | $54,975 |
Book Your Stay
Check availability
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Day by Day
Your 7-night honeymoon itinerary
Arrival and lagoon sundowners
Light-aircraft flight from Maun onto Xaxaba, suite orientation with champagne, and an evening boat cruise along the Boro channel, finishing at the fire pit over the lagoon as the sun drops.
Land drive morning
Pre-dawn coffee, a full morning game drive into Moremi looking for lion and elephant, brunch back at camp, a plunge-pool siesta and a sundowner boat cruise with gin and tonic in hand.
Helicopter safari day
The camp's flagship activity — a doors-off scenic helicopter flight over the Delta at golden hour with a remote bush-brunch landing on an island, followed by a relaxed afternoon and a boma dinner.
Mokoro and walking
Silent mokoro glides through lily-studded channels at dawn, breakfast on a secluded island, a guided walk in the afternoon, and a couples spa treatment before dinner.
Fishing and floodplain
Catch-and-release tiger fishing on the lagoon, a long slow brunch, an afternoon game drive into Moremi focused on leopard, and a private dinner served on your deck.
Second helicopter and bush dinner
A morning game drive, an afternoon helicopter photographic flight for honeymoon portraits over the Delta, and a bush dinner under lanterns and starlight.
Farewell morning and transfer
A final gentle boat cruise on the lagoon with coffee and pastries, brunch at camp, and a light-aircraft transfer to your next camp or back to Maun.
Honest Assessment
What to know before you book
Access is by light aircraft from Maun only, with the standard 20 kg soft-sided duffel limit per guest and no hard suitcases — pack sparingly and bring laundry-tolerant fabrics.
Eagle Island is a water-focused camp; May to September is peak flood season and ideal for boating and mokoro, while October to April becomes drier, hotter, and the land-based game viewing correspondingly improves.
This is a malaria region — prophylaxis is strongly recommended, and you should bring DEET, long sleeves for dusk and trousers for evening. Insects, including tsetse flies on some drives, are a normal bush-camp reality.
Pre-Arrival
Email to send the hotel
Subject: Honeymoon booking enquiry — Belmond Eagle Island Lodge, 7 nights Hello Belmond Reservations team, We are planning our honeymoon and would love to spend seven nights at Belmond Eagle Island Lodge. Our tentative dates are [DATES], travelling as two adults. Please confirm availability in a Fish Eagle Suite (or the Geoffrey Kent Suite if available), current fully inclusive per-night rates, and the typical Maun light-aircraft schedule. We would also appreciate your pricing for two helicopter safaris during our stay, plus your recommendations for combining Eagle Island with another Belmond property for a 10-14 night itinerary. Finally, please send your current deposit and cancellation policy. Thank you — we look forward to hearing from you. Kind regards, [Your names] [Phone] | [Email]
Send 2 weeks before arrival. Fill in names, dates, and preferences. Hotels respond to personalised requests.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How does Eagle Island compare with the nearby Wilderness camps?
Eagle Island is a Belmond property with a more hotel-polished service culture and the unique helicopter safari add-on. Wilderness camps like Mombo and Vumbura tend to be slightly more immersive and remote, but Eagle Island wins on versatility — land, water and air activities from one base.
Is the helicopter safari worth the extra cost?
For honeymooners, yes. The aerial geometry of the Delta is astonishing and no ground experience replicates it. Most couples book two flights across a stay — one at sunrise with a bush-brunch landing, and one at sunset for photography.
Is it a good year-round camp?
Yes. From May to September the water channels are at full flood and the boat and mokoro activities shine; from October to April the floodplain dries back and the game concentrates around permanent water, making land drives highly productive.
Are children allowed?
Eagle Island accepts children from six years and above. The main deck tends to feel grown-up and couples-focused, and dedicated family travel is less common here than at some &Beyond or Wilderness camps.
How are the spa and wellness options?
Belmond runs dedicated spa treatment rooms with a menu of massages and facials using regional products. It is a proper boutique spa for a bush camp — expect a higher polish than most safari lodges deliver.
Can we combine Eagle Island with another Belmond property?
Yes — Belmond offers cross-property itineraries, and Eagle Island pairs naturally with Savute Elephant Lodge in Chobe for a land-plus-water combination, or with the Mount Nelson in Cape Town for a city-and-bush honeymoon.
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