Leroo La Tau is situated on the western bank of the Boteti River, northwest of Khumaga Village and about 140 kilometres southeast of Maun. The eastern bank of the Boteti River forms the boundary of the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, which stretches away from the riverbank towards its interior of scrubland and mineral rich grasslands.
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 reaching as far as 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 remained home to a small pod of landlocked hippo, together with crocodiles which became completely terrestrial, making dens in riverbank ‘caves’ opposite the lodge. Large quantities 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 at Leroo La Tau, record rainfall resulted in the highest Okavango flood levels for 25 years. The Boteti River began flowing again and is present at Leroo La Tau once more.
The lodge features 12 luxurious thatched and glass fronted suites with en-suite bathrooms, each one raised on a wooden platform. The main lounge and dining area, with its inviting wooden and thatch finish, offers guests the opportunity to sit back and 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.
Leroo La Tau operates on AC 220V generator power which is available during the day and evening. Guest accommodation is equipped with a 220-volt AC plug which is suitable for hairdryers and the recharging of camera and video batteries. The generator is switched off at night and inverted 12-volt DC lighting provides room and bathroom illumination overnight.
Regretfully, Leroo La Tau is unable to accept children under the age of six. Families with children aged 6-11 will be required to book private activities at an additional cost, the nature of which may be subject to the discretion of the managers or guides. Children aged 12-15 must share accommodation with a parent. No childcare or babysitting service is provided at any of their properties and children remain the responsibility of their parents at all times.
