Staying at Skybeds in the Okavango Delta, the most amazing room

Staying at Skybeds in the Okavango Delta, the most amazing room

Sleeping in an open-air room with nothing but the starry night sky above you in Africa is possible in a very special type of bed, called star beds or sleep out. When I finally had the chance to stay at Skybeds I was beyond impressed with how great sleeping in the African bush was, with only a mosquito net between the stars and me.

Going on safari is already one of my favourite activities but pairing it with a night of sweet dreams was even better!

Quick facts:

  • Good for: groups of friends, couples
  • Starting from: 565 USD per night, per skybed (480€)
  • Location: Okavango Delta, Botswana

Arriving

It takes around two hours to arrive from the closest lodge to the camp, Hyena Pan. Skybeds is on a private concession in the Okavango Delta, Khwai Concession. The lodge is used as a one night experience from neighbouring lodges only, as the attractiveness of the experience is to simply to sleep there, and a 1 night stay gives you the perfect amount of excitement.

Arriving at the lodge after around two hours of driving and safari and seeing the four chalets for the first time will put a wide smile on your face.

Staing at Skybeds in the Okavango Delta, Botswana

About the lodge

Your first impression will be one of surprise as the car pulls up and stops in front of the main area chalet, one of the four, and you climb up to the first level, where you can find a big wooden deck with the bathroom and a big table for communal eating.

Staying at Skybeds is a one-night experience so the main area is formed by only one chalet with two different levels and a fire pit next to it. On the second level of the chalet we find a small bar and another deck used as a viewing deck. In front of the lodge, about 150m from the chalets, there’s a waterhole where you can watch the animals drink, especially the elephants.

Staying at Skybeds: the rooms

There are three Skybeds rooms (2019) located on the left hand side of the common area. They all face the waterhole. The sun sets behind the waterhole too, making it a great sunset spot to observe wildlife.

Each Skybed is a freestanding chalet built with wood. The living area is 10 stairs high from the ground and the Skybed has two different levels.

Staing at Skybeds in the Okavango Delta, Botswana

On the first level you can find the bathroom, made from wood and canvas on one side. There is a shower (only hot on request or in the morning) as well as a sink and toilet. On the second floor (which is actually the third if you count the ground) you can find the room.

The Skybed room has a four-posted double bed with mosquito net surrounding it, as well as a little bench on the foot of the bed with pillows. There’s also a stepped section in the deck that can be used to sit on or as a table.

View to the waterhole from the Skybed

Activities

Your Skybed experience starts at one of the neighbouring lodges, the farthest away is Sable Alley and the closest is Hyena Pan. If you are coming from Sable Alley you will be driven to Hyena Pan after your morning game drive to arrive there around lunch time, approximately 2h.

Hyena Pan during lunch with some elephants

After lunch you will drive to Skybeds while on safari, stopping at a waterhole hide (a covered room at almost water level) where one can observe the animals come and go for an hour or so.

Views from the hide: elephants
Views from the hide

You will arrive at Skybeds lodge before sunset, and will have plenty of time to enjoy sunset with a cold drink from the main area.

At night, a fire is cracking and you can talk with your fellow travellers or staff, sharing stories around the fire or at the dining table.

The next morning there’s a walking safari offered before breakfast and then the drive back to your lodge starts.


Check out the cinematic travel video of the stay below!


What I loved the most

The experience. It is without a doubt one of the top 3 most magic sweet dreams places where I´ve had the pleasure to sleep. Hearing the bush sounds with only a mosquito net around you makes for a great experience, knowing how safe you are in your Skybed nest.

Also waking up with the excitement to look up and see if you see any animals coming to the waterhole as the sun is rising.

Skybed with morning light

Staying at Skybeds is definitely an experience for the bucket list!

What could be improved

Not really an improvement but it is worth noting the distances travelled that day. From Sable Alley, the farthest away lodge, you will drive around two hours on a game drive to get to Hyena Pan. From there, there´s another two hours to Skybeds, and the next day you repeat.

Even though you see animals it is more of a transfer than a game drive, the ranger is not trying to track footsteps as you have a place to get to. Being informed about the driving times is the single most important thing for this experience.

Sunrise from Skybed - views are great!

Would you dare sleep in a room surrounded by wild animals with only a mosquito net between you and the stars? Tell me in the comments below!

How to save money on food while you travel: the actionable list!

How to save money on food while you travel: the actionable list!

Aren’t you tired of spending money on food? How inconvenient that you need to eat every day!

Food is one of the largest expenses we all have when travelling. When planning a trip independently, you will book accommodation and transportation to the destination. Maybe also book some transfers or hire a car.

But what about food? You have to eat every single day of the trip, possibly many times, and yet it is often overlooked in all our budgets. Do you want to learn how to save money on food while you travel? Keep reading!

How to save money on food while you travel

Luckily there are so many ways that we can cut our food expenses while we are travelling. In this article, I will give you some simple and easy to follow tips so the next time you are planning a trip, you can save a lot of money!

When you travel you want to experience the destination and that involves, in most places, trying delicious local food. I’m not going to stop you from doing that!

But how cool would it be if you knew how to cut on some silly food expenses so that you can spend your money on trying local foods or even doing local food tours?

1. Book accommodation with free breakfast

Before booking your accommodation check if breakfast is included. Some hotels will include breakfast in the nightly rate while others will charge you anything between 7€ to 20€ per person.

If you are staying for 4 nights that could be 20×4=80€ spent on breakfast! Would you ever spend that in your daily life? I didn’t think so.

Find an accommodation that offers free breakfast – it will be indicated on the booking platform or hotel’s website and you can use that daily breakfast for a big meal without paying more for it! 😉

2. Get an apartment or accommodation with a kitchen

Booking a self-catering unit or apartment, even going to a hostel and using the communal kitchen, will be your biggest saving during the trip, if you plan accordingly!

Do grocery shopping on arrival and get some easy ingredients you can make a nice meal with. Cook them the first night and have food for the next few days! To make this one work even better…

How to save money on food while you travel: get an accommodation with kitchen

3. Bring your own Tupperware and bamboo cutlery

Having your own container and cutlery when travelling has proven to be one of the best things ever for us. If you cook on one night you can take the leftovers for the following day’s lunch and while you are exploring you don’t have to come back home to eat or spend money on food.

Depending on what you are exploring, coming back for lunch is nearly impossible and buying food while at a popular tourist site is almost always very expensive.

Personally I’ll take a good dinner out over an expensive lunch, so I would rather eat something from a container that’s homemade or even a sandwich and then sit down for a decent dinner somewhere beautiful.

Since I started getting serious about reducing my impact when I travel, I always carry both Tupperware and bamboo cutlery in my backpack. They are useful and can be used in multiple situations: from grocery shopping to meal transport to use instead of plastic plates at a market/food truck festival.

They take very little space in your bag and are very versatile.

How to save money on food while you travel: bring tupperware

4. Stop buying drinks

Don’t worry – I’m not saying that you shouldn’t drink alcohol, although it is a big expense. I’m referring to not buying water bottles and soft drinks every time you are thirsty and on the go.

Use your reusable bottle because water keeps you hydrated, you’ll save money and help the environment. It is a win-win if I’ve ever heard of one.

How to save money on food while you travel: carry reusable bottles

CONTINUE READING: 10 easy actions you can take to be a responsible traveller

5. Buy groceries

Going to the supermarket doesn’t make sense for a weekend trip or if you’re only staying for a couple nights, but if it is part of a longer trip or a long stay in one place, it will save a lot of money.

I highly recommend that you pick up some groceries. You can always carry some fruits, bread and condiments (veggies, cheese, cold meat) or even get a bag of rice and cook it with different fresh products.

How to save money on food while you travel: do groceries

6. Explore outside of big tourist areas to get local prices and cuisine

When you leave the tourist areas the overpriced restaurants are left behind as well. By moving about 3 blocks away from a touristy hub you will already find under the radar, local bars or small restaurants with the same food and normally far better prices. 

How to save money on food while you travel: enjoy street food

This is also a great way to alleviate over tourism in certain areas of well-known cities like Barcelona or Venice.

7. Get on with street food

Food trucks, food stalls, street vendors… Street food presents itself in a variety of ways but grabbing a plate of rice and fried chicken at a Balinese street stall will cost you 1€ Yes… you’ve read that correctly.

Always check that the establishment looks clean, and has some locals queuing, to try and minimise the bad decisions that will come with food poisoning.

Try to apply logic to make sure you trust the place where you are getting food from: locals buying there is the best sign of all.

8. Start intermittent fasting

Intermittent fasting is a method consisting of having a longer window without food, usually between 13 and 16h.

Intermittent fasting is one of the ways that I use to save money on food while I travel!

By doing this your body has time every day to detox and properly digest the food you’ve eaten. You can read more about intermittent fasting here. In practical terms, it means that you only eat during a window of 9h a day, and fast for the remainder (while still drinking water of course). 

For example: you can eat only from 12h00 until 21h00. You can eat as many times you want during those 9h, but you’ll quickly find your body gets used to not eating until 12h00 again the next day and then you only need lunch and dinner, and maybe a snack once a day, without feeling hungry.

You can also cut dinner out if you prefer your window to be early morning food.

Do you have any other tips on how to save money on food while you travel? Please share them below – new tips are always welcome!

How to save money on food while you travel: the actionable list
How to save money on food while you travel: the actionable list
Best things to do in Senja, Norway

Best things to do in Senja, Norway

Senja was the greatest surprise during our 10 day trip in Lofoten Islands & Northern Norway. This breathtakingly beautiful island is above the Arctic Circle and is the second largest island in the country.

It is often overlooked for the neighbouring and famous Lofoten Islands but there are so many things to do in Senja that they have nothing to envy. If you are planning a trip to Lofoten Islands and Tromso, Senja is an unmissable spot.

In Senja you will find dramatic landscapes, hidden gems and beautiful hiking paths with very few guests. The steep mountains plunge into the sea creating dramatic landscapes that are every traveller’s dream.

The island of Senja has a dramatic and exposed outer coast and a mild and green inner coast. Most settlements on the islands are located in the outer coast because that´s where the best fishing is, and fishing is the main industry on the island.

im8hoursahead in Senja, Norway
Views of Segla mountain from Hesten

How to get to Senja

The closest airport to Senja is Bardufoss (BDU). From there it is around 1h drive to get to Senja. Another option is to fly to Tromso Airport (TOS). From there it is about a 2h40 minute drive.

During summer there are two main ferry lines that connect Senja for visitors:

  • Andenes (Vesteralen Islands) to Gryllefjord (Senja)
  • Bothnam (Senja) to Brensholmen (outside Tromso)

Using those ferry’s, your entry points into the island multiply, making it easier to organise in a shorter drive from Tromso or from the Lofoten & Vesteralen Islands via Andenes.

Things to do in Senja: arrival by ferry

Best things to do in Senja, Norway

Hike Segla

Segla mountain is the most famous landmark of the island of Segla. It can be hiked in 3 to 4h return trip but it is a very strenuous hike. From the top you will have great views of the plateau. It has an elevation of 630m and as most hikes in Lofoten, Vesteralen islands or Senja it is short but intense.

Things to do in Senja: Segla hike
View of Segla from Hesten Peak

Hike Hesten

Hesten is the second most well known hike on the island. It is next door to Segla and from it you can see the famous views of most Segla Peak pictures. We decided to hike this one with the family and it was as difficult as it was rewarding. The return trip takes around 3h and it is also strenuous with an elevation of 556m.

Things to do in Senja: Hesten hike

Bergsbotn Lookout

The Bergsbotn viewing platform is a metal and wood viewpoint located on the way down from a mountain ridge. It gives great views over Bergsfjord and makes for a great pit stop to admire the views. It has a small parking lot and no facilities.

Things to do in Senja: Bergsbotn

Tungeneset Viewpoint

Tungeneset is a viewpoint by the sea. It is formed by a wooden walkway that leads to a rocky area. Depending on tide movements you can see more or less of the area.

The walk down the walkway takes less than 5 minutes. The rocks are big and spacious enough to make it a picnic spot. There are toilet facilities and the parking is a little bigger than Bergsbotn.

Things to do in Senja: Tungeneset

Hike Husfjellet

This hike is less uphill than Segla or Hesten and has an elevation of 630m. The duration for a return trip is 3 to 4h and from the top you can also admire the outer coast of Segla.


CONTINUE READING HERE: Complete 10 day itinerary through Lofoten Islands and Northern Norway


Husoy

This compact and small village is almost an island, only attached to the mainland by a tunnel and breakwater. It is home to a big fishing community and some of the oldest houses  are held up by wires to help withstand strong winds. 

Bovaer

Just because you are so high up from the equator it doesn’t mean there are no beautiful beaches to visit. You can relax with the sea breeze and admire the beach.

Sorlivatnet

This lake is very pretty but hard to visit. We drove around it and stopped in areas where we could park our van – which we didn’t find often! I knew I wanted to check the lake out so we found a couple of magical spots just by driving around and getting out of the car when there seemed to be a spot – would totally recommend!

Things to do in Senja: Sorlivatnet lake
Things to do in Senja: Sorlivatnet lake

Senja Trollet

This was the world’s largest troll but it was destroyed in a fire in March 2019.

Northern Lights

Senja is located above the arctic circle, making it a great destination in Northern Norway to try and hunt for Aurora Borealis. You can book an Aurora hunting tour with a specialist from most hotels on the island or go for a hunt on your own – I recommend you check Aurora services online to know where to go on the specific date, depending on weather conditions.

Anderalen National Park

There are different routes and hiking trails on this national park. It is also used as a pasture for domestic reindeer: if you see them, it is important to remember not to disturb them or scare them! The Senja hiking trail traverses the whole park, but if you are looking for a shorter hike the 2h30 hour one-way hike to Andervatnet Lake is a great start. The hike is long but flat all the way, perfect for those with small children or for a relaxing walk after hiking Segla/Hesten and having sore calves ;).

Things to do in Senja: Anderalen National park

To do the Lake Hike drive to Norwegian Wild/Camp Tranoybotn and park across the road from the hotel entrance. The park is very well sign posted and the trail is super easy with different landscapes along the way.

Things to do in Senja: Anderalen National park

Mefjordbotn

At the bottom of the fjord Mefjorden there is a small settlement with very few houses and a pier. From there you can see a very special view of the Fjord and the sea. This one is a very quick stop!

Ersfjorden

Another beautiful fjord of the island of Senja that is worth visiting (which one is not?!). This one is great to visit during sunset as the sun sets in front of you but depending on the season this could be next to you.

From the beach you can admire the Okshoman peaks to your left.

Things to do in Senja: Ersfjorden

Silsand

One of the biggest concentrations of inhabitants on the island of Senja, Silsand is a small city on the shore of Senja.

There are so many things to do in Senja, I cannot recommend it highly enough! Create an itinerary including some of the above points and exploring the island. Many beautiful and off the path views are there to be discovered if you take the time and peak around every corner. 

Have I missed important things to do in Senja? Please let me know in the comments!

Things to do in Senja, Norway
Ultimate list of things to do in Senja, Norway
Sleeping at the highest treehouse near Prague: Resort Green Valley

Sleeping at the highest treehouse near Prague: Resort Green Valley

During our long weekend away in Prague, I managed to get a reservation at Resort Green Valley. I had seen a picture of their high treehouse on a website years ago and since then it had been on my sweet dreams wish list. In just three nights I explored one of the most famous capitals in Europe and slept in my highest ever treehouse – how cool is that?

Their website is only available in Czech and they are also on Airbnb with Czech descriptions, so I had to spend some time with a translator before I could book – I managed to get it right and it was so worth it!

Credit: Resort Green Valley

Quick facts:

  • Good for: families, couples
  • Starting from: 3900 CZK per night for the highest treehouse (148€)
  • Location: outside of Prague, Czech Republic

Where is Resort Green Valley

The Resort is in the Czech Republic countryside, merely an hour away from the capital, Prague. The region is called Central Bohemian Region and Resort Green Valley is specifically located in the municipality of Chotysany.

To get there you need to have your own car, as the resort is in a valley with no bus stops nearby.

The resort

The resort is set in a large valley surrounded by hills, trees and green fields. It truly is an idyllic setting. The hotel has different double and triple rooms distributed between the two main buildings near the dining room, with a maximum capacity of 100 guests. They also have three unique treehouses: the high tree house (where we stayed), the not so high tree house and an elevated dome.

The resort grounds are stunning – which makes me want to go back during summer! They have a tennis court and a swimming pool and since the resort is far away from any villages there many hectares of property surrounding you with stunning views. Nature immersion 101!

Breakfast is included in your accommodation but dinner isn’t. I highly recommend staying in the resort for dinner instead of adventuring out if you are looking for a fine-dining, mouth-watering meal. The “owner” does not speak English but one of his staff does and with his help, we organised check-in and decided on our dinner menu. We did not know how good the food was going to be beforehand and were expecting a home cooked style meal. To our tremendous surprise, we were served incredibly tasty, finely presented food in the middle of the Prague countryside!

The treehouse at Resort Green Valley

The treehouse is 9m high. It is built around a tall tree and you get up to the door using a spiral staircase. One of the branches has a swing – could this be more perfect!?! On top there is a small terrace with a wooden table and a couple of chairs.

The inside of the treehouse has a hexagonal shape and you can actually see the tree branched in two main logs through the room. The treehouse features a double bed, small table, coach or sleeper bed, a little cupboard and door to a chemical toilet room.

If you are not one for “roughing” it, there’s a heater for Winter and about 40m walk from the base of the tree you can find a bathroom with electricity, flushing toilet, shower and towels. The bathroom is shared between the two tree houses and the dome.

The lower treehouse is great for families as it features a double bed and a bunk bed. The Dome is great for couples.

Optional activities in the area of Resort Green Valley

If you want to explore a little bit of the area where the resort is located here are some stops you should visit:

  • Vlasim: In this little village you can check out the Vlasim castle and park, next to each other
  • Cesky sternberk is an early Gothic castle from the mid 13th century. It’s location is pretty cool: the entrance is via a bridge and it feels just like you’re in a movie!
  • Jemniste castle: A big mansion more than a castle by the looks of it, this ‘castle’ has amazing garden grounds that can be visited. The family that owns it still leaves on site. They change their visit timetables depending on the month so be sure to check their website beforehand.
  • Benesov: in this town, you should walk around the colourful old town and visit the statue of the minority order convent.
  • Konopiste Castle: a gothic castle built at the end of 13th century. The inside has collections of rare items and the baroque style gardens are beautiful to stroll around in. There’s also a bear living in poor conditions as part of a cultural tradition :(, which I hated.
  • Sázava: the town is located next to the river of the same name. It was built around the Sázava monastery, the main attraction to visit.

Visiting every item from this route from Resort Green Valley to Sázava takes 1h46 minutes of driving. It can be done at a leisurely pace with half a day before returning to Prague.

Getting out of the city was great, not only for the stay, which was magnificent, but for the chance to explore a lesser known area, only an hour away from Prague, and all it had to offer. I’ve always loved the sensation of driving in the countryside and the Resort Green Valley was no exception!

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Resort Green Valley: treehouse near Prague
Resort Green Valley: treehouse near Prague
20 photos to inspire you to visit the Okavango Delta, Botswana

20 photos to inspire you to visit the Okavango Delta, Botswana

The Okavango Delta is a prime destination for breathtaking landscapes and incredible wildlife sightings. The Delta is the largest inland delta in the world and gets all its water from the rains in Angola, coming through the underground water system. The rains in Angola happen during Jan-Feb but the high season (dry season) in the Okavango takes place from June to September (season depending) when the water filtrates through.

Even though it is not a “Big 5″ destination but a wetland area, there are incredible amounts of African birds and it is a great place to initiate yourself in the art of appreciating them. You will find big mammals too!

20 pictures to inspire you to travel to the Okavango Delta, Botswana

20 pictures to inspire you to travel to the Okavango Delta, Botswana
20 pictures to inspire you to travel to the Okavango Delta in Botswana
Group of elephants in the Okavango Delta
Mokoro trip in the Okavango Delta
On a mokoro trip, the Botswanan dig canoe
Finding wild dogs in the Okavango Delta
Great destination to find wild dogs!
Finding wild dogs in the Okavango Delta
Elephants playing
With elephants company in the pool
textures of mud in an elephant
Textures of mud
Waterhole with elephants
How to drink water without upsetting the elephants, a short story
Sleeping under the stars in the  Okavango Delta
Sleeping under the stars
Sunrise over the Okavango Delta
Lion male in the Okavango Delta
Lion male up close
In the pool with elephants very close
Sunsets in the Okavango Delta
Sunsets in the Okavango Delta
Sunsets in the Okavango Delta
lion male looking up to the camera
20 photos to inspire you to visit the Okavango Delta, Botswana
a school of hippos in the Okavango Delta
A school of hippos

Types of safaris in the Okavango Delta

  • Drive-In Safaris: these generally scheduled group tours take you to different areas of the Okavango in a 4×4 vehicle. You will be moving every 2 or so nights to another camping location. They can vary in number of days, nights on safari and level of comfort. They are great for solo travellers and budget travellers wanting to visit the Okavango Delta. Each tour will have 1+ vehicles with a guide.
  • Fly-In Safaris: as most of the Okavango is wetland it makes very difficult for cars to be able to access all areas. Because of that most camps only way in and out is via airstrips and light aircraft. Those camps are more sophisticated than camping and offer lodge-based activities for their guests (every lodge will have different activities and a guide per car/boat/mokoro). These safaris are organized privately and the cost of flying makes it more expensive. Generally, the lodges that can’t be reached by 4×4 are more luxurious.

Okavango Delta types of camps

  • Water-based: these camps will be located in areas of wetland and will be accessed by boat or aircraft. Their main safari activities will be mokoro and boat safaris. They also offer walking safaris.
  • Land-based: Based in an area where it is mostly dry, these camps will offer
  • Combination: the best option is to find a camp that offers all the activities that you are interested in. If that’s not possible you can always combine one of each camps to get the full experience.

Want to add another destination on your Botswana adventure? Book an extension to Chobe National Park and finish off with a Victoria Falls stay – the best combination Botswana and Zimbabwe can offer you!

20 pictures to inspire you to visit the Okavango Delta
Be inspired by the Okavango Delta in just 20 photos

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