Singita Elela launching December 2026

Singita — the brand responsible for turning remote African safaris from a tent, tinned beans and a prayer into ultra-luxury villas with butlers and tasting menus — is officially coming to Botswana.  Yes, Botswana, where the going rate for a safari lodge sits somewhere between “small mortgage” and “should’ve just bought that yacht.”

They’ve taken over the site formerly known as Abu Camp, a property that looked like it was about thirty years past its best-before date.  Abu has now been gently sent to live on a farm upstate, with Singita preparing to open Elela in its place.

To be precise, it’s opening on 11th December 2026.  Or at least, that’s what it says here.  Should we ever take a hotel at its word when it comes to an opening date?  Pipe down, we all know the answer.

They’re planning 1-, 2-, and 4-bedroom options.  Design is still under wraps, but expect all the usual Singita touches.  And being in a private concession means no queues, no traffic jams, and no 13-vehicle pileups watching a lion sneeze.  This particular concession is over 400,000 acres — bigger than Singita Grumeti — and for now, Elela will be the only camp on it.

But the real headline is the pricing.
It’s less than Mombo.
Less than Xigera.

I had to read that twice, too.  Fewer rooms, more exclusivity, undoubtedly more stone.  Yes, it’s launching at $4,500 per person per night (and going lower during off-peak), but in Botswana, that’s what we call a cheap date.

The only question is whether I’m going to drag my kids there the day it opens, seeing as it’s riiiiight when school breaks up for Festive 2026.  Undoubtedly, no — not when the inevitable delay kicks in.  But a boy can dream.