Hidden gem in Francistown, Botswana
An immaculately kept hidden gem well put together, great value I would highly recommend for those self driving
through Botswana. The road into woodlands is a gravel road which is passable during the rains and its location on
the Tati River makes it well worth the short drive out of Francistown.
Excellent stopover
En route from Kasane to Johannesburg, a wonderful, birdsong-filled place to stay. Full marks to them. We were
allocated the magnificent Woodlands Cottage with a lovely breakfast in the fridge included.
Simply The Best
Woodlands is a non-pretentious stop-over that strives to offer a comfortable, pleasant stay-over for an affordable price. It exceeds at that. The surroundings are peaceful and well-groomed and ‘Mike’s Meals’ are a very thoughtful optional extra.
Excellent stay
Very neat, clean and welcoming. Such a peaceful stay in a beautiful setting. Staff friendly and welcoming. The communal braai area is set in a beautiful setting overlooking the river, and the walk along the river is stunning,
Great stay over at Woodlands
We stayed at wonderful places in Botswana on our 8 day trip, but this one was the best one in terms of value for money, the rooms was very nice, smelled fresh, all you need was in the rooms, service was fast and great! Lovely braai area and the braai packs well priced and good quality meat. The wood is proper wood and made great coals.
A little oasis.
We always try and stop at Woodlands at least for a couple of nights on our journey back to Malawi.
The bird life is wonderful and the garden beautiful and very well tended. The riverside bedrooms are comfortable, clean and we bought delicious Mike’s meals at the office. The owners have thought of everything to make the stay perfect. It’s always the highlight of our trip We recommend Woodlands to any traveller we meet. Thank you so much for another wonderful stay.
Attractive accommodation
Well equipped cottage. Beautiful scenery around river. Warm hosts and staff (Winnie & Lwazi).
Delicious lasagne for dinner. Strange cooling system (Evaporative Cooler). Would prefer aircon.
Comfortable stay. Good beds. Shower en-suite. Dirt road approach.
AWESOME
The place is exactly as it’s described and the pictures maybe even more BEAUTIFUL in reality. Clean and tranquility defined and VERY friendly staff and management. It’s definitely gonna be my place of frequency.
Home away from home
We regularly drive up from SA through Botswana to Zambia. Woodlands is the truly home away from home. We stayed in the cottage as we are a family of four.
2 bedrooms 2 bathrooms. Big kitchen with everything you may need. Coffee and tea are provided with even a rusk and a cookie!
Beds are comfortable, clean and even a hot water bottle for cold nights. They definitely thought of everything. We will definitely sleep over again. Actually, felt so welcome we wanted to stay longer…
Woodland Stop Over and Lodge
Had a wonderful overnight stay. What a lovely place, very clean and you could tell they’re very proud of what they offer. So clean everywhere, even the camping area. Had a good night sleep. Will be back.
Business and stopover before overlanding
We had 2 lovely, relaxed nights at Woodlands. It is always reliably good, camping on green grass with wonderful clean facilities and everything we needed. We enjoyed the delicious, pre-cooked meals that are available, and we also used their braai packs which made catering so easy.
We will definitely be back on our next time through Francistown. Thank you, Woodlands, for providing this little oasis!
Botswana stop over
What a wonderful place to adjust yourself to the end of your holidays. This was our second stop over and boy oh boy the place didn’t disappoint. Your home before your home with everything you can possibly want from your house. Thank you, Mike, and your amazing staff.
Excellent facilities, beautiful grounds and very helpful staff.
It was busy when we stayed, yet organization of multiple vehicles, many with trailers was seemless. The staff were polite and friendly. The small shop was stocked with essentials, maps and frozen homemade meals as well as meat for the BBQ. We extended our stay. Lovely bird walk and many birds around.
A Hidden Gem
Woodlands Stop Over & Lodge is truly a hidden gem. We have stayed here several times over the years and every time, it has been just fabulous. A peaceful and quiet spot off a busy road. The rooms are comfortable and well equipped. The meals that you can pre-order are delicious and make it an easy evening with no cooking. The birding is superb – you really need to spend 2 nights here.
Stay over at Woodlands
Woodlands, just outside Francistown, never disappoints. We stayed in a chalet this time and were not disappointed. It is fabulous. I once told Anne West, the owner, that in my humble opinion this was the second-best campsite in the world. I spoke with authority as we have visited all five continents. The attention to detail, whether in the chalet, the campsite or immaculate lawns, is so impressive. Food packs are now available for sale at reception, which is a terrific innovation.
Botswana’s Second Diamond
Woodlands Stop Over & Lodge is a gem in Botswana. Mike & Anne did a most magnificent job of providing an excellent escape for anyone from the busy road to the constant ringing of phones and blaring of a TV. I really appreciate the furnishing, the friendliness, cleanliness, upkeep and tranquility found at Woodlands. I will always be back.
Amazing!
3rd stay here since 2017, very pleased to say the standards have not deteriorated like other places we have revisited. Friendly staff, excellent cleanliness within the Riverside chalets, very comfortable and tranquil, even the dirt track from the main road is maintained and relatively smooth. Beautiful bird song from 5am and a walk along the riverbed before breakfast is a must, friendly owners, would highly recommend a stay here
Amazing
We stayed over for a night during our travels through Botswana. WOW campsites clean, ablution clean, showers amazing, the best is the peace and quiet and also the swimming pool. When we arrived the staff nice and friendly, showed us to the campsite. We set up and had the most amazing evening just the family.
Woodlands camping
What a magic space! Did a solo trip to Burundi from South Africa on my motorbike, was welcomed with open arms.
Amazing setting, clean camp grounds, stunning rest rooms, All in all a place that I will highly recommend
So welcoming
This place is ethereal and SO SO peaceful. I love the design of everything and really how unique it is.
I would literally live here if I could. The cottage as a whole is beautiful and so welcoming, so is the staff— would 100% come back! Thank you it was an amazing way to end this last year 2023.
God bless you all!!
I will recommend to others!
This place is amazing. Please don’t change anything. I’m sad we only got to spend one night here. I would have loved hanging out here more!
If I ever come back I’m gonna stay here and I will recommend to others!
THANK YOU FOR THIS WONDERFUL NIGHT!
Always great
Great to see the maintenance of the accommodation is being kept updated, unlike some other places I have stayed. Also a really nice and well kept venue overall. The camping sites are really very nice and private. The staff at reception are doing a great job to make guests feel welcome, thank you.
Clean, comfortable, peaceful
Everything you could ask for – clean, comfortable, peaceful, & reasonably priced. Especially like the personal touches & the scriptures verses! Thanks.
It is beautiful
Thank you for the peaceful & wonderful stay. It is beautiful and excellent facilities.
Enjoyed my stay.
Monkeys!
Enjoyed the monkeys!
Excellent!!
Friendly staff
Love Love Love the place! Clean, beautiful, peaceful, friendly staff.
God bless you & we will pray for rain
An oasis!!
An oasis!! Saw a beautiful Sable across the river. Hope you got your water problems sorted out?
Beautiful surroundings
A lovely safe haven with delicious home cooked food and beautiful surroundings.
You do yourselves an injustice calling yourselves a ‘stop over, we’d have happily spent a week here!
Smart!
Best accommodation on our Botswana trip. Keep it up! Smart!
Amazing!
Very nice!
Enjoyed the peacefulness
What a wonderful place. Really enjoyed the peacefulness
Will recommend
Lovely! Will recommend to all family & friends for travel in the future!!
Beautiful setting
Good night’s rest, beautiful setting. Mike’s meals are GREAT
Awesome as usual
Awesome as usual and Daniel, the security guard was amazing!
Enjoyable stay!!
Just far enough to be near enough!
Enjoyable stay!!
The rooms are lovely & the staff friendly
This is a little gem tucked away. We really enjoyed our stay. The frozen food is such a great idea as we didn’t want to unpack. We enjoyed them!
The rooms are lovely & the staff friendly. We really enjoyed our stay. PS the biscuits were a real treat. Thank you. See you again!
Makes you feel at home & relaxed
Very neat & Clean. Staff was very friendly. The entire place makes you feel at home & relaxed.