Chobe Game Lodge
Chobe Game Lodge is a well-established hotel in the bush. Just a 40-minute drive from Kasane, it occupies a stunning position beside the Chobe River and is the only permanent lodge within the riverfront area of Botswana’s Chobe National Park. The lodge was originally made famous by Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, who chose to marry there in the mid-1970s, and has since been substantially upgraded.
The entrance to Chobe Game Lodge is a little imposing, much like a hotel, and perhaps unsurprising for a lodge of this size. But the welcome you will receive is quite the contrary – personal and intimate – and the staff strive to make their guests feel as though they belong.
This entrance lobby is home to the reception desk and a lounge, with a separate desk for the activities co-ordinator. Walk a little further, though, and you’ll be greeted by glimpses of the Chobe River through the lush foliage in the gardens. You’ll notice a distinctly Moroccan theme running through the décor in the public areas; it could feel a little out of place in Botswana but, oddly, we think it works.
Tiled stairs lead down to a very large lounge with several comfortable sitting areas, opening onto a terrace overlooking the landscaped garden. The Moroccan theme here is very distinct, in the fabrics, carved wooden tables, trunks, mirrors and ornaments, Persian carpets and lanterns.
Chobe Game Lodge also has a small spa, a well-stocked curio shop, a swimming pool with a rock feature and small waterfall, and even a small, but reasonably well-equipped, air-conditioned gym.
Chobe Game Lodge has 46 total rooms and suites (42 standard rooms, 4 suites) that face the river across manicured lawns grazed by visiting warthogs but the dense tree line means that not all rooms have views of the river.
*For a full list of available activities, the best time of the year to visit, and any other relevant enquiries, please contact a Sister Hippo Travel Consultant!