Savute Safari Lodge

Savute Safari Lodge offers a good location from which to explore the Savute Marshes as it sits on the banks of the Savute channel within the Chobe National Park. Comfortable without being luxurious, the camp enjoys views over the Savute channel and its two pumped waterholes, which – especially during the dry season – attract vast numbers of elephant to drink in the afternoons and evenings.

The main area of Savute Safari Lodge houses a lounge area, library and bar, all comfortable locations in which to relax during the day or discuss sightings in the evening over a few drinks and some nibbles. As one of the original safari camps in this region, Savute Safari Lodge is a little more dated than some modern camps.

The main lodge areas are set above the river, obscuring the views down onto the waterhole and channel. To counter that, there’s a cleverly built alfresco dining area at eye-level with the elephants that come down in the evenings to drink: a superb spot that makes up for the loss of views from above. Main meals – afternoon tea and dinner – are usually taken here, where there is a roof covering, although in really bad or cold weather meals are taken up in the main dining area. One can have a remarkable experience to sit under the stars, enjoying some great food and a glass of wine, while only 20-or-so metres away elephants jostled for space along the water’s edge.

Overlooking the channel is a swimming pool with a number of deckchairs around the water’s edge; very welcoming when it gets hot! During our stay, a couple celebrating their honeymoon were treated to a lovely private candlelit dinner in a small clearing on the pool’s deck.

Accommodation at Savute Safari Lodge consists of 12 thatched chalets, all raised up on stilts along the tree line on the banks of the channel. Each is large, with a shaded private deck and a couple of chairs at the front, perfect for escaping the heat of the day while keeping an eye on the waterhole for animals that come down for a drink. One family chalet features two bedrooms and two bathrooms.

*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!