Where Savute Elephant Lodge sits
Savute Elephant Lodge stands in the Savute region of Chobe National Park, on the Savute Channel. Savute is one of the strangest pieces of country in Botswana: a channel that has flowed and dried repeatedly over the past century for reasons still not fully explained, leaving dead camelthorn trees standing in open marsh. The lodge sits on that channel, inside the national park rather than on a concession outside it.
The tents
There are twelve tented rooms raised on wooden platforms, each 52 square metres, with four-poster beds positioned so that the view over the channel is available from the bed. Each has a private deck with daybeds and armchairs. Twelve rooms inside a national park of this size is a small footprint.
The main areas
The lodge has a dining tent with an open kitchen, a bar and lounge finished in natural timber, and a boma for traditional outdoor dining. There is a swimming pool, a curio shop, and a television lounge with a library.
The hide and the stargazing deck
A wildlife viewing hide lets guests watch at eye level without a vehicle, and there is a dedicated stargazing area. Savute’s skies are exceptional, and the lodge runs stargazing sessions covering the mythology as well as the astronomy.
The spa
A spa tent offers TheraNaka treatments. A spa in the middle of Chobe National Park is not standard, and it is one of the things that distinguishes this lodge from the concession camps around it.
Game drives
Morning and afternoon game drives are the core of the programme, with at least two game-viewing activities a day. Savute is best known for its elephant and for predators: the marsh has long carried lion prides with unusual hunting behaviour, and cheetah do well on the open ground.
Rock art and baobabs
Visits to San rock paintings and to the Savute baobab groves are part of the standard offering. The Gubatsaa Hills hold painted panels, and the baobabs on the marsh edge are among the most photographed trees in Botswana.
Bush picnics, birding and tracking
Bush picnics, birdwatching and spoor identification round out the activities. Tracking is worth taking seriously here: the Savute sand holds prints well, and reading them is much of what the guides do between sightings.
Getting there
The lodge has its own airstrip and helipad. Scheduled flights run about 45 minutes from Maun and about 85 minutes from Kasane, and helicopter transfers are available. Most guests fly in; Savute is reachable by road in a 4×4 but the sand is demanding.
Who it suits
Travellers who want Savute’s elephant and predator viewing with a high level of comfort, inside the national park. Children over six are welcome when sharing with an adult, with supervision required. May to October is dry and concentrates game; November to April brings zebra through Savute, newborn game and strong birding.
Check availability around Kasane
The availability button compares stays around Kasane. It does not claim to open this specific property, and BTG publishes no rate here.
Botswana Travel Guide may earn a commission when you book through selected links, at no additional cost to you. It does not change what we list or what we say about it.
