Evaluation: Savute Elephant Lodge, a Belmond Safari (Botswana)

January 24, 2025

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Wednesday newsletters at all times function a lodge or flight evaluation.

Final summer season, I loved one in all my finest holidays ever, an ultra-luxe safari in Botswana. You’ll be able to learn my journey stories right here:

At the moment: Evaluation of Eagle Island Lodge, a Belmond Safari (Okavango Delta, Botswana)

By way of Botswana’s Chobe Nationwide Park flows a mysterious channel – a ghost river that seems intermittently, no matter rainfall, and whose water can change path. On its banks, right here within the elephant capital of the world, lies Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge. The guts of essentially the most biologically numerous sport reserve in Botswana, the Savute is the place the BBC and Nationwide Geographic have captured a few of their finest wildlife documentary footage and the place friends can watch the dwell wildlife present each day and night time. Company of the lodge can exit on safari each morning and afternoon, however some of the memorable experiences comes from merely sitting on the personal deck of their tented room as a parade of elephants walks by, mere metres away. The 12 tented rooms are shaded by conventional thatched roofs and constructed on raised wood platforms for higher viewing over the Savute.

Have you ever ever stayed at Savute Elephant Lodge, a Belmond Safari? If that’s the case, what was your expertise? Depart a remark.

Savute Elephant Lodge, a Belmond Safari options in my prime 10 listing of the finest safari lodges in Botswana.

On this evaluation (extra information and images beneath my YouTube video):

PROS & THINGS I LIKE

Savute Elephant Lodge is essentially the most luxurious lodge inside Botswana’s Chobe Nationwide Park. Overlaying virtually 11,000 sq km (6,836 sq miles), Chobe was Botswana’s first Nationwide Park and stays one in all its finest, boasting the largest focus of wildlife in Africa. An oasis in a dry, at occasions desolate area, the Nationwide Park’s Chobe River presents an irreplaceable lifeline to the reserve’s wildlife. Within the mid- to late-afternoon, elephants comes all the way down to the Chobe River’s banks, some small in quantity and others counting within the lots of. Massive herds of buffalo are discovered alongside the Chobe riverfront and grazing on the islands, crossing from one to the opposite or again to the mainland. Particular sport sightings embrace the indigenous and endangered puku antelope that may solely be seen alongside the Chobe River banks. Chobe Nationwide Park is Botswana’s most accessible park to self-drive round.

The Chobe Recreation Reserve was formally created in 1960 and have become a nationwide park in 1967. In 1975, Botswana’s authorities determined to restrict human entry to the reserve, aside from the realm round Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge. On the time, two adjoining camps operated at Savute, one run by the legendary hunter Harry Selby, who was immortalised within the Robert Ruark e-book Horn of the Hunter. Selby ultimately moved on and the dual camps had been taken over and merged by Gametrackers. In 1993 Belmond (beforehand Orient-Categorical Resorts) acquired Gametrackers and in 2014 the camp was renamed Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge, to emphasise that the property is positioned on the coronary heart of what’s often called the “Elephant Kingdom of Africa” (because of the presence of huge herds of elephants within the space; extra on that beneath).

Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge is positioned on the coronary heart of Chobe Nationwide Park on the banks of the Savute River, a ghost river that seems intermittently, no matter rainfall, and whose water can change path. Regardless of theories in regards to the shifting of tectonic plates affecting the presence of water, nobody is aware of when the Savute Channel shall be an ample supply of water or when it would go dry. When David Livingstone explored the realm in 1851 he described it as a marsh: since then the Channel has alternated between flowing strongly after which drying up. The Savute Channel close to the the lodge continues to come back and go, however with a water gap instantly in entrance of the property animal lovers are capable of see wildlife large and small always. The Savute space is the place the BBC and Nationwide Geographic have captured a few of their finest wildlife documentary footage.

On the coronary heart of Belmond Savute Elephant is a eating space, a bar, a lounge and a TV room beneath a big canvas roof with open sides for waterhole viewing. A store subsequent to the reception space helps native artisans by promoting principally domestically made items and souvenirs, and a small reference library presents books and movies. In entrance of the primary lodge is a 20 m (65 ft) pool, a well-liked place to calm down in between the morning and night safari drive. One ground beneath the pool deck is a disguise from the place the animals visiting the close by water gap – primarily elephants and bufalos – could be noticed at shut vary. The communal space additionally contains a fire-pit overlooking the water gap in addition to a conventional Boma assembly house, which supplies an atmospheric setting for a barbecue dinner and music efficiency by locals.

Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge options 12 tented rooms, that are shaded by conventional thatched roofs and constructed on raised wood platforms for higher viewing over the Savute. Each has a big personal deck with day beds together with a desk and chairs the place personal dinners could be served. The interiors embrace polished wood floorboards, a 4 poster mattress with mosquito netting, comfy chairs and a writing desk, a toilet with each indoor and out of doors showers, and a dressing room with robes and slippers. To chill down friends can both go for the big ceiling fan or air-con, and there may be additionally a radiator for these nights when temperatures drop beneath freezing. The totally stocked mini bar in every room is stocked with complimentary drinks.

Whereas some African nations are seeing elephant populations decline, in Botswana their numbers are on the rise and it’s now believed round 200,000 elephants could be discovered within the nation. At Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge friends can exit on a safari drive each morning and afternoon to see these majestic animals, however some of the memorable experiences comes from merely sitting on the personal deck of their tented room as a parade of elephants walks by, mere meters away, to go to the everlasting water gap in entrance of the lodge (the water gap is illuminated at night time, so friends can proceed to watch the elephants passing by). Together with the peaceable pachyderms, friends also can count on encounters with leopards, lions, cheetahs, zebra, giraffes, wild canine, hyenas and extra, and might watch as a mud storm on the horizon reveals itself to be a herd of buffalo.

Stays at Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge embrace full board with breakfast, lunch and dinner together with drinks together with alcohol (some premium manufacturers and imported champagnes come at an extra value). Most meals are served within the eating room on the foremost pavilion, though the lodge workers also can arrange a romantic desk on the personal deck of the room for a extra personal eating expertise. Menus change seasonally and supply a mixture of gentle and wholesome choices. Native flavors and substances resembling beef seswaa, samps (dried corn), and papa (maize meal porridge) are served alongside extra acquainted dishes. On chosen nights, the lodge additionally presents barbeque dinners within the boma, the place workers entertains the friends with tales about Botswana’s wealthy historical past. Sundowner drinks are additionally supplied throughout the afternoon safaris.

Savute Elephant Lodge belongs to the portfolio of the Belmond Resort Group fomerly often called Orient Categorical till its rebranding in 2014. Belmond is a lodge and leisure firm that manages a ultraluxe assortment of 49 iconic lodges, trains and river cruises in 24 international locations, bringing collectively a number of the world’s most sensational journeys and locations. It ranks among the many most unique lodge manufacturers on this planet. With Belmond, you may keep in timeless lodges in Venice, Rio and St. Petersburg, embrace the spirit of journey at Machu Picchu or Angkor Wat, glide alongside the rails by means of the Swiss Alps, soar throughout the Andes, or discover the mystifying rivers of Myanmar. In 2018, Belmond was acquired by LVMH (‘Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy’), the proprietor of manufacturers like Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton and Fendi.

For the total Botswana nature expertise, Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge could be mixed with stays at Belmond’s different luxurious Botswana lodge: Eagle Island Lodge, a Belmond Safari within the Okavango Delta. Positioned on a non-public island surrounded by the Okavango Delta’s epic landscapes, Belmond Eagle Island Lodge is taken into account one of many final luxurious safari lodges in Botswana. Right here, friends can silently glide previous hippos in canoe-like mekoros, take within the vastness of the Delta and see elephants, giraffes and zebras from above in a helicopter, go on a horse using or motorboat safari, go to native villagers, or just calm down in the fantastic thing about the lodge. Every of the 12 spacious and light-filled deluxe tented rooms has its personal plunge pool and deck, positioned in such a means that when friends retire to their rooms they’re afforded whole privateness and might see no indicators of human life – solely Botswana’s distinctive animals and birds.. Belmond Eagle Island Lodge is a 50 min bush flight from Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge.

CONS & THINGS TO KNOW

Though meals on the lodge is first rate, it does not likely really feel like gourmand eating, and it’s not as refined because the meals that’s served at a few of Africa’s different prime safari camps (together with its sister property Eagle Island Lodge). As well as, the meals parts are fairly small; throughout my keep, I usually needed to ask for some additional parts (which felt a bit uncomfortable). IMHO, for the sum of money one pays, and particularly for a Belmond property, the meals high quality and presentation could possibly be higher and extra refined.

At Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge friends don’t have to go in search of nature. Nature involves them. Leopards, lions and different creatures have been discovered throughout the lodge, and when night falls friends should at all times be accompanied by a information when transferring from their tented room to the general public areas to verify they continue to be calm and observe security procedures in the event that they encounter a giant cat.

Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge can solely be reached by small plane, both from Maun (50 min flight) or from one other camp in Botswana. The considered flying in a small one-engine airplane could make some vacationers – together with myself – nervous. That stated, the flight itself is spectacular and presents pretty views of the delta, with wildlife gathering or galloping beneath. Belmond Safaris makes use of Mack Air a 3rd occasion for the flights between its lodges. Since its launch in 1994, Mack Air hasgrown to develop into some of the superior air constitution corporations in Southern Africa. The present fleet of Mack Air is sort of trendy and consists of 19 Cessna Grand Caravan EXs and three Cessna 206 Stationairs.

Malaria is widespread within the northern elements of Botswana such because the Okavango Delta and Chobe Nationwide Park (the place Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge is positioned), significantly throughout or after wet season from November to April. Medicines can be utilized to forestall the probabilities of contracting malaria. For recommendation on the usage of any malaria prophylaxis, it is advisable to contact the well being authorities or your native journey clinic previous to your travels. Along with any prophylactics, the next mitigation measures are really useful: cowl your arms, legs and toes within the evenings and apply a mosquito repellent containing DEET.

MY VERDICT

Location: 9/10
Design: 8/10
Pool: 9/10
Rooms: 7/10
Meals: 7/10
Breakfast: 7/10
Spa: 8/10 (solely in-room therapies)
Service: 9/10
Wow issue: 7/10
Worth for cash: 7/10
Total expertise: good 7.8/10

TIPS FOR FUTURE GUESTS & SAVE MONEY

Lower your expenses: get complimentary VIP perks when reserving Belmond Safaris by way of Virtuoso:
- Room improve
- Each day breakfast
- Early check-in
- Late check-out
- A non-public eating expertise for as much as two friends as soon as throughout keep, served on the balcony of your room or at a non-public location throughout the lodge
- Stays of 6+ nights can even obtain a wellness credit score for two friends, as soon as throughout their keep, relevant in the direction of a 60-minute remedy).

Lower your expenses: get complimentary VIP perks when reserving Belmond Safaris by way of Belmond Bellini Membership:
- VIP welcome treats with a neighborhood style
- Buffet or full breakfast for two every day
- Complimentary improve based mostly on availability at time of check-in
- As much as $200 USD lodge credit score per keep ($200 per keep for choose suites; $90 per keep for rooms)
- Complimentary WI-FI entry

Lower your expenses: learn right here my ideas for getting the most effective deal at a luxurious lodge of the Belmond Resort Group (and/or obtain many free perks).

Learn my ideas for making ready your journey in time.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

The very best time to go to Botswana’s Chobe Nationwide Park is throughout the dry season from June to September, when wildlife within the sport reserve is abundantly current.

HOW TO GET THERE

Savute Elephant Lodge, a Belmond Safari can solely be accessed by gentle plane into the close by airstrip, which has every day flight connections with different camps in Okavango, Chobe, Maun Airport (which is the primary vacationer getaway to Botswana) and north to Kasane (for connections to Livingstone and Victoria Falls). Flight tim from Maun to the lodge is 50 minutes and Belmond takes care of reserving all transfers and flight.

PHOTOS

Beneath is a collection of my images of Savute Elephant Lodge, a Belmond Safari. To view extra images (together with meals and safari actions), click on right here.