Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge

Insider’s Review of Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge

In the heart of Botswana’s wildlife-blessed Chobe National Park, the mysterious Savute Channel continually writes and rewrites its path from flat to flood and back, making safari here an ever-shifting adventure. The channel itself is famously fickle (its Setswana name, Savuti, translates as “unpredictable”), but our home-from-home is an intelligently indulgent and deeply welcoming refuge. (One look at the open-air spa den would sway anyone.) Indeed, we lucky guests are not the only ones to feel welcome. Home to Africa’s largest concentration of elephants, Chobe is rich with their stately herds, as well as predatory cats and even wild dogs. Birdlife flickers at every turn – klipspringer on rocky outcrops, or the elegant roan – reward the patient eye. As dusk falls and lanterns glow, Savute Elephant Lodge provides a rewarding environment for relaxation and reflection, be it by the pool’s edge, around a glowing campfire, or over a fine wine deftly served by your private butler.

Accommodations at Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge

Set on raised wooden decks at the edge of the channel, the lodge’s 12 tented suites strike a balance between barefoot ease and polished comfort. Canvas walls and bamboo decking nod to the region’s grand-safari tradition, while an impressive 95% solar infrastructure speaks to modern stewardship. Four-poster king beds, crisp linens, handmade pottery basins, and tasteful tactile finishes set the scene. Each suite opens onto a generous private deck. En-suite bathrooms are spacious; shaded outdoor lounges invite long, indolent afternoons. At the main lodge, convivial dining, buoyed by a large wine cellar, plays out beneath open skies or softly lit canopies. There is a pool for the heat of the day, a boutique spa for massage and restorative treatments, and a discreet viewing hide that brings you eye-level with passing wildlife.

Activities at Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge

Game drives here are the headline act, guided by our expert and knowledgeable Micato Safari Director. Morning light brings birdsong and wildlife activity, while our late-afternoon drives stretch into golden-hour and conclude with that happy ritual, the sundowner – perhaps atop one of Savute’s rare sand dunes. A visit to see ancient San rock paintings that have watched over these plains for more than 1,500 years, or to stand beneath a grove of cathedral-like baobabs, is a safari sine qua non. Walking safaris, stargazing through powerful telescopes beneath an inky African sky; birdwatching among more than 250 species; or watching the ebb and flow of life along the channel with a relaxing G+T – each day, each moment, is shaped expressly around your desires. Evenings gather round fire and table – flickering lamps, a choir’s song – before dissolving into that most enduring safari rhythm: stories shared, and the making of memories to linger long after saying goodbyes en route for home.

A note for families & children

From milk and cookies turndown service, to bush skills and educational stargazing, Savute Elephant Lodge is a delight for children of all ages.