Information
Stretching from the Linyanti River all the way to Savute Marsh, the winding waterways of the Savute Channel have pumped life into the western section of Chobe National Park for many thousands of generations. However, this fickle and unpredictable channel, which has a fascinating history of flooding and drying up, independently of good rainy seasons and flood levels elsewhere, has mystified local inhabitants, geologists and others for many years.
The Unexplained
When David Livingstone, the first European to visit the area, saw the Savute Channel in 1851 it was flowing. Thirty years later it had disappeared and the Savute Marsh had dried out, remaining this way for almost 80 years. It flowed again from the late 1950s to the early 1980s, when it again receded, hence its reputation as ‘the river that flows in both directions’.
In 2009, after another extended hiatus, the channel began flowing again and by January 2010 had spilled into the Savute Marsh for the first time in three decades, but for how long – no one knows …
Rooms
To ensure a private and relaxing environment, Savute Safari Lodge accommodates just twenty four guests in eleven thatched chalets built of local timber and one family room which consists of two double bedrooms. The chalets, which have been elegantly furnished in calm neutral tones to blend with the natural environment, feature expansive private decks, a combined bedroom and lounge area and en suite facilities.
Luxury Family Chalet – 1 room
- Luxury thatch and timber 2 bedroom chalet raised on an expansive private deck
- Both bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms each with a shower, vanity and toilet
- Sliding doors leading off both bedrooms and lounge area, onto an expansive shared deck
- Fans in all guest rooms
- 220V Plug points for charging equipment
- A range of African bio degradable soaps, conditioning shampoo, hand wash, body lotion with insect repellent and shower caps are supplied in each room
- A hairdryer is available from the lodge reception
- Tea and coffee making facilities in each room
- Flashlight available in each room
- Gowns supplied in each room
- Battery operated reading lights, desk light and bathroom light at night
- Umbrella’s for the rainy season
- Small safe for valuables
- Emergency air horn for emergency situations
Safari Chalets – 11 rooms
- Luxury thatch and timber chalets raised on expansive private decks
- En-suite bathroom comprising of a shower, hand basin and toilet
- Fans in all guest rooms
- 220V Plug points for charging equipment
- A range of African bio degradable soaps, conditioning shampoo, hand wash, body lotion with insect repellent and shower caps are supplied in each room
- A hairdryer is available from the lodge reception
- Tea and coffee making facilities in each room
- Flashlight available in each room
- Gowns supplied in each room
- Umbrella’s for the rainy season
- Battery operated reading lights, desk light and bathroom light at night
- Small safe for valuable
Facilities
Savute Safari Lodge offers a shaded viewing deck, an al fresco dining area and swimming pool with spectacular pool loungers – ideal for watching the varied wildlife – including the resident Elephants – as they make their way to the Channel to drink, bathe and play.
Activities
Savute Safari Lodge Game Drives
Activities are centered around game drives throughout the Savute area in open 4×4 safari vehicles
Many trips will incorporate a visit to the famous Savute Marsh for your chance to see the historic presence of the Savute Channel at the marsh against a teeming backdrop of wildlife.
Guests will also enjoy a visit to the ancient San rock paintings at Gubatsa Hills, a small hilly outcrop which forms a remarkable landmark in the otherwise flat landscape.
Savute lays claim to a spectacularly large summer zebra migration, which is determined by the rains but usually occurs between November and December and again between February and April when the zebras move from the rivers in the north in search of the lush grasslands and full waterholes in the southeast of the park. They are always accompanied by a myriad of predators.
