Savute Elephant Lodge
Savute Channel, Chobe National Park, Botswana
Location
The Savute Channel
The lodge stands on raised platforms beside the Savute Channel, an intermittent 'ghost river' in the southern Chobe National Park — the elephant capital of the world, with among the biggest wildlife concentrations in Africa.
Transfer
A Chobe transfer
Fly to Maun, then a light aircraft to the private Savute airstrip and a short transfer. Soft bags and luggage limits on the bush-plane leg.
Villas
12 luxury tented rooms
Twelve luxury tented rooms on raised wooden platforms under thatch, with four-poster beds, dressing rooms, indoor and outdoor showers, and large private decks with hammocks over the channel.
Best For
Who it suits
Couples, honeymooners and elephant and big-cat enthusiasts after a Belmond safari in the Savuti — a waterhole hide, elephants from the deck, and Chobe's famous wildlife density.
Board Basis
All-inclusive
All-inclusive — meals, drinks and activities — with al fresco dining and boma dinners under the stars.
About the Resort
A Belmond safari on the Savute Channel
Savute Elephant Lodge is Belmond's safari in the Savuti — a luxury tented lodge on raised platforms beside the Savute Channel, an intermittent 'ghost river' in the southern Chobe National Park, the elephant capital of the world. The headline is the wildlife at the door: among Africa's highest elephant and lion concentrations, a BBC and National Geographic filming location, watched from your deck, the elevated pool and a dedicated waterhole viewing hide where the animals come to you. One thing to be clear on: the lodge sits inside the national park, so game viewing is by morning and afternoon drives under park rules — the draw here is the Savuti's density and the hide, not off-road traversing. Twelve luxury tented rooms sit under thatch on wooden platforms, with four-poster beds, indoor and outdoor showers and large private decks with hammocks. All-inclusive, with al fresco dining, boma dinners and a resident environmentalist, it suits couples and elephant and big-cat enthusiasts, and pairs naturally with a Delta camp.
Accommodation
Tented rooms
Twelve luxury tented rooms on raised wooden platforms under thatch, with four-poster beds and mosquito netting, dressing rooms, en-suites with double vanities and indoor and outdoor showers, and large private decks with easy chairs and a hammock over the channel.
Signature
Luxury Tented Room
Sleeps two. A four-poster king or twin on a raised platform with a private deck and hammock, indoor and outdoor showers, over the Savute Channel.
Private deckChannel outlook
Food & Drink
Dining
Dining is al fresco in the main area, with boma dinners of local dishes and the staff singing — all-inclusive, in the Belmond safari way, with meals, drinks and activities.
Signature
The main area
Al fresco dining in the main area.
Boma
Boma dinners
Boma dinners of local dishes, with the staff singing.
All-inclusive
All-inclusive
All-inclusive — meals, drinks and activities, in the Belmond safari way.
Wellbeing
Spa & hide
There is a spa tent and an elevated swimming pool with riverbed views, but the signature is the observation deck and waterhole viewing hide — elephants metres away while you watch, in the heart of the elephant capital.
A spa tent
A spa tent.
An elevated pool
An elevated swimming pool with riverbed views.
A viewing hide
An observation deck and waterhole viewing hide — elephants metres away.
Activities & Experiences
Signature Experiences
The Savuti, where the wildlife comes to you. Drive among Africa's densest elephant and lion populations, watch from the waterhole hide, catch the carmine bee-eater migration, and gather at the boma after dark.
Savuti game drives
Savuti morning and afternoon game drives, among Africa's highest elephant and lion concentrations — a BBC and National Geographic filming location.
The waterhole hide
The waterhole viewing hide, where the wildlife comes to you.
Carmine bee-eaters
The carmine bee-eater migration, for birders.
Environmentalist talks
Talks from a resident environmentalist.
Boma evenings
Boma evenings under the stars.
Getting There
Location & transfers
By air
Via Maun
Fly to Maun, then a light aircraft to the private Savute airstrip.
In the park
Chobe
On the Savute Channel in southern Chobe National Park.
Guest Reviews
What Our Clients Say
★★★★★
“The most extraordinary place I have ever stayed. Nothing prepares you for the depth of the silence, the beauty of the reef, or the sheer generosity of the experience.”
✓ Verified via feefo
★★★★★
“We’ve stayed here three times now. The house reef has no equal. The stargazing was, genuinely, one of the most moving experiences of my adult life.”
✓ Verified via feefo
★★★★★
“I had stayed at Four Seasons, One&Only and Velaa before visiting Savute Elephant Lodge. They are all magnificent. But this is different in a way that is hard to articulate.”
✓ Verified via feefo
Good to Know
Good to know
Board basis
- All-inclusive — meals, drinks and activities.
Made for couples
- A romantic camp for couples, with children six and over welcome.
Setting
- On the Savute Channel inside Chobe National Park, so game viewing is by morning and afternoon drives under park rules — the draw is the Savuti's wildlife density and the waterhole hide, not off-road traversing.
Getting there
- Fly to Maun, then a light aircraft to the private Savute airstrip.
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Dates, party size, villa preference and budget.
Destination
Dates & party
Date flexibility
Adults
2
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Budget & accommodation
Budget per person (flights + hotel)
£4,500
£500£50,000+
Villa preference
Flights
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