Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge

Savute Elephant Lodge sits in the Savute area of Chobe National Park, which became Botswana's first national park in the 1960s. The San Bushmen were the area's first inhabitants, and their rock paintings in the nearby hills date back more than 1,500 years. The Savute Channel dried up after the park was founded and began flowing again in 2008. It now alternates between wet and dry periods, and the name Savute roughly means "unpredictable" in Setswana. A permanent watering hole in front of the lodge draws wildlife year round, even when the channel is dry. The interiors use earthy tones and sustainable materials, with chandeliers modeled on Botswana clay pots and bedposts that echo San walking sticks.

Rooms & Suites
Accommodation is tented rooms of 50 sq m (538 sq ft), each raised on a bamboo platform and sleeping up to two guests. Every room has a four-poster bed, an en-suite bathroom, and a private deck overlooking the Savute Channel. Each room is supplied with a mosquito net and mosquito spray, and all rooms have smoke detectors. Torches are available on request. Wi-Fi is complimentary, although the connection may be limited by the remote location. The lodge is not wheelchair accessible: the main areas and some elevated rooms have seven to nine steps, and some showers have step access. Guests with mobility needs should note them at booking so a room near the main areas can be assigned.

Hotel Amenities & Facilities
The lodge has one restaurant and one bar. The open-air restaurant serves farm-to-table Setswana cuisine, with a light lunch of salads before the afternoon game drive and a three-course à la carte dinner. Evenings can include dinner at the boma around a fire, and other dining options include bush dining with sundowners, private deck dinners, and in-room dining. Special dietary requirements can be accommodated when noted at booking. The spa tent offers massages, facials, manicures, and pedicures. Guests also have access to a heated swimming pool overlooking the plains, exercise equipment and yoga mats, a lookout hide over the watering hole, a reference library, a TV lounge, a boutique, and children's amenities. The rate covers accommodation, meals, all drinks including selected branded spirits and wines, daily laundry, at least two game viewing activities per day, park fees, and Botswana VAT. Early check-in and late check-out are complimentary, subject to availability. The lodge has its own airstrip and helipad, and a guide meets arriving guests for the transfer to the lodge.