Savute Elephant Camp is located in Botswana's Chobe National Park, specifically on the northern edges of the Savute Marsh. It is also close to Savuti Safari Lodge and has 2 sister lodges, Khwai River Lodge in the Moremi Game Reserve and Eagle Island Lodge in the Okavango Delta.

The camp is best accessed by light aircraft flight from Maun or Kasane airports. It can also be reached by 4x4 self-drive vehicle, although a degree of off-road driving experience is advisable, as road conditions vary from difficult to treacherous, depending on the time of year and current weather conditions.

The Savuti Marsh covers an area of almost 5,000km² in the south-west region of Chobe National Park. The western edge is encompassed by the 100km long Magwikhwe sand ridge, a 20m high feature that is an ancient shoreline of a super-lake that covered much of northern Botswana. This harsh, dry landscape was once submerged by a gigantic inland sea. Today the marsh is fed by the erratic Savute Channel that also contains a number of pans that hold water for months after the rains, enabling animals to remain long into the dry season. Some good news is that after exceptional seasonal rains combined with 2008 tectonic activity, the river is flowing once more!

The main area at Savute Elephant Camp is covered with a huge canvas roof with open sides. Inside are the lounge, bar and dining areas. Other amenities include satellite phones, high-powered telescopes for star gazing, same day laundry service, reference library, environmental flora and fauna check lists, and talks and lectures by their environmentalist team.

Facilities include:

• Observation deck area – only 10 meters from the adjacent water hole.
• A 20m swimming pool area – raised to overlook the riverbed.
• Outdoor dining area – the ‘Boma’ is ideal for special events and entertainment
• A leisure area - Internet access and DSTV channels - is set away from the main areas.
• Curio shops – stocking a selection of toiletries, branded safari goods and clothing and local artefacts.

Meals revolve around the day's activities. A light breakfast is served in your tent and after an early morning game drive, brunch of bobotie, rice, beef sausage and salad is offered around 11h00. Afternoon tea is served at 16h00 - chicken and mayo sandwiches, delicious chocolate cake, pear loaf or cherry and oats. Snacks and drinks are taken on the late afternoon game drive. Your 3-course dinner at 20h00 would typically consist of a fruit based starter, oxtail or beef stew, meat balls with tomato sauce, butternut and spinach and other fresh vegetables, finished off with a dessert of either milk tartlets, koeksisters with berry coulis.

Accommodation is in 12 twin-bedded luxury tents, all built on elevated wooden platforms, with unobstructed views of the immediate frontal environment. Easy chairs and a hammock adorn the front deck, itself a perfect game viewing platform. The tent interiors are luxuriously finished and furnished with comfortable chairs and a writing desk. En-suite bathrooms, air-conditioning, a fully-stocked mini-bar, 4 poster bed complete with mosquito netting and in-room safes are standard. Heaters are also supplied for those cold, winter nights.

Power is supplied through a generator with 110v/220v plugs and adaptors for electric razors, digital camera and laptop recharging.

Savuti is famous for its elephants. They travel huge distances roaming the land for nutritious grasses to browse and graze on, as well as searching for life supporting water holes. Large concentrations of lion follow the annual zebra migration with leopard and cheetah in attendance. The endangered African wild dog is also evident in the area as are many hyenas. Research has revealed that lions loose some 20% of their kills to hyena, formidable hunters in their own right as well as being master scavengers.

Secretary birds and kori bustards are often seen strutting around the Savuti Marsh and red-billed francolin can be heard if not seen as the sun rises. Interesting summer migrants and water birds include Abdim's storks, carmine bee eaters and some fish eagles. The small quelea finches are a fantastic sight, flocks containing tens of thousands of birds can be seen around April time.

Activities centre around game drives and bird watching. Savute Elephant Camp is the centre of some outstanding game viewing, without having to leave the immediate confines of the camp itself. The waterhole to the front of the camp attracts high-density wildlife activity. As it is set within Chobe National Park, strict regulations must be adhered to that include the prohibition of night drives and walking safaris.

Savuti Lodges | Botswana

Game drives

Venturing out on safari is offered in traditional morning and late afternoon trips, the best time to see game. Guided open 4x4 vehicles roam the countryside in search of wildlife.

Rock paintings

Excursions can be arranged to see the historic San rock paintings in either Quarry, Cave or Kgiarotsha Hills.

• Children of 8 years of age and older are welcome at the Savute Elephant Camp
• Children aged between 8-12 years are advised to share accommodation with an adult and take private game activities.
• All children will need to be constantly and closely supervised by their parents.