Botswana Lodge Archives - Under One Botswana Sky Blog

In the Press: The Hungry Tourist’s Guide to Kasane

admin — Thu, 22 Nov 2018 12:50:14 +0000

In the 2018/2019 edition of Go! Botswana travel guide, renowned travel writer, Toast Coetzer, reviews the top spots for hungry tourists to pull into when in Kasane, and Chobe Bush Lodge makes the cut! We’ve included just a snippet from the published review, so if you want to read on you’ll need to grab a copy of the magazine in-store or online.

Kasane is wild enough that you might see an elephant in the street, but developed enough to have three shopping centres (one even has a Nando’s drive-thru). It’s your base for trips to the adjacent Chobe National Park, to Vic Falls in Zimbabwe or to Livingstone in Zambia. But first, lunch! Here’s where to eat.

Chobe Bush Lodge

Chobe Bush Lodge is part of Chobe Safari Lodge across the road. The restaurant at Bush Lodge is usually quieter and you won’t have to wait for a table for breakfast or lunch. (Book beforehand for dinner.)

What’s on the menu? All the right stuff, from a Greek salad – you’ve been craving something green, haven’t you? -and chicken schnitzel and chips, to a beef burger with cheese, bacon and egg. If you want to go big, order the Bush Grill platter, which has chicken drumsticks, Greek meatballs, pork ribs, salad and chips. End the meal with a slice of cheesecake. That’s the lunch menu! The dinner menu has even heartier meals.

What else? If you want a river view, cross the road to Chobe Safari Lodge. (It’s busier.)

Where? On the western tip of Kasane, where the tar road ends.

Opening times: Breakfast from 7am to 10:30am; other meals from 10:30am to 9:30pm.

Thanks to Go! Botswana and Toast for featuring Chobe Bush Lodge as one of the best establishments to eat at in Kasane. Contact us for more information on our lodges and camps in Chobe National Park.

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Safari Activities You Must Try While in Botswana

admin — Tue, 30 Jan 2018 10:42:58 +0000

Game drives are not your only option when it comes to exciting safari activities in Botswana.

So, you are planning your safari to Botswana and you can’t wait for your first game drive to go explore in search of Africa’s renowned Big 5. After all, you have chosen one of the best destinations to experience the magnificent wildlife in their garden of Eden.

All our camps offer morning and evening game drives, but what about the rest of the time? What safari activities can you do to make the best of your time in Botswana?

The exciting thing about Botswana is that it offers safari enthusiasts more things to do than just game drives. You will never be bored on safari while staying at one of our camps as we have a range of exciting safari activities you simply MUST try.

Here are 7 Safari OTHER Activities You Must Try While in Botswana:

1. Mokoro Excursions

True Botswana exploring should include at least one mokoro excursion. It’s an unreal experience when you get to become part of the bustling river life while making your way through the lily pads on traditional ‘mokoro’ canoes. These are propelled from the stern by skilled ‘poler’ guides, allowing the guests to sit back and absorb the scenery. Keep an eye out for tiny little reed frogs to the gentle giants, the elephants.

Safari Activities Mokoro rides

2. Birdwatching

Probably not first on the list for some first-time explorers but you will never know you love it unless you try it. Over 500 species of birds have been recorded in the Okavango Delta, and there are quite a few peculiar looking ones that you simply must see. A sure favourite is the Pel’s fishing-owl and the turkey like Southern ground-hornbills with their long lashes.

3. Motor-Boat Sunset Cruises

Sunsets are magical no matter where in the world you are, but we can guarantee that no sunset can ever top a Botswana sunset. The best way to experience this is on the crystal-clear channels of the Boro River. Motor-boat cruises are scheduled around the sunsets so that you can sip on your traditional sundowner drink and toast the unprecedented African sunsets while drifting on a lagoon in the middle of the Okavango Delta. This safari activity is limited to only some of our camps and subject to delta water levels.

Safari Activities Sunset cruise

4. Dinner Cruises

Turn your evening meal into an unforgettable safari experience and dine under the stars on board one of our boats. Enjoy a succulent buffet dinner consisting of starters, main courses and deserts while the boat cruises on the Chobe River between the Botswana and Namibian shores. This is the ideal opportunity to unwind after an exciting day of exploring and enjoy the unique surroundings by night.

5. Bush Walks

You are not limited to vehicles when it comes to discovering the Botswana bush. You can go exploring on foot under the guidance and education of your own personal guide. Feel your senses ignite as you become part of life in the bush and encounter game without the parameters of a vehicle.

Safari Activities Guided walks

6. Island Camping at Gunns camp

Camping is probably not for everyone but for those adventure seekers you must try island camping at Gunns Camp. The camp managers will pack your mokoro with basic camping equipment and food so that you can set out with your own personal guide to find an island where you will set up camp. The evening will be spent preparing dinner around the campfire in the company of Africa’s nocturnal wildlife. This rustic experience is subject to availability, and must be pre-booked in advance.

7. Visit Makgadikgadi Salt Pans while staying at Nata Lodge

Makgadikgadi Salt Pan is in the middle of Botswana and is one of the largest salt flats in the world. Walking or driving though this expansive wilderness area is a surreal experience. The silence around you absorbs you into the moment and it will feel like you are visiting another planet.

Makgadikgadi Salt Pans

There you have it, 7 safari activities other than game drives that will keep you entertained while in Botswana. And no worries if you can’t fit all of them in on your first safari in in Botswana, it’s just more reason for you to return.

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African paradise: Chobe Bush Lodge

admin — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 09:46:09 +0000

I thought as we glided toward a herd of elephants, surrounded by buffalo and birdlife, “what a wonder-filled world we live in”.

I set my camera down, took a sip of my gin and tonic and took it all in as our skipper expertly manoeuvred our boat around once hotly disputed Sedudu Island, which marks Botswana’s border with Namibia on the Chobe River.

He knew just how to position the big craft for the best snaps of the abundant wildlife.

Sedudu, he explained, means “group of hippos in shallow water”.

There were plenty of those grumpy sorts, too, snorting in annoyance when we got too close (which is any distance, really).

That shallow water becomes several metres deeper in the wet season and the islands are submerged, the game that is forced to visit the river in the dry season scarcer (from a boat), but the scenery arguably even more beautiful.

Viewing nature from the sundowner boat cruise on the Chobe provides a different experience from on land: elephants swimming across the river and greeting each other as long-lost friends.

Being able to glide in close to them or buffalo, hippos and crocodiles, with sunset framing the scene, is special. I love the area, I loved the vibe at Chobe Bush Lodge where I was a guest.

The sunset game drive showcases some beautiful landscapes.

Relatively new kid on the block, Chobe Bush Lodge is part of Under One Botswana Sky and part and parcel of older Chobe Safari Lodge, right next door.

It’s all under thatch and the 42 rooms are tastefully, and unusually, hotel-like for a bush lodge.

No complaints from me or my fellow Aussie guests who, like me, were rather chuffed with the elegant grey-and-white colour scheme, the spacious suites and ablutions with separate bath and shower.

TV too and free wi-fi.

I was even more chuffed with the friendly staff, from the moment my Flame of Africa transfer dropped me off. They have a lot to do with the vibe, the energy.

Chobe Bush Lodge rooms

So, too, do happy campers returning from a boat cruise, or alighting from another game drive with amazing sightings in the 11700km2 Chobe National Park, literally over the fence – so expect to see wildlife from your room and lock the screen doors lest baboons make themselves welcome.

The high-roofed lobby leads to a sprawling, open-plan lounge, dining room, bar area and out-to-terrace seating and two-tiered swimming pools, one splashing down into the other.

Rooms are in a wing to the left and two double-storey buildings ahead.

Early morning and sunset game viewing here is superb. Impala and other prey species are remarkably chilled.

The elephants, too, thank goodness. We had a swishing tail-in-the-face close encounter with a young bull, asserting his dominance and clearly showing what he thought of us – rear in the vehicle and all.

I’m glad he didn’t communicate with a fart, part of their array of communications skills – only some of which humans can hear (or smell).

Best was when an excited male, with an extra “leg”, trundled past after a female. “Oh my!” gushed the mom behind me in a flushed schoolgirl tone. “He’s interested in her,” guide Walter said. “Isn’t he just?!” was the response as hubby tried to distract the kids.

Our guides were all top-drawer, “edumacating” us with interesting facts and anecdotes about the birds and the bees and plenty else when there wasn’t game in sight, often more interesting than the Big 5.

Post-drive buffet breakfasts offer plenty of fresh fruit, omelettes and some very good cheeses.

Chobe Bush Lodge safari dining

Lunches are not too shabby either and the a la carte dinners are even better.

I mostly went with the waitress’s recommendations (mostly meat, though vegetarians were well looked after), which did not disappoint. Great ribeye and impala chops – enough for two. A great time, any time of the year.

Originally published on Independent Online (IOL). Read the full article here.

Chobe Safari Lodge Contact Details

Website: Chobe Bush Lodge
Email: reservations@chobebushlodge.com
Tel: (+267) 625 0 383 / 625 2 480

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24Hours in Kasane: Monkeys, Warthogs and Elephant-eating Dogs

admin — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 12:36:01 +0000

Fly Airlink sent Anna-Belle from shesaid.co.za and me on a whirlwind 24-hour trip to Kasane, Botswana, as part of a campaign to promote Airlink’s flights around Southern Africa.

Kasane — which is approximately 90 minutes by plane from Joburg — is a tiny town whose main claim to fame is Chobe National Park. (Read my 2013 post about another whirlwind trip to Chobe.) We stayed at the Chobe Safari Lodge, which is just a few minutes outside the park on the banks of the Chobe River.

While it would have been nice to spend more time in Kasane, I did a surprising number of interesting things in the short time that I was there:

1) Took a nap in my beautiful room at the lodge, under the mosquito net.

Even though my room was air-conditioned and I never saw a single mosquito at the lodge, there is something romantic about sleeping under a mosquito net.

2) Walked around the grounds of the lodge, which was a mini safari unto itself.

Vervet monkeys frolicking on the grounds of the lodge. They’re very cute and fun to watch; just make sure you keep the door to your room closed or they will definitely come inside and help themselves to anything edible.

A baby banded mongoose. There were tons of these foraging for food around the hotel.

A warthog family grazing in front of the lodge. I love how they get down on their front elbows to forage in the grass. I also spotted a similar warthog family hanging out in a laundry alcove directly outside my door.

3) Watched an incredible sunset.

4) Took a dinner cruise.

Chobe Safari Lodge offers lovely evening dinner cruises on the river. The food was really good and the view of the stars from the top of the boat was incredible.

5) Went on a morning game drive.

In the morning we took a game drive into the park. One of my favorite scenes of the morning was this large herd of impala grazing under a tree in the early morning light.

This portion of Chobe National Park is packed with hundreds, even thousands, of elephants during the afternoon. (See my 2013 Chobe post for more on that.) But we actually saw very few elephants on our morning drive. Apparently the elephants tend to stay deep in the bush in the morning, and then head toward the river as the day wears on and the temperature rises. So if you visit Chobe, be sure to schedule at least one game drive in the afternoon. Anyway, we did glimpse a few elephants that morning, including this scared youngster who seemed to have become separated from his family.
And now, for the most amazing moment of the game drive. The next photo could be disturbing for some people so take heed.

This elephant died the day before our game drive, most likely due to disease. We drove past it once, early on in the drive, and the elephant was surrounded by vultures. But later on the carcass was discovered by this pack of African wild dogs and we rushed back to see. I’ve never seen African wild dogs in the wild before and the sight was truly incredible. They looked and behaved so much like domesticated dogs, except, of course, for the fact that they were ripping into the flesh of a dead elephant and spraying blood everywhere.

6) Ate a local lunch.

After our game drive, Anna-Belle and I skipped the lodge’s breakfast buffet and went up the road to a local guesthouse/restaurant called the Old House. This was such a cute place and I would definitely recommend eating and staying there. The fish and chips were delicious and the fish came right from the river.

And then, alas, it was time to fly home. My only regret is that we didn’t have time to take a daytime river safari; I did that the last time I was in Kasane and I’ve never seen so many crocodiles and hippos. Otherwise, this was a fantastic little getaway.

Originally published on 2Summers.

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Highlights of the Makgadikgadi, Botswana

admin — Wed, 20 Jul 2016 13:08:39 +0000

The white Makgadikgadi salt pans cover a vast Switzerland-sized patch of Botswana. This was Africa’s largest inland sea a million years ago, before tectonic movement to the west transformed everything. Rivers changed course and water evaporated from the lakes, leaving condensed minerals and salt behind. Today the pans fill only with rain water then dry again to a salty crust.

I first visited Nata Lodge in 2005 after camping rough in the Moremi Game Reserve. I remember it as a welcome oasis of cool and calm. In 2008 there was a devastating fire but the lodge rose again from the ashes in 2010, its wooden cabins as lovely as ever with their freestanding indoor baths and outdoor showers. The lodge is a good place to stop over on your way to Chobe National Park, either in a chalet or at the campsite, and a kick-off point to the community-based Nata Sanctuary. The lodge’s guides take tours to Makgadikgadi pans and the local village of Nata.

Nata Sanctuary

It’s an easy drive (less than 10km) from Under One Botswana Sky’s Nata Lodge to the Nata Sanctuary, which is managed by a trust for the benefit of the local communities of Nata, Manxotae, Sepako and Maposa. We saw a few swirling dust devils in the distance, wildebeest, jackals and a number of bird species but there were no flamingo, the water in the main pan still too deep for them to feed when we were there in May. We did see great white pelicans on a far shoreline and flying overhead. We loved the quiet solitude and the flat, open space where it felt like we could see forever. There’s a small campsite near the entrance gate and a viewing platform about 7km away on the edge of the pan.

Originally posted by Roxanne Reid. Read the whole article here.

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Romance Safaris in Botswana

admin — Fri, 20 May 2016 10:35:50 +0000

From magical intimate dinners under a canopy of stars, luxury vintage safari camps with amiable nostalgic safari atmosphere and starlight baths, chilled champagne in your tent to exhilirating game viewing in Botswana’s wildlife-rich, untamed and unspoilt wilderness – what better place than the remote and romantic Okavango Delta for creating unforgettable memories?

Special activities included in the Romance safari is a private mokoro trail with surprise champagne and a fishing expedition with picnic – full or half day options. Other activities on offer are game walks, mokoros, sunset motorboat cruises with sundowners and game drives, off road and at night with trackers, in Pom Pom’s private Okavango concession area. As an optional extra for the more adventurous secluded islands sleep-outs at Gunn’s Camp are available.

Originally published on VictoriaFalls24.

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Best of Africa – Botswana

admin — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 12:14:56 +0000

Originally published in the Essentials Magazine in February 2016 (print magazine article).

Visit the Essentials Magazine website: www.essentials.co.za

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How to See the Best of Botswana

admin — Mon, 21 Dec 2015 12:42:30 +0000

Self-drive travel through Botswana is an adventure, not a leisure holiday. In  10 days we churned up dust crossing the Makgadikgadi pans, dodged donkeys on the tar road in Maun, crossed rivers in Moremi, bumped along deep mud-dried ruts next to the Savuti marsh and slipped in sand on the tracks leading to Chobe. Seeing the best of Botswana requires  a 4×4 and a sense of humour (I’ll admit,  I lost mine for a bit in the Savuti sand). Here, nature takes centre stage  and you’ll want a front-row seat.

When it comes to tourism, Botswana champions quality over quantity. Destinations are generally pricier than many in South Africa, in order to protect resources, and lodges target wealthy foreign visitors. However, this is a good thing. It means visitor numbers are less, South Africans get special (read cheaper) reserve rates – and it forces us to camp.

The family I introduced to Botswana does not regularly camp but they readily embraced it as part of the thrill. Granted, living on the road and packing up camp each morning – often from 5am – can  be a hack, but it’s the means to magic memories that’ll last a lifetime. We dodged hyena on the way to the loo  and hippo popped in for a visit at Third Bridge. We stirred our coffee to lion roars in the morning, an egg-and-bacon skottel breakfast sizzling on the crusty salt pans.

On Kubu Island, we spread out blankets to watch stars splash the night sky; at Ihaha, we spotted a snuffling honey badger; at Chobe we shooed  a warthog away from our lunch. And on that evening in Savuti, when the noises of nature made us freeze, we discovered that new, enormous species of bushbaby.
Camping also means you can splurge the money you save on cool stuff – such as spotting elephant, giraffe and lechwe from a flight over the world’s largest inland delta, or on a mokoro trip and  feel your adrenaline surge as hippos approach your dug-out while piloting through the narrow river channels. Other options are motoring along the Chobe River in a private boat with a guide who knows where to find Jesus birds (African jacanas) and pied kingfisher, or sipping  a sundowner overlooking Botswana’s ‘sea’, the vast Sua Pan, dotted with flamingoes and rowdy pelicans.

It’s the kind of adventure that gets under your skin and gives you an unshakeable urge to pack up the car and do it all over again.

Best of Botswana Itinerary

Take it easy and drive along the Chobe River, as you’ve only got to get to Chobe Safari Lodge roughly 40km away. Veto the afternoon booze cruise and book a private boat trip  at the activity centre for the following morning. It works out cheaper per person and the knowledgeable guide can manoeuvre the boat for a closer  look at game and birds. Then  while away the afternoon on the decks of the lodge and  upload those snaps using the  free WiFi.

Wake up at 07:00 and dress warmly for the scenic boat  trip on the Chobe River. Return to camp and pack up to leave for Nata Lodge near the Makgadikgadi salt pans.  Stay in a safari tent so you can take it easy on the last day of your trip, sleep on a thicker mattress and get an early start in the morning. Check with reception if there’s water on the pans and book a drive to see the flamingoes at the nearby Nata Bird Sanctuary.

Originally published on Getaway Magazine.

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How to Choose Safari Accommodation

admin — Mon, 21 Dec 2015 12:18:55 +0000

Imagine sleeping in a humble tent in the deepest African bushveld, only accompanied by the raw sounds of wilderness. For many, this is precisely how a safari should be experienced. But safari accommodation comes in a variety of other forms too. From camping on the banks of the Chobe River to staying in modern boutique rooms with stylish design, there are plenty of options to choose from.

Luxury Safari Tents

Sleeping in a safari tent gives you the opportunity to be close to nature and experience the real spirit of Africa. Hearing wildlife roaming past your tent or birds chirping their melodious mating calls near Pom Pom, Gunns Camp or Moremi Crossing in the heart of the Okavango Delta is a thrilling affair.

Safari Rooms

Staying in a contemporary setting can also be a base for your Botswana safari experience. Chobe Bush Lodge’s rooms provide a comfortable stay with bush-style design. The safari rooms are made of an intriguing mix of modern-day luxuries and traditional African décor.

Camping

Camping is a brilliant option for those who are keen to experience an authentic wilderness stay. You cannot get much closer to wild nature than setting up a tent on a campsite overlooking the Chobe floodplains or just beyond the secluded Makgadikgadi Salt Pan, surrounded by utter silence.

Thatched Chalets

The great thing about Nata Lodge’s chalets is the fact that they are built on stilts and set in a rustic African style to seamlessly combine the essence of Africa and the comfort of home. One of the chalets has also been built to accommodate the physically challenged and guests who require easier access to the shower and toilet.

Rondavel

Chobe Safari Lodge’s original accommodation type, the traditional thatched rondavel, provides an excitingly unique safari visit. These independently positioned units create an intimate wilderness base.

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Sleek Designs and Authentic Safari Vibes at Chobe Bush Lodge

admin — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 13:11:03 +0000

The essence of safari for many is to experience the true spirit of wilderness. But imagine an intriguing combination of contemporary design elements and the authentic feel of Africa. Modern, ethnic and unique – that is what Chobe Bush Lodge is.

This intimate safari lodge, located to foreground the spectacular, wildlife rich Chobe National Park, combines the African bush with contemporary setting.

Recent Chobe Bush Lodge guests reminisced their Botswana bush experiences on TripAdvisor:

‘Excellent lodge with very spacious, modern rooms, nicely furnished. The rooms had balconies or a terrace overlooking land where impala, monkeys, warthogs etc. were roaming.’
– Pauline, the UK

‘Rooms were roomy and nice with a zen like quality.’
– Sabine, South Africa

‘The Chobe Bush Lodge has the wow factor. It is a newer lodge with contemporary but a traditional style.’
– Julie, South Africa

‘To be able to sit out on the balcony in the early morning and listen to the birdsong was magic. The warthogs are also entertaining.’
– Miranda, the UK

Chobe Bush Lodge Contact Details:

Web: www.chobebushlodge.com
Email: marketing@underonebotswanasky.com
Tel: (+267) 625 0 336

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