Chobe accommodation Archives - Under One Botswana Sky Blog

Celebrating 60 Years of Safari at Chobe Safari Lodge

admin — Tue, 30 Apr 2019 12:08:51 +0000

Famous for its outstanding tourism and precious gems, this year Botswana’s essential qualities collide just outside Chobe National Park – 2019 marks the Diamond Jubilee for a heritage property, Chobe Safari Lodge.

Botswana Heritage Stay Celebrates 60 Years of Safari

Images and text courtesy of Botswana’s National Archives.

Kasane’s oldest tourism offering, Chobe Safari Lodge is a landmark establishment on the border of Botswana’s first and oldest national park. Celebrating 60 years of service this year, the iconic riverfront stay has long worn a sign at the entrance announcing a birthdate of 1959.

However, Botswana’s National Archives reveal that the very first hotel application was actually put forward almost 30 years earlier.

Introducing the Chobe River Hotel

Following the successful establishment and prosperous tourism appeal of the Kruger National Park, the vast lands of the Chobe district were officially declared as a non-hunting zone in 1932 by the resident commissioner, Charles Rey, in then-Bechuanaland.

Images and text courtesy of Botswana’s National Archives.

The 80-year old archival letters also divulge early ties to the nearby Victoria Falls Hotel in Zimbabwe. Under 100 kilometres away, suggestions recommended the two lodgings link up so that intrepid visitors might relive David Livingstone’s journey to Mosi-oa-Tunya, catch a feisty tiger fish in the mighty Chobe River and explore Botswana’s pristine wilds.
Charles Rey wrote,

“The Kruger Park pays well, so there is no reason why we should not achieve something of the sort. We have several great natural advantages … game of great variety and in large quantities, excellent fishing in the Zambesi and Chobe Rivers; there are mineral hot water springs between Kasane and Kazungula; in the fourth place, we have not got to look for tourists. They already go to the Victoria Falls Hotel, where they have not much to do beyond looking at the falls”.

However, the lasting effects of two world wars and accompanying financial pressures never saw this reality emerge until one Mr Charles Trevor and his wife, Ethnee Holmes à Court, gained interest again in 1959 – the Chobe River Hotel was born.

Images and text courtesy of Botswana’s National Archives.

A brief history of Chobe Safari Lodge

The earliest hotel brochure lists prices in British shillings and states “Tourist Camp, Bar, Al Fresco Restaurant – open” and that nearby, there is “plenty game, bit shy!” A night at the Chobe River Hotel cost just 15 shillings per hut (roughly equivalent to BWP 220 today).

Fortunately, following the independence of Botswana in 1966, the Chobe Game Reserve was officially proclaimed as a National Park in 1968, thus safeguarding the future of this ‘shy game’.

“Unspoilt Botswana!” declares a later, 44-year old brochure. “The expansive Chobe National Park, teeming with free-roaming wildlife. Here is the Africa of your dreams!”. From May 1972, the hotel was known as Chobe Safari Lodge, “Botswana’s year around safari resort”.

Images and text courtesy of Botswana’s National Archives.

Many things change, but mercifully, many things don’t. What began as a distant outpost in northern Botswana has transformed into a thriving tourist hub. Kasane has mushroomed in the 60 years since the town’s first hotel opened for business. Today there are over 30 accommodation options in town. However, Chobe National Park remains a wildlife haven harbouring Botswana’s densest concentration of wildlife.

Chobe Safari Lodge today

Home to the unusual African Quadripoint – the only place in the world where four countries meet – and famed as the unofficial elephant capital of Botswana, Kasane and the wider Chobe region continues to lure globetrotters. Where else on earth can one see elephants snorkelling across the water and witness the wild on an afternoon river safari? Precious Puku find safety on the floodplains and the unique African Skimmers shelter on riverine island sandbanks. The handsome and endemic Chobe Bushbuck still treads between the chalets at Chobe Safari Lodge and warthogs mow across the lawns too.

A Chobe Bushbuck at Chobe Safari Lodge.

Those early ties with Victoria Falls still continue. Visitors today keep enjoying easy day trips to the magnificent World Wonder in neighbouring Zimbabwe. This regional consolidation can only strengthen more with the enterprising construction of the new Kazungula Bridge into Zambia and further fortify with the introduction of the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Area (KAZA) visa.

There are eight original rondavels at Chobe Safari Lodge.

Chobe Safari Lodge remains the ideal expedition base for forays into Botswana’s first national park. Founded in 1959, what started as six simple chalets now boasts 81 rooms combining convenience with quality. You can still book into one of the original 1960’s era rondavels. Each unit is modern on the inside but retains a traditional safari feel on the outside. They are also blessed with views over the enchanting Chobe River.

Newly revamped, the interiors of the rondavels have been modernised.

A hippo’s lifespan is typically 40–50 years. Maybe this one remembers older days on the Chobe River.

Stay at Chobe Safari Lodge

A true, trusted establishment in Kasane, Chobe Safari Lodge has helped travellers explore Chobe National Park for 60 years. Set up to overlook the charming Chobe riverfront, this lodge is the only one in town sharing a border with Chobe National Park. The Chobe Safari Lodge has been under its current ownership since 1989 – a coincidental anniversary of 20 years. The stylish Chobe Bush Lodge has since joined the Under One Botswana Sky collection, opening doors in 2015. Chobe Bush Lodge features more contemporary design and is a more intimate, modern stay. Riverine views are a short walk away and the quieter setting offers a more relaxed stay.

Also read: 5 Unusual Things to do in Chobe

The post Celebrating 60 Years of Safari at Chobe Safari Lodge appeared first on Under One Botswana Sky Blog.

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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A Little Getaway of Epic Proportions

admin — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 11:45:13 +0000

The best part about a quick Botswana getaway is that one moment you’re in Jo’burg, the next you’re tracking leopards through pristine wilderness.

The cryptic message crackled through the Land Rover’s radio. Andries, our driver and guide, turned to us with a grin. “Ingwe is the local name for leopard,” he beamed, “let’s go find it.” The next 15 minutes were spent ducking acacia thorns and holding on for dear life, as Andries went ‘off piste’ through the African bundu. It was a far cry from the frenetic streets of Jo’burg, where – we had to keep reminding ourselves – we had been sitting in a traffic jam only 4 hours earlier.

Leopards are notoriously difficult to lay eyes on. Yet we were in the Sabi Sands, one of the world’s most famous private game reserves, where these usually elusive cats tend to be a little more obliging. Despite knowing this, we were still completely shocked when Andries pulled up beside a large ant hill and casually pointed out a beautiful young Ingwe catching some late afternoon rays. It was a privilege to be in the company of such a magnificent animal, and much clicking of Nikons ensued. We then headed off to attend to some G&Ts. The Sabi Sands and its leopards weren’t done showing off, however, and before we were able to find a suitable sundowner spot, we came across an old, dominant male meditating under a tree.

We couldn’t have asked for a better start to the trip – a 4-day adventure that would see us flying with SA Airlink from Johannesburg to the Sabi Sands, up to Livingstone and Victoria Falls, and finally to Botswana’s incomparable Chobe National Park.

After crossing the Zambezi (and border) at Kazungula, we checked into the awesome Chobe Bush Lodge, a relatively new extension of the venerable old Chobe Safari Lodge, which opened in 1959. Although set back a little from the river, the Bush Lodge offers great value, a chilled atmosphere, and is the perfect base from which to hop onto a boat cruise or game drive into the park. Kasane is also so close to Victoria Falls and Livingstone, that you could easily pop across there for a day trip.

The section of the Chobe river just upstream of the lodge might be as close to paradise as we’ve ever come. Sure, there are a few more boats on the water than there used to be, but you can understand why people from all over the world flock here. A boat trip up the river in the late afternoon has got to be one of the most incredible wildlife spectacles on the African continent. Elephants come down to the water’s edge in their hundreds, where they’re joined by huge herds of buffalo, giraffe, a multitude of antelope, crocs, hippos, and a staggering array of waterbirds. In July, when the water levels start dropping, herds of elephants often swim across the channels to feed on the lush islands. If you’re lucky enough to intercept one of these crossings, trust us, it’s a sight that will live with you forever.

Sitting in Kasane’s airport the next day, waiting to board our flight home – our 5th Airlink flight in four days – we tried to process everything that we had just experienced. Ordinarily we would’ve driven up to this part of the world in our trusty Landy, Andy, a journey that takes around two days each way. With the detour through the Sabi Sands, we’d have needed at least nine or ten days to see and do everything we’d just done. The magic of flying is how instantly it connects you to such diverse experiences. One moment you’re in Jo’burg, the next you’re tracking leopards through pristine wilderness. The next thing you know you’re floating down the Zambezi in a canoe, peering over the edge of Victoria Falls, or rafting the rapids in the gorge below. You could be sipping a G&T while watching a herd of elephants crossing the Chobe river at sunset, and be back in the office the next afternoon. Don’t worry, Andy, we’re not going to desert you just yet. But we’ll definitely be doing a few more of these epic little getaways in the years to come.

Read the full article here: Pass The Map

The post A Little Getaway of Epic Proportions appeared first on Under One Botswana Sky Blog.

Luxury on the Edge of the Chobe National Park

admin — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 12:50:08 +0000

At the very end of the main road in Kasane in northern Botswana is a group of lodges and a campsite owned by Under One Botswana Sky. One of these is the Chobe Bush Lodge which looks out onto the Chobe National Park and for travellers like us, who had thrown away their leaking tent on the first night of a 12-day trip around Botswana, this lodge saved our entire trip.

Our initial trip itinerary included a few places along the way from Gaborone to Kasane and we planned to combine camping with tented accomodation and treat ourselves for a few nights at a lodge as well. We planned to spend a few nights in Kasane at the Chobe Safari Lodge mid-way through our trip, but because of heavy rains and a leaking tent (which we threw away on day 1) we had to change our plans and headed straight for Kasane where we would stay for most of our trip.

We arrived in Kasane at around 18h and our GPS directed us straight to the lodge (or so we thought). At the very end of the main road that runs through Kasane is Chobe Safari Lodge, where we parked our Toyota RAV4, filled with camping gear that wouldn’t be used. We had called a day earlier after our tent had been thrown away and added a few more nights to our previously booked reservation at the lodge, but at the reception we were told that they weren’t expecting us till the following day, but that we could spend our first night at their sister lodge, the Chobe Bush Lodge just across the street and then check in to the Safari Lodge the following day.

The recption & lounge area and curio shop at Chobe Bush Lodge.
Under One Botswana Sky is a group of lodges in Botswana, two of which are the Chobe Safari Lodge and Chobe Bush Lodge. The Safari Lodge is the oldest of the two and is literally on the banks of the Chobe river while the Bush lodge, across the street is merely two years old and looks out on to the Chobe National Park. We checked in to the Bush Lodge and were impressed by the modern design and feel of the lodge while still keeping a natural, bush-theme about it. The room was very clean and had all your basic amenities including satellite TV, coffee/tea facilities, large bathroom with toilet, shower and tub and a large terrace that looked out onto the pool area and outside bar. None of the rooms have fridges, but the staff gladly and quickly brought us a small bar-fridge in which we could keep the food and drink we had brought along on our trip.

The spacious room and comfy bed are quite inviting.
Our room was relatively close to the reception and kitchen area, so the noise was a little irritating (we could hear every detail of the reception’s phone call when someone called), but we figured we’d last the night and move into our room at the Safari Lodge the following morning. We made our way to the restaurant that evening and had some tasty ostrich kebabs before turning in for the night after a full day’s driving.

The next day we strolled over to the Safari Lodge and after having a look at their rooms we decided to in fact stay at the Bush Lodge. While the layout of the rooms is more or less the same and while the Safari Lodge rooms do look out on the Chobe River, we preferred the modern feel of the rooms at the Bush Lodge and the helpful lady at the bookings office said it was no problem at all if we wanted to stay at the Bush Lodge. They even transferred us to another room away from the kitchen and reception area which was much more peaceful. Since both lodges are part of the same “family”, guests at either one can visit and use the facilities of both lodges as well as the Sedudu bar which overlooks the river and is located at the campsite in between the two lodges.

The lounge area in the Chobe Safari Lodge that looks out onto the Chobe River.
Since we hadn’t planned on spending most of our trip staying at the lodge, we had to redirect some of our funds towards the extra nights of accomodation, which meant we couldn’t really enjoy all the meals at the lodges’ restaurants, but this wasn’t a problem at all as there are various other eateries in Kasane that offer great food and aren’t as expensive. The Sedudu bar at the Chobe Bush Lodge has a relaxing, African vibe to it and the Sedudu Island Ice Tea was a favourite cocktail of ours there! The outdoor area has ample space for having drinks, a snack or just lying by the pool and reading a book. The weather didn’t permit for any pool-usage, so our swimming costumes remained dry the whole time, but the pool did look inviting.

The restaurant and bar at Chobe Safari Lodge overlooking the tranquil swimming pool.
The room itself was spacious and elegantly designed with carpetting all round (the rooms in the Safari Lodge had cold tiles all round), a very comfy bed with mosquito nets, a large bath tub and a massive walk-in shower. Room service for food and beverages is available via the phone (we were relatively quickly brought our ice bucket which we ordered for our Amarula* on New Year’s eve), satellite TV with a number of channels, hairdryer and locking safe are all at your disposal as well. The large sliding doors (with mosquito netting included) lead out on to a spacious wooden terrace with a small coffee table and chairs on it, so you can enjoy relaxing moments out there as well with a coffee or beer in hand and listen to the sounds of the bush. We frequently had families of warthog, babooons and even antelope walk past our terrace, foraging for food in the thickets below, not to mention the numerous birds one can observe in the tree tops in front of you as well.

*Amarula is a cream liqueur from South Africa. It is made with sugar, cream and the fruit of the African marula tree.

The large terrace gives you a great view of the bush leading into the Chobe National Park.
The Chobe Bush Lodge has 38 luxury en-suite rooms and 4 large exclusive family rooms. They have a small curio shop (although the one at the Safari Lodge is larger and has more souvenirs to choose from) and one can even borrow an umbrella from the front desk at no extra cost, as we had to do one rainy day when we wanted to go for a walk through Kasane. There is also a small shopping centre very close by where you can find a Choppies supermarket for all your grocery needs. The main booking office for all activities is located at the Safari lodge so you can still arrange all your safari, boat cruise and Victoria Falls day trips through them as well. We did all these activites through another tour operator as they had been recommended to us by friends, but if you want convenience and practicality, then the Chobe Bush Lodge can meet all your needs.

The local baboons are relaxed enough to come pay you a visit.
Since we didn’t plan or budget to spend 6 nights at the lodge, our accomodation ended up being a bit more than we had hoped for, but given our circumstances and how our trip started, we weren’t that perturbed by it. A night at the Chobe Bush Lodge, per room is P1720 (Botswana Pula) or $192 (US Dollar). This does not include breakfast, lunch or dinner. Breakfast is P160 or $27 per person (served from 7am-10am) while lunch and dinner are a la carte.

During our stay there we explored the town of Kasane and saw that there are many other accomodation options, which include campsites, other lodges and even self-catering options as well. Next time we head up to Kasane, we’ll probably give the Chobe Bush Lodge a miss and try one of the other places, probably camping at their campsite or perhaps try one of the self-catering options available in Kasane. Our stay at the Chobe Bush Lodge was indeed exceptional, but it does have a very hotel-esque vibe to it, even though the ambiance around is very rustic and natural and next time (given that we are much better prepared) we’d go for a more “down to earth” kind of experience, so to speak. But if you are planning a trip to Kasane, pamper yourself for at least a couple of nights and relax in the splendour of the Chobe Bush Lodge… just don’t spend too much time there, or you won’t get to experience what camping and overnighting in Botswana are really all about.

Originally published on Road Beneath Our Feet blog.

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Championing the Chobe National Park

admin — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 10:21:48 +0000

The Chobe National Park is the third largest conservation area in Botswana, covering an enormous area of approximately 10,960km². The park has been divided into wildlife management areas without fencing, a concept that allows for conservation and the free roam of wildlife within these areas. This open environment allows visitors a more authentic wilderness experience, exploring the natural behaviour and movement of Botswana’s wildlife.

Here are our top 5 reasons why you should visit Chobe National Park:

1. The river

The park takes its name from the Chobe River that forms the northern boundary of Botswana. The influence of the river means that this is an area of natural abundance of both flora and fauna and the vegetation varies from lush floodplains in the north to scorched Savuti marshland in the south. The northern part of the Chobe is unique because it lies next to the Chobe River for almost 60km, allowing for second-to-none game viewing along the Chobe River drive.

2. The wildlife

Where there is water, there is wildlife. The Chobe National Park is teeming with wildlife and is renown for being one of the top wildlife reserves in the world. Large herds of buffalo and elephant gather at the water’s edge, raptors nest on the river banks and birds of all shapes and sizes dart up and down the river highways. With such an incredible wealth of species, Chobe is the ideal place to experience the African wilderness. Prepare your eyes for a visual feast of wildlife encounters, including even two antelope species rarely encountered elsewhere in Botswana – the puku and the Chobe bushbuck.

3. The predators

With such a melting pot of game in the area Chobe has attracted the presence of a significantly large lion population. The lions contend with other predators in the area such as hyena, leopard, African wild dog, civet and caracal.

4. The birds

Chobe is a haven for birding enthusiasts with striking colonies of carmine bee-eaters building their nests in the exposed sandy banks of the river. Water and migratory birds gather in their thousands near the water’s edge and the haunting call of the fish eagle can often be heard echoing over the river.

5. The activities

Chobe National Park offers an array of day and nighttime activities, including boat cruises, game drives, fishing, traditional village tours and day tours to the Victoria Falls.

Win a trip to Chobe Bush Lodge

There are almost too many reasons to visit Chobe National Park, and with that in mind we’d like to draw your attention to a competition Airlink is running in conjunction with Chobe Bush Lodge.

Chobe Bush lodge is located in Kasane directly on the border of Chobe National Park, where four African countries meet (Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia), making it an excellent gateway location to the area’s popular destinations; Chobe, Victoria Falls and Caprivi.

The best part about Chobe Bush Lodge is that this experience could be YOURS. Find out about our competition to win a weekend getaway for two to Chobe with flights provided by Airlink!

Originally published on the Africa Geographic blog.

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Jaini’s African Adventures | Chobe, Botswana

admin — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 12:58:48 +0000

The bus had stopped at the banks of a river and everyone, but I, hopped out. I glanced out of the window just in time to see some local Zambians putting our luggage, oh and there goes my dismantled wheelchair and the packed battery crate into a small boat. Dad climbed inside and said, “Okay Jaini, we have to cross the river to get to Botswana!”

“Okay,” I calmly responded. But in my head, here I was panicking as I hyper-analyzed how despite my in-depth research, I had somehow missed out the fact that I had to cross a river to get to my final destination.

In a few minutes, I transferred onto the manual wheelchair that our Batswana tour company, Bushtrack Safaris, had so kindly provided us with. Then some local Zambian vendors, along with Dad and his friends helped lift me onto the boat. Once everyone had settled inside, we set sail to towards Botswana.

As I waited with anticipation for the next leg of our voyage, I recollected about how I ended up here…

A few months ago, Dad sent a Whatsapp message asking if we would like to go to the Victoria Falls over Christmas. Of course, as soon as I saw it, I could only reply with one word: “YES!!” Somehow, over the course of time, the plan evolved to spending two nights in Chobe, Botswana and then two nights in Livingstone, Zambia with my dad’s friend’s family.

Fast forward to a sunny December morning, four weeks ago, we were all up at 6AM completing all the last-minute packing before we headed to the airport at 9AM.

In 45 minutes, we were already at the airport (YAY! Nairobi sans traffic makes traveling by car so quick and easy). It was two days till Christmas and so the city was quiet. I had checked in everyone but myself (due to my wheelchair issues) so check-in was a breeze. The only thing that had to be sorted out was checking in my electronic wheelchair. It is always such a hassle, everywhere I travel, no matter the destination.

Checking in didn’t take too long; we headed to the Java House and grabbed a bite to eat. Soon after, we boarded the plane and at 12:30PM, we took off.

Three hours and an uneventful flight later, we landed at the Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport, formerly known as the Livingstone Airport in Livingstone, Zambia at 2:30PM local time. Since we were the only flight at that time, the immigration process was a breeze.

It was sweltering hot (I’m talking about 30 degrees Celsius) and humid in Livingstone. We walked out of the airport and immediately boarded an air-conditioned bus (#Blessed) provided by Bushtrack Safaris at 3:30PM and excitedly headed to Kazungula at the border of Zambia.

Once we got there, Dad and his friend went to deal with the customs, while we waited in the car. Then, everyone hopped off as we approached the mighty Zambezi River. Running for 2700 kilometers, the river flows through six African countries, starting in Zambia flowing through Angola, along the Namibian and Botswana border. It then leads to its most notable feature, the world-renown Victoria Falls, at the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, before crossing through Mozambique to the Indian Ocean.

As we sailed along the river, I spotted a few hippos in the distance. Seeing the hippos I assumed that the river was not deep, however, the boat captain said that the 400 meters wide river was also 32 meters deep.

We crossed over to Botswana in a few minutes and there was another bus waiting for us on the riverbanks. While the others went through the immigration customs in the little town of Kazungula (Yes! The border town of Botswana is also called Kazungula), I waited in the bus. However, my dad’s friends were forced to return to Zambia as they were denied entry into Botswana.

We then drove towards the small town of Kasane, in the Chobe District to the Chobe Safari Lodge where we were staying for two nights. On the way there, Diva told me that they had to go through a foot and mouth disease test because the disease is very common in the country, where beef is a primary export. This test is essential for the Botswana officials because cows and buffalos, which they have in abundance, are the main carriers of the disease.

As we drove through Kasane, a small town of just 15,000 people, we spotted several elephant dung on the road whilst driving by several lodges. We then spotted a few elephants by the roadside. We hadn’t even reached the national park, but we had already started seeing some game.

In less than fifteen minutes, we arrived at the Chobe Safari Lodge. As soon as we stepped into the reception, we were welcomed with some refreshing fruit mocktails. Whereas Mom and Dad checked in, Diva and I being 21st-century globetrotters, quickly accessed the Wi-Fi to check in with friends and family.

The Chobe Safari Lodge is situated four kilometers (seven minutes) away from the Chobe National Park and is located literally on the Chobe River. The wooden structure of the lodge reminded me of the Kenyan lodges. Before we checked out the hotel, which was decorated with the traditional mokoros (traditional dug-out canoe used by the fishermen of the Okavango Delta) that were repurposed as both furniture, such as lounge chairs and wine racks, we headed straight to our rooms.

We had booked the Safari rooms that overlooked the Chobe River and were equipped with the luxuries of air-conditioning, TV and en-suite bath and shower facilities. With its own patio per room, two double beds filled out the room, whilst still giving me enough space to move around. The lodge also had river rooms that were simply larger and offered more privacy. In addition to that, the lodge also offered a few, Kenyan-style luxurious camping tents and the traditional thatched rondavels (African-style huts where visitors can stay in).

After lounging around, we headed for dinner at around 8PM, we went for dinner. The reception led to the lounge beside the Sedudu Bar. Just next to the lounge, was the open-air buffet-style restaurant overlooking the Chobe River. Below the restaurant was the pool deck, which then lead to a jetty that headed straight down to the river.

It was still humid at night so eating dinner under the open cover was lovely. However, as vegetarians we did not have many food options to choose from.

After a lackluster dining experience, we sat at the Sedudu Bar, where I ordered the Springbok shooter, composed of half crème de menthe and half Amarula, popular in South Africa. It was both tasting delicious and looked appealing. YUM!

And so that was the end of the first day of my southern African adventure.

The next day, we woke up at 5:30AM, to get to the car, an open land cruiser (provided by the lodge), by 6AM. In less than seven minutes, we had arrived at the Sedudu gate of Chobe National Park. Established in 1968, covering approximately 11,700 square kilometers, the park consists of four main areas: the Chobe Riverfront, the Ngwezumba pans, Savuti and Linyanti marsh areas. The most popular area is the riverfront, where most of the game is viewed.

The Chobe Riverfront park area has three routes that park entrants can access: the River Bank Route, the Upper Route and the Nogatshaa Route. Our driver chose the River Bank Route, where we followed the road along the length of the Chobe River. As soon as we drove in, in a few minutes, we spotted a few baboons, impalas and a pair of jackal cubs.

I noticed the whole park was flourishing with plenty of lush, green foliage. The guide explained that the rains had arrived, so all life had bloomed in the park. This also meant that most animals had recently given birth to their offsprings. Since the park was not fenced, most of the game had moved away from the usually crowded river area, as food was available everywhere in abundance. However, as if to answer my main worry, he said that that this is a great time to see elephants as they converge by the river.

We saw several elephants just by the car on the road, and some down by the river. As we drove along, we also spotted a monitor lizard. I had never seen one that huge. We also spotted some hippos and crocodiles in the ponds by the river.

After driving by the river for two hours or so, we stopped for a rest break at a designated “Stretch Point”. The driver and guide laid out a spread of tea, coffee, and rusks on the car bonnet. I was ravenous and so glad that Mom had packed a few snacks, too.

We then were back at the lodge by 9AM, and we headed straight for breakfast. I was famished and couldn’t wait to indulge in the fresh fruit, eggs, waffles and the assortment of bread laid out in the buffet.

Stuffed to the core, we all headed back to the rooms and showered. Then emerging at 11AM, we headed over to the gift shop at the reception. After a few minutes just browsing, we walked over to the Waterfront Mall, literally just two minutes down the road. But it was so hot and humid, that those two minutes felt excruciatingly long because of the scorching heat.

The mall, that really was a tiny shopping center, had one supermarket, Choppies, and a few small shops including a forex bureau, a boutique, and a few clothing stores. We walked into Choppies to buy a few more snacks. The South African chain supermarket was crowded as it was just one of the three supermarkets in this tiny town.
After buying a few snacks, sodas and the Wellington’s Sweet Chilli Sauce (a to-die-for condiment that we have fallen in love since discovering it in South Africa, a few years ago), we headed back to the lodge walking, along the smooth, pothole-less road. There were barely any cars around Kasane.

Right outside the lodge was a Crafts Centre. We stepped inside for two reasons. One, air-conditioning. Two, to look for some Batswana souvenirs. The center sold a wide array of pots and baskets, bead, ceramic and stone jewelry and we admired some beautiful wooden carvings, however most of the items there were somewhat similar to what we get from the Kenyan Masaai markets. This led us back to the gift shop, where we picked up a fridge magnet (you can never have too many) and these beautiful bracelets.

And we headed straight to the room to relax till the next activity.

Originally published on Jaini’s Diaries.

The post Jaini’s African Adventures | Chobe, Botswana appeared first on Under One Botswana Sky Blog.

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

The post Sleek Designs and Authentic Safari Vibes at Chobe Bush Lodge appeared first on Under One Botswana Sky Blog.