Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge

Raised on wooden platforms and with thatched roofs, each tented room is traditional and authentic. Each suite comes with a large private decking area, complete with a huge, comfortable daybed and cushy armchairs, where you can relax in privacy and view the wildlife, or have a siesta. All suites are modern looking with a safari-chic feel, and come with their own ensuite bathroom, including an outdoor shower for an al fresco showering experience.

In the centre of the room is a large four poster bed and a lounging sofa looking straight out onto the decking for an uninterrupted view of the endless horizon. Amenities include a complimentary mini-bar and luxurious dressing gowns and slippers for a relaxing, luxury stay.

Guests can enjoy dinner seated on the lodge’s deck for a luxury dining experience. Meals can be enjoyed under cover, yet still with stunning views of the surrounding wildlife. While dining, guests can possibly spot the odd elephant passing near. Talented chefs can create signature African dishes paired with fine wines and champagne.

Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge offers the chance to experience a Boma, a unique dining experience that brings the spirit of Africa alive. This is the ancient African tradition of combining delectable, local food, fire and music which evokes the spirit of the land. This is an unforgettable experience and highly recommended.

For a more romantic dinner, guests have the opportunity to dine on their own private decking. Food and wine will be served by a private butler, and soft candlelight and starry skies allow guests to experience the intimacy of the surroundings.

Morning and afternoon game drives are offered here and with Chobe National Park being a paradise for wildlife, you’re unlikely to be disappointed. Game drives are perfect for getting close to the animals, following their tracks, and viewing animals in their natural environments. You may spot elephants, lions, wild dogs, leopards, cheetah and if you’re lucky you may also see rarer antelopes.

Explore the surrounding bush and you can find a collection of breathtaking paintings, thought to be more than 1,500 years old, by the San Bushmen. Continue exploring and find 13 giant baobab trees, clustered together; it truly is an amazing sight.

Bird watching is outstanding in the Chobe National Park, particularly in the summer months. With over 250 species of bird populating the area, see if you can spot the long-toed lapwing or the African skimmer. At night, the stargazing can be mesmerising. Endless sky, unpolluted by light allows for clear and peaceful viewing and guests can use a provided telescope to view unseen constellations to enhance the experience.

The lodge offers on site activities too. They have their own viewing hide that allows guests to view the wildlife at eye-level, this overlooks the watering hole and the various animals which may be stopped by for a refreshing drink. Maybe you’ll spot lions, elephants, cheetahs, or hyenas, as well as many other species of animals and birds. Guests can cool off and relax with a dip in the swimming pool, this is on raised decking so guests can still view the expansive surroundings while having a gentle swim.

Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge is solar powered by a state-of-the-art solar grid, and has low-energy heat pumps as well as eco-friendly bamboo decking. So guests can safari in luxury, but leave as small an eco footprint as possible.

All Belmond accommodations have various initiatives that help support the places and people who surround them. Food is purchased from sustainable sources, education programs are run and supported and energy efficiency is ensured by following sustainable practices. Belmond accommodations are assessed by the Sustainable Restaurant Association, this ongoing third party testing making sure they stay sustainable and eco-friendly.

Not just making an impact in Botswana, Belmond are making an impact throughout the countries they operate in. Hotel das Cataratas in Brazil supports a project which protects the local endangered pumas and jaguars and also supports an ecology school. Staff and guest contributions from accommodations in Myanmar has helped build and run over 20 schools and clinics. In Peru, accommodations work with local farmers to source food at fair trade prices, also the flowers used and milk come from an organic farm.