Wild Dog Safari: Day-by-day

Traditional yet informal, Muchenje is perched on an escarpment with commanding views over the Chobe River. And those views are magnificent! Spread out on either side of the river are seasonal floodplains, their open spaces a magnet for wildlife. Just to watch from your chalet, or from the viewing deck by the pool, is to become absorbed in the comings and goings below. Zebra and wildebeest, elephant and giraffe, the predators largely hidden in the dense bush behind.

Like the surroundings, Muchenje feels almost fixed in time. Comfortable and solidly built, it’s a place to exhale and enjoy, with good yet relaxed service, and excellent guiding.

The guides do their utmost to ensure that you make the most of your time here, whether it’s venturing up the Chobe River by boat, or exploring the varied habitats of Chobe National Park in an open-sided 4WD. Take a picnic for a full-day’s excursion, or return for lunch in the heat of the day. Or perhaps – a bonus of Muchenje’s location outside the national park – walk with a guide into the forest reserve, or head out after dinner in search of Botswana’s nocturnal creatures.

".. lovely position overlooking the Chobe River. Fabulous views.. Great guide."

Mr & Mrs J.fromChester

Arrived 25 Sep 2022, 3 nights

Then make your way to the firepit for a nightcap: a fitting end to a fascinating day. See our full report on Muchenje Safari Lodge

Perched on the banks of the Savuti Channel within Chobe National Park, Savute Safari Lodge offers a good location from which to explore the nearby Savuti Marshes. Comfortable without being luxurious, the camp enjoys views over the Savute Channel and its two pumped waterholes, which – especially during the dry season – attract vast numbers of elephant to drink in the afternoons and evenings.

"should I return to Botswana I would want to return here"

Mr JfromCoventry

Arrived 26 Jan 2018, 3 nights

Savute Safari Lodge has a down-to-earth feel and attracts an eclectic mix of guests who enjoy great hospitality, friendly staff and some excellent guiding, all in a top game-viewing region, particularly during the dry season. The lodge itself may not suit those wanting a more bushcamp feel, but the dining area overlooking the channel and nearby waterhole is a big plus. The region also offers a good contrast to the Okavango Delta, although a greater number of visitors than in the private reserves can make it feel less exclusive. See our full report on Savute Safari Lodge

Mention wild dogs and it’s not long before Lagoon Camp, in the vast private Kwando Reserve, comes into the frame. On the banks of the Kwando River – and at the heart of the action – the camp takes safaris seriously, with many a vantage point for the wildlife enthusiast.

To maximise sightings, game drives through the riverine forest onto the open plains are led by both a guide and a tracker, while river trips on a double-decker boat give elevated views over the reeds.

Wildlife watching from camp is pretty good, too, with numerous vantage points. Start in the early hours from your bed, raised above the lounge area in front, or from a deck chair on your private veranda, before moving to the campfire for breakfast.

At lunchtime, keep watch from the dining table; in the afternoon from the free-form pool, the swing seat, or the cosy tree-level lounge.

Both chalets and central area are spacious and airy, their stretched canvas walls and open sides – or huge mesh windows – accentuating the openness of the environment.

"lovely views... excellent guide and spotter"

Mr CfromHindhead

Arrived 29 Oct 2024, 3 nights

Décor is generally muted and uncluttered; thatched roofs blend into the surroundings; and linking it all are expanses of wooden decking, gleaming in the sun. No wonder an air of comfort and relaxed efficiency prevails. See our full report on Lagoon Camp

Sitting on a deck over the water at Xakanaxa, the possibility of watching hippo in the channel below is tantalising. The setting is beautiful, the whole site shaded by mature trees that overlook the tranquil Xakanaxa Lagoon. This is a place to savour and relax.

There’s nothing fussy about the camp, either. Help yourself to a drink from the bar, then find a spot to sit – there’s plenty of choice. Comfy leather sofas adorn the thatched, open-sided lounge, whose reed walls are very much at one with the environment.

Cushioned armchairs sit on the deck in front, and on individual “jetties” that jut out over the lagoon, one of them complete with a warming firepit – ideal for a convivial chat before dinner. You’ll find hand-crafted wooden chairs alongside the infinity plunge pool, and mattresses on wooden loungers in the sala.

Back in your tent, glazed doors open from the bedroom onto a private deck set with directors’ chairs, overlooking the lagoon. Mosquito netting is draped over wooden bedsteads; bathrobes await in the reed-and-pole walled bathroom, under a canvas shadecloth.

"It was a great stay, we learned a lot and saw tons and tons of different animals"

D&LfromNew Zealand

Arrived 19 May 2024, 2 nights

After a day exploring the waterways and byways of Moremi in search of wildlife, return to this deceptively simple, rustic camp and settle down to dinner with your fellow guests at long, wooden dining tables beneath a lantern-lit chandelier. See our full report on Xakanaxa

Overlooking a significant waterhole within a private reserve of the Okavango Delta, Splash puts the "luxury" into safari. Within the treeline in the heart of the Okavango Delta, Splash Camp arises like a crescent-shaped oasis in the wilderness.

Right in front of this substantial camp, and visible from almost every angle – tented chalets, lounge, plunge pool, firepit – is an extensive waterhole that is a magnet for animals big and small, especially as the dry season progresses.

It’s an alluring prospect, a haven of luxury that retains an outdoors feel. Largely constructed of wood, with stretched canvas walls, the airy buildings are mellowed by thatched roofs. Their wide frontage makes the most of the aspect, while admitting plenty of light.

Bedrooms are smart and well appointed, with views from veranda and bed alike. Light-coloured sofas invite relaxation in the contemporary lounge. And in the open-sided dining area, ceiling fans rotate lazily above the long table while you tuck into substantial yet interesting meals.

It's all about the wildlife here – "digital detox" is not just a slogan, it's camp policy – so your experience of the wildlife and wilderness won't be marred by any pesky emails or other digital disturbance from the outside world.

"food and service was excellent.. The first game drive was exceptional"

Mr CfromHindhead

Arrived 1 Nov 2024, 3 nights

You’ll explore this exclusive area by 4x4 – no more than six guests to a vehicle – with guides who are particularly experienced in tracking predators. In season, slip into a mokoro and glide almost silently along the shallow waterways or – towards the end of the year – take a motorboat to a nearby heronry: a particular bonus for birdwatchers and photographers. See our full report on Splash Camp