Savute Safari Lodge, part of the Desert & Delta Safaris portfolio of luxury lodges, has officially reopened after a complete rebuild. A highlight for travellers for the past 25 years, the new Savute Safari Lodge elevates the safari experience to new luxury standards. Each of the 11 standard rooms and one family room features a combination of natural thatching and canvas, to envelop guests in a stunning natural environment and welcome temperature control during the hotter months.
Guest rooms have been designed to offer breathtaking views of the prolific amounts of wildlife that congregate around the famous waterholes along the Savute Channel. The rooms feature private outdoor showers offering guests the magic of a starlit shower or a brisk cool-down after an exhilarating morning on safari. The sophisticated yet simple interior décor blends elements of traditional safari lodge design with a clean, contemporary feel. The colour palette draws inspiration from the striking contrasts of the Kalahari, blending earthy greens and the vibrant colours of the life-giving rains.
Commenting on the rebuild and rebirth of Savute Lodge, The Desert & Delta Safaris Managing Director Matthew Johnson said: “This has been an incredibly exciting project for us. Savute is such an iconic safari destination, and the new Savute Safari Lodge offers guests a front-row seat to the wildlife of the unique and mysterious Savute region from an extremely comfortable and stylish lodge. The design and styles are distinctly different to other lodges in the Desert & Delta Safaris portfolio, ensuring each lodge exhibits its own individual character while upholding our commitment to local empowerment and warm, friendly, and professional service.”
One of the main highlights is the communal space, which has been carefully reimagined to prioritise views over one of the most dramatic waterholes in Botswana. This unique waterhole has been featured in world-renowned wildlife documentaries, including National Geographic’s Savage Kingdom and the BBC’s Planet Earth series – truly one of the best ‘in-lodge’ wildlife experiences in Botswana.
This new viewing hide consists of an elevated deck with a central fireplace that leads down to a sunken hide, allowing guests to get up close to wildlife and enjoy eye-level contact with huge herds of elephant, antelope, and the occasional predator that move towards the waterholes.
Resident elephants make their way to the Channel to eat, drink and play, while large herds of zebra move from the north to the grasslands and full waterholes in the southwest – one of the longest land-mammal migrations in the world. The migration, followed by large concentrations of lions, also sets the scene for sightings of leopards and cheetahs and is a must for visitors.
Recognised as a prime game-viewing area, Savute also promises glimpses of endangered wild dogs, said to be the most efficient hunter in Africa. Many hyenas also live here and often compete with lions for prey.
