The Garden Lodge: Our full report

The Garden Lodge is a small guesthouse in the town of Kasane, Botswana, which borders the Chobe National Park. The Garden Lodge has just eight rooms – four doubles and four family rooms. A combination of beautiful flowers like hibiscus, frangipani and bougainvillea; tropical plants including banana and paw paw trees; and the riverside location make this a lovely tranquil spot to spend a few days.

Each room has an en suite bathroom and a private verandah overlooking the Chobe River. As the name suggests, the guesthouse is surrounded by a beautiful garden which slopes down to the riverside.

The communal areas at The Garden Lodge include a bar, which is known as the map room due to the variety of maps on the walls, a swimming pool and a lounge and dining room. Meals are enjoyed around one big table where guests can swap travel tales. Each day a choice of continental or English breakfast is offered. Lunches are usually a buffet including a choice of hot dishes, salads, cold meats and cheeses. Dinner is a set menu, although the guesthouse is always happy to cater for individual dietary requirements provided they know about them in advance.

Although it is possible for guests to explore Chobe National Park and the surrounding areas in their own vehicle, The Garden Lodge offers a range of activities which are worth considering. The favourite options are safari drives in Chobe National Park in open 4WD vehicles and a boat cruise on the Chobe River. These are usually morning and afternoon activities; however, The Garden Lodge can be flexible in their timings depending on their guests needs.

The Chobe River is a tributary of the Zambezi River and both waterways are known for their sizeable tiger fish. The Garden Lodge offers fishing excursions and supplies all the tackle required to catch these game fish. Any fishing from the guesthouse is operated on a catch and release basis. It is also possible to visit one of the villages across the river in Namibia. The guide would take you from Botswana to Namibia by dug-out canoe and then show you through the villages on foot.

Our view

This area of Chobe National Park can be very busy. There are numerous large hotels in Kasane which utilise the park and the river and so, at the height of the season, this area can all seem a bit like a circus. In the midst of this, The Garden Lodge is a small guesthouse which offers tranquility and personalised service. Their activities have some flexibility, and it is a great stop for travellers on a self-drive safari.

Geographics

Location: Chobe National Park, Botswana

Directions: The Garden Lodge is situated in the centre of Kasane town and is easily reached by self-drive or by transfer after visiting the Victoria Falls in Zambia, or other safari camps in Botswana

Key personnel

Owner: Phil and Gabi