Spring Hare 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.

"The setting is quite stunning... an incredible boat trip... excellent guide"

Mr and Mrs LfromUSA

Arrived 31 May 2023, 2 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.

Note that Savute Safari Lodge will be closed from 15 October 2023 to 1 June 2024 for an extensive rebuild of the lodge.

"Every game drive provided fresh delight with large variety of mammals and birds"

LDBfromVancouver

Arrived 26 May 2022, 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

Situated on Pom Pom Island, on the western side of Moremi Game Reserve, Pom Pom Camp overlooks the reed-fringed Pom Pom Lagoon, which is covered with water lilies and popular with hippos. Renovated in early 2012, this nine-room tented camp lies in a very scenic area where swathes of floodplain grasslands are dotted with small islands of Acacia woodland – typical of many people’s image of the Delta.

"The guiding and wildlife sightings were terrific."

RHKBfromTruckee, CA

Arrived 12 Jun 2023, 2 nights

Pom Pom Camp is a good, reasonably economic, option to enjoy the Delta’s scenic environments and great birdwatching. The game here is variable, so come for some of the Okavango Delta’s loveliest scenery and mokoro trips. And if you approach the 4WD safaris with moderate expectations you might just be surprised! The camp’s ambience is laidback and friendly but we felt that the service fell short of the attention to detail shown by other similar sized Delta camps. See our full report on Pom Pom Camp