The Savuti area is a rugged wilderness region in the south-west of Chobe National Park - famous for its excellent year-round game viewing & prides of lion.
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The Savuti Channel, (also spelt as the Savute channel by many), is a rugged semi-arid wilderness region in the south-west of Chobe National Park. It is famous for its excellent year-round game viewing. Mysterious wet and dry cycles mould this region. Back in 1982, the Savuti channel dried up and it didn’t see water again until 2009. Then, after heavy summer rains, it started flowing again and even reached the Savuti lodges. This wet cycle has continued on and off sporadically since then.
What was once a hippo-filled swamp is now open, particularly nutritious, grassland sustaining a marvellous array of animal and bird life. Plus the Savuti lodges are right in the heart of the action. Dry season game viewing (May to October) concentrates Savuti resident bull elephants, plains game and its world-famous lion prides around the permanent waterholes. These Savute lions have learnt, over many decades, the skills needed to bring down young elephants.
But the Savuti Lodges enjoy year round game-viewing. The summer rains (November to March) also bring a feast for the predators. As thousands of migrating zebra and wildebeest congregate on the Savuti marsh and southern plains, with its nutritious grasses. They are searching for life’s basic needs – water and food. The best times to view this mass movement of stripy animals is typically around November and again in March as they head north and west again. However the Savuti area maintains plenty of territorial animals year round with good concentrations of giraffe, jackal, bat-eared fox, tsessebe, kudu and impala. Also it’s not uncommon to see leopard on the granite koppies, spotted hyena, lion, cheetah and African wild dog.
The landscape around the Savuti Lodges is strikingly different from the lush Chobe river to the north. It has almost a desert feel as animals huddle in the shade of the occasional tree. But ancient Bushmen paintings are an added attraction if staying at one of the Savuti lodges.
It’s not really fair to compare Ghoha Hills with the other camps I visited in Botswana, as it was much smarter and more expensive. But nonetheless it’s still my favorite!
As with all the Delta camps, the staff were very accommodating. The service was practically perfect and the management was top notch.
The lodge is built on a beautiful hill with lots of Baobab trees and amazing views of the Savanna bush below. The tents are all facing east on the hillside so we could see the sunrise. They all overlook a waterhole where animals come to drink regularly. All the rooms are made of canvas and have a private wooden deck. Once inside, you wouldn't even say it was a tent. It has the complete feel of comfort.
What makes Ghoha hills so unique is that it is solar powered and self-sustaining and has a Gym and Spa in canvas tents which are also facing east so that you can see the sunrise and beautiful views of the Savanna.
The main public areas, fire-pit and rock pool are absolutely stunning. This was where you would find me in my free time during my stay at the lodge.
The lodge also offers game drives on the private road network, to the Savuti channel and the famous Savuti Marsh. The game drives can be tiring when you out there for a full day, but with the expertise, experience and knowledge of the guides, it was very rewarding. Whilst here we spent a long time tracking lions. Just as we were about to give up, the guide suggested we take a look among the trees as he thought that they may be sleeping in the shade. Was he right! We were ecstatic! The search was well rewarded.
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