SAVUTE ELEPHANT CAMP
Chobe, Savute Marsh, Botswana

Elephant Camp in Botswana

In the heart of the Chobe National Park, sometimes referred to as the elephant capital of the world, is the Savute - an area that personifies the eternal contrast of Africa. Where other two camps celebrate water and lush vegetation, Savute is an objective lesson in aridity. Rain is rare and water is precious. You will find yourself in harmony with a unique timeless place, removed from city life. In Savute, you realise that previous little has changed on these dry plains since time began. And the realisation dawns that you are fortunate and privileged to be in one of the last corners of the planet governed by nature. Perched on the former banks of the now dry Savute Channel, the camp offers a spectacular birds eye view of elephant in their natural habitat, with an adjacent water hole just metres away from the camps main building, the impressions created at Savute will last forever. The Savute is a dramatic area to see high concentrations of elephant and lions. Prides up to 40 strong are not uncommon as are sighting of all the other major predators; the endangered wild dog, leopard, cheetah and the hyena. Savute is also renowned for its excellent birding during the summer months (December through March), as well as being home to some very rate rock paintings drawn by the early San Bushmen, who once inhabited the region. As this camp is situated in the Chobe National Park, park regulations prohibit night drives and walking, however game viewing activities are offered in the morning and late afternoons in open safari game viewing vehicles. All the tents, public areas and swimming pool overlook the adjacent water hole so it is not uncommon to see a wide variety of birds and animals from the privacy of your own tent. Savute also offers a "Boma" or "place of eating" where guests can enjoy a traditional alfresco dining experience while being entertained by members of staff.

Camp Description

Situated in the arid Savute area, Savute Elephant Camp offers an oasis type setting in complete luxury. All luxury tents are housed on raised wooden platforms, offering great views, and shaded by a traditional African thatch roof. The large private decks are furnished with easy chairs and a hammock, ideal for viewing wildlife, or for enjoying a private dinner in complete privacy. The tent interiors are luxuriously appointed with such comforts as an en suite bathroom, private fully stocked mini bar, four poster bed complete with mosquito netting, as well as a discreet air conditioning. The 12 twin-bedded luxury canvas tents, recently placed under thatch, that are perfectly suited to the desert air feature lavishly appointed ensuite bathrooms and dressing areas. They also have private viewing decks and comfortable outdoor lounges overlooking the Channel. For your convenience, in-room safes are now provided for the safekeeping of all cash, travel documents and other suche articles.

Dinner Under the Stars - The Savute Boma

A dining experience second to none in a traditional Boma, best translated as a traditional meeting place, where senior tribe/community members would get together for the "Kgotla" or meeting. Typically traditional food dishes would be served during or after these get-togethers in the Boma. The Boma had two entrances, one more hidden than the other to ensure the safe passage of tribe elders or the chief should any threat arise. The Boma offers spectacular vistas of the African night skies, through the silhouettes of Camel Thorn trees and Acacia nigrescens, which have been incorporated into the design. Dining in the Savute Boma will, without a doubt, bring you closer to nature within the heart of a true bush environment.

Game Viewing

Savute Elephant Camp promises outstanding game viewing without having to leave the confines of the camp itself, so prevalent is the wildlife around the water hole. When you do venture out, in open 4x4 vehicles, the there are excellent opportunities to see wildlife on the now dry Savute Marsh, which is also home to the Zebra migration during the months of February and October. In addition to the game drives, excursions cane be arranged to see the historic San rock paintings in the hills or the ancient Gametrackers Baobabs. The camp offers game viewing activities in the morning and late afternoons. These activities take place on our safari viewing vehicle, designed for your comfort and safety. Activities are restricted to set regulations as the camp is within a national park.

Bird watching at Savute Elephant Camp

Savute Elephant Camp is based on the edge of the Savute Marsh and primarily a desert habitat of the three camps, this area abounds with desert and savannah birds. On the Marsh one can find the largest flying bird in great numbers - Kori Bustard, Ground Hornbills, Ostrich and Northern Black Orhaan. This area also abounds with LBJ's - Ayers, Desert Cisticolas and a large number of Pipits and Larks. This is also one of the few places to view the Bradfield's Hornbill which is also a true desert Species. Some 250+ birds occur at Savute and most of them are endemic to the area. Summer is a wonderful time to visit as it is lush and green and the area abounds with all the summerm igrants as they follow the Rift Valley south. Savute is also well renowned for its elephant and lion populations and can often add to the experience and memories of a trip to this area.

Laundry policy

Laundry is done on a daily basis and inclusive in the nightly tariff with the exception of 'smalls' ie underwear, which are not washed due to local customs.

Extras payment

Curios and or imported drinks will be billed to the guest and settled on check out. Payment can be effected by cash (US$), or the following credit cards: Visa or MasterCard or Diners Club but not American Express. If guests feel that they want to tip, our recommended tipping schedule is as follows:
Guides - US$5.00 per person per day
General Camp Staff - US$3.00 per person per day
Specialist Guides (if applicable) - US$10.00 per person per day
(This is the suggested gratuity schedule only and is subject to service standards)

How to get there

Access via private charter aircraft from Kasane (served by daily road transfers from Victoria Falls and Livingstone) and Maun to the Savute airstrip operated by the Department of Wildlife. Savute Elephant Camp can also be reached by 4x4 vehicle. Direct scheduled flights to Maun from Cape Town, Johannesburg and Windhoek.

Electricity

Generator power (AC 220V) is available during the day and evening. Suites are equipped with a 220-volt AC plug for hairdryers and 12-volt DC lighting for nighttime use, after the generator has been switched off. Videos batteries can be recharged – AC 220 volts.

Savute Channel

Recognised as a prime game viewing area, the Savute (also spelt Savuti), covers almost 1,930 sq. miles (5,000 square km) in the south west of Chobe National Park. The western edge of Savuti is encircled by the Magwikhwe sand ridge, 156 miles (100km) long and 65 feet (20 metres) high, which is the ancient shoreline of a super-lake that covered much of northern Botswana. It is difficult to imagine that this harsh dry landscape was once submerged beneath an enormous inland sea.

A channel from the Linyanti River once fed the now dry Savuti Marsh, which is the deepest part of the Mababe Depression and is the only part to have filled with water in recent history.

This marsh has something of a mystical renown as it can dry up or flood regardless of local rains. David Livingstone, on his way to 'discover' the Victoria Falls in 1851, commented, that it was a "dismal swamp," but sometime around 1888 it started to dry up and remained completely parched until 1957. Camelthorn acacia trees established themselves in the channel and along the banks and grew to full size. During unexpected floods these trees were drowned but as the channel and marsh dried out again, the dead trees became one of the most prominent features of the landscape.

Today, parts of Savuti are almost desert-like with a scorching sun and hot sand, while at the other extreme are vast grass plains full of game, reminiscent of Tanzania's Serengeti. These rich grasslands are boosted into fecundity by summer rains, at which time huge herds of zebras migrate south from the Linyanti to gorge on the abundant grazing. Savuti also contains a number of pans that hold water for months after the rains, enabling animals to remain long into the dry season.

Another strikingly different terrain found in Savuti, are the Gubatsa Hills. Formed some 980 million years ago during volcanic movement, these dolomite rock outcrops create a series of extraordinary hills. They rise to an astonishing 290 feet (90 metres) high, out of a completely flat landscape.

Large secretary birds and kori bustards are often seen strutting around the Savuti marsh and small redbilled francolins provide as a noisy morning wake up call. Interesting summer migrants and water birds include Abdim's storks, carmine bee eaters and even fish eagles. Little quelea finches are quite a spectacle as they gather in thousands. They reach a frenzy of numbers in about April when a single flock could contain tens of thousands of these small twittering birds.

Seasons

Rainy season: Rains arrive from November to April, at which time the animals make their way to pastures rich in new grass. Sometime in November or December thousands of zebras migrate from the Linyanti in the north and move south through Savuti to the grasslands of the Mababe Depression. In February they start heading northwards again. Humidity and heat is high.

Dry season: From May to October the water pans dry up and the animals are attracted to three artificial waterholes. Elephants dominate these while other animals have to wait their turn. September and October can be extremely hot but game viewing is very rewarding as predators are concentrated around the waterholes.

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The Savuti Channel & Marsh

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