Savute Elephant Camp

Savute Elephant Camp Photo #1 of 7 As it name suggests, Savute Elephant Camp is known for the herds of elephants that can be spotted roaming its plains. But other large animals also gather here to slake their thirst, especially now that the intermittent Savute Channel has started flowing through Chobe National Park once again after an absence of nearly 30 years. Photo copyright Orient-Express Hotels Ltd.

Overview

In the heart of the Chobe National Park, sometimes referred to as the elephant capital of the world, is Savute Elephant Camp. Perched on the former banks of the now dry Savute Channel, the camp offers a spectacular bird's eye view of elephant in their natural habitat.

The camp has its own traditional boma, where guests can relax in the evening and swap safari experiences while marvelling over the stars in the vast African night sky. As with all Orient-Express destinations, this is a place to really feel the pulse of Botswana—and to become a part of it yourself.

Savute Elephant Camp is pleased to offer our guests a range of facilities including:

• Spectacular observation deck area, just 10 meters from the adjacent water hole
  
• 20 meter elevated Swimming pool area, overlooking the riverbed
  
• Private Outdoor dining area – the 'Boma' ideal for special events and entertainment
  
• Private outdoor leisure area internet access and satellite TV located discreetly away from the main lounge and dining areas
  
• Satellite phones on request
  
• High powered telescopes for star gazing
  
• Same day laundry service
  
• Curio shops with essential toiletries, safari wear, local art and craft objects
  
• Reference library of books and videos, audio-visual facilities
  
• VHF radio communications plus 24 hour emergency facilities
  
• Environmental flora and fauna check lists, talks and lectures by our environmentalist
  
• Emergency medical evacuation service
  
• Registered Airstrip which is managed by the department of wildlife

Chobe National Park

In the heart of Botswana's Chobe National Park lies a dynamic wilderness, a sweeping expanse of savannah brooded over by several rocky outcrops which guard a relic marsh and the Savute channel.

Mysterious wet and dry cycles mould this landscape and dictate the nature of its wild inhabitants. The Savute Channel, one of the greatest mysteries and fascinations of Northern Botswana, is flowing again after nearly 30 years of lying dormant.

The Gubatsa Hills shelter leopard and Klipspringer and rock paintings of early man's wildlife sightings.


Botswana

Untarnished, expansive and exquisite. Botswana is greatly respected by its people and one of the few African countries to realise the importance of ecological preservation and low impact tourism.

Unique in its diversity of regions – green wetlands, forested islands tapering into riverbanks and rivers that eventually run dry into the parched sands of the Kalahari Desert – to see Botswana is to experience the Real Africa. Wild, unexpected and beautiful.

Botswana was first inhabited by the semi-nomadic San people, bantu-speaking tribes from the north who moved into the area before the first millennium.

In 1885, to counter Boer expansion from South Africa and Ndebele incursions from the north, Bechuanaland came under British protection. By 1895, Rhodes' British South Africa Company hoped to annex Bechuanaland, prompting three Botswana chiefs to persuade Queen Victoria to keep their land under British control.

The British administered the Bechauanaland Protectorate until 1966 when it granted the Botswana full independence under the leadership of Sir Seretse Khama. Diamonds were discovered in 1967 which brought rapid growth to Botswana.

Today, the country boasts an enviable record of democracy and human rights, healthy foreign reserves and is considered one of Africa's economic success stories.