Chobe Game Lodge is the only permanent lodge inside Botswana's Chobe National Park and it is the easiest way to combine a real safari with a little old-school glamour. Opened in 1973, it sits under mahogany trees on the bank of the Chobe River, where thousands of elephants come down to drink and swim through the dry season. Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton chose it for their honeymoon in 1975 and the suite they stayed in is still the lodge's most romantic room.
Being inside the park matters. Guests are first through the gates in the morning and last out at night, with quieter game drives on the riverfront. The lodge runs solar-powered electric boats and safari vehicles, so you can drift up to a herd of bathing elephants or a pod of hippos in near silence. Rates are all-inclusive, covering daily safari activities, meals, drinks, park fees and laundry.
The lodge is larger than the fly-in camps of the Okavango Delta, with 40 rooms and four suites and families are welcome. That makes it busier but also much more affordable. For couples, it works well as the first stop of a Botswana honeymoon, before flying deeper into the Delta, or as a base for a day at Victoria Falls.
Highlights at a glance
- Only permanent lodge inside Chobe National Park
- Silent solar-powered boats and safari vehicles
- Honeymoon Suite with infinity plunge pool, chosen by Burton and Taylor
- All-inclusive rates with activities and drinks
- 250-meter riverside boardwalk
Why Couples Love Chobe Game Lodge
The river is the star. The Chobe floodplain fills with animals every dry-season afternoon: elephants, buffalo, giraffe, lechwe, crocodiles and huge pods of hippos. From a boat, you sit at water level a few yards away, which makes for close, calm encounters and excellent photographs.
The silence is the second reason. Chobe Game Lodge was one of the first in Africa to switch to electric boats and vehicles, in 2014. Without the noise of engines, you hear the splash of elephants and the calls of fish eagles.
The lodge is also known for its female guiding team, which has become part of its identity. Guests often mention the guides' knowledge and warmth. Between activities, the pool, the spa and a 250-meter riverside boardwalk give you time to relax without leaving the lodge.
Rooms and Suites to Book
All 40 rooms are air-conditioned and face the river, with private terraces or balconies. Standard rooms are comfortable and well-priced. Triple rooms suit families.
The Honeymoon Suite is the one to book. It is the lodge's most secluded room, chosen by Burton and Taylor in 1975. It has an open-plan lounge, a king bed, a bathroom with a separate bath, a large shower and twin basins and a big private terrace with an infinity plunge pool and loungers facing the Chobe. Daily laundry, a minibar and Wi-Fi are included.
Family Suites share the same layout and plunge pool, but they are designed for groups. With only four suites in total, the Honeymoon Suite books up well ahead in the dry season, so reserve it early.
Food, Drink and the Spa
Dining is mostly alfresco, with a covered main restaurant, terraced deck areas facing the river and a riverside boma for barbecues and cultural entertainment. Private dinners can be set up along the boardwalk, which is the classic romantic night. Snacks and drinks are served on boat trips.
There are two bars. The Tswene Rooftop Bar has wide views of the river, while the Linyanti Bar is built in a Bedouin tent style. Drinks are included in the rate.
The Kalahari-inspired spa offers a range of treatments, which make a good break after early starts. There is also an air-conditioned gym and a large central pool in the gardens with loungers and daybeds. A curio shop sells locally and regionally made crafts.
Why guests fall for it
Safari Activities
A typical day includes a morning game drive and an afternoon boat cruise, both in electric vehicles. The morning drive follows the riverfront, where lion, leopard and wild dog sightings are possible, along with large herds of elephant and buffalo. The afternoon boat safari is the highlight for most couples, drifting past swimming elephants as the sun sets.
Photographers can ask about specialist boat safaris with camera mounts. The lodge also runs eco-tours of its own conservation and sustainability work and its blog follows long-standing herds such as the matriarch of Chobe.
Victoria Falls is about 90 minutes away by road, across the border in Zimbabwe or Zambia and many couples add a day trip or a night. Ask your operator how the border crossing is handled before you go.
Getting There
Kasane Airport (BBK) is a short drive from the lodge and has regional flights from Johannesburg and Maun. Victoria Falls Airport (VFA), in Zimbabwe, has more international connections and is about 90 minutes by road, including a border crossing.
Most couples arrive as part of a wider safari, flying into Kasane from Johannesburg, staying two or three nights at Chobe and then taking a light aircraft to the Okavango Delta. Your operator or the lodge can arrange transfers from either airport.
Light aircraft and road transfers often limit luggage, so pack in soft bags. Bring neutral clothes for game drives, a warm layer for early mornings in winter and sun protection. Binoculars are worth bringing for each of you.
Is It Worth It?
Chobe Game Lodge offers excellent value for a Botswana safari. Rates are far lower than the fly-in camps of the Delta and the inclusions are generous. The river experience is among the best in Africa and the Honeymoon Suite has a romance and history few lodges can match.
It is not a small, exclusive camp. With 40 rooms, a conference center and families welcome, it can feel busy and other vehicles share the riverfront. Couples wanting total privacy should save that for the Delta or the Selinda Reserve.
Chobe is in a malaria area. Talk to a travel clinic about prevention, use repellent and sleep under the provided protection. If you're pregnant or hoping to be soon, check CDC travel health notices for Botswana before you book. The dry season, from May to October, has the best game viewing.
Insider tips
- Book the Honeymoon Suite well ahead; there is only one.
- Ask for a private boardwalk dinner on your last night.
- Visit from August to October for the largest elephant gatherings on the river.
- Combine two or three nights here with a fly-in camp in the Okavango Delta.
