Savute

Travel Advice for Seniors: Savute

The Savute area borders the Okanvango delta to the west and Chobe National Park to the east. It is a marshland that is about 4200 square miles large and is another great place to view wildlife that is in a fairly compact area.

We stayed at the Savute Safari Lodge. which was a very nice accommodation. The main feature of the Lodge was the dining and drinks area, which provided a ringside side seat for a fairly large and well-attended elephant watering hole. It was a pleasure to have a cocktail and watch the elephants come down for a drink and a bath.

When we visited Botswana, we began our three-week safari at Chobe National Park, then to Savute and finally to the beautiful Okavango Delta. A word on transport between parks…there is a reason why you are only allowed 33 pounds of luggage, and it has to be in a soft side carry bag. It’s because you are usually traveling on a very small bush plane, and the luggage is stowed anywhere they can put it under the plane. Roller boards would not allow for the cramming that is needed to get the soft side bags on board. Also, the planes don’t hold many people (up to twenty), but you do get a beautiful view. Another thing about flying bush planes…the airstrips are usually dirt and there may or may not be a restroom when you land or even a place to sit, however, a representative from your hotel should be there to pick you up and will see you land and find you. Finally, it is the responsibility of the guides/drivers waiting by the airstrip to make sure that no animals are on the runway. You may think I am joking here, but it happens quite often! So if you have to do a fly by and try the landing again, that may be why. It isn’t scary and can be quite entertaining. One time we saw a water funnel coming up into the sky to airplane level…fascinating!

The Savute region is where the animals migrate to during the wet summer months to feed on the lush grasses of the marsh. With the coming of the rains, thousands of Zebra move from the northern regions of Chobe and Linyanti into the lush grasses of the marsh. They typically stay until the dry season approaches, moving back north to the rivers there and fresh grass.

The “Big Five” are here, which are lions, elephants, African buffalo, leopard and rhino, however, the rhinos had been severely poached in this area, so were being re-established in a protected area. We saw sizeable herds of buffalo and elephants and a pride of lions with cubs, which was a great sight, especially as it was at sunset and the light was “golden hour” perfect.

We didn’t see any rhinos or leopards. The leopards are difficult to spot, and the rhinos were at a top secret location to avoid poachers. It is a sad thing that people what to hunt rhinos for their horn only. Apparently, the horn is highly valued in some Asian cultures as an aphrodisiac. The guides told us that it takes about five minutes to helicopter in, shoot the rhino and take the horn. Even if the park rangers are licensed to shoot poachers (and in some African countries they are) it still unfortunately happens.   

The main attraction at Savute is the many marshy watering holes that attract the animals at dusk and dawn. What was becoming a something to look forward to, “Sundowners”, always occurred within a short distance of a popular watering hole at dusk. The guides/drivers provided your fav alcoholic beverage and plenty of snacks and you basically stood a distance away and enjoyed the animal viewing until the sun set. We loved this part of safari!

 It was nice to visit Savute and experience animals in different habitats. Our next stop was the fantastic Okavango Delta. Be sure to look out the window of the plane when you are flying over it to get the big picture!

Where we stayed: Savute Safari Lodge. All meals and safaris included. Nice accommodation.

How we got there: Bush flight from Chobe to Savuti.This was part of a three-week private tour through Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia.

General Accessibility Information: Botswana is wheelchair accessible in many ways, including adapted vehicles, accessible accommodations, and safaris.Call in advance to verify and make specialty arrangements.See our sections on specialty apps and accessible travel for more on accessibility assistance.