We have 40 rooms along with Spa and Conference facilities and are developing our own jetty site on the river’s edge with two of our own sunset cruise boats. We started our build in August 2021. Our unique selling points are that we are 3.6km from the Falls, but not in town – we are near the park's gate along Parkway. Although we don’t have river frontage, (we are about 150m back off the river), we have developed a private water hole and salt lick beneath our horizon pool – so we get some lovely game coming through the front of our property which we have left open and pristine. We have a lovely open dining, bar and deck area – and have loads of space all throughout the property. 14 Signature rooms of 42m2 each and 26 Luxury rooms of 28m2 each complement our room – with ramps for easy access and 7 sets of interleading rooms for families (14 rooms total).
Reference No: 30231
2 Nights
Bed and Breakfast
4 Stars
Lodge
Spoken Languages: English
No. Rooms: 40
Special Interests: Adventure, Birding, Flora, Nature, Relaxation, Star Gazing, Wildlife, Wine
From high on the escarpment, Muchenje Safari Lodge overlooks a seasonal floodplain of the the Chobe River. From this peaceful spot within Chobe Forest Reserve, with Namibia's Zambezi Region (formerly the Caprivi Strip) in the distance and about 60km west of the bustling town of Kasane, this traditional lodge has the advantage of operating game drives in a relatively quiet area of the Chobe Riverfront.
Muchenje combines traditional style with a down-to-earth feel that is decidedly relaxing. The main communal area, positioned to maximise the view, is a solid, thatched, split-level building, with a series of canvas 'walls' that are usually rolled up to allow a through breeze. As well as a large central bar and plenty of comfortable seating, there's a sizeable dining table where meals are usually taken as a group. Upstairs on a mezzanine level is a small library with a few books and board games. Muchenje's gift shop is well-stocked with local arts and crafts as well as books on birds, wildlife, and the surrounding area.
A few steps lead down to the firepit, where pre- and post- dinner drinks are often taken when the weather is cooler: a great place to recant the day's events. Further down again is another small viewing deck, overlooking the floodplain, while tucked to the side of the main area is a good-sized swimming pool, complete with sunloungers
Muchenje's 11 comfortable chalets also make the most of the view. All are similar in design, solidly built with high thatched roofs and cream-painted walls. Although some are relatively closely together, they are interspersed by areas of bush that do quite a good job of ensuring privacy, albeit without always screening the whole neighbouring chalet from view.
Ten of the chalets have double or twin beds with a mosquito net, a wardrobe for storing luggage and clothing, a small lounge area with a couple of wooden chairs, a writing table, tea- and coffee-making station, minibar stocked with bottled water, electric safe, ceiling fan and air conditioning – a bonus in the hotter months. Sliding doors lead out to a wooden veranda where a small table and a couple of chairs catch the sun for most of the day. The en-suite bathrooms are quite small and simple but well-maintained, with a shower, flush toilet and his and hers washbasins.
The two-storey family chalet, sleeping four guests, has a double bed in the living area, two single beds in the 'loft' area above, and two bathrooms – one with a large bathtub.
Activities at Muchenje are varied and quite flexible. If you want to be woken at 5.30am for a nature walk or early-morning game drive, then that's exactly what you can do. But if you’d rather wake a little later (breakfast is usually served at around 8.30am) and relax by the pool all day, that's perfectly possible too. Options include half- and full-day 4WD safaris in the park; walks and night drives in the forest reserve; boat cruises on the Chobe River; and visits to the nearby Muchenje village.
On our most recent visit, in July 2017, we opted for a full-day boat cruise and game drive in Chobe National Park, followed by a night drive, with an early drive into the park the next morning. As the boat trip begins in Kasane, this is incorporated into a full-day activity, with a game drive through the park, followed by time on the river, and culminating in another game drive back to Muchenje – though one of these drives is likely to be on the tar road. Note that all vehicles must leave the park before nightfall, so in the winter months afternoon game drives return to camp by around 6.30pm.
Our full-day trip was great, though quite a long day. During the boat cruise, we approached close to various islands that were teeming with wildlife, from huge numbers of elephant to hippos, crocodiles and antelope such as tsessebe and impala, and plenty of Cape buffalo. After lunch on board, we drove back to Muchenje through the park, where we spent some time watching a pride of lions that was feasting on a large male giraffe.
The highlight of our early-morning drive into the park, when we also saw hyena and elephant, was watching around 200 buffalo crossing the Chobe River. What a great way to end our safari!
The lodge has now built a new jetty closer and is being used as part of a new morning boat activity, which begins with a drive of around an hour through the park and then a gentle boat trip on the flood plains of the Chobe river. This boat trip will be flood dependent and we expect it to be possible from around February to September, but please ask us for details.
Although walks and night drives are not permitted within Chobe National Park, both are possible in the private forest reserve around Muchenje are possible. During our night drive, lasting around an hour, we were lucky enough to glimpse a hyena, three small-spotted genets and a wildcat.
On a previous visit, our guide led us on a walk to a perfect viewing spot to observe a herd of elephants making their way up the ravine below us – completely unaware of our presence. And not long after, a herd of buffalo followed suit!
Although Muchenje is at the quieter western end of the Chobe Riverfront, the area to the east is very busy. Full-day excursions from Muchenje that incorporate the boat trip tend to spend some time in this busier eastern side, whereas morning or afternoon game drives typically stick to the western side of the park, where you are less likely to see other vehicles.
Travellers arriving at Muchenje from the more exclusive and remote private reserves of the Okavango Delta or Linyanti region of northern Botswana may be disappointed by the number of other visitors they see, although probably simultaneously cheered by the density of animals, particularly during the drier months between around June and October. Hence we often recommend Muchenje as a place to ease into your trip, at the beginning of your itinerary, rather than one to round it off.
Rates are fully inclusive of meals, drinks and safari activities.
2 Nights
Fully Inclusive - Bed, All Meals, Fees and Activities
All Local Brands (Spirits, Wine and Beers) Included
1x Double Room
4 Stars
Lodge
Spoken Languages: Afrikaans, Dutch, English
No. Rooms: 12
Special Interests: Adventure, Big 5, Birding, Flora, Nature, Relaxation, Star Gazing, Wildlife
Rebuilt and upgraded in 2019, Kwara caters exclusively for adults from its island base within the pristine Okavango Delta. With guides whose focus is firmly on the big predators, Kwara is in a perfect area of the Okavango. In this private reserve, wildlife – both predators and prey – can be prolific. To maximise the chances of big-cat sightings, every 4WD excursion is led by a guide and tracker, and the guides are in constant contact by radio.
Rather more serene, both mokoros and a double-decker boat are on hand for effortless exploration of the lily-strewn waterways, perhaps combined with a guided walk. Equally, with seasonal floodplains and a permanent lagoon in front of the island-based camp, and mature trees affording superb bird cover, it’s tempting to let the wildlife come to you.
In the huge “tented rooms”, beds, sofas, verandas, even baths are carefully sited to make the most of the views. If you fancy company, a short stroll brings you to a thatched, open-sided structure complete with lounge, dining table, library, bar and curio shop. Colonial-style furniture combines effortlessly with simple stretched-canvas walls to give a contemporary-chic feel – designed for adults only.
There are proper pools – complete with bars and sunloungers – at each end of camp, and a firepit down by the lagoon. And arguably of greatest importance, all share that captivating outlook.
Conservation Safari Company recommends Kwara as one of the prime game viewing concessions in the Okavango Delta region, while offering both land and water activities. The camp is stylish, luxurious and relatively good vlaue considering its high levels of hospitality.
Rates include all meals, local drinks and safari activities.
Reference No: KS031226
4 Nights
Fully Inclusive - Bed, All Meals, Fees and Activities
All Local Brands (Spirits, Wine and Beers) Included
Camp
Spoken Languages: English
No. Rooms: 9
Special Interests: Adventure, Big 5, Birding, Fishing, Flora, Leisure, Nature, Relaxation, Star Gazing, Wildlife, Wine
