Elephant Valley Lodge

Elephant Valley Lodge is encapsulated by the peaceful wilderness of the African bush. Perfectly set overlooking the Lesoma Valley in the Chobe District, which is home to the largest population of African elephants in the world. The wildlife roams freely in the valley between the game-rich conservation areas of the neighbouring Chobe Game Reserve and the National Parks of Zimbabwe.

The lodge offers a tranquil and comfortable environment from which to watch creatures great and small, dropping by for a thirst-quenching drink at the Lodge’s waterhole. Guests are offered an array of activities such as daily 4 x 4 game viewing safaris and boat cruises along the Chobe River in Chobe National Park. If you are looking to visit the falls, there are day trips to Victoria Falls either in Zambia or Zimbabwe.

The accommodation offering includes 11 Forest Tents, 1 Family Forest Tent & 8 Valley Tents. The 12 ‘forest tents’ are canopied by shady trees surrounding the swimming pool. For families, there is 1 Forest Tent, which includes a second bedroom with twin beds and a large bathroom with a bath and shower. The 8 ‘valley tents’ boasts views overlooking the valley and waterhole.

Each of the tents are spacious and comfortable with twin three-quarter beds which can be pushed together with a converter to make a double bed. All feature an en-suite shower, with toilet and basins plus tea and coffee making facilities, a fan, electric blankets are provided during winter, a hairdryer and charging points. These spacious tents each have a veranda with seating for you to sit back and relax outside your room and enjoy the views.

The main area is canopied by large sturdy acacia trees. The luxurious rim-flow pool is perfect for a refreshing dip and relaxation on the sun loungers. The waterhole attracts a wide variety of game, particularly elephant, but also giraffe, buffalo, antelope such as waterbuck and kudu, warthogs, honey badgers, jackal, mongoose, predators including leopard, lion, hyena, wild dogs and many more species.

About Chobe National Park

When you visit the Chobe National Park, you will never forget the first glimpse of the dazzling, deep blue Chobe River, as it winds its way through sandy terrain, small towns, lush floodplains, dense forests of cathedral mopane trees, and endless broadleaf woodlands. The park is named after this majestic river that protects 10.700 km² of the northern Kalahari desert, providing ensuing wilderness and a game density that is steadily remarkable.

Famed for its massive elephant populations, big herds of buffalo (matched only by some large lion prides) and incredible birdlife, Chobe National Park will leave an everlasting memory. Where else can you find such an amazing riverfront, with bustling wildlife, undisturbed predators, heavenly landscapes and tranquil lodges? The most accessible area of the park is the Chobe Riverfront, this is also where you will find the largest concentration of wildlife. For a more predator-rich area: head off to Linyanti Marshes. Or nourish your soul in the remote Savuti area. Wherever you go in this park, wildlife encounters are plentiful and all of Chobe feels like true wilderness. It is a place that can be enjoyed by everyone: couples, families and seasoned Africa travellers.

We will explain more about the different areas below. But first, a little bit about the history of this special place.

The original inhabitants of Chobe were the Bushmen, followed by the – impressively named – Hambukushu, Bayei and Basubiya. In the 1850s, locals saw explorer David Livingstone passing through the area on his way to the Victoria Falls (a little over an hour away from Chobe National Park), and some big-game hunters seeking trophies and ivory. Luckily, for all the flora and fauna of this unique land, the area was first protected as a game reserve in 1961 and proclaimed as a national park in 1968.

Up to this day the game density remains exceptional. You will be forced to halt frequently because a parade of wildlife wants to pass by. Much better than stopping for a red light in traffic, right? Moderating the number of visitors to the park keeps it from feeling ‘too busy’, adding to the remote and exclusive Chobe safari experience.