See that elephant? You should see lots. And you’re watching from the comfort of your suite. Zebras and giraffes often meander past too.
From the main areas you'll still see the river. This old Chobe sure keeps on giving. Look up and you'll see an ancient baobab too. This is one of Africa's most recognisable tree species. Individual trees can live for 2,000 years. Who's not astonished by that? They also have more than 300 uses. The leaves, rich in iron, can be boiled and eaten like spinach. The seeds can be roasted to make a coffee substitute or pressed to make oil for cooking or cosmetics. And, wait for it, the fruit pulp has six times more vitamin C than oranges. Impressive stuff.
Anyway enough about the tree and more about the lodge - you'll have a lounge area, bar and open decks to hang out on. The viewing platform is good for game spotting too. It's open-air and overlooks a watering hole which is popular with buffalo, zebra and giraffe.
In the evening, you can eat around an open fire or arrange a private dinner.
All food and drinks are included. They go to town here. Breakfast is a gourmet offering almost too pretty to eat. Lunches are lighter, or take a picnic if you're out on safari and dinner can be three courses featuring local fish and game. You'll even get a spoonful of sorbet between courses.
Children aged 10 and over are welcome with many board games and young rangers' safari activities on offer. And a final selling point, the local community benefits financially from the lodge. Win-win.
Think rustic with an ethnic flair. This is an eco-friendly boutique lodge with thatched roofs and stone floors.
Ngoma Safari Lodge has 8 private suites in individual huts. These span out from the main lodge across a ridge and have river views. Two suites have Indian day beds so can be converted into triples.
Inside they use fabrics made by the Ndebele tribe of southeastern Zimbabwe for the beds and Zulu artefacts such as work tools and ploughs to decorate. You’ll have a Nespresso coffee machine and powerful showers both indoors and out. The bathroom is big and includes a huge bathtub, dressing table and double sinks. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlook a constant movement of animals. Outside is a private deck and plunge pool, occasionally drained overnight by thirsty elephants. Eek
So, you’re right by Chobe National Park, which has one of the highest concentrations of game in Africa, including 129,000 elephants. This place has been called the Elephant Capital of Africa.
Other species include the African painted dog, blue wildebeest, Cape buffalo, civet, crocodile, giraffe, hippopotamus, hyena, leopard, lion, puku, tseessebe and zebra.
You can go on game walks, game drives and full day game adventures on land and water, as well as visits to the local village, clinic and school.
You’ll have a knowledgeable guide assigned to you for the duration of your stay. They’ll be with you on the game drives and river cruises.
Night drives in the Forest Reserve concession are also an option, as are full day drives with a picnic in the bush. Or go for a river cruise and watch the hippos and crocodiles.
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