Ngoma Safari Lodge | Chobe National Park One Of Botswana’s Best Safari Lodges

We laze on our deck chairs next to our private plunge pool, soaking in the rays of the morning sun as we contemplate the arid landscape that stretches before us into Botswana’s Chobe River. Dotted with acacia trees and the occasional striking baobab, Ngoma Safari Lodge was built near an ancient elephant trail – and we’ve been told it’s not unusual to find these grey behemoths quenching their thirst at this very pool! Set in the Chobe Forest Reserve, our lodge gives us idyllic isolation while maintaining easy access to the famed Chobe National Park, which it borders. We have plenty of wildlife right here, but we’ll definitely visit it at some point. For now we’re blissfully content in our hidden nook, idly enjoying the sight of a lilac-breasted roller dipping in the water, an activity we’re soon to imitate!

One of eight individual huts perched high on a ridge for the most compelling views over the Chobe Floodplain, our room has a soaring thatched roof and stone floors. In line with the lodge’s sustainability ethos, it’s made of natural materials, which gives it a raw, earthy feel. However, it’s by no means rustic; there’s air conditioning, a good coffee machine and a comfortable king-sized bed set in front of floor-to-ceiling windows. Decorated in muted colours with dashes of blue and orange, our room is open and airy, leading into an en-suite bathroom with a large bathtub set along the wall, his-and-hers basins and a standalone shower. Casting a wary glance around for any wandering elephant, I head to the outdoor shower, which is set on the patio looking out over the river. Although just a screen of wooden poles separates me from any onlookers (elephant or otherwise!) I feel completely safe and connected with nature as I luxuriate under a powerful jet of water.

Set on several levels across the hillside, Ngoma Safari Lodge almost makes you feel like you’re in an amphitheatre, with striking views down to the animal-drenched floodplains of the Chobe River. We particularly enjoyed evening drinks around the open fire under an ancient baobab, followed by beautifully-presented meals on a viewing deck that overlooks a floodlit waterhole (frequented by elephant, zebra, buffalo and other game). We had the most amazing sightings in our reserve, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention our safari in Chobe National Park, where we tried to spot as many of its 450 bird species as possible and watched a sizeable herd of buffalo cross the road right in front of us. Our game drive on the Chobe Floodplains was a highlight, with its islands and waterways. This was rounded off by a boat cruise on the Chobe River itself, where we lost count of how many elephant, crocodile and hippo we saw. On one eventful occasion we left our hut only to immediately start backing in again, as a herd of elephant was passing right through our camp! Not only was our wildlife experience at Ngoma Safari Lodge authentic, but we found its support for conservation and the community to be refreshingly heartfelt; a community visit left us inspired by how ecotourism can benefit the locals.

• Exclusive safari lodge with a natural swimming pool and eight river-facing suites (two with Indian daybeds that can make the rooms triples). Each suite has a private plunge pool.
• Quiet reserve adjacent to Chobe National Park with exclusive river frontage, individual dining and flexible schedules.
• Game drives, night drives, picnics, boat cruises, swimming and cultural experiences.
• Children welcome from age 10, with two suites that can be converted to triples.

• Not only do African safari lodge prices shift with the seasons, they also change based on your length of stay, room type, travel party composition, special offers, if your trip involves stays at sister lodges – and for more reasons besides.
• It’s worth noting that depending on your itinerary, your lodge cost will make up about 75–85% of your total safari trip cost.
• Our safaris are tailor-made to match your personal safari dream, we’d be delighted if you’d allow us to create a bespoke proposal for you.  Simply enquire now – our quotes are complimentary and obligation-free.
• However, to help you get an idea of safari lodge prices we’ve created three safari-lodge categories with various price ranges, to find out more click here.