Bakwena sits right on the bank of the Chobe, surrounded by riverine forest and floodplain, with the river itself doing most of the work out front. It is run by the Young family, and that shows: the welcome is personal rather than corporate, and the whole place feels lived in rather than staged.
It is a popular choice with our travellers for a simple reason. The riverfront position is genuinely excellent, and the price is not what you would expect for it. The park entrance is 15 to 20 minutes away, so you are on a game drive almost before you have finished your coffee.
Days here split between land and water. Drives follow the riverbank before heading into the bush for elephant, buffalo, impala and lion. Boat cruises give you the other half of Chobe, with crocodiles on the sandbanks, rafts of hippo and some of the best birding in the country. There is a cultural visit to a local village if you want it, bicycles if you would rather explore under your own steam, and a day trip to Victoria Falls is possible from here.
Ten chalets facing the river, twin or king, tucked into indigenous forest with your own veranda. Air conditioning and Wi-Fi.
Five chalets set back from the river on stilts three metres up, thatched and surrounded by bush. Reached by a wooden staircase.
One family chalet sleeping four.
Set apart from the rest and a little larger, with a free-standing bath and a day bed on the veranda.
Every trip we run is tailor-made, so if you want Bakwena Lodge on an itinerary that is not listed, just say.
Tell us what you are after and we will tell you honestly whether it is the right fit, and what else is worth considering.
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