Early morning and afternoon game drives take you among Africa’s largest elephant population. You may also encounter lion, wild dogs, leopard, cheetah, hyenas, enjoy rare sightings of rock‐climbing klipspringers and elegant roan and, depending on the season, catch the second largest migration of zebra in Africa.

Savute is a bird‐lovers’ paradise, particularly in the summer months from December to March. Over 250 species populate the area, ranging from vast flocks of gregarious queleas to giant kori bustards and an array of majestic raptors.

Out in the bush, where rocks rear up among stony hills, is a collection of paintings that will take your breath away. These works by the San Bushmen are thought to be more than 1,500 years old—beautiful images of elephant, giraffe, sable and eland antelope. After admiring them, continue to the amazing baobab grove, a cathedral‐like cluster of 13 giant trees that rival the Bushmen’s paintings in age.

Gather round the campfire and exchange your day’s adventures, much as villagers do throughout Botswana. Flames flicker and lamps glow as drinks are served; a choir sings traditional songs and invites you to a buffet of African specialities. Settle into your seat as lodge guides recount tales of the bush and musicians strike up traditional songs. The evening often ends with everyone on their feet, dancing to rhythms handed down through generations.

The vast open spaces around Savute make it the perfect place to experience the immense, dark dome of the African night sky.

When you’re not out and about on safari, relax and unwind by the generous pool and take a cooling.

Morning and afternoon game drives are available in open land cruisers. Night game drives with spotlights and stargazing presentations are also available after dinner. As the lodge is located on a private concession, vehicles are allowed to drive before and after sunset, as well as off road.

Get close to the wildlife on a Khwai River walk with one of our experienced guides; spot animal tracks, fantastic insects and other amazing sights.

Helicopter flights over Botswana are one of life’s big adventures, and we are pleased to announce that Belmond Khwai River Lodge will now be offering this exciting, and optional, activity to our guests!

With no doors on the helicopter, guests can experience the Moremi Game Reserve and the Okavango Delta like never before: view inaccessible lakes and islands, as well as an abundance of wildlife from the sky, not to mention the incredible photographic opportunities that are presented on each and every flight.

Conceal yourself in our beautiful hide with elevated views across the Khwai River, the perfect spot to observe the rich variety of birds, including malachite kingfishers and open billed storks.

Discover how Bushmen used the stars to locate the true south. Using a telescope, focus in on constellations that northern hemisphere visitors may never have seen before, such as the Southern Cross.

Gather in a circle round the campfire to chat over the day’s highlights by the warmth and glow of the flames. A choir sings traditional songs and invites you to a feast of African dishes.

Take time out to read and relax by the expansive pool.

The Khwai River acts as a magnet to wildlife. Viewings from the main lodge are unsurpassed all year round. Hippos and elephants almost a certainty.

Being on the open water is what distinguishes the Okavango Delta from other safari experiences. These trips allow you to cover more ground, plunging deeper into the landscape and spotting a greater range of wildlife. Embark on a sunset barge cruise for mesmerizing views as you sip a sundowner. (Not available in the dry season, usually November to March.)

Let our experienced guides envelop you in nature. Spot amazing sights close‐up: an insect, animal tracks, big game droppings, swarming termite mounds. These small, unexpected aspects of delta life often make the biggest impression.

Glide silently on a traditional dugout canoe, a traditional mode of transport used by locals for centuries, as you traverse shallow, clear waters past brilliant waterlilies and papyrus grasses, reaching areas inaccessible by boat. Glimpse brightly coloured frogs, kingfishers, dragonflies or elephants feasting on the reeds.

Many people come to the lodge from all over the globe purely to spot the magnificent variety of birds. Over 400 land and aquatic species make for unrivalled viewing, including the rare Pel’s fishing owl, endangered wattled crane and the majestic African fish eagle.

The delta’s channels are rich with tilapia, and spotted and silver catfish inhabit the lazy pools. African pike, infamous fighters, are a favourite snare. If you have never fished before, this is the ultimate place to start. (Catch and release fishing only.)

Visit neighbouring Nxhoga village on the island of Xaxaba for an authentic insight into the Motswana way of life. Learn about the mud, reed and can huts, basket weaving and the fishing industry. Meet elders, engage with children, browse the small market, churches and bakery. There is a chance that your Belmond guide hails from Nxhoga and will explain how the community has adapted ancient traditions to suit modern times. (Accessible by boat/mokoro in wet months, and by game‐viewing vehicle in dry months.)