Muchenje Safari Lodge

OVERVIEW:

Muchenje Safari Lodge is a no-frills, great-value safari lodge with epic views of the Chobe river and an excellent base from which to explore Chobe National Park and its surrounds. Privately owned and run, with a focus on first-rate guiding and a diverse variety of activities, what it lacks in the luxury stakes, Muchenje certainly compensates for in setting and wildlife viewing. If your priorities are value for money and exceptionally good game viewing, you won’t be disappointed! Accommodation is booked on a full-board basis, including all meals, all local drinks, all safari activities, transfers between the lodge and Kasane Airport, Wi-Fi, and a laundry service. The lodge is open all year round.

ACCESS & LOCATION:

Muchenje Safari Lodge is located within the Chobe Forest Reserve on the western side of Chobe National Park. Overlooking the majestic Chobe river with its surrounding seasonal floodplains, the views here are exquisite. It’s just under an hour’s drive from Kasane Airport to the lodge.

ACCOMMODATION & FACILITIES AT MUCHENJE SAFARI LODGE:

Muchenje Safari Lodge has ten thatched cottages for double occupancy and a larger, two-storey family suite that sleeps a maximum of four guests. The cottages are accessed via well-maintained pathways that lead directly to private verandas with simple seating arrangements and panoramic views of the Chobe river’s seasonal floodplains and Namibia’s Zambezi region in the distance. Inside, each understated bedroom includes a double or twin bed/s, mosquito netting, bedside tables and reading lights, writing desks, wardrobes, and sitting areas. Additional features include air conditioning, a ceiling fan, a tea-and-coffee station, a digital safe, and a mini-bar. Each cottage has an en-suite bathroom with a flush toilet, twin washbasins, and an indoor shower. The larger unit has two storeys – a master bedroom on the ground floor and a mezzanine level up a flight of stairs with twin beds. The shared bathroom has a large bathtub and bi-fold doors that open onto a private veranda with beautiful panoramic views.

Muchenje Safari Lodge’s communal spaces are housed in a split-level timber-and-thatch building with roll-up canvas walls allowing ample breeze flow. The lounge offers plenty of comfortable seating, an inviting bar, and a communal dining space where guests share meals around a large table. There’s a small reference library, and the safari shop stocks a good range of curio items and reading material. Outside, you’ll find a viewing deck that further maximises the lodge’s exquisite views and a fire-pit ideal for gathering with other guests to share stories of days spent on safari. Muchenje also has a well-sized swimming pool, allowing for a decent swim between the day’s activities. Please be aware that the swimming pool here has no depth markings, so take care before you jump in!

ACTIVITIES AT MUCHENJE SAFARI LODGE:

Activities at Muchenje Safari Lodge focus primarily on boat trips and wildlife viewing in Chobe National Park. However, a wide range of activities is on offer, including night drives and village visits.

• Game drives

  – A 5-minute drive from Ngoma Gate, game drives focus on the western region of Chobe National Park, with half- and full-day excursions on offer. This area is characterized by sprawling plains, broadleaf woodlands, riverine forests, and, of course, the Chobe river itself and other water sources. Chobe is famous for its immense concentrations of elephant. However, other wildlife highlights abound, including lion, buffalo, spotted hyena, hippo, giraffe, blue wildebeest, zebra, and vervet monkey. There are also over 450 bird species, including fish eagles, herons, and bee-eaters.

• Night drives

  – Night drives are led by a knowledgeable and experienced guide within Chobe Forest Reserve and provide thrilling opportunities to seek out the area’s nocturnal species, including wildcats, honey badgers, and bush babies.

• Mokoro excursions

  – Mokoro excursions are possible when the floodwaters arrive on the western floodplains, usually between the months of April and December. Mokoro boats depart directly in front of Muchenje Lodge and explore shallow channels and floodplains. This is a truly quintessential Botswana experience, especially if you’re not continuing onto the Okavango. Please note that the minimum age for mokoro excursions is 12.

• Walking safaris

  – Morning walks offer a completely different perspective as you slow down and pause to take in the minute details not visible from a game-viewing vehicle. Your guide will introduce you to all sorts of fascinating plants and insects, pointing out fresh tracks and signs of life along the way. Please note that the minimum age for walking safaris is 12 years.

• Boat trips

  – Depart Muchenje in the morning and drive to the jetty on the eastern side of the park, from where the lodge’s private boat departs. Your experienced guide will know exactly where the elephants like to congregate and cross to Sedudu island, and you’ll also look out for other wildlife species, including grunting pods of hippo and a wealth of waterbirds.

• Community visits

  – Those staying at Muchenje for at least three nights can enjoy a trip to the nearest village, where they’ll meet members of the local community, be invited into a homestead, and visit Mabele Primary School—a great introduction to one of the area’s rural villages and the real beating heart of Botswana.

*This property is unfenced and located in a wildlife area, so large and potentially dangerous animals do pass through. If you opt to stay here, always be alert when walking around the camp and request for a member of staff to escort you if you have any concerns. Any guest is escorted after dark as a matter of course.