Northern Botswana, October 2006: Orient-Express Safaris’ Savute Elephant Camp is enviably located in Botswana’s world-famous Chobe National Park, where visitors enjoy true rugged African natural beauty and one of the best wildlife viewing experiences on the African continent.  The Savute area of the Chobe National Park is renowned for its huge concentration of elephants and for its predators, particularly its resident lions and spotted hyena populations. At certain times of the year the variety of animals and their sheer numbers can be staggering.

Savute Elephant Camp has recently undergone a contemporary revamp by leading interior designer Graham Viney, who has expertly combined  afro-chic styling with a calm compatibility with the surrounding rugged Kalahari landscape. 

The specially designed furniture for the luxurious and spacious “tented boudoirs” has sandy coloured soft coverings with rugged textures, contrasted with dark stained wood bedposts and chairs. Striped ebony and ivory tones are weaved into the floor mats and the beds are romantically draped with mocha mosquito nets. Tan leather lamp shades contrast with shiny chrome lamp stands and cushion accents include comb-patterned fabrics, organic designs and zig zags in cream and black. On the private decks, the modern line wicker furniture completes the sophisticated African feel. 

Each tent also has private double outdoor showers, allowing guests to commune intimately with nature whilst viewing the passing parade of four-legged visitors to the very busy and popular watering hole nearby.

Savute Elephant Camp’s lounge and dining area has been extended to include a lower deck which offers a magnificent view overlooking the sparkling swimming pool and the elephants jostling for position for a drink. A large free-standing double hammock and scattered sun loungers on the deck offer comfortably convenient “lounging with a view”, whilst soaking up the warm African sunshine.

The lounge fabrics are in keeping with the dry, arid bush of Savute. Chairs are covered in cream fabrics with a tan leather strapped effect and sofas with cream pin-striped fabric and rust coloured cushions. A hand woven floor mat is a checkerboard of brown and cream. Woven black and white telephone wire baskets decorate the coffee tables, and in the evenings, candle lamps with a white opaque perspex surround throw a soft night-time ambient light. 

The rather sensational bar counter is covered with faux python snakeskin and the geometric bar stools are covered in caramel leather. 

The dining area is surrounded by a semi-circle of upstanding indigenous Leadwood poles which have been collected from the surrounding area, creating the intimacy of a “boma” – a Boma is a traditional meeting place, where senior community members get-together for a "kgotla" or meeting; typically traditional food dishes would be served during these get-togethers in the boma.

Savute Elephant Camp is one of three luxury camps owned by Orient-Express Safaris, located in Northern Botswana in and around the mighty Okavango Delta. The other two camps, Khwai River Lodge and Eagle Island Camp, are located next to the Moremi Game Reserve and on the island of Xaxaba respectively.

For further enquiries or to make a reservation, please would you phone: +27 11 274-1800 or 
e-mail: reservations@orient-express-safaris.co.za