Chobe Water Villas

Three nights wasn’t enough. I only wish we’d stayed longer. The safaris were amazing, with plenty of wildlife on land and along the river, and our guides were knowledgeable and enthusiastic. The food was gourmet, the wines lovely and the cocktails great. Service was attentive, and the massage was fabulous. The decor was inspiring, with care put into every detail. What an incredible experience.

The biggest drawback of the Water Villas is getting into Chobe National Park. Since the lodge is in Namibia, you have to clear immigration to leave Namibia and then again to enter Botswana. Even when everything goes smoothly, the earliest you can reach the park is 0830, and the immigration offices close at 1630, so an evening drive isn’t possible. The boat safari also can’t go to the Botswana side of the island to see animals in the game park, though there are still animals to view on the island. If multiple daily game drives in the park are your main reason for coming, this isn’t the right place. There’s good game viewing from the lodge with binoculars. Buffalo, elephants and other animals were on the island in front of us every day. Hippos regularly sang right by our villa, and we saw loads of birds from the lodge and boat. We also really enjoyed the sunset boat cruises and safaris. Even having stayed at a number of five-star hotels and resorts, I’d say this place may top them all. The staff took care of every need and treated us better than family. Everyone made an impression, especially Carine, Joel and Joy. The accommodations were top-notch and the amenities were great. We’d do our very best to include Chobe Water Villas in another trip. The attention to detail, care and service were over the top. The cuisine changes daily, and the chef and team making such first-class meals out in the African bush is wonderful. Some people would come just for the food.

The sundowner platform was a standout, with an off-the-charts view. There are several other lovely places to watch from, too, and the open lobby is a nice feature. The property itself is lovely, with incredibly warm, friendly staff. It’s a difficult place to get to, but once there, the views across the river into Chobe National Park from the Namibian side are spectacular. Food and beverage could have been a little better and more polished. The Chobe game drive was also more crowded than my experience in the Masai Mara. I suggested adding a local dish as a menu option. Even so, this cost less and felt like better value than our Masai Mara experience. Michael, Dehafa (sp?), Fabian and many others took great care of us.

A lovely getaway spot, though it’s quite pricey. If you can afford it, it’s definitely somewhere to go with your loved ones.