Ngoma Safari Lodge

All 8 of the thatched river-facing suites have a wall of bay windows, providing 180-degree views of the Chobe River and its surrounding wildlife from the comfort of your own room. Catch a glimpse of bathing elephants, migrating zebra or buffalo grazing on the floodplain below. Each suite leads outside onto a private balcony, complete with comfortable deckchairs so that guests can sit back and relax against the golden backdrop of a stunning African sunset. There will also be a private pool and a refreshing outdoor shower. The suites are spacious and feature three-quarter beds which can be converted into a king-size bed. The beds have soft and breathable linen sheets and naturally dyed fabric. Two of the eight suites have sofa beds and may be used as triples. The rooms also consist of a lounge area and an en-suite bathroom with a large bath and indoor shower, as well as a double basin vanity. Air conditioning and overhead fans are provided to keep you comfortable, and there are tea and coffee making facilities, including a Nespresso machine and a mini-bar.

The central guest area forms the heart of the lodge, and is where guests will find the reception, dining and bar area including a large volcanic rock-finished swimming pool, sundeck and viewing platform. Guests can enjoy a range of meals throughout the day. There is also a boma dining area where guests can enjoy food roasted over a roaring fire under the African stars.

Embark out into the bush in a robust open-air safari vehicle and see the animals’ habitats and how they live up close. Each game drive is a unique experience, full of potential to see something unforgettable. You may track a lioness and her cubs, or a pack of wild dogs, all while learning about the delicate relationship between biomes, plants and animals from an experienced guide. The first game vehicle usually leaves camp before sun up, and the second departs in the late afternoon. Game viewing tends to be most thrilling during dawn and dusk, when predators are most active.

Night drives are a completely different experience from daytime game drives. The night safari vehicles are equipped with spotlights to scan the bush and pick out nocturnal creatures that you would not be able to find any other time of day. The darkness heightens your other senses, and adds thrill to the experience. You may witness the dramatic moment a lion takes down its prey, but night safaris are mostly about the smaller species that would otherwise go unnoticed. Discover bush babies, genets and small felines under the cover of starlight.

Walking safaris allow you to access areas that the game vehicles are unable to reach in a silent and stealthy manner that increases the chances for amazing views and photographic opportunities. This experience allows you to interact with nature in an intimate way, following tracks and reading the signs of the bush with the help of a professional armed guide.

The good climate and varied terrain mean that any season is appropriate for birding in Botswana. In the dry months, large flocks of birds will gather around water sources to peck on stranded water-dwellers such as fish and crustaceans. Meanwhile, the green season is when migrant bird species return. Chobe National Park is home to over 400 species, from flocks of flamingos to white-backed night herons. Professional guides will help guests spot the birds they most wish to see, including the elusive Pel’s Fishing Owl. Guests are encouraged to bring binoculars for an enhanced experience.

Machaba Safaris work alongside local communities to build schools, support teachers and provide educational supplies. Guests are able to take an excursion to Dithsipi and visit Gonnye Sethlare primary school in Botswana to meet teachers and pupils. You may even be invited to present to the class. This experience gives guests the opportunity to see the real Botswana, learn about local culture and customs, and witness incredible traditional tribal dance performances.

Machaba Safaris provide support for the Main Camp Primary School, located in a remote village that borders the Hwange National Park. This support includes providing teacher’s wages, facilities, textbooks and a new solar-powered computer lab. They also built the first Gonnye Sethlare Pre School in May 2019 which provides education for 36 children, and there are plans to build more of these education centres in other locations that Machaba Safaris work in. Their youth development plan gives young men and women the chance to gain work experience, and youths are given the necessary training to become lodge managers.

Ngoma Safari Lodge, developed with the Chobe Enclave Conservation Trust, is committed to making a sustainable difference to the local communities and their environment. Machaba Safaris work to identify infrastructure needs within the communities and countries that they operate in, and find ways of creating them. This includes providing water to vulnerable communities, establishing sustainable vegetable gardens, putting up animal-proof fencing, and building homes for impoverished families.

Machaba Safaris work with local stakeholders and communities in order to safeguard the crucial ecosystems that exist in Botswana and Zimbabwe. They provide educational programmes and talks in order to teach how humans and wildlife can coexist, as well as giving aid to anti-poaching patrols in Southern Africa.

To reduce their carbon footprint, Ngoma Safari Lodge uses energy-efficient fridges in their kitchens, which are switched off at night to conserve power. Heat-sensitive items can then be stored in coal cold rooms and in the cellars to prevent them from heating up.