Chobe Chilwero Lodge, an A&K Sanctuary

What an extraordinary lodge this is! We have traveled to South Africa, Tanzania, and Kenya, but the Chobe Sanctuary Chilwero Lodgehas one of the best situations we could imagine from which to explore the beauty of Botswana. A short drive from the airport in Kasane, the lodge is nestled deep inside a private road and adjacent to the river. Each suite is spacious and beautifully turned out; in fact the entire lodge is charmingly appointed and showcases local culture. There is a separate bar from which to enjoy the sunset views, and the dining area is attractive and takes advantage of the scenic location. We visited in winter, so the blazing fireplace at breakfast was lovely, as were the lap blankets at dinner (and the heated mattress pads for cozy sleeping). The food was extraordinary and creative from make-your-own pizzas one lunchtime to a traditional Brai dinner with local dancers. Most amazing, though, were the game drives. Our genius of the natural world and kind-hearted teacher was Chika, the most passionate guide and driver. The lodge is located virtually around the corner from Chobe National Park, and the wildlife and scenery is truly breathtaking. The sunset cruises on the river are absolutely magical. The Sanctuary Chobe Chilwero has it all!

Unforgettable Stay at Sanctuary Chobe Chilwero Lodge! My husband and I stayed at Sanctuary Chobe Chilwero Lodge in September 2025, and it was the highlight of our Southern Africa trip. Our guide, Kux, was knowledgeable, engaging, and truly passionate about the wildlife. Thanks to his expertise and coordination with other guides, we experienced a spectacular leopard sighting we’ll never forget! Kux also took us on incredible river safaris and shared fascinating stories about his life growing up in the Okavango Delta, which made our experience even more special. If you’re lucky enough to have him as your guide, you’re in for an amazing adventure. The lodge itself was outstanding: delicious food, warm and attentive staff, and luxurious accommodations! After visiting several countries during our journey, we both agreed that our time at Chobe Chilwero was the absolute highlight. We can’t wait to return, next time to visit the Okavango Delta as well. Highly recommended!

Fantastic, small lodge right on the river. All the staff knew us , and greeted us by our first names. Our safari guide, Spencer was first rate, and very knowledgeable. Daily laundry service is included, everything was washed and folded and back in our room the same evening. Rooms are very clean and spacious. Guests have their own standalone suite spread privately around the grounds.

The family said to give this place 6/5 stars. We've stayed at several lodges over the years and this one has been the best by a large margin. Rooms and staff were excellent. Food was good. The night with traditional dancers and the BBQ night were fun and a nice touch. Our guide, Chika, was fantastic and gave us a once in a lifetime encounter with a pride of lions. We especially liked the lunch-time boat safari on the Chobe. They were all about the details and we noticed and appreciated these. Only complaint was the lack of inconsistent WiFi.

Three night stay in June at Chobe Chilwero, one of the three lodges visited in Botswana.||Pros:||- Very tasty food each day, and the chef and kitchen staff was very accommodating, making a simple meal of delicious chicken broth soup and rice one day, when one member of our party had an upset stomach. One of the best chicken soups ever tasted!||- Our private guide each day was Lets, and he was dedicated, flexible, and shared his love of nature and endless knowledge of the local environment. Thank you Lets!||- Lodges, not tents. The sleeping rooms are permanent structures, not tents or "under canvas," which means working heat and A/C as needed, spacious sleeping area, full bathroom and shower, etc.||- Convenient location. On the edge of the Chobe National Park entrance, Chobe River, and within a few minutes drive of Kasane town and airport. This means that you can fly into Kasane airport and spend the afternoon doing game drives. River location opens up the possibility of sunset cruises, which we enjoyed two days. While this is not a private concession (meaning no night drives, no walking safari, no off-roading), we encountered few other vehicles. Proximity to the river means you have drive and boat options, which we liked.||- Really nice view from the front yard down to the river. About every 4 days, the staff plans an sunset BBQ dinner in the boma.||- Victoria Falls (Mosi-Oa-Tunya – The Smoke That Thunders) is 90 minutes away, and we opted for a day trip. The lodge staff set it up for us, and enjoyed the chance to see this natural wonder.||- Elephants! Chobe National Park has many many elephants, and this was a big plus for us, personally.||- There is a swimming pool and a massage/spa option, but we were so busy on game drives that we did not use these.|||Cons:||- We had a few small miscommunications with housekeeping, but nothing that was too major.||- Wi-fi in the common areas. Suggestion: Please remove wi-fi access from the common areas and post signage. The atmosphere in the lodge bar and dining areas is lovely. It's unfortunate when it's ruined by somebody video chatting loudly (usually with no headphones) with family back home or doing a “business deal.” Nobody else wants to hear this conversation. Wish management would keep WiFi limited to the individual rooms.||Reminder to tip staff, guides, etc. They work hard and it makes a difference.

Can’t recommend this more. Superb game drive, superb boat safari. Such a rich area. You don’t know where to look. Bobby was great in ensuring we saw what we could and even found a leopard. Boat safari allows you to look across the river into Namibia. And elephants swimming across the river to islands daily to graze. Only downside is no off-roading but good for conservation. Elephants EVERYWHERE.

We spent 2 nights/3 days. The accommodations are beautiful inside and out. Equipped with everything you need and then some. The cuisine is beautifully presented and delicious. The grounds are large, including a pool, firepit and amazing sunset views. We used the pool after our morning drive, however the mosquitos were quite pesky, even with repellent on. As long as you're in the water you're fine, but once on the lounge chair their buffet is open...Lol. We had 3 game drives and 1 river cruise during our stay. Our guide was so knowledgeable on the animals, birds and the bush plants/trees. We saw hundreds of Elephants and Impala, several Lions, a dozen Cape Buffalo, Baboons, Eagles, Kudu, Giraffes, Hippos. Can't wait to return.

Excellent property. We loved our 3-night stay. Room, food, location, and safari all were top notch. Only small negative was inconsistent WiFi. Hope to stay here again someday.