Muchenje Safari Lodge

Approximately an hours drive from Kasane airport lies Muchenje Lodge providing a tantalising opportunity to glimpse some of the wildlife hidden with the Chobe National Park as you drive to the lodge. We arrived at what has been a long drought and at first glance you would be mistaken for thinking you had landed in an arid and barren desert. First impressions are quickly replaced by moments of awe as you share the stark beauty of nature that included remarkable variety of wildlife, including the rare brown hyena, sable and roan antelope. Elephants however deserve a special mention, these incredible creatures dominate and we must have seen at least 300 in and around the river! G-Bee, our driver and guide did an excellent job of satisfying the needs of long term safari enthusiasts in very challenging conditions. Lodge chalets include fantastic bathroom facilities and large comfortable beds with every amenity you could need. We found the sitting area rather cramped but as we were rarely in the chalet this minor detail did not impact on our enjoyment. Dining is communal which is somewhat constraining in terms of timing of meals. Our personal preference is to have a choice to dine alone or with others, particularly after long hot days, this being our only significant gripe. The staff are wonderfully warm, friendly and welcoming and go out of their way to accommodate individual needs. Our sincere thanks to Evelyn and her team for including us in the Independence Day celebrations on 30Sep2024, it was the perfect end to our brief stay.

Muchenje is an amazing place to stay. We have been on safari many times in many places, and this was the third time we had been to Botswana. This was the perfect ending for a perfect holiday. The flexibility we had in choosing activities out of the range on offer was outstanding. Tips was our excellent guide. We could have gone out on night drives every night if we had wanted. The whole staff were kind, attentive and friendly. This is a very well run lodge with excellent food! Thanks Chefs! The animals were plentiful even in the green season, the view over Namibia from the lodge is stunning, and to top it off, my husband's 70th birthday meal was a lovely surprise with probably the best birthday cake I have ever tasted! I'm often asked where to go for a first safari experience. Muchenje would be it. Flexibility, elephants galore (and in the river), land and river experiences, experienced guides, good food, kindness and bucket loads of the real african spirit that we have become addicted to. Thank you so much for the joy you gave us! Thanks Frank and team.

A very friendly lodge run by Frank and his welcoming team. A great location to experience to explore the chobe area and we did indeed see it all. Combination of game drive and boat trip it was an amazing experience. The lodge was in a great location and the accommodation had terrific views to neighbouring Zambia. Food was great. Would really recommend this fabulous lodge.

This place could not be any better! Our family absolutely loved the experience - the staff, the animals, and the lodge. Philly was our guide and he crushed it. He met with us to review what activities were available and helped us build our three day plan. We had morning game drives, a village tour, a boat safari, afternoon drives, and a night time drive. All were such wonderful experiences. And he can even make a perfect baby buffalo call... The staff at the lodge was excellent. They were all friendly and helpful - always willing to spend some time with you. Word got out that my son plays chess and he had a different opponent each night! The food was outstanding - varied, tasty, and fresh. Couldn't ask for more. Even when there was a brief utility issue everyone jumped to minimize the impact - so well handled! The lodge itself was perfect. We weren't looking for a Four Seasons experience - and we got the perfect lodge. Spacious, clean, comfortable! The rooms were spot on. I personally loved sitting in the main lodge having a beer and snacks while chatting with new friends. The quantity and variety of animals was staggering. Even in the beginning of the rainy season we saw it all. I cannot recommend Muchanje enough!

This was our last stop of our Xmas break before heading home. We were originally booked for just 2 nights but due to Cem Air cancelling our Kasane -Jo’burg flight we needed an extra night stay that the lodge kindly accommodated all 4 of us which was hugely appreciated as there is only 12 lodges. The lodge rooms are well appointed with toiletries/tea/coffee making facilities as well as a well stocked mini bar all inc in the nightly rate. Lodge views overlook the park & Chobe river & are spectacular. All meals were excellent, some dishes served directly to you & others buffet style. There are 3 game drives each day (5.30am; 4pm & a night drive around the lodge after dinner) - the guides are friendly & very knowledgeable. Great efforts were made to see our chosen animals:- 🐘 🐆 This was our 1st trip to Botswana & it won’t be our last. Thanks to all at the lodge for making our stay so memorable!

I have never been so impressed with an accommodation. We were welcomed upon arrival by Evelyn, Jost, Wame, and Mula. We felt like we were amongst friends immediately. With each amazing game drive with Jibbie, Rambo, and Phillie we fell more and more in love with Botswana. The daily meals in the dining hall are designed in such a way that fosters community and conversation amongst the travelers. This was one of our absolute highlights as we met so many fabulous people from all over the globe. The food was amazing and the excitement of game drives and the boat ride on the Chobe were the epitome of safari time. On our last day, we discovered due to an airport issue, our flight leaving Kasane had been canceled. The angels at Muchenje took us back in with their graciousness and helped alleviate an otherwise stressful time. Please tell the entire team (and John) that we appreciate your kindness and going the extra mile. You have all left us with amazing memories and friendship.