(12 tents)
Situated (GPS: SAVELE) close to the Safari Lodge, this was the first of Gametracker's camps that I visited following their reconstruction, and I was amazed at its scale. 'Tents' is really far too flimsy a word for the guest accommodation here. Each is built on a large, raised platform of wooden decking about 18m long and 6m across. At the front of this are a few safari chairs overlooking the bottom of the channel from quite a height, and behind them is a huge shaded canvas tent.

Inside this, on the polished wooden floor, are two adjacent three-quarter size beds under a walk-in mosquito net, with plenty of walking space around, several comfy chairs plus a writing-desk and a chair, and some solid and fairly stylish furnishings/fabrics.

Walking around the reverse of the wooden headboard reveals a place for suitcases, a wardrobe with a clothes rail, and the middle area of the tent, which is a dressing room. This has twin basins, several large mirrors and acres of hardwood surrounds. Through polished hardwood doors you'll find separate rooms for the large shower (easily big enough for shared showers) and the flush toilet.

Above the head of the bed, facing over it, are two air-conditioning units. These augment the large ceiling fan in the centre of the room, which can be used all day and night – as can the room's lights (which run on a 12V system). Savuti will often drop below freezing on winter nights, so if you get cold then there's a gas/oil/electric radiator to help take the chill off the enormous room.

However, what really makes the camp feel so substantial are a number of huge wooden 'walls' near to the main footpath through the camp. These have been designed to 'dissuade' the local elephants from idly wandering through – but they do nothing at all to help the camp blend in.

The camp's bar, lounge and dining room stand under a huge canvas roof with open sides. Around this is a veranda overlooking the large swimming pool, which itself overlooks a pumped waterhole in the Savuti Channel. That said, visiting at the height of the dry season you may be uncomfortable wallowing in the pool whilst stressed elephants argue over precious gulps of muddy water below you.

The lodge emphasises the quality of the food and accommodation, which are both high, and it's very similar indeed to its sister-camp, the Khwai River Lodge. Activities here concentrate on 4WD game drives during the day (night drives, and driving off-road, are not allowed in Chobe). It also has a small hide nearby, and will arrange visits to local bushman paintings on request.