Savuti campsite

Monday, 08 March 2010 20:22 |

(10 votes, average 4.30 out of 5)

Sign at Satuti Campsite If you want to camp in Savuti then there is only one place you can go: Savuti Campsite. This campsite offers large camping sites with running water (not drinking water) on every campsite. In the center of the campsite is an elephant proof complex which houses the ablutions, showers and washing basins. If you're lucky there will be hot water. If you walk to the ablutions building from your campsite you will have to walk through pretty deep sand. That on itself is not a major drama, but in a lot of places this sand is mixed with pieces of charcoal from fires and braai's and that means that your feet will get extremely dirty. Lot's of people complain about this campsite on the Internet, but compared to the camping sites in Chobe Riverfront or the Central Kalahari Game Reserve this is a luxury camping. Overall the campsite does offers pleasant accommodation. I quite missed having a shower and having running water when I was in the Central Kalahari. At the riverfront the ablutions were very rundown and all the solar power panels were buggered so I think Savuti Campsite is in pretty decent condition.

At the time of writing (October 2008) this article the bookings for Savuti are being handled by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP). This will most probably change in the near future though as DWNP is outsourcing the management of campgrounds. Check this article for more information.

For your safety

Warning sign at Satuti Campsite Stay in your tent, and keep it closed, during the night as lions, hyaenas and elephants walk through camp during the night. People have been killed in Savuti campsite in recent years (some because of stupidity and others by sheer bad luck) so be careful. In 1999 elephants raided the campsite, trampled the restroom facilities and in the process killed two tourists. Since then an elephant proof ablutions block has been build so you're perfectly safe if you're taking a shower right now, but be careful when you walk through the camp. When I stayed in Savuti campsite I saw lions in camp twice and elephant in camp almost every day.

Booking a campsite

Getting a booking in Savuti campsite can be something of a mission. The camp only offers ten campsites (CV1 through CV10) that can be booked through the Department of Wildlife and National Parks. You have to book months (or even a year) in advance to be certain that the camp has campsites available. What isn't advertised is that Savuti camp has a huge 'reserve' campsite. This campsite is located behind the ablutions and it is used to accomodate travellers that don's have a reservation for the regular campsites. The reserve campsite is managed by the reception at Savuti camp. If you don't have a booking ask them if they can help you out. If there is room at the reserve campsite they will send you there. The reserve campsite is HUGE so you'll get a spot there 99% of the time. I've used the reserve camping myself in October 2008 when I wanted an extra night in Savuti. Reception helped allocated me a spot at the reserve camping without any problem. Check the photo gallery at the bottom of the page for pictures of the reserve campsite.

Savuti campsites photo gallery

This photo gallery contains pictures of all the different campsites and the elephnat proof ablutions building in Savuti camp. These campsites are CV1 through CV10 plus the reserve campsite.

Last Updated (Monday, 15 November 2010 14:18)

Arnoud Quanjer Wildlife Photography

Savuti campsite

For your safety

Booking a campsite

Savuti campsites photo gallery