River View Lodge

The customer service at this intimate retreat right on the Chobe River was out of this world. From the beginning to the end we were impressed. Super-friendly staff happily accommodated my request for vegan and gluten free food. The cook baked fresh gf bread, especially for me, brought us non-dairy milk, and they made breakfast plates of delicious cooked vegetables, potatoes, and seasoned baked beans, in additon to the the regular cereals, toast, and fruit, etc. They put together a lovley pre-packed breakfast for us when we had to leave early for a boat trip. Both breakfast and a 2pm lunch (set menu) were included and they made gluten free pasta for us for lunch. There was salad to to go with it, and we were set. When I needed an adapter for an American appliance one of the staff went out and bought one for the lodge that I could use. We were in the house, which is very spacious and has its own private patio overlooking the Chobe River where we could see all kinds of bird life. It was pleasant and clean and we had a wonderful stay there. The gardens are very nicely kept and there is an electric fence to keep unwanted animals out. There isn't a lot of room right on the property to take walks, but all the other benefits more than made up for that

I absolutely loved staying at the River View Lodge. The staff is amazing and SO helpful. The lodge itself is small but very lovely - right on the river,with a nice outdoor lounge area and small pool. The food was great and so much better than I expected for a place its size. Aside from the awesome staff, the best part is the activities offered. On the morning game drive we saw lions, leopards, zebras, and much more. The late afternoon river cruises were relaxing and exciting at the same time, with great views of hippos, crocs, and of course, lots of elephants. I strongly recommend staying here and taking advantage of the wonderful property and activities.

We loved our stay at the Chobe River Lodge!! I came here with my husband as the last stop on our honeymoon after previously staying at 2 lodges that were on private reserves. What I would say is, don't judge a book by it's cover. Driving up to the hotel, we were not expecting to be so close to resident homes and a bit off the beaten path. But it really is a lovely hotel! Really clean, renovated nice rooms, and wonderful staff! They offer breakfast, a late lunch, and dinner every night .The dinner seating is communal so every sits around 7:30 to eat together after their final game drive or river cruise for that night. They went above and beyond one night when the options were pork or lasagna and I don't eat pork or cheese so they made me something else that I was able to eat which was so nice! Then the next day at lunch I found a small pasta dish that was made specially without cheese. It was such a nice detail that was unnecessary but so accommodating. We took a game drive with John and he was by far our favorite guide of our entire trip. We couldn't believe how much he knew!! For example, all of the cars were gathering to see a couple of lions in the field. When the lions walked away, he told our car that we should stay and wait it out because those lions are going to go on a hunt soon. He told us that patience would be rewarded. So we waited about 10 minutes and LO AND BEHOLD the lions started to actually hunt the buffalo!! And then at each step he would tell us what was going to happen before it happened - the lion would try to separate the pack, they wouldn't go for the buffalo on the end because they were too strong so they'd go for the 2nd one that looked weaker (I still don't know how he knew that), etc.) He was exceptional. We can't stop talking about our drive with him. Overall, great lodge with great staff that won't break the bank!

The lodge was a real haven, situated on the river bank and provided the perfect place to rest after a long day’s travel. The staff were extremely friendly, the rooms were spotless and the food excellent! Really one of the most welcoming and pleasant environments in the area.

Horrible!