Chobe Safari Lodge is the biggest and most resort-like of the park’s luxury properties, set on the north bank of the Victoria Nile near the Karuma rapids at the eastern edge of the park. It is built on a grand scale – a three-tier infinity pool stepping down toward the river, a spa, several restaurants and bars, and a spread of accommodation from standard rooms to a Presidential Cottage – and it occupies a quieter, greener, less-visited stretch of the Nile than the lodges clustered around Paraa. For guests who want strong facilities and a sense of space, it is hard to beat.
Where it is
The lodge is on the north bank near Karuma, at the north-eastern corner of the park, roughly an hour and a half to two hours by road from the Paraa area where most of the game drives take place. This is a trade-off: you are not on the doorstep of the Buligi tracks, but you are on a beautiful, wooded stretch of river with the Karuma rapids nearby, and the drive between Chobe and the northern game circuit is itself productive. It is well placed for a route that enters or leaves the park via Gulu or the Karuma bridge.
The setting
Chobe stands among tall riverine trees on a bank above the rushing water near Karuma, so the sound of the river is constant. The centrepiece is the three-level pool built into the slope with an uninterrupted view of the Nile, ringed by loungers and a pool bar. The grounds are large and green, with resident colobus and vervet monkeys, hippo on the banks below, and excellent birding along the water. Despite its size the lodge is laid out so that the tented rooms in particular feel private and set apart.
Rooms
The range is wide: standard and superior rooms in the main building, spacious deluxe and super-deluxe safari tents on raised decks along the river, larger suites, and a self-contained Presidential Cottage for families or groups wanting exclusivity. The tents are the pick for atmosphere – canvas and thatch, a proper bathroom, a private deck over the water. All rooms are en-suite with mosquito nets and hot water; the higher categories have air-conditioning.
Facilities and food
Facilities are the most extensive in the park: the three-tier pool, a full spa, a gym, multiple dining venues with buffet and a la carte options, several bars including a swim-up bar, a conference room, a gift shop and Wi-Fi in the public areas. The lodge arranges game drives, the launch cruise, the falls hike, sport fishing, birding walks and white-water rafting at Karuma. It is a good choice for a group or an event as well as for couples and families.
Who it suits
Chobe suits travellers who value facilities, space and a spectacular pool, who are happy to drive a little further to the game, and who want a beautiful and peaceful stretch of the Nile to come back to. It works very well for families, for multi-generational groups, and for anyone combining Murchison with the adventure activities around Karuma. Guests who want to be right beside the Paraa game tracks may prefer a lodge nearer the ferry.
What it costs, as a guide
Luxury lodges and tented camps at Murchison typically run from around US$250 to US$650 per person per night sharing a double, full board, with the small riverside camps at the top of that range and a suite or a fly-in package higher again. Park entry fees, your vehicle and guide, and the activities are all separate – a full safari quote from us wraps everything into one figure. Rates move with the season and the room type and change from year to year, so the prices here are indicative and for planning only; we always confirm the exact current rate for your dates directly with the property before you commit to anything.
How it fits your safari
Chobe is at the north-eastern end of the park near Karuma, further from the Paraa game tracks than the lodges around the ferry, so we tend to use it either for guests who want its facilities and its stretch of river, or on a route that comes in or out via the Karuma and Gulu side. It pairs well with a game drive on the way to or from Paraa and with the white-water rafting near Karuma.
Good to know
Rates, room types and exact facilities change from season to season, so we confirm the current price and availability for your dates directly with the property before you commit to anything – there is no charge for this and no obligation. Power at most Murchison lodges is a mix of mains, solar and generator and may switch off overnight, so a head torch and a power bank are worth carrying; Wi-Fi, where it exists, is slow and best treated as a way to send a message home. Meals are usually full board, and any lodge will pack a breakfast or lunch box for an early game drive if we let the kitchen know. A yellow-fever certificate is required to enter Uganda and malaria prophylaxis is recommended for the whole country.
Check availability at Chobe Safari Lodge
Send us your travel dates and the style of safari you have in mind and we will come back within 24 hours with current rates and availability at Chobe Safari Lodge, along with a full day-by-day itinerary and a clear quote – no deposit to enquire. Browse our Murchison Falls safaris, read the park guide, see the rest of our Murchison Falls accommodation, or get in touch now.
