It started as a small idea. You could even say a seed was planted.
Imagine stepping into the Botswana bush on your own two feet. This is the unique experience we wanted to offer our guests, and it has blossomed into a significant rewilding project!
To bring this vision to life, we began by consulting local tree experts and conservationists. With their guidance, we removed invasive plant species, cleared degraded areas, and planted almost 200 indigenous trees, reviving what was once a neglected patch of bush into a thriving natural corridor.
The Hands Behind the Habitat
James, our General Manager, along with a small, dedicated team, spent weeks walking the land behind the Bush Rooms.
They carved out pathways that now meander through the riverine forest, combretum thickets, and past iconic trees like the Sausage Tree (so vital for pollinators like bats and sunbirds) and the massive African Star Chestnut tree, a keystone species known for stabilising soils and creating nesting spaces for birds and mammals.
At the crown of the trail awaits the Treetops Lookout deck — a tranquil, canopy-high perch that gazes out across the shimmering Chobe River. Raised with care and craftsmanship by our local builder, Bowasi and his crew, the deck was built entirely from reclaimed timber salvaged during our recent renovations.
Read more: What is the Treetops Lookout deck?
Rewilding and restoration at The Chobe Safari Lodge
Rewilding is not just planting trees. It's about restoring ecological structure and function.
Our ecosystem consultant, Lyn, helped identify key native species that would rebuild soil health, offer habitat, and enhance biodiversity.
One standout species is the Vachellia karroo, or Sweet Thorn — a hardy, drought-resistant tree that supports everything from soil nitrogen levels to butterfly larvae and bushbaby diets. Historically used for medicine, rope, leather tanning, and even rituals, this tree has been both a practical and spiritual resource across southern Africa. Its presence signals fertile soils and good grazing, making it invaluable in rewilding efforts. Birds nest safely among its thorns, and its bright yellow blossoms attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, critical to the rebirth of our woodland ecosystem.
Lyn also got incredibly excited when surveying the property to create a complete species list (coming soon!) and discovered plants that are typically more common in the Lower Zambezi area, such as the Zambezi cocoa bush.
We also worked to protect termite mounds, which serve as natural compost factories and hotspots for rare plant species. These seemingly humble hills are essential to the fertility and structure of African soils and are now thriving features of the Bush Walk.
A Landscape with a Past
This pocket of riverine forest is incredibly special. Because of the beautiful trees that now line the banks of the Chobe River, we often forget that Chobe National Park was once a logging area. (Now, that's a story!)
A short distance upstream from the lodge, the now tranquil Serondela picnic site was once a bustling logging depot. During the mid-20th century, hardwoods were harvested in this area. This large-scale logging degraded some of the riverbanks in the Chobe landscape.
Chobe National Park itself was declared in 1968 — the first national park in Botswana — but the legacy of logging is still visible to those who know where to look. Rewilding the Bush Walk is part of our effort to heal that legacy.
As you meander beneath the canopy, you may also stumble upon forgotten relics of the past. We found old foundations and remains of Savvas Stores, a once-bustling general store that served the Kasane community from the 1950s. Back then, this humble outpost was a lifeline for traders and local residents to pick up supplies, swap stories, and catch news from across the region.
From Seedlings to Sightings
Rewilding isn't always smooth.
During last year's drought, baboons developed a particular fondness for the young tree shoots, and we lost a few saplings in the process. But every setback has taught us something valuable — about coexistence and the slow magic of nature returning home.
Now, the Bush Walk teems with life.
What to Expect on the Bush Walk
This easy walk is designed for nature lovers of all fitness levels.
Safely fenced off from elephants and buffalo, the single wire strands still permit game from the neighbouring Chobe National Park to wander in for viewing. Common animals you can see include impalas, Chobe bushbuck, vervet monkeys and warthogs. One unforgettable moment during the trail's development was discovering a leopard kill — a bushbuck carcass hoisted into a jackalberry tree, its skeleton still partially visible in the branches today.
Stephan, our grounds contractor, oversees the trail’s ongoing evolution. Each day, our team walks the route before guests do, ensuring not only your safety but the preservation of this peaceful slice of wilderness.
The trail also features several platforms and guests pass a small pond and a seasonal stream. Birds love the trickling water from this spring that eventually funnels past the Riverside Restaurant and into the Chobe River.
Sit a while and you can expect to spot a range of species. On a recent trot, we spied kudu at the waterside and hornbills flitting through the canopy, their wings flashing like pale white pages of a book, while bee-eaters and other birds gathered for a drink and a quick splash.
Rewilding is about more than scenery. It's about restoring a relationship between humans and nature, between the past and the future.
As we continue to expand this project, with more species lists and interpretive signs to come, we invite every guest to take part in this unfolding story.
As with every project we are developing, the Bush Walk at The Chobe Safari Lodge is not just a trail. It's a living, breathing act of restoration.