In 1960, hotelier Charles Trevor — founder of The Chobe Safari Lodge — envisioned something remarkable for Botswana's fledgling tourism industry.
At a time when big-game hunting still dominated safaris, Charles imagined a place where visitors could observe wildlife from above, not through a rifle scope, but from a peaceful perch among the trees.
His plan was both practical and imaginative.
At one end of a natural pan near the lodge, he proposed constructing a large, reinforced concrete drinking pool, designed to overflow. The clean water would serve birds and smaller animals, while the spillover would create a muddy patch ideal for elephants and buffalo.
It was a clever early example of eco-design: enhancing animal access to water while offering guests exceptional wildlife viewing.
Why is it called Treetops?
The centrepiece of his vision was what he called the "Tree Tops Hotel" — a viewing platform high in the canopy, where guests could sleep above the bush, shielded by leaves and cooled by the river breeze.
"A tree-top viewing point will be built," he announced, "where visitors can sleep. I also want to clear the neighbouring bush to ensure an unobstructed view."
Imagining something between a hideout and a safari lodge, this structure would bring guests into the rhythm of Chobe’s wildlife without intruding on it.
In 1963, his concept gained momentum. An interested investor wrote to him:
"Dear Charles, As you know, I have been interested in game conservation for many years and in encouraging people to view animals and use a camera in place of a gun. I am so impressed with your plan to build a tree house at Sidudu Pan that I would like to assist you in implementing your ideas."
The idea was inspired, at least in part, by Kenya’s famous Treetops Lodge, where Princess Elizabeth was staying when she learned of her father’s passing and then became Queen. That lodge had become an icon of early photographic safaris.
Charles hoped to bring a uniquely Botswana version of it to life, set amid Chobe’s elephant trails and mopane trees.
His idea was even noted in one of the first travel guides to the region, The Guide to Botswana by Guy Winchester Gould (1968), which recorded:
"The pan at Sedudu, five miles from Kasane, attracts game in such numbers that it is hoped a tree-tops lodge, on the lines of the famous 'Treetops' in Kenya, will, in time, be established."
Sadly, Charles Trevor passed away in 1964 before his dream could materialise. Yet his legacy lingers in our Chobe landscape.
Experience the Treetops Lookout deck for yourself
Over 60 years later, you can follow in Charles’ footsteps — quite literally.
The Bush Walk is an easy trail that winds past a small spring and invites guests to discover the bird and animal life on our property. It ends at the Treetops Lookout deck, offering a panoramic view over Sedudu Island and the 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.
Interested in booking the Bush Walk and Treetops Lookout experience?
The Treetops Lookout deck is exclusively bookable for groups of 6 to 15 people and includes drinks and snacks.
Contact your reservations representative or travel agent, or visit our activity centre at The Chobe Safari Lodge.