Fodor's Expert Review Chobe Game Lodge

The only permanent lodge in the northeastern section of Chobe National Park, this grand old dame—Liz Taylor and Richard Burton got married for the second time here in the '70s—is a cut above the larger Kasane hotels and still maintains a lodge feel despite its size. Terracotta tiles, Rhodesian teak furniture, tribal artifacts with a Moroccan twist, and vibrant cushions create a distinctive pan-African ambience. The solid Moorish-style buildings—with their graceful high arches and barrel-vaulted ceilings—insulate the not-so-intrepid traveler from too-close encounters of the animal kind: baboon mothers have been known to teach their young how to turn a doorknob! The gorgeous gardens are a riot of color, attracting lots of small fauna; the extensive boardwalk above has a variety of decks and alcoves for alfresco group dinners or intimate celebrations. There's a well-stocked curio shop with great clothes and wildlife books. Don't miss out on the well-run daily activities from game drives to river cruises.