Win a two-night stay at the luxurious Chobe Water Villas valued at R45,000

If you’re guessing from the name that the Chobe Water Villas are in Botswana, you’d be wrong. They’re in Namibia, in a remote and wild location on the edge of the Chobe River. Botswana’s Chobe National Park, however, and its perpetual parade of creatures, is the view that greets you across the water from your private deck.

The property comprises 16 free-standing chalets, sitting on the edge of a 150km² conservancy, with not much happening in the way of neighbours. The easiest way to get there, then, is to fly to Kasane, Botswana. From there, transfers entail a ride through the small town in an open safari vehicle to the immigration post, a ramshackle building on the edge of the river.

After a quick stop for passport stamps, you exit Botswana by flat-bottomed boat, and head out into the glittering, blue-grey expanse of the Chobe. Round a bend and across to the other side, the villas await, standing in a line on stilts over the water.

DO NOTHING, DO EVERYTHING

Their thatched, rustic appearance from the river belies the contemporary elegance within. Even as you climb up from the jetty, you’ll know this is to be a refined affair. Chic, open-plan communal areas beckon you in and then lead you on again to splendid outdoor spaces, with chill-out couches and a rim-flow pool dripping away to the river.

The rooms, reached by a wooden walkway, are similarly tasteful, with inspired artworks, inviting linens on enormous four-poster beds, and deep, linger-longer baths.

Of course, the food is worth writing home about — or at least snapping and posting all over your social media. Every meal is a series of dishes both pretty and perfect to taste. Even just “tea time” is a guilt-inducing buffet. Well, maybe just the one ...

Activities include game drives in Chobe National Park, and sundowner cruises to Impalila Island, where four countries meet (Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe). Optional extras include a walking tour of Impalila Island, and fishing. You could even take a day trip to Zimbabwe to visit the Victoria Falls, 88km away by road.

Guests’ main task, however, is to perfect the art of doing not much, and yet so much at the same time. Sit, lounge, drink, eat, inhale, exhale, repeat, and relish your absolute escape to this gloriously isolated, utterly peaceful part of the world.

PRIZE INCLUDES

• Return flights for two people from Johannesburg to Kasane in Botswana
• Return transfer from Kasane Airport to Chobe Water Villas in Namibia
• Two nights’ stay in a luxury villa overlooking the Chobe River and onto Chobe National Park
• Breakfast, lunch, high tea and luxury dinner
• Drinks, including beer, wine and local spirits
• Choice of two activities per day: morning game drive in Chobe National Park, morning game-viewing cruise on Chobe River, afternoon sundowner and game-viewing cruise on Chobe River, afternoon sundowner cruise in the Kasai Channel, linking the Chobe and Zambezi Rivers.

HOW TO ENTER

1. Visit www.chobewatervillas.com.
2. Click on the competition link.
3. Complete the form and answer this easy question: In what country is the beautiful Chobe Water Villas situated? 
4. Entries close on December 19 2019. 
5. Winners will be drawn on December 20 2019.

For more information, call +264 61 431 8000, e-mail Chobe.Res@ol.na or visit www.chobewatervillas.com.

Terms and conditions apply.
* Subject to availability and offered fully inclusive.

This article was paid for by Chobe Water Villas.