Three African skimmers perform graceful swoops and pirouettes as we approach the lodge. Perfectly streamlined, with long, elegant, red beaks and legs, they look like dancers practising their routines. Hippos honk noisily as we disembark on the private island and settle in for tea on the deck. As squadrons of ducks, herons and other waterbirds fly home to roost, we too head ‘home’ to our spacious villas at Cascade Island Lodge — each with a huge bathroom, plunge pool, outdoor shower and deck hidden within the Chobe waterberry and jackalberry trees — for a bit of down time before regrouping for a sunset boat cruise.