Discover the Wonders of Chobe National Park, Botswana

Located in northern Botswana, Chobe National Park is one of Africa’s premier wildlife reserves. Spanning over 10,700 square kilometers, it draws game viewing enthusiasts from across the world with an extraordinary diversity of flora and fauna. From the elephant-lined banks of the Chobe River to the remote marshes of Linyanti, this park rewards every traveller who makes the journey north.

The Elephants of Chobe

Chobe is home to the largest concentration of African elephants on the continent, with estimates placing the population at over 120,000 animals. Watching a herd of several hundred elephants move through the mopane woodland toward the river at dusk is one of the most arresting wildlife experiences Africa offers.

The elephants here are well habituated to vehicles and boats, allowing close observation without disturbance. During the dry season, from May through October, herds congregate along the Chobe River Front in enormous numbers as water sources inland dry up. Calves born earlier in the year are still small enough to walk under their mothers at this point, and family groups interact constantly along the riverbank. Early morning drives frequently find bulls sparring or entire matriarchal herds crossing shallow channels, with young elephants swimming in a line, guided by older females.

In the wet season, the elephants disperse deep into the interior, and sightings become more spread out but no less rewarding. Tracking a lone bull through flooded grassland or coming upon a breeding herd feeding in open terrain offers a different but equally powerful perspective on these animals.

Kasane: The Gateway Town

The town of Kasane sits at the northeast corner of Botswana, at the point where four countries – Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Namibia – meet near the Kazungula border crossing. Most visitors to Chobe pass through Kasane, and it serves as a convenient base for exploring the Chobe River Front section of the park.

Kasane has a small but functional range of shops, fuel stations, and services. The main road running through town is lined with lodges and guesthouses catering to different budgets. For day-to-day needs, the local market near the town centre sells fresh produce and basic goods. The Chobe Marina area, just outside town along the river, offers a cluster of accommodation options with direct water access.

Getting to Kasane is straightforward from Maun (roughly five hours by road), from Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe (about 80 kilometres), or by charter flight to Kasane Airport, which handles both small aircraft and regional commercial flights.

The Kazungula Ferry crossing, which has now been supplemented by the Kazungula Bridge, allows onward travel into Zambia. The bridge, opened in 2021, is a major regional infrastructure link and makes day trips between Kasane and Livingstone considerably easier than in previous decades.

Where to Visit in the Park

Chobe National Park divides into four main zones, each with distinct terrain and wildlife concentrations.

• Chobe River Front: The most visited section of the park. The river forms the northern boundary, and the floodplains and riparian woodland here hold large herds of elephants, buffalo, hippos, and crocodiles year-round. Game drives along the escarpment road offer elevated views over the river and floodplain.
• Savuti Marsh: Roughly 180 kilometres southwest of Kasane, Savuti occupies a broad inland marsh fed by the Savuti Channel, which has a history of flowing and drying over multi-decade cycles. The marsh is known for its dense predator population, including prides of lions that have adapted to hunting elephants, leopards, cheetahs, spotted hyenas, and African wild dogs.
• Linyanti River: The Linyanti forms the western boundary of the park and is far less visited than the Chobe River Front. The combination of riverine forest, floodplain, and open woodland supports healthy populations of roan antelope, sitatunga, and wild dogs alongside the more common species. Accommodation in this area is limited to a small number of private concessions.
• Nogatsaa and Tchinga: The interior woodland areas between Savuti and the Chobe River Front see very few visitors and require self-sufficiency with fuel and supplies. The isolation makes them attractive for experienced safari travellers.

River Safaris on the Chobe

Boat safaris on the Chobe River are among the defining activities of any visit to the park, and they offer a fundamentally different experience from land-based game drives. On the water, vehicle noise disappears entirely, and it becomes possible to approach animals along the bank at eye level.

The standard boat cruise runs in the early morning or late afternoon, following the channels and islands that make up the river system between Kasane and Serondela. Elephants crossing between Botswana and the Namibian bank of the river are a regular sight, and watching a large breeding herd navigate a deep channel, with calves swimming and adults using their trunks as snorkels, is a scene that holds attention even after multiple sightings.

Hippo pods occupy permanent territories throughout the river and are most active at dusk as they prepare to leave the water to graze on the floodplain overnight. Crocodiles haul out on sandbanks and low-lying banks throughout the day. A strong supporting cast of water-associated birds includes African fish eagles, giant kingfishers, saddle-billed storks, and both species of open-billed stork.

For photographers, the afternoon light on the river is exceptional from around May to August, when clear dry-season skies produce warm golden tones in the final two hours before sunset. Positioning a boat between the sun and a herd of elephants wading through shallow water, backlit and streaming, is a scenario that the Chobe River delivers with notable regularity.

Several operators in Kasane run shared boat cruises on larger vessels as well as private charters on smaller motorboats. For a more active option, mokoro excursions – using the traditional dugout canoes of the Okavango region – are available through some operators, though the Chobe River’s current and hippo population mean this activity requires careful selection of guide and location.

Where to Stay

Accommodation around the Chobe River Front ranges from large riverside hotels to small owner-run guesthouses in Kasane and a handful of tented camps inside or adjacent to the park.

• Chobe Game Lodge: The only lodge with exclusive concession rights inside the Chobe River Front area of the park. It operates a fleet of electric game drive vehicles and electric boats, reducing noise and emissions during game viewing. The lodge sits directly on the river.
• Chobe Marina Lodge: Located in Kasane on the riverbank, this mid-range property offers water-facing rooms and direct access to boat cruises. It is well positioned for both the park and the town.
• Guesthouses in Kasane: A number of smaller family-run guesthouses in Kasane offer comfortable accommodation at lower price points. These suit self-drive visitors or those on tighter budgets who are happy to arrange their own activities.
• Savuti and Linyanti camps: In the more remote zones of the park, accommodation consists entirely of tented safari camps operated by a small number of concession holders. These are typically all-inclusive and reach a high standard of guiding and service.

Where to Eat

Dining in and around Chobe is primarily lodge or hotel-based, with the concentration of standalone restaurants limited to Kasane town.

• Chobe Marina Lodge restaurant: The riverside setting makes this a popular spot for lunch between morning and afternoon activities. The menu covers standard international dishes alongside local options.
• Kasane town restaurants and lodges: Several lodges along the Kasane waterfront open their restaurants to non-resident guests. Local food in this part of Botswana tends to feature beef, sorghum porridge, and fresh river fish.
• Self-catering: Visitors staying in self-catering accommodation in Kasane will find a small supermarket and a local market adequate for stocking up on essentials, though the range of produce is more limited than in Maun or Gaborone.

Activities

Beyond game drives and boat cruises, Chobe offers a range of other ways to engage with the landscape.

• Game Drives: Morning and evening drives remain the backbone of any Chobe visit. The Chobe River Front road, running from Serondela to Ngoma, is one of the most productive stretches of game drive road in southern Africa during the dry season.
• Boat Cruises: See the river and its wildlife from the water. Both shared and private options are available from Kasane and from lodges with their own jetties.
• Walking Safaris: Guided walks are operated from several camps, particularly in the Linyanti and Savuti areas. Walking in areas with predators requires an armed guide and offers a ground-level perspective on tracks, plants, insects, and behaviour that game drives cannot replicate.
• Fishing: Catch-and-release fishing on the Chobe River is permitted with the appropriate licence. Tiger fish are the primary target species during the annual tiger fish run, which peaks between August and October.
• Birding: With over 450 recorded bird species, Chobe is a significant destination for birders. The river and floodplain habitats are particularly productive, and the interior woodland areas hold species not found along the river.
• Day Trips to Victoria Falls: The proximity of Kasane to the Zimbabwean border makes a day trip to Victoria Falls a realistic add-on, with the drive taking around 80 kilometres each way.

Tips for Visiting

• Best time to visit: The dry season from May to October offers the best game viewing, as animals concentrate around permanent water sources and vegetation thins out. The wet season from November to April brings lush green landscapes and newborn animals, but some tracks become impassable and game is more dispersed.
• Malaria precautions: Chobe is in a malaria zone. Consult a travel health specialist before visiting and pack suitable repellent and clothing for evenings and early mornings.
• Respect wildlife: Maintain safe distances from all animals, particularly elephants, which can be unpredictable and move quickly. Never attempt to feed or approach wildlife on foot without a guide.
• Pack sun protection: The Botswana sun is intense. High-factor sunscreen, a hat, and protective clothing are necessary for open-vehicle game drives and boat safaris.
• Fuel and supplies: If venturing beyond the Kasane area, fill up with fuel and carry sufficient water and food. Services in the park interior are non-existent.
• Entry fees and permits: Park entry fees are payable in Botswana Pula at the park gates. Ensure all permits are in order before entering, and carry copies of relevant documents.

Chobe National Park is one of southern Africa’s most consistently rewarding wildlife destinations. The combination of the Chobe River elephant herds, the remote wildness of Savuti, and the accessibility of Kasane as a base makes it a strong anchor for any Botswana itinerary.