Chobe National Park
In the dry season, elephant herds hundreds strong gather along the Chobe River to drink, bathe and play – the scene that has made Chobe National Park famous among Botswana tourist attractions. Proclaimed in 1968 as the country's first national park, it covers some 11,700 square kilometres of riverine forest, floodplain, marsh and dry woodland, and the wider region shelters one of the largest elephant populations on Earth.
The park has four distinct regions. The Chobe Riverfront in the north-east is the busiest and most accessible; the Savuti area in the west is known for big predators; the Linyanti swamps in the north-west are remote and wild; and the dry hinterland between them is crossed by sandy tracks with few visitors. Together they make Chobe one of the most varied safari destinations in southern Africa.
Why visit Chobe?
Beyond elephants, the park holds buffalo, lion, leopard, hippo, crocodile, sable and puku antelope, and more than 450 bird species. It is also remarkably easy to reach: the riverfront lies just over an hour's drive from Victoria Falls, so even a short stay in the region can include a safari, such as the Chobe wildlife day trip from Victoria Falls or the full-day safari from Livingstone.
What sets Chobe apart is the combination of land and water. A morning game drive can be followed by an afternoon on the river, where you watch elephants cross between Botswana and Namibia's Sedudu and Kasika floodplains, hippos surface beside the boat and African skimmers nest on the sandbanks. Photographers love the low angle from the water, and several operators run specialist photo boats with swivel seats and camera mounts.
Getting there and around
Kasane, at the park's north-eastern entrance, has an international airport with flights from Johannesburg and Maun. Road transfers from Zimbabwe and Zambia cross at Kazungula, where a bridge over the Zambezi opened in 2021. Inside the park you explore on open 4x4 game drives or by boat; self-drivers need a high-clearance 4x4, especially on the sandy tracks to Savuti and Linyanti.
The riverfront drive follows a sandy loop between Sedudu Gate and Ngoma, and is busiest in the early morning and late afternoon. Distances inside the park are long: Kasane to Savuti takes around five to six hours on deep sand, so many travellers fly between regions or join a guided overland safari that includes vehicle, guide and campsite bookings.
Highlights not to miss
- Chobe Riverfront: The busiest area, with huge concentrations of elephant and buffalo at the water's edge, easily explored on a 3-hour game drive. Lions, leopards and the rare puku antelope are regularly seen here too.
- River cruises: A sunset boat cruise passes within metres of swimming elephants, hippos and basking crocodiles near Sedudu Island. The light over the floodplain at dusk is spectacular.
- Savuti: A remote south-western region known for lion prides, the Savuti Channel and San rock art on the Gubatsa Hills.
- Linyanti: Wild marshland in the north-west, excellent for wild dogs and leopard, and largely made up of private concessions with exclusive camps.
Practical tips
Entry fees are paid at the gate and differ for guided and self-drive visitors. Book riverfront activities ahead in the busy dry season, bring a zoom lens and a warm jacket for winter dawns, and take medical advice on malaria before you travel.
Park gates open at sunrise and close at sunset, and driving off designated tracks is not allowed. If you are crossing between Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia, check visa rules in advance: the KAZA UNIVISA covers Zimbabwe and Zambia, and Botswana grants visa-free entry to many nationalities. Keep a respectful distance from elephants, especially breeding herds with young calves.
Best time to visit
From May to October inland water sources disappear and animals concentrate along the river; September and October deliver the most dramatic elephant sightings, though it can be very hot. From November to April the park turns green, migratory birds arrive and zebras migrate through Savuti.
The wet season also brings lower rates, fewer vehicles and excellent birding, with carmine bee-eaters, storks and raptors in abundance. Some sandy tracks become muddy and a few roads close, but the riverfront remains accessible year-round, making Chobe a reliable choice in any month.
Accommodation and food
Kasane offers riverside lodges, hotels and campsites, many with decks over the water. A few lodges and public campsites lie inside the park, and Savuti and Linyanti have remote tented camps. Lodge menus mix international dishes with bogobe (sorghum porridge) and grilled bream from the river.
For a different perspective, houseboats moored on the Chobe River offer overnight stays with game viewing from the deck. Inside the park, the Ihaha campsite on the riverfront is one of Botswana's most sought-after public campsites and should be booked months ahead for the dry season.
How does it compare to other Botswana tourist attractions?
Chobe is more accessible and usually more affordable than the fly-in camps of the Okavango Delta, and its vehicle-and-boat safaris complement the delta's canoe trips. Overland itineraries often pair it with Moremi Game Reserve.
If your priority is sheer numbers of elephants, Chobe is hard to beat anywhere in Africa. If you want solitude and walking safaris, the private concessions of the delta offer more exclusivity; many travellers combine both to get the best of each.
Beyond the park
Kasane lies near the point where Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe almost meet. From here you can visit Victoria Falls, cross into Namibia's Zambezi Region, or travel south-west through Savuti to the Khwai Concession.
Closer to town, the Kasane Forest Reserve and the Chobe Riverfront hot springs offer short excursions, and fishing for tigerfish on the Chobe and Zambezi rivers is popular from August to December.
In summary
For the fullest experience, choose a day that combines land and water, such as the Chobe full-day safari trip or the extended day trip with a 3-hour river cruise. Either way, the elephants of the Chobe River will stay with you long after you leave.
