Chobe National Park, Botswana, is huge, with an area of 4,680 square miles (12,000-sq.km), home to more than 100,000 elephants. It has one of the largest concentrations of wildlife on the entire African continent. The park’s highlights are dense forests of cathedral mopane trees, a dazzling deep blue Chobe river flowing through, and endless broadleaf woodlands. The park offers excellent game viewing safari from land and the river for a different experience. Chobe National Park is an ideal day trip location from Victoria Falls. It is located about 3 km from Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Botswana border, easily accessed by road and border crossing.
How Did I Get there
From Victoria Falls Area
From Livingstone, Zambia, to Chobe, or the town of Kasane, is about 50 miles (80 km) via the Kazungula border crossing. You must cross the Chobe river by ferry between Zambia and Botswana from the border until the bridge is completed.
From Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, to Chobe National Park is also about an hour’s drive via the Kazungula land border crossing. The total distance is about 44 miles (70 km).
From Caprivi Strip, Namibia to Chobe
From Namibia’s Caprivi Strip to Chobe National Park can be reached via the Ngoma Bridge over the Chobe River. The distance is about 127 miles (205 km), and the road after the Ngoma Bridge goes through the Chobe National Park, and it’s a great stretch of road where you can view wildlife en route.
Best Time to Visit
I was visiting in early October, and definitely during my trip, there was no rain, the weather was relatively comfortable, and the ground in the game park was dry. Below is what is expected during different seasons.
May to October – It is the dry season and is the best time to visit Chobe National Park; even though August – October is very hot but offers the best game viewing. During this dry season, animal concentration is highest around the beautiful Chobe River.
December to March – Chobe National Park experiences the early part of its rainy season in December. The weather during this time can be hot and humid, with occasional rainfall. In rainy season since water is everywhere, so animals are not desperate for water around the river or waterhole. But the park still offers a unique and lush landscape, providing an opportunity to witness an array of wildlife amidst the greener scenery. Just be prepared for the hot and humid conditions and possible rainfall during your safari adventure. Bird watching around the Chobe River is the best during this season.
Useful Information
- Park fees: BP110 (US$ 11.00) per person, BP 70 (US$ 7.00) car fee
- Allowed 4×4 only
- Sedudu Gate is the main entrance located near the town of Kasane at the northeast of the park.
Top Things To Do In Chobe National Park
A safari trip to Chobe National Park in Botswana is an extraordinary and unforgettable experience for nature and wildlife enthusiasts. As part of a package tour, our guide picked us up at 7:30 am from our hotel in Livingstone, Zambia. Then, they picked up a few more tourists before hitting the highway towards the Botswana border.
Getting There
The highway through Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park was picturesque, and in about an hour of driving, we arrived at the Kazungula border crossing. A boat was waiting at the Zambian side of the river. Soon our tour guide cleared Zambian immigration for us. We boarded the boat for a 5-7 minute ride to cross the Chobe River to the Botswana side. Another tour guide greeted us on our arrival and again cleared the Botswana immigration for us. After a 10 minutes drive from the border post, we arrived at the tour company’s rest house in Kasane town for refreshments. From there Chobe river was not that far, just a short walk to get a tour boat to join a 3-hour cruise of the Chobe river.
Boat Ride in Chobe River
There was a lot of wildlife around the river, and it was very green and fertile, so it was the best place to view them as they went to the river bank for water and food.
Among the many wildlife, I remember seeing red lechwes, herds of elephants, buffaloes, impalas, water hogs, giraffes, monkeys, lizards, and many more. In addition, we saw many species of birds during our cruise: colorful bee-eater, wire-tailed swallows sat on our boat, Egyptian geese, African Fish-Eagle, and African darters were remarkable.
Wildlife in Chobe National Park
Chobe National Park is home to a remarkable array of wildlife, including elephants, lions, leopards, buffalo, giraffes, zebras, hippos, and various antelope species. The park’s ecosystem supports a high concentration of animals, providing ample opportunities for spectacular wildlife sightings. In the water, we saw many hippos and crocodiles. The exciting three hours cruise was over in no time. The boat was comfortable and enjoyable. Since it was cruising slowly, I could take many pictures without motion blur.
Lunch Time
We stopped at Chobe Safari Lodge for a buffet lunch, a beautiful hotel next to the Chobe river. I highly recommend this accommodation if you are staying in the Chobe area or the price is not a concern.
Game Drive in Chobe
After lunch, we entered the park through Sedudu Gate near the town of Kasane for a thrilling game drive. Game drives are a classic safari experience, and Chobe offers excellent game drive opportunities. You’ll venture into the park in open 4×4 vehicles, accompanied by experienced guides who will take you to prime wildlife-viewing spots. Early morning and late afternoon drives are especially rewarding for spotting animals when they are most active.
Who would have thought drinking water from a river could be that challenging for a tall and long neck giraffe also required a unique technique until I saw them in real life; it was magnificent to see the way they bend over and then stand up quickly for the water to run down their throats.
Spotting wildlife in real life is more exciting than watching them in National Geography. I saw many of them just a few feet away; here are a few I can remember, like impalas, Kudu, elephants, crocodiles, lizards, different species of birds, buffalos, hippos, and much more wildlife. The game drives through the park by 4×4 were dusty and very bumpy.
Where to stay in Chobe National Park, Botswana
Chobe Safari Lodge, Chobe, Kasane
With Mowana Golf Course reachable in a 12-minute walk, Chobe Safari Lodge has accommodations, a restaurant, an outdoor swimming pool, a bar, and a garden. Fitted with a patio, the units offer air conditioning, a flat-screen TV, a private bathroom with a shower, and a hairdryer.
The lodge offers a continental or buffet breakfast. In addition, Chobe Safari Lodge provides a sun terrace. Baobab Prison Tree Kasane is a 19-minute walk from the accommodation, while Sedudu Gate – Chobe National Park is 4.1 miles from the property. The nearest airport is Kasane, 3.1 miles from Chobe Safari Lodge, and the property offers a free airport shuttle service.
River View Lodge, Chobe, Botswana
Located on the banks of the lower Chobe River in the Kasane region, River View Lodge is nestled among a manicured garden. The lodge offers rooms and chalet accommodations with a river and garden view and an outdoor pool. The recently refurbished, tastefully appointed rooms and chalets are each uniquely designed with a spacious private bathroom and a private veranda. In addition, they offer air conditioning, a ceiling fan, and tea-and-coffee-making facilities. Guests can enjoy a drink at the bar or a meal at the on-site dining area. In addition, River View Lodge can arrange various activities, including game drives, boat cruises, and day trips to Victoria Falls. Chobe National Park is 8.7 mi away, and Kasane Airport is 7.5 mi away. Victoria Falls is a 1-hour drive from River View Lodge.
My Opinion and Last Word
Have you been to Chobe National Park, Botswana? Any cool tips to share?
I loved being in Chobe National Park, Botswana, and want to go back again. I hope my story has motivated you to visit Botswana.
Please leave a comment below! I’d love to hear from you to improve my knowledge.
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A Few Pictures From My Trip
I have no words or photos that can come close to expressing how much I genuinely enjoy experiencing this treasure. I have tried to capture stunning pictures during my trip and am delighted to share a few here. For the best view, click the arrow key on the bottom right corner of the slideshow.
Very useful information indeed. Stunning pictures of the wildlife. Fantastic!