The Four Faces of Chobe
Chobe Riverfront (Serondela)
The Chobe Riverfront is the park's most accessible area and home to some of Africa's most spectacular wildlife viewing. During the dry season, massive elephant herds - sometimes numbering in the hundreds - gather along the Chobe River to drink and bathe. The contrast is striking: you'll watch these giants wade into the water while hippos grunt nearby and crocodiles bask on the banks.
Boat safaris here are absolutely magical. You can drift silently past elephants as they swim between islands or watch lions attempting to hunt buffalo at water's edge. The riverfront supports over 450 bird species, making it a birding paradise alongside the big game action.
Savuti Marsh
Savuti offers some of Botswana's most intense predator encounters. This remote area is famous for its large lion prides and their unusual behavior - including the rare sight of lions taking down adult elephants. The mysterious Savuti Channel, which flows and dries according to tectonic shifts, creates an ever-changing ecosystem that keeps wildlife on their toes.
During the wet season, witness one of Africa's great migrations as thousands of zebras move through the area. The dramatic landscape of open grasslands dotted with dead trees creates an almost apocalyptic backdrop for incredible wildlife photography.
Linyanti Wetlands
For those seeking exclusivity, Linyanti delivers. This remote northern section operates mainly through private concessions, allowing night drives and walking safaris that aren't permitted elsewhere in the park.
The tranquil lagoons and riparian forests provide sanctuary for rare species like African wild dogs and sable antelope.
Nogatsaa Woodlands
The Nogatsaa section remains Chobe's best-kept secret.
This southeastern area sees the fewest visitors but rewards those who venture here with solitude and excellent wildlife viewing during the wet season when the clay soils retain water longer than other areas.
Trips to Chobe National Park
The trips below showcase just some of what is possible. Use these itineraries as starting points, or to draw inspiration. Then get in touch, and let our expert team help craft the perfect itinerary for you.
Wildlife in Chobe National Park
Chobe's 11,000 km² wilderness hosts one of Africa's most dramatic wildlife spectacles, driven entirely by seasonal water availability. During the dry months from May to October, massive elephant herds – part of Africa's largest population estimated between 50,000 and 120,000 – converge along the Chobe River. August through late October brings the most impressive concentrations, when entire elephant families gather to bathe and drink along the riverbanks.
The wet season from November to April tells a different story. As seasonal pans fill across the landscape, animals disperse widely, and Chobe transforms into a birding paradise with over 450 recorded species. This is also when you'll witness the second-largest zebra migration in Africa, as 25,000 zebras journey from Chobe toward the Makgadikgadi Pans.
Our Favourite Lodges in Chobe
Chobe Game Lodge
Chobe Game Lodge stands out as the only permanent safari lodge actually inside Chobe National Park. This gives you a significant advantage as your game drives begin an hour before other visitors enter the park, and with 44 rooms and their famous all-female guiding team (the "Chobe Angels"), you're in expert hands.
Chobe Houseboats
For something completely different, the Zambezi Queen and Chobe Princess operate a small fleet of floating safari houseboats on the Chobe River, ranging from intimate 4-cabin vessels to larger boats with up to 14 cabins
The experience is centred on the water, with frequent sightings of hippos in the river and elephants often visible along the banks as they come down to drink.
Muchenje Safari Lodge
Muchenje Safari Lodge is our preferred alternative to staying inside the park. With only 11 standard rooms and one family room, it remains small and personal, and its elevated setting offers sweeping views across the Chobe floodplains into Namibia’s Caprivi Strip.
Although located just outside the park boundary, wildlife viewing in this area is consistently strong, and the lodge combines excellent guiding with a relaxed, unpretentious atmosphere.
Ngoma Safari Lodge
Ngoma Safari Lodge sits about 55km from Kasane, up on a rocky escarpment with big, open views over the Chobe River and floodplains below. It feels very private and remote, with all the rooms facing out over the landscape, and a slightly more “in the bush” feel than the lodges down on the river.
Being outside the park also gives you a bit more flexibility, so you’re not limited to standard game drives and can mix in things like boat cruises, night drives and walks.
Chobe National Park FAQs
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Where does Chobe fit within a Botswana adventure?
Chobe National Park works brilliantly as either the start or end point of a Botswana safari. Many people begin here before heading south to the Okavango Delta and Moremi Game Reserve, or use it as a grand finale after exploring the waterways. The contrast is striking - you go from Chobe's massive elephant herds along permanent rivers to the Delta's intimate mokoro channels and seasonal flooding patterns.
The logistics make perfect sense too. Chobe sits in the northeast corner near Kasane, about 15-20 minutes from the Kazungula border crossings where Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Zambia meet. This positioning makes it incredibly convenient for combining with Victoria Falls - you're literally a short drive or quick flight away from one of the world's great natural wonders.
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How long you should I stay in Chobe?
We typically recommend 2-3 nights in Chobe. Two nights gives you time for both river and land-based game drives, while three nights allows for a more relaxed pace and perhaps some fishing or cultural activities. Much longer than that and you might start feeling you've seen similar sightings, especially during the dry season when animals concentrate along the Chobe River.
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What is the best time to visit Chobe National Park?
The optimal time is May - October during the dry season when wildlife congregates around the Chobe River and vegetation is sparse, making animal sightings more frequent and predictable.
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How long should I spend in Chobe National Park?
A minimum of 3-4 nights allows you to explore different areas including the Chobe Riverfront and Savuti regions. Day trips from Kasane or Victoria Falls are possible but overnight stays provide richer wildlife experiences.
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How do I get to Chobe National Park?
The Chobe Riverfront is easily accessible from Kasane (15-20 minutes), Livingstone, or Victoria Falls. Remote areas like Savuti and Linyanti require 4x4 vehicles or charter flights from Maun or Kasane.
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What wildlife can I expect to see in Chobe?
Chobe hosts the world's largest elephant population with 50,000-120,000 individuals, making sightings virtually guaranteed. The park also offers excellent Big Five viewing, with Savuti known for high predator density including lions and wild dogs.
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What accommodation options are available in Chobe?
Options range from public campsites within the park (Ihaha, Savuti, Linyanti) to luxury lodges like Chobe Game Lodge - the only permanent lodge inside the park. Kasane offers additional lodges outside park boundaries.
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Can I combine Chobe with other destinations?
Chobe's location at the borders of Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Namibia makes it ideal for combination trips. Victoria Falls is just one hour from Kasane, and longer itineraries often include the Okavango Delta for diverse experiences.
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What makes Chobe's Savuti area special?
Savuti offers exceptional predator viewing with high concentrations of lions, leopards, and wild dogs. The area is famous for rare wildlife behavior including lions hunting elephants and provides excellent photographic opportunities.
Popular Trips to Botswana
The tours below showcase just some of what is possible. Use these itineraries as starting points, or to draw inspiration. Then get in touch, and let our expert team help craft the perfect itinerary for you.
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