CHOBE NATIONAL PARK
Wildlife
Renowned as one of the top wilderness reserves in the world, Chobe National Park is home to the largest concentration of elephant on the African continent. The vast elephant population has had a significant impact on the park, thinning out the dense riverine thickets on the banks of the Chobe River. Chobe also offers decent cat sightings and antelopes rarely encountered elsewhere in Botswana - the puku, the Chobe bushbuck, and the Sable antelope. The puku, with their shaggy orange-brown coats and V-shaped horns, can be spotted grazing the floodplains. In contrast, the Chobe bushbuck is nocturnal and rarely forms groups of more than one pair.
Renowned as one of the top wilderness reserves in the world, Chobe National Park is home to the largest concentration of elephant on the African continent. The vast elephant population has had a significant impact on the park, thinning out the dense riverine thickets on the banks of the Chobe River. Chobe also offers decent cat sightings and antelopes rarely encountered elsewhere in Botswana - the puku, the Chobe bushbuck, and the Sable antelope. The puku, with their shaggy orange-brown coats and V-shaped horns, can be spotted grazing the floodplains. In contrast, the Chobe bushbuck is nocturnal and rarely forms groups of more than one pair.
Birdlife
With an incredible wealth of species, Chobe is a haven for birding enthusiasts. Striking colonies of carmine bee-eaters build their nests in the exposed sandy banks of the river. Water birds, including many species of duck and the rare red-billed pratincole can be spotted in their thousands, and guinea fowl and francolin dart through the grasses on the river’s edge. A quintessential African sound, the haunting call of the fish eagle can often be heard echoing over the Chobe River.
Chobe Riverfront activities
As well as twice daily game drives, activities include boat cruises along the Chobe River, an excellent way of meeting more crocs, hippos and elephants. Those activities are included in your nightly lodge rate and in addition to that we can also organise hot air ballooning for an additional cost of US$ 395 per person (2021 rate).
The busy northern sector of Chobe is, however, the best place in Botswana, arguably in all of Africa, for a short safari if you are prepared to share some of the sightings.
Whilst Chobe National Park can be quite busy along the riverfront in the northern sector of the park (though nothing like the Kruger National Park or the Maasai Mara in migration season), there are other more secluded areas Inland from the Chobe River. To the south, still part of the national park, is the Savuti area, which might not have the same game density as the north, but less visitor numbers, even though in high season the area becomes more and more popular for self-drive safaris.
Avoid the crowds
To the east of Chobe, close to Pandamatenga on the Zimbabwe border lie two great lodges in the area. Camp Kazuma and Wildtracks Eco lodge sit on the now-fenceless border, surrounded by Hwange National Park, Kazuma Pans National Park, Kazuma Forest Reserve and Chobe National Park, all of which are unfenced. In the dry season the wildlife from these areas flock to the few permanent water holes close to the lodge, and large herds of elephants and the rare sable and roan antelope. The only thing you don't see there are numerous other vehicles. There are no self-drivers, no day trippers, and only one other lodge 30 kilometres away. The wildlife is yours, as are the sublime sunsets.
With an incredible wealth of species, Chobe is a haven for birding enthusiasts. Striking colonies of carmine bee-eaters build their nests in the exposed sandy banks of the river. Water birds, including many species of duck and the rare red-billed pratincole can be spotted in their thousands, and guinea fowl and francolin dart through the grasses on the river’s edge. A quintessential African sound, the haunting call of the fish eagle can often be heard echoing over the Chobe River.
Chobe Riverfront activities
As well as twice daily game drives, activities include boat cruises along the Chobe River, an excellent way of meeting more crocs, hippos and elephants. Those activities are included in your nightly lodge rate and in addition to that we can also organise hot air ballooning for an additional cost of US$ 395 per person (2021 rate).
The busy northern sector of Chobe is, however, the best place in Botswana, arguably in all of Africa, for a short safari if you are prepared to share some of the sightings.
Whilst Chobe National Park can be quite busy along the riverfront in the northern sector of the park (though nothing like the Kruger National Park or the Maasai Mara in migration season), there are other more secluded areas Inland from the Chobe River. To the south, still part of the national park, is the Savuti area, which might not have the same game density as the north, but less visitor numbers, even though in high season the area becomes more and more popular for self-drive safaris.
Avoid the crowds
To the east of Chobe, close to Pandamatenga on the Zimbabwe border lie two great lodges in the area. Camp Kazuma and Wildtracks Eco lodge sit on the now-fenceless border, surrounded by Hwange National Park, Kazuma Pans National Park, Kazuma Forest Reserve and Chobe National Park, all of which are unfenced. In the dry season the wildlife from these areas flock to the few permanent water holes close to the lodge, and large herds of elephants and the rare sable and roan antelope. The only thing you don't see there are numerous other vehicles. There are no self-drivers, no day trippers, and only one other lodge 30 kilometres away. The wildlife is yours, as are the sublime sunsets.
where to stay...
From our many visits to Chobe, we have first-hand knowledge of the lodges and below you can find the ones we most commonly use. Those lodges include mainly our favourites sorted from low-key to deluxe, which are usually smaller lodges with very personalised service, but also some bigger places, if they are the best or only option available. Open, close, then open each tab again to display the images fully.
muchenje cottages - close to ngoma gate
chobe safari lodge - in Kasane
KUBU LODGE - IN KASANE
CHOBE ELEPHANT CAMP - CLOSE TO NGOMA GATE
Camp Kazuma - Kazuma Forest
MUCHENJE LODGE - CLOSE TO NGOMA GATE
CHOBE UNDER CANVAS - INSIDE CHOBE NATIONAL PARK
NGOMA LODGE - CLOSE TO NGOMA GATE
chobe game lodge - inside Chobe national park
|
chobe itineraries
To see some itinerary suggestions or request a bespoke itinerary including Chobe National Park, please click below.