Chobe National Park

Overview

One of the most beautiful national parks in Africa, Chobe NP covers almost 12,000 km2 of pristine bushveld and wetlands and is renowned for its healthy population of hippo, buffalo, lion and elephant. There are around 120,000 in the park, and it’s not uncommon to see herds numbering up to 300. 

Set up in 1968 under the Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act of Botswana, Chobe National Park is essentially a combination of two game reserves, Chobe Game Reserve and Ngamiland Game Reserve. The two join at the Chobe River, which runs from the Savuti Marsh and Tembo Flats in the south to the Kasikiziin the north. Chobe is split into two distinct zones: Chobe Riverfront and Savuti Marsh. 

Chobe Riverfront, just a short drive across the border from Zambia, is prime wildlife watching territory, and home to one of the most diverse elephant populations in Southern Africa. The marshlands and grasslands attract large herds of elephant to the area, and the thick forests are vital for the health of the herds. 

Game drives, savannah walks, canoeing and fishing are all on offer here, but it’s boating trips along the Chobe River that offer the most magical experience, particularly at sunset, when you can watch the light change as animals come down to the water to drink and bathe, just a few metres away. Most tours last a few hours up to sunset, but you can also opt for a few nights of cruising along the river on a houseboat. You’ll dock at prime viewing sites and will be able to spot incredible wildlife from the comfort of your own private cabin, with smaller motorised vehicles available to help you explore the river or go fishing or birdwatching.

If you want things a little quieter, try Savuti Marsh, where zebra and other plains game attract lions, hyenas and cheetah, while leopards stalk the nearby hills. This is also a place to learn a bit of human history – some of the caves here hide rock paintings thought to have been created by San bushmen over 4,000 years ago.

Chobe’s Linyanti Marshes, meanwhile, are home to one of Africa’s last remaining populations of wild dog and you might also spot lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo. 

If you’re looking for accommodation in Chobe National Park, you’ll find a handful of remarkable wilderness lodges and camps, including a mobile, full-service tented lodge. All the park’s camps are unfenced, so animals are free to roam, making for a thrilling (and sometimes unsettling) experience.