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Chobe National Park

The is a park or wildlife reserve

Chobe is the second largest national park in Botswana (after the Central Kalahari Game Reserve), and covers about 11,000km2. It is particularly well known for its huge herds of elephants which are often seen by the Chobe River which runs along the northern border of the park. It is an excellent park for a variety of wildlife, due to its varying habitats from dry scrubland and mopane forest, to marshlands and rivers.

The park is broadly divided into different areas: the forested Chobe riverfront are in the northeast, the Savuti Marsh & the Madabe Depression and the Ngwezumba Dams & Pans. And to the northwest of Savuti bordering Chobe there is a wetland area - the Linyanti Wildlife Reserve.

The riverfront is the most visited area, and has the densest population of game, particularly the famous Chobe elephants. Hippo, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, jackal, warthog, kudu, sable, and many more species are present in this large area. Taking a river trip gives a different perspective on the area and is a great way to watch wildlife. The marshy floodplain is where you will most likely see the red lechwe and the puku. This area is at its best for wildlife viewing from about June to October.

Savuti and the Madabe Depression are also popular areas in the park as, again, the wildlife is quite dense here, especially from about November to May. Savuti lies within the Madabe Depression which is a huge hollow left behind from an ancient lake.

In Linyanti there are a number of private concessions in superb game viewing areas. There are permanent luxury tented lodges here and a stay can easily be combined with locations in the Okavango Delta.

Tribes offers a number of different luxury mobile safari itineraries which take in Chobe and Linyanti. These can be started in Maun to include the Okavango Delta, and can finish at Victoria Falls in Zambia. You may like to consider adding a couple of days at the falls to your Chobe itinerary.

Highlights

  • Famed for huge herds of elephants near Chobe River.
  • One of the highest concentrations of game in Africa.
  • Savuti Channel region is superb for predators.
  • Boat trips on the Chobe River.
  • Good choice of excellent quality lodges.
  • Quality camping safaris available in the region.

Situation

Chobe National Park is in the very north of Botswana.

Activities

Wildlife viewing by jeep; boat trips on the Chobe river; fly-in lodge safaris; private mobile safaris; group camping safaris.

Health

This is a malarial area. No compulsory vaccinations, except yellow fever if ocming from an infected area.

Best times to go

In general June to October is best. Around September is the peak time for elephants near Chobe River. Linyanti is best from about June-August. Savuti's game is often densest from about November to May. Rainy season is late October to early April. Dry season is mid-April to mid-October.

Getting there

The park is best accessed from Kasane by road or light plane, and from Maun by light plane.

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