Chobe National Park is home to the largest concentration of elephants in Africa, and the Chobe riverfront is the best place on the continent to watch them. In the dry season, herds of hundreds come down to the river to drink, bathe and play, and a boat trip at sunset puts you at eye level with them.
The park has four distinct areas: the Chobe riverfront in the north, the Savuti marsh in the west, the Linyanti swamps in the north-west, and the dry hinterland. It is Botswana's first national park, and wildlife includes lions, leopards, buffalo, giraffe, sable, roan antelope and Chobe bushbuck, the puku.
Chobe is easy to reach from Victoria Falls, and it combines naturally with the Okavango Delta and Hwange National Park.
The elephants are the star, with tens of thousands living in the region. Along the river you can see hippo, crocodile, buffalo, sable, waterbuck, puku, impala, red lechwe and giraffe. Lions are found throughout, and leopards live in the riverine woodland. The Savuti area is known for lion and spotted hyena. Wild dog are seen at times.
Chance of seeing
Our estimate for a stay of two or three nights with a good guide. Wildlife is wild, so nothing is promised.
The Chobe River winds through a wide floodplain of reed beds and open grassland. In the dry season the shining river contrasts with the golden grass, and the sunsets over the water are exceptional.
Activities here
Chobe is hot in summer, with daytime temperatures of 32°C to 36°C and rain from November to March. Winter days are warm and dry, with cold mornings.
| Month | Day °C | Night °C | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33 | 21 | 110 |
| Feb | 32 | 21 | 100 |
| Mar | 32 | 20 | 80 |
| Apr | 32 | 17 | 30 |
| May | 30 | 12 | 5 |
| Jun | 28 | 8 | 0 |
| Jul | 28 | 8 | 0 |
| Aug | 31 | 11 | 0 |
| Sep | 34 | 16 | 5 |
| Oct | 36 | 20 | 30 |
| Nov | 35 | 21 | 70 |
| Dec | 33 | 21 | 100 |
Approximate long-term averages. Higher ground is cooler, and forests can rain in any month.
May to October is dry. The elephants and other animals concentrate along the river, which gives some of the best game viewing in Africa. October is very hot.
November to March is hot, humid and green, with thunderstorms. The animals disperse into the hinterland, but birds and young animals are plentiful.
June to October is the best time for the riverfront and the elephants. The green season from December to March is quiet, lush and good for birds.
Best time to visit Jun to Oct
Chobe is reached from Kasane, which has an airport with flights from Johannesburg, Victoria Falls and Maun, and a transfer from Victoria Falls takes about an hour and a half including the border. Savuti and Linyanti are reached by light aircraft or a rough four-wheel-drive road.
Park fees are included in our safaris. Citizens of many countries, including the UK, US, Canada, Australia and most of the EU, can enter Botswana without a visa for up to 90 days, but please check the rules for your passport. A KAZA UniVisa allows day trips between Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana for some nationalities.
Chobe is a malaria area, with the highest risk from November to May, so please take advice. Bring sun protection and warm layers for winter mornings.
WetlandOkavango DeltaGliding through the Delta by mokoro
City & TownKasaneGateway to Chobe
National ParkMakgadikgadi PansMeerkats, salt pans and the zebra migration
Wildlife Reserve & SanctuaryMoremi Game ReserveBig cats on the edge of the DeltaOur take
“Our take”
Spend two or three nights, and keep the boat cruises for the late afternoon, when the elephants come to drink.
Safaris from
US$1,692 per person
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