Botswana
Northern Botswana (Chobe River, near Kasane)
National Park
11,700 km²
Wildlife
A PROLOGUE
Chobe National Park covers around 11,700 square kilometers in northern Botswana, and is home to what is widely considered the largest concentration of elephant in Africa, with an estimated population exceeding 120,000. The park stretches from the Chobe riverfront in the north to the Savuti and Linyanti regions further south and west.
The Chobe riverfront is famous for its evening boat cruises, offering close-up views of elephant herds, hippo pods, buffalo, and a wide range of birdlife gathering along the water’s edge. Beyond the river, drier savanna and mopane woodland support lion, leopard, and one of the richest concentrations of wildlife in southern Africa.
Total Area
Elephants
Established
Chobe holds the largest elephant population of any African national park.
Large herds gather along the riverfront, especially in the dry season.
Dense pods are a common sight along the Chobe River.
Prides are regularly encountered, particularly around Savuti.
Frequently seen basking along the riverbanks.
A common sight perched along the river during boat cruises.
Regularly seen browsing across the park's woodland areas.
Accommodations
Botswana
Chobe Chilwero sits on a hilltop above the Chobe River near Kasane, its name meaning ‘place of high view’ in the local language, and the outlook across the floodplains is its defining feature.
Private cottages are set within mature gardens, each with its own courtyard. The lodge combines game drives into Chobe National Park with river cruises, and its proximity to the Zimbabwe border makes it a natural pairing with Victoria Falls.
Botswana
Savuti Camp sits above the Savute Channel in the Linyanti region, a watercourse famous for flowing and drying without apparent pattern over the last century.
Raised tents face the channel, which draws elephant in large numbers through the dry months. A sunken log-pile hide near camp allows ground-level photography of animals coming down to drink.
Botswana
Chobe Game Lodge is the sole property located within Chobe National Park, occupying a stretch of the Chobe riverfront where Africa’s largest elephant population comes to drink.
Its position inside the park allows game drives to begin before day visitors arrive from Kasane. The lodge is also known for pioneering an all-female professional guiding team, and operates electric game viewers and boats for near-silent wildlife encounters.
Location
Most nationalities receive South African entry on arrival; Zimbabwe issues an e-visa or visa on arrival. We confirm requirements for your passport.
Low-risk malaria areas — anti-malarials advised. No mandatory vaccinations from most countries; consult your travel clinic before departure.
South African Rand; US Dollars are widely used around Victoria Falls. Cards are accepted in cities; carry small USD for tips.
Warm days and cool mornings on safari in the dry season. Pack layers — early game drives can be cold even when afternoons are hot.
Neutral, breathable clothing, a warm layer, sun protection and binoculars. Soft bags are required on light aircraft, with strict weight limits.
Wi-Fi at all hotels and lodges, though deliberately gentle in the bush. Power is 230V; bring a universal adaptor.
The practical Guide
A quick visit combining a game drive with a sunset boat cruise along the Chobe River.
Per Person
A classic itinerary combining the riverfront, Savuti, and multiple game drives and boat cruises.
Per Person
An extended stay covering the riverfront, Savuti, and Linyanti regions for varied habitats and wildlife.
Per Person
Moremi Game Reserve covers around 5,000 square kilometers on the eastern side of the Okavango Delta in northern Botswana. Established in 1963, it was one of the first protected areas in Africa created by a local community, the Batawana people, in response to declining wildlife populations from unregulated hunting.
Moremi combines the wetland habitats of the Okavango Delta with dry mopane woodland and open savanna, supporting an exceptional diversity of wildlife. The reserve offers strong sightings of the Big Five, alongside significant populations of wild dog, and is considered one of the most beautiful and game-rich reserves in southern Africa.
The Makgadikgadi Pans form one of the largest salt pan systems in the world, remnants of an ancient lake that once covered much of northern Botswana. Protected within Makgadikgadi Pans and Nxai Pan National Parks, the area transforms dramatically with the seasons, from a cracked, shimmering white desert in the dry months to shallow wetlands after the summer rains.
When water returns, the pans draw one of southern Africa’s great wildlife migrations, as zebra and wildebeest move across the plains in search of fresh grazing, followed by predators. Flamingos gather in vast numbers on the flooded pans, while the surrounding grasslands support gemsbok, ostrich, and other species adapted to this stark, open landscape.
Chobe National Park covers around 11,700 square kilometers in northern Botswana, and is home to what is widely considered the largest concentration of elephant in Africa, with an estimated population exceeding 120,000. The park stretches from the Chobe riverfront in the north to the Savuti and Linyanti regions further south and west.
The Chobe riverfront is famous for its evening boat cruises, offering close-up views of elephant herds, hippo pods, buffalo, and a wide range of birdlife gathering along the water’s edge. Beyond the river, drier savanna and mopane woodland support lion, leopard, and one of the richest concentrations of wildlife in southern Africa.
The Okavango Delta is one of the world’s largest inland deltas, formed where the Okavango River spreads across the sands of the Kalahari Desert in northern Botswana rather than reaching the sea. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the delta’s seasonal floodwaters transform the dry Kalahari into a mosaic of channels, lagoons, and islands each year.
This unique wetland ecosystem supports an exceptional concentration of wildlife, including elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, hippo and Nile crocodile, alongside hundreds of bird species. The delta is best explored by traditional mokoro canoe, motorboat, and light aircraft, offering a very different safari experience from the dry savanna reserves elsewhere in the region.
TOURS & SAFARIS
How it works
01
Share where you long to go and what would make it unforgettable .
02
A tailor-made itinerary matched to the right camps and seasons.
03
We shape every detail until the journey feels entirely your own.
04
A dedicated team is with you from landing to homecoming.
GUEST REVIEWS
answers
Chobe is best known for having the largest elephant population of any African national park, along with spectacular boat cruises along the Chobe riverfront.
Boat cruises typically run in the late afternoon, offering close-up views of elephant, hippo, buffalo, and birdlife gathering along the riverbanks at sunset.
The dry season, from May to October, offers the best game viewing as wildlife concentrates along the Chobe River and other permanent water sources.
Most visitors fly into Kasane, a short drive from the park’s main riverfront entrance, or arrive overland from Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
Yes, Chobe is commonly paired with Victoria Falls, as Kasane is within a few hours’ drive of both destinations.
The Savuti and Linyanti regions offer a different safari experience, with drier savanna and mopane woodland known for predator sightings.
Neutral-coloured clothing, sunscreen, insect repellent, and binoculars are recommended, along with a light jacket for cool boat cruises.
