Chobe
One of the oldest safari destinations in Africa – located in the northern edge of Botswana - Chobe is a vast national park covering over 11,000 square kilometres. Despite its large size, most safaris are conducted within two relatively concise areas.
The first of these is the famed riverfront – the section of the National Park residing on the banks of the Chobe River. The vast floodplain of the Chobe and its gleaming waters are a magnet for game in the dry season – both large and small – and this area is thought to have the largest concentrations of Elephants in Africa. Lions are ever present and can often be seen hunting near the banks of the river. This part of the park also offers some of the finest river safaris in Africa, with regular boat trips offering up close views with swimming Elephants, Hippos, Crocodiles and much more.
It must be said, the Chobe riverfront is Botswana’s busiest tourist destination – so if remoteness and exclusivity are your priority – then this may not be the place for you. However, the value for money you get and the volume and diversity of game you see, make this a very worthwhile visit on any Botswanan itinerary.
The second area where safaris are traditionally done in Chobe is the Savuti area. This dry, remoter part of the park offers much more of an exclusive stay than the riverfront and is home to a large number of predators including Lion, Leopard, Cheetah and Wild Dog. The small amount of water holes in the area provide a lifeline to game in the dry season and provide some extremely unique sightings and animal-to-animal interactions.
When to go:
As with Linyanti, Chobe is highly seasonal in terms of game-viewing and much more so than the Okavango. June through to October - Botswana’s winter and dry season - are the prime time to visit, when the large herds of animal’s flock towards the Chobe River and Savute’s few waterholes. Outside of this time, dispersal of game and dense woodland make game viewing difficult.