Chobe National Park runs from Botswana’s northern border with Namibia, south towards the Khwai River and Moremi Game Reserve. It’s a huge area of almost 12,000km2 and, along with Moremi, offers the best wildlife viewing in Botswana. The two main wildlife regions are around Savuti Camp in the centre of the park, and along the Chobe and Linyanti Rivers in the north. The Savuti region is famous for the enigmatic Savuti Channel which, when running, pours water into the inland Savuti Marsh and attracts an incredible variety of animals in great numbers.

Elephants at the waterhole| Chobe National Park

Highlights

The Savuti Marsh is one of Southern Africa’s great wildlife playgrounds and when the channel is open animals congregate on the plains around Savuti Camp. In a single game drive, you might see elephant, buffalo, giraffe, leopard and lion, not to mention thousands of zebra, wildebeest, impala and a host of other animals and birds. Further north, the rivers are vital water sources especially during the long, dry winter. Thousands of elephants fall on the area from May to October and enormous herds are a common sight along the riverbanks. Don’t leave Chobe without taking a wildlife-spotting boat cruise on the Chobe River. Boat trips can be booked from most lodges and hotels in Kasane.

Practical advice

North of Savuti, the tracks are particularly sandy and in summer those around the Savuti Marsh can turn to think, impassable mud. The whole park is definitely 4×4 only, but from May to November you shouldn’t have any problems. SKL Group operates the Savuti and Linyanti campsites and Kwalate Safaris operates Ihaha Camp. There’s running water and ablutions at all three of Chobe’s public campsites but no fuel or supplies between Maun and Kasane. If you would like to inquire about our 4×4 hire Bostwana options, one of our consultants will readily assist with any questions you may have.