Chobe National Park

Meeting the African wildlife

The wildlife was the best ever. We first went by boat and watched hippos and crocodiles and birds of all kinds. Great guides that spotted even the smallest animals in the national park and pointed them out for us eager photographers. The weather was great and we had a great dinner at the Chobe Safari Lodge. After that we entered the national park by truck and had a great guide there too. We met elephants, giraffes and lions and a whole variety of different animals.

A wonderful safari full of unexpected and breathtaking sights from beginning to end.

I visited Chobe whilst working as a volunteer on the Book Bus project in Livingstone, Zambia. The crossing from Zambia to Botswana was very straightforward and the trip began with morning coffee at Kalahari Tours’ office followed by a boat safari on the Chobe River.
The wide river channels and lush green islands were an oasis amidst the dry thorn scrub. Not surprisingly, they were rich in bird life including fish eagles, pied kingfishers and white-fronted bee-eaters. It was fantastic to see everything from a different perspective, be on a level with the hippos in the water and get a close-up view of basking crocodiles.
After a delicious buffet lunch we headed into the park for a game drive. I was amazed to see so many elephants of all ages – a huge herd making its way to the water to drink and bathe. It was unexpected and wonderful. The rest of the drive did not disappoint with sightings of warthog, giraffe, impala, kudu, puku, buffalo and more. In the beautiful evening light we watched as elephants, including a two-week-old baby, crossed the river from the islands where they had been grazing and flocks of whistling, white-faced ducks took to the air. The sunset was breathtaking.
I had decided on the camping option for my overnight stay. The comfortable tents were set up in a clearing around a roaring campfire, which was welcome in the chill evening air, and we were very well fed and comfortable. It was great to be immersed in the bush with all the night sounds and amazing, starlit sky. Up for breakfast before sunrise, I was treated to the magical sight of a family of elephants passing quietly by the camp in the half-light of dawn.
All the guides/drivers were friendly, helpful, extremely knowledgeable and happy to answer questions but frequent changeovers made tipping a bit of an issue. I would recommend staying at least one night as it added so much to the experience.
My visit to Chobe was over too quickly and I have every intention of returning.

After spending the majority of our time in Moremi, I think we were too spoilt. Chobe has the quintessential safari theme going with the lodges and endless landrovers parading through the park. I was somewhat dissipointed in seeing a single lion with a kill surrounded by 7 vehicles with people leaning out making lots of noise. It felt more like a theme park than a national park. But that is just my opinion. We did see wonderful wildlife and incredible birds. I would not Not go back there, but I don't think it would be my first choice.

Thousands of animals in their natural habitat

Chobe National Park is breathtaking. I have visited other parks in Botswana and Southern Africa before, but I had never seen so many animals all together. During the day you can see hundreds of impalas, zebras, elephants and giraffes going to drink from the Chobe river. There's also plenty of warthogs, buffaloes, kudus and fish eagles. Even the big cats can be spotted if you have a little patience.
Roads are well marked and there are also some resting and pic-nic areas.
Unfortunately tourists are easy to find too: you will often find other jeeps on your trail.

Chobe is to touch Africa with all your senses and leave with a place in your heart forever.

The colors and smells of Chobe touched me..all your senses are heightened. The smell of the African Sage, the hippos in the water, the colorful birdlife, the crocodiles and the large herds of elephants playing at the rivers edge. The people are simple and friendly and the camping is a lifetime experience. Wake to a sunrise over the African bush and to the animals venturing out for the day. A monkey swings above you, a hippo serenades you, a warthog rustles through the brush...this is Africa!

Chobe National Park for every one who love nature.

Chobe National Park is a great park for every person who love nature in any different way, from little insects up to big elephants.

The wildlife in this park is containing all sort of animals and all sort of types, insects, mammals, snake and lizards,birds and much more. The amazing part in the park is that the animals are completely free and don't have a fence to keep them in and they still staying in and around.

The park is combining couple of different environments for the animals. In the park there is water, bush, open area and even sand area which give the person who visiting an opportunity to see all kind of different animals in different situations.

My best part in my trip was that I had an opportunity in Sabuti to sleep in a tent in nature and to feel the wildlife all around and actual to hear and feel the nature all around me.

Chobe National park is defiantly my favorite wildlife adventure that i had so far.

Just our luck that the setting sun was in the wrong angle ie animals between us and the sun and therefore were backlit. Despite this with more time we would have been rewarded like the other travellers we had met on route including some of our own group who had separated from us the previous day to start another tour and what they saw.

A destination to view magnificent creatures with minimal interference from man.

My visit to Chobe National Park satisfied the wildlife viewing and photographic opportunities I have been yearning for. I began my stay with a jumper flight from Maun International Airport to the Orient Express Savute Elephant camp. My guide Rob drove us into a remote camp area with amazing views along the way. We spotted zebra, impala, and several species of birds on just the drive in. That evening and every morning and evening thereafter we had game drives to explore different areas of the park and spot game.
We were not disappointed, and although we went in what is typically considered the off season, we were deluged with a variety of amazing animals in the park. Elephant, leopards, lions, cape buffalo, kudu, zebra, giraffe, jackal, mongoose, warthog, ducks, herons, and eagles were just a few of the many animals we viewed.
Our accomodations were in a safari style canvas tent with en suite bathrooms and a beautiful wood deck overlooking the Savute Channel, which was flowing again for the first time in decades. The food was superb, and the service at our camp was truly better than we could have even dreamed. Our guide was an incredibly knowledgeabale young man who not only knew the basics of each animal but was able to go in depth about mating habits, juvenile coloring, pack habits and many many other things. Our daily excursions were tailored to our viewing interests- in our case, we wished to see predators especially! Every day was warm and we had almost no rain during our stay, but there was a high level of humidity.
Overall, Chobe was a once in a lifetime experience that did not disappoint.

A Chobe River Cruise - Ultimate Wildlife Experience

A boat cruise on the Chobe River, in the Chobe National Park, belongs to the ultimate wildlife experiences. There are few experiences that can compare with the thrill of seeing a herd of elephants playing in the water, or crossing the river and Chobe gives one the unique opportunity of seeing such wildlife spectacles from up close. The bird watching is simply awesome. From the iconic call of the Fish Eagle, to the stately walk of various stork species, the colourful, turquoise flash of Botswana's national bird, the lilac-breasted roller to the acrobatic antics of the Kingfishers, they are all set to delight and entertain you. It was a guide from Chobe National Park that taught me: We call the African Jacana Jesus Bird, because it can walk on water... This long toed bird actually walks over water lily leaves, but from a distance it really seems to walk on water. Chobe National Park ranks as one of my favourite wildlife destinations in Africa.

Elephants, predators and a beautiful river

Great wildlife can be viewed at Chobe. The highlight is the hundreds of elephants who don the landscape in huge herds. Also lots of predators including crocodile, lions, and the elusive leopard! we even spotted one in a tree as our guide parked the vehicle right under the tree. It was the most surreal moment of the safari. Some hairs do stand up on the back of your neck. The lodges there are right in the middle of it all blending in very well.