johannekekroesbergen Zambia flag

ZM Visited: May 2015 Reviewed: Jul 9, 2015

Email johannekekroesbergen | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris

Never seen so many lions!

Overall rating

4 / 5 4 _/5

Wildlife 4 / 5 Bush Vibe 3 / 5 Scenery 4 / 5 Birding 4 / 5

We stayed at the new Chobe Bush Lodge, sister accommodation to the Chobe Safari Lodge. Really nice rooms, everything still fresh and new. We went for a game drive in the morning and a boat cruise in the afternoon. We were at the gate of the park at 6 in the morning; it was still dark and very cold. I sat shivering in the vehicle, and probably the animals were still curled up in bed as well. We did see a leopard in the half-light, but not much else. That is, until we heard the lions. There were many. A pride of about 10 was chased away from their kill by another pride, and they were angry! Growling, with foam around their mouths. Now I almost couldn't hold my camera for the adrenalin rushing through my body. (I managed, though, as you can see here: ) We didn't see much game other than the lions - but it was fantastic anyhow. The boatcruise was fine as well - the sunset on the Chobe river is a beauty. However, it gets really busy with boats in the afternoon, so that bush vibe wasn't

really there. Also, when you are staying in the Bush Lodge or the Safari Lodge, the boat is really big, so it can't come close to the banks. Food at the lodge was okay, though the menu promised more than was actually given. My ciabatta with mozzarella, pesto and tomato turned out to be a cheese sandwich without any pesto or mozzarella. It tasted good, but was not what I expected.

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C H

AU Visited: April 2015 Reviewed: May 3, 2015

50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris

Amazing elephant river crossings

Overall rating

4 / 5 4 _/5

Wildlife 4 / 5 Bush Vibe 3 / 5 Scenery 3 / 5 Birding 4 / 5

Guide was great. The boat ride on the river was an amazing way to see the wildlife from a different perspective. Wildlife was a bit scarce but we did have two river crossings to watch with elephants which was the key highlight. Great sunsets. Chobe Elephant Camp was great, the staff were very accommodating.

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oldparson United Kingdom flag

GB Visited: April 2015 Reviewed: May 1, 2015

50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris

Wonderful for birds and elephants.

Overall rating

4 / 5 4 _/5

Wildlife 4 / 5 Bush Vibe 4 / 5 Scenery 4 / 5 Birding 5 / 5

This was a one-day visit from our base at Victoria Falls. We love birds so that was a priority for us. We have seen the bigger animals in Zambia's South Luanga NP. The tour was arranged from our hotel and was with Bushtracks. The organisation ran like clockwork - courteous staff who helped us through the border crossings which looked intimidating but were easy. There were just 6 of us in the party. We started with the river tour which was quiet from a wildlife point of view to start with, however an hour in and we started to see lots of birds - which our guide was pleased to follow and get good views of. Our guide knew all the birds we saw and was informative but not intrusive to the experience. A woodland kingfisher and carmine bee-eaters being highlights. Great view of elephants coming down to the water to drink, then the hippos and crocodiles completed the morning. Lunch at a lodge was an excellent buffet. The afternoon overland safari gave us great views of more elephants, giraffe,

impala and warthogs. No big cats seen - and the zebra had migrated to Namibia. Weather was cool - low 20s, overcast and dry. There were a lot of other safari vehicles all following the same route - our guide explained they had to keep to set tracks so we couldn't go and see what was attracting the vultures a couple of hundred metres away. However he did try hard to keep us away from from the larger group and we had great views and enjoyed our day.

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France and Roger France flag

FR Visited: September 2011 Reviewed: Apr 16, 2015

65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris

Overall rating

4 / 5 4 _/5

Wildlife 4 / 5 Bush Vibe 4 / 5 Scenery 4 / 5 Birding 5 / 5

it was excellent in 2011, but went back in 2014 and it was over crowded.

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bonsaisai Visited: February 2015 Reviewed: Apr 6, 2015

First time doing safari and I'll be sure to return

Overall rating

4 / 5 4 _/5

Wildlife 4 / 5 Bush Vibe 4 / 5 Scenery 5 / 5 Birding / 5

Most guide books advise you to go in the dry season to see a lot of wildlife. I did my first safari ever in February in the middle of the wet season. On the morning of my drive, it was overcast, cold, and drizzling. It had rained a lot the night before. I would never have thought of going on a safari while shivering in my jacket. To my surprise, the sky cleared up in the afternoon and there were still a lot to see: giraffes, baboons, elephants, warthogs, impalas, buffaloes, etc. And to my extreme delight, even a painted African wild dog. The only thing missing from the game drive are the predators. The boat cruise on the Chobe waterfront was relaxing and exciting at the same time. We saw an elephant swimming out to an island in the middle of the channel, many hippos and crocs, and plenty of birds.

So what did I miss when doing safari in the wet season? Animals are not as numerous and concentrated but there are no crowds. More importantly, with plenty of water to

drink and grass to eat, the animals are not stressed; they're not fighting for their survival. The lush vegetation is beautiful and pleasing. The cool and comfortable weather (at mid day) more than makes up for seeing fewer animals. The deep blue sky reflects on the serene water of the Chobe River like a painting. What a great place to be for the animals! And for humans, too!

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Terry Carew Visited: August 2010 Reviewed: Apr 5, 2015

It is always a pleasure to visit the Chobe national park.

Overall rating

4 / 5 4 _/5

Wildlife 5 / 5 Bush Vibe 4 / 5 Scenery 4 / 5 Birding 5 / 5

The wildlife in Chobe is diverse and abundant. The park is sub-divided (my definition) into two main centres. The river edge of the park in the very north of the park is my favourite. The road network offers visitors the option of traveling along the river edge next to the floodplain or in the densely wooded area bordering the floodplain. The river road option offers good sightings of the main attractions to Chobe, namely elephants and buffalos. These are very much in evidence as they drink twice daily. Other notable species are impala, waterbuck, sable, hippo, crocodiles, warthogs, puku, lechwe and others. Lions are usually around as are hyenas and jackals. Birdlife is magnificent. The fish eagles are plentiful as are most of the other raptors. Aquatic birds are best seen by buying a seat on a river craft operated by numerous hotels and agencies in Kasane which is outside the border of the park. Boating is very rewarding for big game spotting as well.

The other centre is

to the south and west of Kasane and is referred to as Savuti. The Savuti channel runs through the park and drains into the Mbabe depression. This part of Chobe is very popular with visitors and during peak times of the year can be a bit busy. Very well wooded it is one of the best areas in Africa to see four of the big five. Birding is also of the best. Both centres are connected by a road that can be traversed only by a four wheel drive vehicle. About here to five hours traveling is the norm if conditions are good.

Visitors can access the park by self drive 4X4 vehicles (fully equipped and available for rent in Kasane) and camping is available but can be rough, or by booking with an operator and be driven around the park. Advance booking for self drive is essential as camp sites are limited.

The scenery in the park is pretty much dominated by bush and trees, but along the river edge the sunsets are superb as dust and smoke in the air make for vivid colours.

Peak seasons for visiting the park are April to September. October is very dry and can be windy and November to March is the rainy season.

More information can be obtained from the Botswana tourist board or by "googling" Chobe itself.

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Tenaz

US Visited: February 2015 Reviewed: Feb 19, 2015

50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari

The safari in Chobe National Park was fantastic! We saw lions, hippos, giraffes & crocodiles day 1.

Overall rating

4 / 5 4 _/5

Wildlife 5 / 5 Bush Vibe 5 / 5 Scenery 4 / 5 Birding 3 / 5

Chobe National Park is a gem! Our guides were very patient and knew a lot about animals. We drove in open jeeps and had great access to photograph the beautiful birds and wild-life that we saw.
The park is teeming with life! We witnessed a pregnant giraffe, playful baboons, kissing hippos, grazing elephants ( swimming elephants, nursing elephants - over 200,000 elephants in Botswana) an angry lion and many impalas and kudus. The scenery was lush and green and the Chobe river was full of fabulous surprises like hippos and crocodiles! Do go!

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jouke schotel Netherlands flag

NL Visited: May 2007 Reviewed: Jul 11, 2012

65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris

Boatsafari on Chobe river 2 gamedrives in park, 6 gamedrives in Elephant Camp

Overall rating

4 / 5 4 _/5

Wildlife 5 / 5 Bush Vibe 4 / 5 Scenery 4 / 5 Birding 5 / 5

Game is very diverse and abundant in both locations. Well organized drives, perfect knowledgeble guides and drivers. Exept for rhino's we came across all kinds of species also very rare-ones. Accommodation meets reasonable standard. Staff friendlyness could be subject to improvement in Safari Inn, but was perfect in Elephant Camp. It should be stressed more clearly that luggage weight is limited to 12 kilo's when using airtransport to remote camps in tiny 6-seaters. All in all the best value for money in all safari's experienced in Africa, inc. South Africa and Kenya.

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David Sullivan United States flag

US Visited: January 2011 Reviewed: Jun 18, 2012

Email David Sullivan | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari

Overall rating

4 / 5 4 _/5

Wildlife 5 / 5 Bush Vibe 4 / 5 Scenery 4 / 5 Birding / 5

The National Park has a good variety of wildlife, but you may find yourself in competition with a bunch of other people all trying to get the same view of the lionness with cubs or other interesting sight.

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JacoBrits South Africa flag

ZA Visited: April 2010 Reviewed: Jan 29, 2012

35-50 years of age

Overall rating

4 / 5 4 _/5

Wildlife 5 / 5 Bush Vibe 5 / 5 Scenery 4 / 5 Birding 5 / 5

Well developed but still authentic bush.

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User Reviews of Chobe National Park (214 Reviews)

Average User Rating

Rating Breakdown

Never seen so many lions!

Amazing elephant river crossings

Wonderful for birds and elephants.

First time doing safari and I'll be sure to return

It is always a pleasure to visit the Chobe national park.

The safari in Chobe National Park was fantastic! We saw lions, hippos, giraffes & crocodiles day 1.

Boatsafari on Chobe river 2 gamedrives in park, 6 gamedrives in Elephant Camp