Chobe National Park

Chobe is teeming with animals: huge herds of elephant, buffalo and their chasing predators come to this mighty river to drink...

Overview

Chobe National Park is in the far north-east of Botswana. It teems with animals, especially huge herds of elephant and buffalo. Indeed the elephant population, estimated to be 30,000, is the largest concentration in Africa. It’s not unusual to see herds of up to 500 elephant at the river at the end of the dry season. And now large prides of lions have learnt to hunt them which adds to the safari excitement.

Below we have played slightly fast and loose with Chobe’s boundaries. As within ''our'' Chobe we include three distinct areas:

Firstly there are the game lodges on the Chobe River in the north of Chobe National Park, quite close to Victoria Falls.

Secondly there are the safari camps in the Savuti marsh area in the south of Chobe. (Or the Savute channel as it is also known.)

Finally we include the safari camps of the Linyanti, Selinda and Kwando private concessions. Which are not strictly in the Chobe National Park. As they lie to the west of the park.

So our Chobe safaris focus on these three areas. As this is where the game lodges and camps are concentrated.

Chobe & Animal Migrations

The key to understanding Chobe lies in the complex animal migrations. These follow an ancient pattern, only partly understood by man. Very broadly speaking, the game is drawn to the Chobe and Kwando rivers, with their verdant floodplains, during the dry winter season. Then during the wetter summer months, it spreads out to the open grasslands of the Savute marsh, the pans of the Mababa depression. And the western private concessions of the Linyanti.

Chobe Safaris & Victoria Falls

A Chobe safari is easily combined with Victoria Falls, only 1½ hours away by road. So some people tack a two night safari in Chobe onto a Victoria Falls visit.

Then from Kasane airport you can fly easily to the Okavango Delta or to Savute. Many of our Botswana safaris combine the Chobe with a few days in the Delta.

Features

Why you may love it

  • Huge herds of elephant in the dry winter months of Chobe
  • Large prides of lion which have learnt to hunt elephant & buffalo, especially around Savute
  • Game-viewing is good, even in the green season (Dec to March)
  • Sunset boat cruises on the Chobe river
  • Excellent walking safaris in the Linyanti private concessions
  • Easily combined with Victoria Falls, only 1½ hours from Chobe

When to visit Chobe National Park

December to March

Summer in Chobe National Park

This is the summer rainy season. The wildlife tends to be more dispersed through the park and harder to spot. Temperatures are high and it is humid. However, it is green and lush, and there is a chance to see newborn animals as this is calving season. This in turn attracts the predators. Afternoon thunder showers can also affect the safari activities. However Summer is traditionally the time of more reasonable safari prices in Botswana. During the wet season, animals migrate south to the Savuti marsh area so this area is one of the best for summer safaris.
AVG RAINFALL 131 mm
AVG DAYLIGHT 7.5 Hours
MAX TEMP 31 ℃ / 88 ℉
MIN TEMP 19 ℃ / 66 ℉

April to June

Shoulder season

This is considered the shoulder season it’s the start of the dry season. The landscape is still green and lush but grasses start dying down. The sunsets are superb as the skies are clearer. Note that June is a transitional month and varies from year to year. The game-viewing is getting better and better and yet many camps have shoulder season pricing.
AVG RAINFALL 8 mm
AVG DAYLIGHT 9.5 Hours
MAX TEMP 31 ℃ / 88 ℉
MIN TEMP 16 ℃ / 61 ℉

July to September

Dry season

Traditionally this is considered the best time to visit as the dry season continues. The bush is less dense and the animals flock to the Chobe River to drink. But the safari visitors also flock! And as the dry season continues, it gets very dry and dusty on the park roads. Temperatures heat up quickly in September and October prior to the start of the summer rains and it can get very hot on a September afternoon.
AVG RAINFALL 0 mm
AVG DAYLIGHT 10 Hours
MAX TEMP 26 ℃ / 79 ℉
MIN TEMP 10 ℃ / 50 ℉

October to November

Increasing heat

It is hot, hot, hot in October prior to the start of the summer rains. Make sure you are comfortable with heat if you travel in October. But with good game-viewing. Somewhere in November, the summer rains start. This leads to a fairly dramatic change in game-viewing as the wildlife disperse across the Chobe savanna plains. Your best bet in the summer months is the Savuti channel. Prolific numbers of babies being born attracts predators. Summer is also a great time for birding as the summer migrants arrive.
AVG RAINFALL 43 mm
AVG DAYLIGHT 9 Hours
MAX TEMP 35 ℃ / 95 ℉
MIN TEMP 19 ℃ / 66 ℉

Popular tours & safaris

We arrange trips to more than 100+ destinations throughout the African continent.

Start planning your dream trip

Find me the best in for

Need a little help? View our Safari Guide to help you get started

Accommodation

View More Accommodations

Download our Guide to Botswana Safaris

Major Game Reserves, Sample Tours & Camps, plus the low-down on Best Time to Visit! Get our free guide here
 

Ginny Russell

Co-founder & Director

Hi I'm Ginny, I'm here to help you plan your ideal holiday experience
 
Did you know
  • GeographyFour distinctly unique geographical landscapes
  • Away from it allSavute and Linyanti have no internet and no mobile network coverage

Chobe National Park Articles

Load More Articles

Book with confidence

 
ABTA logo
Zicasso Logo
Aito assurred logo
SATSA logo

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Start planning

How it works

 
Cedarberg talk-to-us
Chat with us about your perfect itinerary
Cedarberg curate
We listen, discuss and curate your ideal experience
Cedarberg pack
You pack and enjoy your holiday

Tasha Eygelaar

Africa Travel Specialist

Hi I’m Tasha, I’m here to help you plan your ideal holiday experience

Subscribe to our newsletter

Keen to get some more useful info about planning a dream safari? Enter your name and email below

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.