Chobe National Park

Chobe was Botswana’s first national park and covers nearly 11,000km2. The park is renowned for having the largest concentration of wildlife in Africa, especially elephant and buffalo, who you might see congregating along the Chobe River.

Chobe offers a variety of adventures, including private river cruises, game drives, birdwatching, and extraordinary photographic opportunities.

Highlights of Chobe National Park

• Home to the largest elephant population on Earth, more than 120 000.
• Chobe River offers some of the most beautiful safari boat cruises anywhere in the world.
• One of the most important concentrations of wildlife in Africa.
• Chobe is a top-class birdwatching location with more than 450 species.
• Birdwatching and extraordinary photographic opportunities

Wildlife in Chobe

Chobe is rich in wildlife. In the dry months, elephants and buffalo can be found along the riverbanks. The park interior is home to smaller numbers of greater and lesser kudu, impala, and plains zebra. You might also be able to spot lions and wild dogs. The floodplains are home to thousands of animals, which creates the perfect opportunity for photos, especially at sunset. Some of the smaller mammals, such as the Chobe subspecies of bushbuck, are less obvious. You can also expect to see Red lechwes in marshy areas, as well as Selous’ mongoose, and serval.

For the birdwatcher, Chobe has more than 440 bird species around the park. It has the highest concentration of Southern African raptor species, including the bateleur and vulnerable lappet-faced. The river’s most prominent bird is the endangered African skimmer. The banks of Chobe are dotted with burrows created by the amazing Southern Carmine Bee–Eater. The kori bustard, Africa’s largest flying bird, the Pel’s fishing owl and the Pallid Harrier are other notable species in the park

During the wet season, the wildlife moves into the deeper regions of the park. You’ll have a better chance at seeing big game on a boat or mokoro safari. This way, you will also be able to see some crocodiles, hippos and fish eagles. You might even see a herd of elephants drinking on the banks of the river.