Chobe National Park is situated in the northern part of Botswana, established in 1968. It is one of the most famous wildlife destinations, which is also tagged as the elephant capital of the world.
This park is home to several herds of elephants and is the third-largest national park. It covers a total area of about 11700 square kilometers.
It is also bordered by the Chobe River to the north and is part of the great Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area, which extends to Zimbabwe, Zambia, Angola, and Namibia.
Chobe National Park is divided into 4 regions, and some of these include;
Chobe River Front
The Chobe River front is one of the most popular and accessible regions in the park. It is more populated by the large herds of elephants and buffalo, which gather around the Chobe River during the dry season.
It is within the north-eastern part of the Park. The Chobe River is the international boundary of Botswana and Namibia.
In this region, the wildlife encountered includes lions, buffalo, elephants, hippos, giraffes, sable, Puku, kudu, and several bird species.
Savuti Marsh
Savuti Marsh is another region in the western part of Chobe National Park, known for its rugged and remote location. Savuti Marsh is also tagged as “Africa’s Predator capital” since it is populated by several cats and large mammals.
The Savuti channel is one of the main water supplies in this region. The vegetation cover in this region consists of marsh plains, Boababs, and open Outcrops.
Linyanti Marsh
This is the least visited and remote region that is in the northwestern Part of the park. The region is named after the Linyanti River, which is also a border point of Botswana and Namibia.
The region is between the Okavango Delta and the Chobe riverfront. It is more accessible by air since it is more covered by wetlands.
What are the activities that you can engage in the Chobe National Park?
There are several activities that you can engage in during a safari to the Chobe National Park, and they include;
Game drive
Game drives or game viewing is one of the key activities carried out around the Chobe National Park since the park is covered by a large percentage of the Marsh plains vegetation type. This kind of vegetation makes it easy to view the wildlife around the park.
It is carried out in the areas of the Chobe river front, savutiMash, and Linyanti Marsh. The park is an excellent place for easy viewing of the wildlife.
Some of the wildlife encountered during the safari include lions, leopards, buffalo, elephants, zebras, kudus, wild dogs, spotted hyenas, and many others. It is done in several sessions, like morning, afternoon, and evening.
It is done using a 4×4 safari van with a pop-up for easy viewing of the wildlife.
Boat cruise
A boat cruise is another activity that takes you on an encounter with several attractions around the Chobe River. This water-based experience takes you through a cruise on the Chobe River to several wildlife species, such as crocodiles, herds of elephants, monitor lizards, lions, zebras, and many others.
Boat cruise on the Chobe River is done in morning and afternoon sessions. In the morning session, you have the opportunity to see several wildlife, like elephants crossing the river, several predators finishing their night hunt, and many more.
A boat cruise on the Chobe River takes about 2 to 3 hours.
Bird watching
Chobe National Park is a great birding haven for one to encounter several bird species, since the park is home to over 450 bird species. These bird species are dotted in several areas of the park, like Chobe River Front, Kasene Forest Reserve, and many others.
Some of the bird species encountered include African skimmer, Pel’s fishing owl, marabou storks, African fishing eagle, Carmine bee-eater, and many others.
Walking safaris
A walking safari is also done in the park, where you encounter the different areas of the park on foot. You explore the different parts of the parks under the guidance of a ranger to ensure safety, and they are knowledgeable about the animal behaviors.
Some of the wildlife encountered include elephants, buffalo, zebras, and even tracking the footprints of other wildlife.
Where to stay during the safari to the Chobe National Park?
This is one of the frequently asked questions by travelers as they plan a safari to the Chobe National Park. The park is dotted with several accommodation facilities that range from luxury to mobile tented camps.
There is a high number of accommodation facilities around the Chobe Riverfront. Some of the accommodation facilities around the park include Chobe Game Lodge, Chobe Safari Lodge, Lenyebi River Lodge, Bakwena Lodge, Camp Savuti, Camp Linyanti, and many others.
You are supposed to book in advance to ensure availability during the safari.
What to pack for a safari to the Chobe National Park?
For a better experience, there are several things that you are required to pack for a safari to the Chobe National Park, and some of these include;
- Binoculars
- Sunglasses and caps
- Water bottle to keep hydrated
- Dull colored clothing
- Insect repellants