Travel to Botswana’s Chobe National Park to see Africa’s wildlife as it once was. A Chobe safari takes you to a destination as famous for its great elephant and buffalo herds as it is for its predators. Big cats, hyenas and wild dogs are all resident in Chobe and it’s also home to a zebra migration, hippo-filled rivers and some of the best bird watching in Africa.
A Chobe safari is best divided between its two most accessible regions – the Chobe River and Savuti. Dominated by lush floodplains and riverside forest, the Chobe River is the most popular region and offers excellent game viewing from the comfort of 4X4s and boats. The Savuti area (often spelled Savute) lies at the centre of the park and has a long pedigree of thrilling wildlife encounters. Nourished by the waters of the Savuti Channel, Savuti is the stage for giant bull elephants and epic confrontations between predator and prey.
Chobe is usually part of a larger itinerary that includes the Okavango Delta and next-door Victoria Falls. You can explore Chobe National Park on an overland camping safari, staying in comfortable tents and enjoying fire-cooked food and expert guiding. You can also choose to go accommodated, flying from lodge to lodge to cut out the overland travel.
You’ll need to choose the timing of your visit carefully. The arrival of the summer rains changes the distribution of wildlife (especially around the Chobe River) and itineraries should be carefully planned for maximum reward.
Talk to Safari Online about a Chobe safari. There are several camping options to choose from and a wide selection of safari accommodation: Chobe’s camps and lodges range from value-for-money and family-friendly to indulgently-exclusive and honeymoon-perfect. We’ll recommend the best tour or accommodation for your requirements or will tailor-make a personal itinerary for you.
The dry winter (May to late October) is often seen as the best time to visit Chobe. It’s the time of year with the lowest malaria risk and temperatures are very pleasant. From May through August you’ll enjoy mild to warm sunny days with cold, star-filled nights but you’ll need to be prepared for very hot weather in September and October when the average maximum temperature is 38°C/100°F.
Game viewing is very good during the long dry season, especially in the later months as animals are increasingly concentrated at the Chobe River and Savuti Channel.
The arrival of the summer rains in November breaks up the herds at the rivers as the Chobe National Park turns green. Migratory birds arrive in huge numbers, zebra migrate through the Savuti grasslands and many antelope give birth, attracting predators of all description. Visitors to Chobe in the early Green Season (Nov and Dec) may have to put up with a bit of rain but the game viewing can be very rewarding.
Rain is heaviest in January, February and March forcing several lodges and overland safari operators to close at this time of year. Travel to Chobe is not recommended during this time: the malaria risk is at its highest, and animals are widely dispersed and hard to see amongst the greenery.
Chobe lodges provide some of the most luxurious safari accommodations in Botswana – if not southern Africa. They range from air-conditioned riverside hotels to classic thatch and timber lodges as well as lamp-lit tented camps. The standard of service is high and you’ll enjoy expert guiding, great food and wine as well as all the creature comforts – well-appointed suites, private bathrooms and battery recharging points.
There is accommodation in both of the Chobe National Park’s wildlife hotspots: the Chobe River and the Savuti region. Lodges are usually set overlooking water to maximise your game viewing experience. Chobe’s larger accommodations often have a pool, spa and gift shop.
Browse of recommended Chobe lodges below or contact us to find out which lodge is best suited for your requirements and budget. Note that some Chobe River lodges are set away from the river and several Savuti lodges are located some distance from the famous Savuti Marsh – ask us for more information.
Set on a ridge overlooking the river, this camp has a charming rustic atmosphere. Its location in a less-visited region of the reserve means easy access to game drives & boat cruises during peak season. A 2-room family chalet is available.
The only riverside lodge in the Chobe National Park itself, Chobe Game Lodge takes advantage of its privileged setting to deliver excellent game viewing by 4X4 & boat. It’s a larger, hotel-type accommodation with plenty of facilities & room types.
You can’t get better views of the Chobe River than those from your suite aboard the Chobe Princess, a luxury houseboat that offers game viewing by motor boat as well as birding & fishing trips. It’s an intimate, unique & unforgettable experience.
Luxury lodge perched on a plateau in Botswana’s Chobe Forest Reserve, offering sweeping views over the wildlife-rich Chobe River floodplains. Situated near the quieter western edge of Chobe National Park, the lodge provides a tranquil alternative to the busier eastern regions, while still granting easy access to the park’s abundant wildlife.
A Chobe safari is about one thing: big game. Home to some of Africa’s greatest populations of elephant, buffalo and lion, the Chobe National Park invariably lies at the heart of a Botswana safari.
There are two destinations to visit in the park: the Chobe River and the Savuti region. The Chobe River is noted for its huge dry-season concentrations of elephant and buffalo; Savuti (also spelled Savute) is famous for its big cats and spotted hyenas as well as year-round heavyweight game viewing. Combining easily with the Moremi Game Reserve and Okavango Delta, a Chobe Safari can also be finished in style at Victoria Falls – just a short drive across the border from the Chobe River. Choose from the Zambian or Zimbabwean side.
Browse our tried-and-tested Chobe safaris below or simply contact us with your ideas and budget and we’ll tailor-make an itinerary for you.
Our team of destination experts will design a holiday to meet your budget and interests. Let’s start planning your tailor-made African safari today!
A Chobe safari is usually part of a larger itinerary in Botswana. The Chobe National Park lies close to the Okavango Delta and Moremi Game Reserve; together the three destinations make for a wonderfully diverse and rewarding safari. Slightly further afield lie Botswana’s Kalahari reserves, offering a dramatic contrast to the Chobe Park’s more watered landscapes. Victoria Falls is just across the border from the Chobe River, and short-flight connections to South Africa mean you can easily add on Cape Town or the Kruger.
