Located in the far north of Botswana, Chobe National Park has an impressive list of accomplishments. Established as a game reserve in 1960 to protect the wildlife and promote tourism, the area later became Botswana’s first national park in 1967.
Since then, it has become the third largest and most visited national park in Botswana, renowned for hosting the largest herds of elephants in the world. There are an estimated 120,000 elephants in Chobe National Park, and you’ll also have little trouble spotting the massive herds of buffalo that roam the park.
Chobe is a sanctuary for scores of animals, including lion, leopard, cheetah, antelope and the endangered African wild dog. Head to the beautiful Chobe River to spot hippos, Nile crocodiles, waterbucks and the rare red lechwe antelopes.
It’s also a birders paradise, with over 450 recorded species, and the highest density of many raptor species, including the lappet-faced vulture and the bateleur eagle. Other special sightings include the African skimmer, the Southern carmine bee-eater, the Pel’s fishing owl, the pallid harrier, and the kori bustard - the largest flying bird in Africa.
The best way to experience Chobe is with a magical river cruise on the famous Chobe Riverfront, where floodplains and mopane forests hold the highest concentration of wildlife in the park. You can also take a classic safari game drive through the plains or the Linyanti Marshes in the northwest, an area packed with predators.
As it’s a highly popular park, we recommend exploring the more remote Savuti area, for a tranquil experience away from the crowds.
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