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Elephant herd on the Chobe riverfront floodplain

Destination guide

Chobe National Park Safaris

Botswana’s first national park, where the Chobe River draws some of Africa’s largest elephant herds in the dry season — seen at their best from a boat.

Plan my safari hereSafaris that go here
SizeAbout 11,700 km² (roughly 4,500 sq mi)
StatusBotswana’s first national park, gazetted in the late 1960s
Best timeMay–October for elephant and buffalo at the river
Recommended stay2–3 nights on the riverfront
AccessKasane airport; the riverfront gate is about 10 km from town
Known forDry-season elephant herds and boat safaris on the Chobe River

Chobe National Park

Why Visit

Chobe National Park is where many travelers see more elephants in an afternoon than they imagined existed. Botswana’s first national park, gazetted in the late 1960s, covers about 11,700 km² of the country’s north, and its northern boundary is the Chobe River. In the dry winter months, when inland pans have dried up, elephant and buffalo come down to that river in their hundreds, and the floodplain below the riverbank becomes one of southern Africa’s great wildlife spectacles.

Botswana supports the world’s largest elephant population, about 130,000 animals according to UNESCO, and the Chobe riverfront is one of the most reliable places to watch them drink, bathe and swim across to the islands. Hippo, crocodile, buffalo and puku share the floodplain, and more than 460 bird species have been recorded in the park. The river itself rises in the Angolan highlands and, unusually, can flow in either direction depending on which of its feeders fills first.

Chobe is also the hinge of many Botswana routes. Kasane, the gateway town, is about 10 km from the riverfront gate and about 80 km by road from Victoria Falls, with an airport linked to Johannesburg and Maun. That makes the riverfront an easy two or three nights at the start or end of a trip that continues into the Delta. This page focuses on the riverfront; the park’s wilder interior has its own page on Savuti, and the Okavango Delta vs Chobe comparison helps if you are choosing between the two.

Best for

  • Big elephant herds with very little travel time
  • Boat safaris and low-angle photography from the water
  • Combining a safari with Victoria Falls
  • Families, thanks to short transfers and lodges with pools
  • Short safaris of two or three nights

Chobe National Park

Wildlife & Highlights

  • Elephant herds at the river in the dry months, sometimes hundreds at a time
  • Buffalo in large herds on the floodplain
  • Puku, an antelope found in Botswana mainly along the Chobe
  • Hippo and Nile crocodile along the channels
  • Lion and leopard in the riverine woodland
  • Giraffe, kudu, waterbuck and impala on the riverside ridge
  • Carmine bee-eaters, African fish eagle, rollers and kingfishers
  • Pel’s fishing owl in the riverine forest (rarely seen)
  • More than 460 bird species recorded across the park

Season

Best Time to Visit

  1. January
  2. February
  3. March
  4. April
  5. May
  6. June
  7. July
  8. August
  9. September
  10. October
  11. November
  12. December
May–JuneThe rains are over, inland pans start to dry and the first big herds return to the river. The grass is still long in places, the light is soft and the days are pleasantly warm with cool evenings. A good time to beat the peak-season traffic.
July–OctoberPeak season on the riverfront. Elephant and buffalo gather in their greatest numbers, and by September–October afternoon temperatures climb toward the high 30s °C while dust softens the light. It is also the busiest period for vehicles and boats, so timing your outings matters.
November–AprilSummer rains refill the inland pans and the elephant herds disperse away from the river. The park turns green, migrant birds arrive and visitor numbers fall sharply. Storms build most afternoons, and the boats remain the most rewarding way to explore.

Chobe National Park

Areas to Know

The Chobe Riverfront (Serondela)

The riverfront runs west from the gate near Kasane along a sandy ridge above the floodplain, and it is what most visitors mean by Chobe. Serondela is the name long used for this stretch. Game drives follow the riverside tracks, while boats work the channels and island edges below; the Chobe river boat safari page covers shared, private and photographic boats. Expect company in peak season, since this is the park’s most visited area.

Best for: Elephant, buffalo and boat safaris

Kasane and Kazungula

Kasane stretches along the south bank of the river, with Namibia’s Impalila Island only a few hundred metres across the water. It has the airport, shops and lodges from relaxed to polished, many with pools and river decks. Kazungula, about 8 km east, is the border point for Zimbabwe by road and for Zambia via the Kazungula Bridge, which replaced the old ferry in 2021.

Best for: Easy logistics, families and short stays

The Ngwezumba pans

South of the riverfront, the park’s interior is a sweep of mopane woodland and clay pans around the Ngwezumba River bed. The pans hold water after the rains, which draws elephant away from the river in summer, and very few visitors come this way. It is mainly the preserve of mobile and self-drive expeditions with time to explore.

Best for: Solitude on a mobile or self-drive route

Savuti and the Linyanti

Chobe National Park also takes in Savuti, known for its predators and its erratic channel, and a small public section on the Linyanti River in the far north-west. Both feel very different from the riverfront and see a fraction of its visitors. Read about them on the Savuti and Linyanti, Selinda & Kwando pages.

Best for: Extending a Chobe stay into quieter country

Chobe National Park

Getting There

Kasane airport, about 4 km south of town, has scheduled flights from Johannesburg (about 1.75 hours) and links to Maun by scheduled service or light aircraft in about 1–1.25 hours. Many travelers arrive by road instead: Victoria Falls is about 80 km away via the Kazungula border, and Livingstone is reached over the Kazungula Bridge. The Botswana and Victoria Falls guide covers borders, order and timing, and the 6-day Victoria Falls and Chobe safari shows the short version.

Drive or fly?

On the riverfront, driving is the norm: lodges are minutes from the gate and game drives start from the door. The real question is how you arrive. Coming from Victoria Falls, the road transfer is short and simple; coming from the Delta, a flight from Maun saves a very long day on sand. If you add Savuti, flying is quicker, while the long sand road between Savuti and Kasane suits a mobile safari with time to spare, as on the 10-day Moremi to Chobe mobile safari.

Airstrips & airports

  • Kasane International Airport (BBK)
  • Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe (by road via Kazungula)
  • Livingstone, Zambia (by road over the Kazungula Bridge)

Typical travel times

Kasane to the riverfront gate
About 10 km, a short drive
Victoria Falls town to Kasane
About 1–1.5 hours, plus border formalities
Kasane to Savuti
About 4–5 hours on sand
Maun to Kasane
About 1–1.25 hours by air

Stays

Where to Stay

You can base yourself in Kasane, at a lodge with a pool, a river deck and easy access to the boats, or at a river-view lodge in or right beside the park for earlier access to the floodplain. A third option is a houseboat on the river, which puts the water at your door for two or three nights. Wherever you stay, lock valuables in the room safe: the UK government notes occasional thefts from riverfront lodges in the Chobe area.

Luxury lodge deck with loungers and umbrellas at golden hourComfort

Chobe Riverfront · Kasane

Kasane Waterfront Family Lodge

Lodge

Set on the Chobe River in Kasane, these well-run lodges put the national-park gate about 10 km from your room and a boat jetty at the foot of the garden. Rooms are straightforward, the pool fills the hot middle of the day, and afternoon boat safaris often leave straight from the lodge, which makes this an easy base for families.

  • Own jetty for river safaris at many
  • Pool and shaded lawns
  • Family rooms and interconnecting options
  • Short drive to Kasane airport and the park gate

Ideal for: Families and first-time visitors who want Chobe’s boats and drives with a pool between outings

Luxury lodge deck with loungers and umbrellas at golden hourPremium

Chobe Riverfront · Kasane riverbank

Boutique Riverbank Lodge · Kasane

Lodge

Smaller and more personal than the town’s larger hotels, these riverbank lodges keep room numbers low and boats reserved for their own guests. Photographers can book a small boat for low-angle elephant work in the golden hour, then edit by a pool that looks straight onto the river.

  • River-view rooms with private decks
  • Small boats for private or photographic outings
  • Pool overlooking the Chobe
  • Drives timed for the park gate’s opening

Ideal for: Couples and photographers who want a quieter Kasane base with good boats

Luxury lodge deck with loungers and umbrellas at golden hourLuxury

Chobe Riverfront · river-view, in or beside the park

Floodplain-View Luxury Lodge · Chobe

Lodge

The most sought-after Chobe stays sit inside the national park or on the rise just beyond it, looking across the floodplain toward Namibia. Being so close shortens the run to the river, so morning drives can reach the water before the vehicles from town arrive, and suites are generous, with private decks and sometimes plunge pools.

  • Suites with river or floodplain views
  • Private boat and drive options
  • Plunge pools at some
  • Spa and fine dining at many

Ideal for: Honeymooners, photographers and travelers finishing a long safari on a high note

Sunset silhouettes over Lake KaribaPremium

Chobe River · houseboat

Floating River Suites · Chobe

Houseboat

A houseboat swaps the game-drive vehicle for a slow, floating base on the Chobe, with a handful of cabins, a sundeck and small tender boats that take you close to elephants and hippos along the banks. Boats moor overnight at permitted spots, some on the Namibian side of the river, so the exact mooring and border formalities are details we confirm when we plan.

  • En-suite cabins with river views
  • Tender boats for close, low-angle viewing
  • Meals and sundowners on the upper deck
  • Stays of two or three nights on board

Ideal for: Couples and photographers who want every waking hour on the water

See all stays in this area

Experiences

Experiences

Guests on a small safari boat watch an elephant herd grazing the river floodplain

On the water

Chobe River Boat Safaris

Watch elephant herds drink, swim and cross the Chobe River from a boat, the riverfront’s signature way to see its wildlife.

Safari guests in an open vehicle watching a leopard at close range on a private game drive

Photography

Photographic Safaris in Botswana

Private vehicles set up for cameras, low-angle boats on the Chobe, ground-level hides and concession rules that let you position for the light.

Safaris

Safaris That Go Here

Aerial view of Victoria Falls plunging into the gorge
11 daysFalls + Delta

Botswana & Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls · Kasane · Chobe Riverfront · Khwai · Okavango Delta · Maun

First-time visitors who want Victoria Falls and Botswana’s finest water country in one trip, without rushing either

Best months
April–October, ideally May–July
Comfort levels
Comfort · Premium · Luxury
Individually quoted
Elephant herd on the Chobe riverfront floodplain
6 daysShort add-on

Victoria Falls & Chobe

Victoria Falls · Kasane · Chobe Riverfront

Travelers adding Botswana to a South Africa or Zimbabwe trip, or wanting a gentle first safari

Best months
May–October
Comfort levels
Comfort · Premium · Luxury
Individually quoted
A canvas safari tent set among trees at a private tented camp
10 daysOverland classic

Private Mobile Safari

Maun · Moremi Game Reserve · Khwai · Savuti · Chobe Riverfront · Kasane

Travelers who value wilderness and a guide’s company over lodge comforts, and don’t mind long, sandy drives

Best months
May–October, in the dry season
Comfort levels
Comfort · Premium · Luxury
Individually quoted
Safari guests watching a herd of elephants from an open vehicle on a family game drive
9 daysFamilies with teens

Botswana Family Adventure

Kasane · Chobe Riverfront · Okavango Delta · Makgadikgadi Pans · Maun

Families with children roughly 12 and older who want variety, activity and a little adrenaline

Best months
April–October (book school-holiday dates early)
Comfort levels
Comfort · Premium · Luxury
Individually quoted
Zebra herd wading through shallow delta water
14 daysIn-depth

Grand Botswana

Maun · Okavango Delta · Moremi Game Reserve · Linyanti, Selinda & Kwando · Savuti · Chobe Riverfront · Kasane

Returning safari travelers, photographers and anyone with two weeks to see northern Botswana properly

Best months
May–October
Comfort levels
Luxury · Ultra-Luxury
Individually quoted

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

How many nights should I spend in Chobe National Park?

Two nights on the riverfront give you two boat trips and at least three game drives, which is enough for most people. Three nights let you add a photographic boat or a longer morning inland without rushing. If you also want big predators and fewer vehicles, add two nights in Savuti rather than a fourth night on the river.

Is the Chobe riverfront crowded?

In the peak months it can be, because the riverfront is close to Kasane and very popular. Heading out at first light, spending more time on the water in a private boat, staying at a lodge in or beside the park and travelling in May or June rather than September all help. Extending to Savuti or Linyanti changes the feel entirely.

Should I stay in Kasane or inside the park?

Kasane lodges are convenient, often have pools and suit families and short stays, with the gate only minutes away. A lodge inside or right beside the park puts you on the floodplain earlier and is usually quieter. A houseboat is the third option if you want to be on the water the whole time.

Why are there so many elephants in Chobe?

Botswana holds the largest elephant population in the world, and in the dry season most of the natural pans across the north dry up. The Chobe River is permanent water, so herds from a huge area funnel toward it between roughly May and October. Once the rains refill the pans, they disperse again.

Can you see lions in Chobe National Park?

Often, though they are not a given on the riverfront. Lion and leopard are often found along the river, while Savuti in the park’s interior is better known for big predators. A private guide and a mix of drives and boat trips improve your odds.

More Places to Explore

Continue exploring

Wetland channels of Moremi Game Reserve

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