After the Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park is probably Botswana's most well-known conservation area and is the country's 2nd largest national park. It covers an area of some 10,566km² and borders the Chobe River in the north down to the (dry) Savute Channel and beyond, to the far western reaches of the Moremi Game Reserve and the Delta itself. There is much to see in Chobe and its animals move in complex, ancient patterns, determined by rain and food.

A safari into this outstanding park is usually combined with a tour that includes Victoria Falls and the Okavango Delta. Chobe National Park is probably the most affordable of Botswana's parks and the most-frequented areas, such as on and beside the river, can become quite crowded. Accommodation in the park is in a variety of lodges, private camps and campsites.

Here are some ideas of things to do while in the Chobe area:

1. Fly-in by light aircraft and transfer by 4x4 vehicle or boat to a spectacularly positioned small and exclusive luxury safari lodge or tented camp.
2. Utilize the best times of the day for wildlife viewing including elephants by the hundreds, especially by the Chobe River during the dry season.
3. Watch with baited-breath as big cats stalk buffalo on the grassy floodplains.
4. Observe many of the 440 species of birds that have been recorded in the park, including the rare Pel's Fishing owl - only spotted at night - and small flocks of African skimmers.
5. Adventurous sundowner river cruises, with crocs and hippo for company, culminating in spectacular Chobe sunsets.
6. Fishing on the Chobe River – there are 20 different species of edible fish.
7. Self-recovery in your 4x4 vehicle; with a pride of lions watching and waiting for you to walk for help!
8. Stunning scenery – the perfect setting for any game drives.
9. enjoy 4 unique eco-systems.
10. Exceptional photographic opportunities.

Chobe is best known for its concentrations of elephant – estimated to be over 120,000 and it comprises of elements of what is widely believed to the 'largest surviving continuous elephant population'. The remote and barren environment of the park has contributed to their survival, as other huge herds of elephant were being systematically hunted out in the 1970's and 1980's. There are also decent amounts of buffalo, antelope and associated pot-pourri of predators. Birding is also excellent, with many migrants visiting from November to March.

The Chobe elephant are migratory. Seasonal crusades can be to 200km from the Chobe and Linyanti Rivers, where they concentrate in the dry season, to the pans in the south-east of the park. The browsing and grazing continue as the rains fall, when the huge herds disperse into smaller family groups. The elephants of Chobe have the distinction of being the largest in body size of all living elephants, but their ivory is brittle and tusks rarely survive the greater wear required of such a large mammal.

Chobe's original inhabitants were a group of hunter-gatherers or foragers, known now as the San Bushmen or the Basarwa in Botswana. They survived the harsh and inhospitable terrain by moving from one area to another, desperately searching for food and water, but staying alive by living off wild fruits, or hunting wild animals for their meat and skins. The San were later joined by groups of the Basubiya people from the Caprivi and around 1911, by a group of Batawana led by Sekgoma.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the country was divided into various 'land tenure systems', with a larger part of the region, (that is now the Chobe National Park), classified as crown land. But as early as 1931, it was realized that the wildlife needed protection, and the idea of creating a national park and subsequently attracting visitors, was discussed.

A year later, some 24,000km² was declared a non-hunting area and in 1933, the protected region was extended to 31,600km². Unfortunately heavy tsetse fly infestations put a stop to further developments and in 1943 the project came to a galloping standstill. World events prevented any more advances until 1957, when a reduced size of 21,000ha was proposed and finally gazetted in 1960 as Chobe Game Reserve. Seven years later, the reserve was declared a national park – Botswana's first! The population who had a timber-based industry at Serondela, were gradually re-located and by 1975 Chobe's human community had been moved out completely. In 1987, the boundaries of Chobe were finalized and increased to their present day dimensions.

Chobe is sub-divided into 4 distinctly different eco-systems:

1. Serondela - with its lush plains and dense teak forests in the Chobe River area in the extreme north-east of the country. The Chobe River, which flows along the north-eastern border of the park, is a renown elephant and buffalo refreshment stop in the dry season. It is the most visited section of the Chobe National Park, in part due to its proximity to Victoria Falls and also because Kasane is the most important town of the region, and serves as the northern entrance to the park from Botswana. Several lodges offer accommodation in this area.
2. The Savuti Marsh - approximately 50km north of Mababe Gate. It constitutes the western stretch of the park and was once a large inland lake whose water supply was cut by movements in the earth's crust. The marsh is presently fed by the erratic Savuti Channel, which at times dries up, and when rainfall is abundant, floods up at other times. This channel, which has a mind of its own, can also stop flowing during long periods then curiously flows again, also a consequence of regional 'tectonic' activity. This changeable current accounts for hundreds of dead trees along the channel's bank. Savuti Marsh is also covered with extensive savannahs and rolling grasslands, a region packed with teeming wildlife activity. There are several lodges & camps offering accommodation in the Savuti area.
3. Linyanti Marsh – a small section of Linyati touches the north-west corner of Chobe. It is to the north of Savuti, adjacent to the Linyanti River. To the south-west of this area lies Selinda Reserve and on the northern bank of Kwando River is Namibia's Mamili National Park. The Linyati and Kwando environment consists of riverine woodlands, open woodlands, lagoons, with the remainder mainly flood plains.
4. The 4th system lies between Linyanti and Savuti Marshes - a hot and dry hinterland, mainly occupied by the Nogatsaa grass woodland. This region is rarely visited but is a great place for spotting eland

There is also a migratory route between Chobe National Park and Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park. This circuit is known for its massive elephant concentrations.

Seasons:

Dry season: Chobe plays hosts to hoards of tourists from May to October, a rainless period that as the months progress and inland water systems dry up, forces animals to congregate in huge numbers along the river. Dense game populations have no option but to be cautious; the pursuit of nourishment and browsing is both difficult and dangerous, especially in October, the best month for game viewing, but uncomfortable due to the intense heat.

Rainy season: Rains often begin around mid-December, although can start in November. They normally peak during January and February and peter out in March. Self-drive tours can be demanding as the clay soil is difficult in places to negotiate, but much of the Chobe River area is accessible. Temperatures and humidity are high during these hotter months and mosquitoes are out in force. As the rains irrigate the land, a striking variety of wild flowers appear. Bird life is absolutely amazing and it is the calving and lambing season for many animals; a timely delight for hungry predators queueing for a 'take away'. If you can put up with stretches of knee-deep mud and a torrential downpour or six, then Chobe at this time of year is a real treat.

Self Driving:

Visitors travelling through Chobe must remember that everywhere in the park is 'in the middle of nowhere'. There are no services whatsoever between Kasane and Maun and due to the nature of the terrain, 4x4 vehicles must be used. Roads are not always clearly marked and stretches of deep sand are common. In the rainy seasons, tracks (if they can be followed at all) will turn into mini-swamps or be covered by large pools of water. In line with many national parks, off-road and night driving is not permitted. As capabilities of both vehicle and driver will be severely tested, it is essential to take as a minimum in your self-drive vehicle:

• Sufficient drinking water. (Either boiled or chemically treated).
• Water for cooking.
• Rations.
• Fuel.
• Torches.
• Spare tyres/wheels – at least 2.
• Tools.
• Jacks and pumps.
• Book accommodation in advance

Mosquitoes are prevalent throughout the park and visitors are strongly advised to seek medical advice on anti-malarial treatments, especially during the rainy season.

Wildlife:

Game viewing is at its best during the dry season, (May-Oct) when the majority of natural pans have dried up. Although Chobe is celebrated for its huge elephant population, animals are present all year round and at times, staggering in numbers. All the major species are here including: giraffe, hippo, crocs, zebra, impala, tsessebe, roan, sable, wildebeest, kudu, buffalo, waterbuck, warthog and eland. Predators include: lion, hyaena, jackal, bat-eared fox and possibly cheetah and the African wild dog.

Birdlife:

Specials of Chobe include: Western banded snake eagle, pennant-winged nightjar, racket-tailed roller, collared palm thrush, swamp boubou, coppery sunbird, brown firefinch, broad-tailed paradise whydah, golden-backed pytilia, slaty egret, rufous-bellied heron, pink-throated longclaw, chirping cisticola, luapula cisticola, greater swamp warbler, white-crowned plover, African skimmer, pygmy goose, rock pratincole, African finfoot, half-collared kingfisher and white-backed night heron.

Getting to Chobe:

From Namibia:

Use the entrance at Ngoma, (approximately 65km south of Katima Mulilo) and its nearby border crossing point, before crossing Ngoma Bridge and on into Chobe.

From Botswana:

Northern:

The Sedudu Gate near Kasane also gives access to a public road for 54km through the park to Ngoma Gate.

Southern:

The southern entrance to the park is at Mababe gate, along a route that connects with the Moremi Game Reserve. Mababe gate is some 56km south of Savuti.

Many visitors enter from Kasane and exit through Mababe, before continuing onto Moremi - or the other way around.