Chobe National Park has an impressive wealth of animal life. Elephants and buffalo are a permanent presence on the riverbanks in the dry months. Plains zebra, puku and impala are very common as well, while smaller numbers of greater kudu and sable antelope can be found in the park interior. Lions are easily spotted and you might be lucky to see wild dogs too.
Thousands of animals on the floodplains kick up a lot of dust, which creates amazing photo opportunities at sunset. Less obvious are some of the smaller mammals such as the Chobe subspecies of bushbuck. Red lechwes are common in marshy areas. Some of the small predators include Selous’ mongoose, serval and wild cat.
Chobe has very seasonal wildlife viewing. The dry months, from May to October, are a good time to visit the Chobe River area in the north. During the Wet season, from December to April, animals tend to gather around the pans in the interior.
Chobe is a great park for bird watching throughout the year, but the best months are from November to April. This is when migrants swoop into the park. Also, during these months a lot of birds are breeding, and large colonies of waterbirds can be found nesting on the sandbanks in the river. The best time for mammals, however, is in the dry months from May to October.
450+
Nov to Apr
The last showers marking the end of the Wet season normally fall in April. From May, the park becomes drier and drier. June and July are the coolest months; however, temperatures begin increasing in August and peak in October.
The first rains bring relief. It doesn’t usually rain all day, but thunderstorms in the afternoon are common. It’s hot throughout the season with afternoon temperatures of around 32°C/90°F. Mornings are pleasant.
Chobe National Park has several areas that can be visited. The most popular and accessible area is the riverfront, which is just outside Kasane. Chobe Gate is located 6km/3mi west of Kasane and 80km/49mi west of Victoria Falls. The drive from Kasane takes 10 minutes and from Victoria Falls it’s just over an hour*.
Visitors to this area usually fly into Kasane Airport (BBK), and self-drive visitors can pick up their 4×4 there.
The Savuti and Linyanti areas can be reached by 4×4 in the Dry season, but most people fly in by chartered plane to their lodge.
Another popular point of entry to the country is Maun Airport (MUB). From here you can fly on to Kasane. Driving is also possible – it’s about 600km/370mi and it takes about 7 hours*.
Please check Skyscanner to see which airlines can take you to Botswana, and what tickets would cost.
Charter flights between parks will usually be booked by the tour operator as part of your tour package.
Domestic flights to Kasane can be booked through Air Botswana.
Please check our Getting There – Botswana page to learn more about passport, visa, COVID-19 and other entry requirements.
Botswana, and Chobe National Park in particular, is safe to visit in our opinion.
Flying from lodge to lodge is a very safe way to travel, but Botswana is a popular and safe self-drive destination as well. Most self-drive visitors stay in Kasane, which is easy to reach. Visitors driving to Savuti, or especially Linyanti, should check the road conditions before heading off.
It is always worth checking the current travel advisories (see the ‘Safety & Security – Botswana’ link below).
Your travel clinic or local doctor will give you advice on appropriate vaccinations for visiting Botswana. Chobe lies in a high-risk malaria zone, so it is advisable to take antimalarial medication. Extra safety measures that should be adhered to are using insect repellent (containing at least 30% DEET) and covering up in the evening. The malaria risk is highest in the rainy season.
Incidents with animals are extremely rare. There is nothing to worry about as long as you listen to the safety briefing at your lodge check-ins.
When on an organized safari, listen carefully to the instructions given by your guide, and when on a self-drive safari, familiarize yourself with the park rules.
For more information, please read the ‘Wildlife Viewing Safety Precautions’ below.
Chobe National Park has an impressive wealth of animal life. Elephants and buffalo are a permanent presence on the riverbanks in the dry months. Plains zebra, puku and impala are very common as well, while smaller numbers of greater kudu and sable antelope can be found in the park interior. Lions are easily spotted and you might be lucky to see wild dogs too.
Thousands of animals on the floodplains kick up a lot of dust, which creates amazing photo opportunities at sunset. Less obvious are some of the smaller mammals such as the Chobe subspecies of bushbuck. Red lechwes are common in marshy areas. Some of the small predators include Selous’ mongoose, serval and wild cat.
Chobe has very seasonal wildlife viewing. The dry months, from May to October, are a good time to visit the Chobe River area in the north. During the Wet season, from December to April, animals tend to gather around the pans in the interior.
Chobe is a great park for bird watching throughout the year, but the best months are from November to April. This is when migrants swoop into the park. Also, during these months a lot of birds are breeding, and large colonies of waterbirds can be found nesting on the sandbanks in the river. The best time for mammals, however, is in the dry months from May to October.
450+
Nov to Apr
The last showers marking the end of the Wet season normally fall in April. From May, the park becomes drier and drier. June and July are the coolest months; however, temperatures begin increasing in August and peak in October.
The first rains bring relief. It doesn’t usually rain all day, but thunderstorms in the afternoon are common. It’s hot throughout the season with afternoon temperatures of around 32°C/90°F. Mornings are pleasant.
Chobe National Park has several areas that can be visited. The most popular and accessible area is the riverfront, which is just outside Kasane. Chobe Gate is located 6km/3mi west of Kasane and 80km/49mi west of Victoria Falls. The drive from Kasane takes 10 minutes and from Victoria Falls it’s just over an hour*.
Visitors to this area usually fly into Kasane Airport (BBK), and self-drive visitors can pick up their 4×4 there.
The Savuti and Linyanti areas can be reached by 4×4 in the Dry season, but most people fly in by chartered plane to their lodge.
Another popular point of entry to the country is Maun Airport (MUB). From here you can fly on to Kasane. Driving is also possible – it’s about 600km/370mi and it takes about 7 hours*.
Please check Skyscanner to see which airlines can take you to Botswana, and what tickets would cost.
Charter flights between parks will usually be booked by the tour operator as part of your tour package.
Domestic flights to Kasane can be booked through Air Botswana.
Please check our Getting There – Botswana page to learn more about passport, visa, COVID-19 and other entry requirements.
Botswana, and Chobe National Park in particular, is safe to visit in our opinion.
Flying from lodge to lodge is a very safe way to travel, but Botswana is a popular and safe self-drive destination as well. Most self-drive visitors stay in Kasane, which is easy to reach. Visitors driving to Savuti, or especially Linyanti, should check the road conditions before heading off.
It is always worth checking the current travel advisories (see the ‘Safety & Security – Botswana’ link below).
Your travel clinic or local doctor will give you advice on appropriate vaccinations for visiting Botswana. Chobe lies in a high-risk malaria zone, so it is advisable to take antimalarial medication. Extra safety measures that should be adhered to are using insect repellent (containing at least 30% DEET) and covering up in the evening. The malaria risk is highest in the rainy season.
Incidents with animals are extremely rare. There is nothing to worry about as long as you listen to the safety briefing at your lodge check-ins.
When on an organized safari, listen carefully to the instructions given by your guide, and when on a self-drive safari, familiarize yourself with the park rules.
For more information, please read the ‘Wildlife Viewing Safety Precautions’ below.
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