The park is the second largest in Botswana (11,700 sq km) and named after the river Chobe which forms the northern boundary of the park. The river has its origins in Angola, where it is known as the Kuando. After entering Botswana, the Kuando River becomes the Linyanti and only near Ngoma Gate it becomes the Chobe. The Chobe meets with the Zambezi River near Kazangula at the border of Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The Chobe River supports the largest concentration of elephant found anywhere in Africa (over 70,000) and it is not uncommon to encounter herds in excess of a hundred. The elephants leave the river for the southern region of the park during the rainy season (December to March) at the time when food and water is freely available inland.

Chobe is also famous for it huge herds of buffalo, the Chobe bushbuck, and for being the southern-most point where puku can be seen. The sunsets are exquisite during the winter months (June to August).

The river serves as the main water source for the wildlife and birdlife in the area. This has made game viewing by boat a highlight and a ‘must-do’ on any Botswana itinerary. The Chobe area offers a number of up-market game lodges, hotels and camps as well as camping facilities. Kasane is the main arrival point for visitor exploring northern Botswana it has an airport and good road network. The Chobe area is mostly visited in combination with the Okavango Delta and Linyanti.

An added advantage at Chobe is that neighbouring Zimbabwe and Zambia’s main attraction, the Victoria Falls, lies just over the northern border with Botswana, merely an hour’s drive away. On the 3rd November 1855, Livingstone and 114 porters left the Linyanti River to follow the Zambezi to its mouth on the east coast - a journey of 1600km (1000 miles). On 16th November 1855, the explorer and his entourage arrived at the Mosi-oa-Tunya Falls or “the smoke that thunders”. Half a mile (800m) from there Livingstone changed his canoe for a lighter dugout manned by natives who were well acquainted with the rapids. The explorer later wrote in his diary this powerful description - “scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight. He named these waters “Victoria Falls” as a mark of respect for his sovereign, Queen Victoria. The falls, so rugged in their beauty and brilliance, are one of the wonders of the world.

LODGES IN CHOBE AREA · SAFARIS IN BOTSWANA