Chobe National Park, named after the Chobe River. It is a home to a variety of large mammals and over 450 bird species. The original inhabitants were the San people or Bushmen. They were hunter-gatherers who lived by moving from one place to another in search of water, wild fruits and wild animals.
Chobe has the highest concentration of elephants in Africa with herds gathering during both the wet and dry season.
The Savuti area has predators and annual zebra migration. Chobe comprises four main areas: the Chobe river frontage, the central pans around Nogatsaa, the Linyanti wetlands and the famous Savuti region that includes the Mababe Depression. The park is divided into four distinctly different eco systems:
Serondela with its lush plains and dense forests in the Chobe River area in the extreme north-east
The Savuti Marsh in the west about fifty kilometres north of Mababe gate; The Linyanti Swamps in the north-west and the dry hinterland in between.
Getting to Chobe
From
Zambia via Kazangula ferry, from Zimbabwe via Kazangula, Pandamatenga, Ramokgwebane, from Namibia via Mamuno, Ngoma Bridge or Mohembo. From South Africa there is a tarred road via Francistown via Martins Drift, Tlokweng, Ramatlabama. no permanent passenger rail service available
The easiest and cheapest is to fly to Victoria Falls or Livingstone airports from Johannesburg (daily flights) and then by road 90 kms to Chobe. Luxury bus also departs fro Victoria falls twice a week.
What to see in Chobe
The most popular area outside Chobe National Park is the short 9-mile (15km) stretch of Chobe River from Kasane town to the Serondela campsite. Few people come to Chobe without taking a trip on this river to see hundreds of hippopotamuses and crocodiles.
Major feature of the park is its elephant population.
Accommodation in Chobe
Chobe Game Lodge
the only permanent game lodge situated within the Chobe National Park.
The lodge can accommodate up to 100 people in total luxury, offering a choice of land or water activities and the most complete game experience in the Chobe area.
Game drives are done in open sided 4X4 vehicles ensuring maximum visibility, while game viewing on the Chobe River is conducted by small, shallow draft and highly manoeuvrable boats piloted.
Chobe Chilwero
borders the Chobe National Park sits above the Chobe River and views across the islands and flood plains as far as
Namibia.
Chobe Chilwero has 15 stone & thatched bungalows, 6 double and 9 twin.
professional guides lead game drives in open 4 x 4 game viewing vehicles.
Sundowner Cruises are spectacular for sunsets on the Chobe River
Savute lodge
In the heart of the Chobe National Parks aridity.
Rain is rare and water is precious
Impala Island
Situated where two mighty African rivers, the Chobe and Zambezi, and four countries, Namibia, Zambia,
Zimbabwe and Botswana. This is the only place in the world where four countries meet
At Impalila game viewing by boat in the Chobe National Park for Africa's big game is preferable during the mid afternoon to sunset when game comes down to the waters edge to drink.
They offer excellent cuisine under the baobab
Climate
Botswana is an area of low rainfall. Chobe, lies in Botswana highest rainfall zone - up to 650mm a year between December and February.
The rainy season has by high temperatures, averaging 35°C to 40°C with night time temperature seldom falling below 26°C. Despite the heat, humidity is usually low in the Chobe area and there are long periods of dry weather during the rainy season. The cooler dry season, May to September, may be best for a
Chobe holiday.
Travel advice
Travelers must note that there are no fuel supplies in the park. A four wheel drive is recommended and its wise to carry basic safety items such as water, food, fuel, wheels, tools and pumps.
Game viewing is best during the dry season which is between April and October. Drinking water should be boiled or chemically treated. Mosquitoes are prevalent throughout the park and visitors are strongly advised to take an anti-malarial prophylactic before, during and for four weeks from visiting the park, especially during the rainy season.
