Things to do in Chobe

No. 1 of Best Things to Do in Botswana

Chobe National Park

Chobe National Park is located in northeastern Botswana, bordering Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, and was established in 1967. The park covers a vast area and encompasses four distinct ecosystems: the Chobe Riverfront, Savuti Marsh, Linyanti Wetlands, and Nogatsaa Salt Pan, each with unique landscapes and animal populations. The Chobe Riverfront is the area of the park where it is easiest to view wildlife at close range. During the dry season, hundreds of African elephants gather by the river to drink and play. Hippos and crocodiles also inhabit the river, and you can observe their activities up close during a boat tour. The Savuti Marsh area forms a sharp contrast to the lush riverfront, with open plains and marshes providing ideal hunting grounds for lion prides, hyenas, leopards, and cheetahs. When zebra migrations pass through this area, the interactions between predators and prey are particularly spectacular. The Nogatsaa Salt Pan area attracts herbivores such as elands, giraffes, and zebras to forage, and it is quieter compared to the riverfront area. The dry season (approx. May–October) is the golden period for wildlife viewing, as vegetation is sparse and animals concentrate around water sources, making them more likely to be spotted.

Chobe River

The Chobe River, a dynamic and magnificent landscape in Southern Africa, embodies the grandeur and magic of nature. It is the border river between Botswana and Namibia, and also an important tributary of theZambezi River. It originates from the Tambo Mountains in the central plateau of Angola, winding its way forward with a vast basin area. The areas the river flows through nurture a rich and diverse ecosystem. Around the Chobe River, lush vegetation covers the land, and tall trees block out the sky, providing a habitat for numerous creatures. The variety of animals here is impressive. Taking a boat tour of the Chobe River is an excellent way to experience its charm. As the boat moves slowly, ripples spread across the water, and the scenery on both banks unfolds like a painting. The river channel is sometimes wide and sometimes narrow, at times open and calm like a lake, and at other times dotted with distributaries, small islands, marshes, reeds, and water lilies.

Thebe River Safaris

Senyati Safari Camp

Chobe River Camp, Gondwana Collection Namibia

Sedudu Gate

Chobe

Ihaha Campsite

Police Station - Baobab Tree

No. 1 of Night Attractions in Botswana

Okavango Delta

Okavango Delta is located on the northern edge of the Kalahari Desert. It is a rare inland river delta—the Okavango River originates in the Angolan Highlands, flows for over 1,000 km, and does not empty into any ocean. Instead, it fans out across a flat desert basin, creating a vast labyrinth of waterways, lagoons, and reed beds. The size of the delta changes dramatically with the seasons, with the area varying several-fold between the dry and flood seasons. A notable feature of this delta is the timing of the floods: rainfall from the rainy season in the Angolan Highlands takes several months to reach the delta, peaking during Botswana's dry season (approx. May–August). At this time, while the surrounding desert is parched, the delta is lush with water, and large numbers of animals flock to the water from all directions. Gliding silently through the reed-lined waterways in a traditional canoe is a signature experience during this period, offering close-up views of hippos and elephants foraging in the shallow water. From September–October, as water levels recede and the climate becomes hot and dry, land-based safaris make it easier to track animals; the rainy season from November–April brings migratory birds, making it an excellent time for birdwatching. The delta is home to numerous mammals, including African bush elephants, hippos, lions, cheetahs, African wild dogs, giraffes, and zebras. The red lechwe is an iconic, wetland-adapted species here, often seen running and foraging in shallow water. Hundreds of bird species and dozens of fish species also live here, with Nile crocodiles lurking in the waterways. At night, due to extremely low light pollution, the Milky Way is clearly visible, making it a rare and exceptional spot for stargazing.