Chobe National Park, Botswana’s first national park, covers a vast area of the country’s north, from the Chobe River at Kasane south to the marshes and plains of Savuti and the Linyanti. It is best known for its elephants: northern Botswana holds the largest elephant population in Africa, and in the dry season thousands gather along the Chobe riverfront.
For most visitors, Chobe means the riverfront near Kasane. It is the easiest big park in Botswana to visit, with boat cruises and game drives from town, and it is just a short hop from Victoria Falls — which is why it features in so many itineraries alongside the Okavango.
Top things to do: Chobe National Park
A boat cruise on the Chobe River
The single best thing to do in Chobe. Afternoon cruises from Kasane drift past elephants swimming to the islands, hippos, crocodiles and huge flocks of water birds, with the sun setting over Namibia on the far bank.
Game drives along the riverfront
Morning and afternoon drives along the riverfront track find lion, buffalo, sable, puku and giraffe. A full-day Chobe safari combines the drive with a cruise and lunch.
Savuti for predators
Further south, Savuti is known for its lions and hyena and for dramatic predator action in the dry season. It is reached by 4x4 or light aircraft and fits into the Maun–Kasane circuit.
How to get to Chobe National Park
- By air: Kasane Airport (BBK) has flights from Johannesburg and Gaborone.
- From Victoria Falls: about 80 km to the Kazungula border, roughly 1–1.5 hours. Day trips from Victoria Falls and Livingstone are very popular.
- From Maun: about 600 km on tar via Nata, or the sand route via Khwai and Savuti on a mobile safari.
Insider tips
- The riverfront is busiest in the dry season (roughly July to October) — the best time for elephants, but book cruises and lodges ahead.
- Smaller boats give a better experience than the large double-deck cruisers.
- Kasane is a malaria area; take the same precautions as for the delta.
- If you are crossing from Zimbabwe or Zambia, check visa requirements for Botswana and for your return.
Best tours & safaris: Chobe National Park
These top-rated experiences are the easiest way to see Chobe National Park:
Boat cruise + game drive from €107 From Kasane: Chobe National Park Full Day Wildlife Safari
The full Chobe riverfront day at a very fair price. A boat cruise puts you at water level with hippos, crocodiles and elephants swimming between the islands, lunch is served at a lodge in Kasane, and the afternoon game drive follows the riverfront where the park’s famous elephant herds come down to drink.
- Morning boat cruise on the Chobe River
- Buffet lunch at a riverside lodge
- Afternoon open-vehicle game drive in the park
Day trip from €158 Chobe Day Trip from Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
The most-booked way to add a Botswana safari to a Victoria Falls stay. You are driven to the Kazungula border, handed over to a Botswana operator, and spend the day on the Chobe River by boat and in the park by open vehicle. Border formalities are handled with you; bring your passport.
- Cross into Botswana at Kazungula with a guide
- Chobe River boat trip and game drive
- Lunch at a lodge in Kasane
Boat cruise + game drive from €167 Chobe Park Day Safari: Day Trip, Safari Drive & River Cruise
A well-reviewed full day on the Chobe riverfront, home to one of the densest elephant and buffalo populations in Africa in the dry months. The boat cruise and game drive together give you both angles on the river.
- Chobe riverfront boat safari
- 4x4 game drive in the park
- Lunch at a riverside lodge
Boat cruise from €53 From Kasane: Chobe River Sunset Cruise
The Chobe’s signature experience: an afternoon cruise upstream into the park as elephant herds cross to the islands and the sun drops over the Namibian floodplain. Excellent value; reviews vary with the boat and the crowd, so pick a smaller boat if you can.
- Three hours on the Chobe at golden hour
- Elephants coming down to drink at dusk
- Hippos, crocodiles and water birds
