Chobe National Park

Tons of animals everywhere! It was always a surprise what we would see next.

We saw many lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog and cat. We were very satisfied with our experience!

Unreal wildlife and setting. My tour operator had me with the Bushways camp there.

Paradise on Earth

Myself and wife did a self drive in Chobe National Park beginning of May 2018. Oh my god! I've never experienced anything like it. We saw so many beautiful animals and it felt untouched.
The highlight was getting stuck between a hunting back of 16 lionesses on a little dusty road as the sun was starting to set. We had 8 in front and 8 behind walking in complete silence with a our truck in the middle - they were not bothered by us in the slightest. We were physically shaking with adrenaline after the experience but it made us appreciate the beauty and power of these animals. 10 minutes before the lionesses turned up we got stuck by a big elephant who carefully guarded the road as his family crossed to reach the river. The very last was a tiny baby elephant who wrapped his trunk around the big elephants tail and they went into the river together - you couldn't wish for such an experience!
All I will say is this - if going on a self drive safari learn about the animals before you get there. Its not dangerous at all if you know the basic signs to look out for. I have a dozen of other stories from this one trip but wont bore you with them!

The people of Botswana are some of the friendliest in the world - they always seem to be smiling which is more than I can say for folk in UK. My only complaint is the holiday was too good. Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, Chobe safari, whale shark diving in Mozambique. We met other couples that have been to Africa 10 years in a row - they cant find another holiday that comes close and I see why!

Second time in Chobe, amazing

We came to Chobe three years ago, in May. Saw very little, but still enjoyed ourselves. This time, hundreds of elephants, breeding herds of buffalo, hippo, croc, sable, lechwe, puku, tsebee and more. Some lions right by the side of the road! BUT, the first animal we saw on our drive was a leopard!!! On land in the morning, by small boat after lunch. Love Chobe.

Saw so much !

The main reason is the famous one: there are more elephants here than anywhere in the world and you can see hundreds perhaps thousands at the same time. We saw a few of everything else too. our cook did good food, very private spaces to camp, and our guide was the best.

Excellent wildlife density

Chobe National Park is one of the great natural reserves of Africa. It is a rather arid environment kept alive by the Chobe River which helps to concentrate wildlife and permits excellent viewing of large and small animals. Elephants, buffalo, and antelope are common and often in large groups. The river attracts birds, hippo, crocodile and one of the best vantage points to view animals is by boat. Surrounding the river, vegetation can be dense and animal viewing must be from vehicles on defined roads which may limit visibility of animals but provides more privacy and less environmental impact. July is dry season, and probably the best time of year to visit Chobe because they must seek water from the river. I stayed in a tented camp hosted by And Beyond Chobe under Canvas which created an immersive experience with the land, and the sounds of yapping jackals, roaring lions, and other animals provided nighttime entertainment and wonder. Food was prepared by campfire and the roving camp was specifically designed to cause low environmental impact. Our guide and camp team were knowledgeable, friendly, and seemed genuinely concerned about our experience. Nights were cool and the days were warm to hot so preparation is needed. Choose is an excellent destination for photographers. Consider the animals may be farther away then some reserves and a long lens is advised. I primarily used a 100 to 400mm. Chobe can offer a wide variety of experiences; the best thing about safaris is that you never know what you will see, but almost certainly, the magical experience will never fade in your mind.

Beautiful park with many scenic view next to the Chobe river. Great for animal watching.

Personally, I found the bush drives a little tame. The river cruises were better.