The Chobe National Park, established in 1968, is Botswana’s first national park and home to the largest elephant population in Africa. The park has a surface area of some 11 700km², stretching from the Chobe River in the north to the Khwai River in the south, thus including the floodplains of the Chobe Riverfront, the Savute Swamp region, and the woodlands in between.

The Chobe River has its origin in Angola where it's known as the Kwando River; it then becomes the Linyanti River before changing its name to Chobe at the Ngoma Border post, whereafter it joins the Zambezi River on the way to Victoria Falls. Together, the Chobe, Okavango and Zambezi Rivers carry more water than all the other rivers in southern Africa combined.

Game viewing can be done via self-drive safaris, boat cruises on the Chobe River, or guided game drives from Kasane or nearby private lodges.

This is the busiest section of the Chobe National Park. Not only does the Chobe Riverfront teem with wildlife, but also with tourists and open safari vehicles. It is easy to do a day trip into this section of the park, therefore it can get really busy. Many tour operators and lodges offer day trips from Kasane, therefore the area from Sedudu gate to the Serondela picnic area can get quite crowded. Many self-drive travellers who come from Namibia or Savuti enter Ngoma gate and do the day drive to Kasane, exiting at Sedudu gate.

The most scenic route is along the river. Here the Chobe River is a broad, flat stretch of water, dotted with lushly-vegetated islands. The area offers a haven to high concentrations of game, including large herds of elephant and buffalo, and rare antelope such as lechwe and puku. The birdlife is exceptional with more than 460 species recorded in the park.

Note that you need a 4x4 to drive here. During the rainy season, the roads can get extremely muddy and during the dry season, you will have to traverse patches of deep sand.

Summer: 05:30 to 18:30; Winter: 06:00 to 18:00 (variable on the day)

ACCOMMODATION:
Inside the Chobe Riverfront part of the park accommodation is restricted to Ihaha campsite and two upmarket private game lodges. But the park is easily accessible from the nearby town of Kasane where there’s a variety of accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets.

BOAT CRUISES:
If you don’t feel like driving, a boat cruise on the Chobe river is an exceptional way to experience this park.

CHOBE RIVERFRONT:
The Chobe Riverfront is the busiest region of the Chobe National Park so game drives may be limited to certain times of the day and may be restricted to certain areas. After high rainfall in the Angola catchment region, the Chobe may flood its banks causing access to the riverfront track to be restricted too.

DAY VISITORS:
Day visitors to the park have to buy an entry permit at Ngoma Gate (BWP cash only) or Sedudu Gate (credit card and BWP cash).

PICNIC & ABLUTIONS:
Picnic and ablution facilities are available at Serondela - the remains of a camp used for timber production before the area was declared a national park.

SERVICES:
Although there are no services available inside the park, Kasane has a police station, hospital,
shops, ATMs, foreign exchange bureaus, a laundry, and most other services required by visitors.

Note that, if you transit the A33 tar road, you don't have to pay. You will only pay if you enter the park at Ngoma or Sedudu gates. (2024 fees: BWP 115 per vehicle, BWP 205 per SADC visitor, BWP 270 per foreign visitor) Gates open at 06:30 and close at 18:00.

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