Experiences in Chobe | Timbuktu Travel

What to do in Chobe

The Chobe River will become your second home on a trip up here and seeing the famous Chobe elephants and buffalo gather on the banks in their hundreds to splash, play and drink is unforgettable. For maximum exposure and the best view, a boat trip is key and there are different options to suit all styles and requirements. Early-morning trips are longer and often better for birding (Chobe is renowned for its water birds), but sunset cruises have the advantage of spotting nocturnal animals - and a G&T as the sun sets. For photographers, we would recommend choosing a customised, double-decker vessel for spectacular photos. Away from the river, the terrain is a patchwork of mopane woodland and dry, Kalahari soil. The animals are dotted around but quite easy to see, and your sightings list should include cheetah, leopard, lion and spotted hyena. The cats are easier to spot on game drives (usually on offer twice daily, morning and afternoon), but lion are often known to lie in wait for their prey on the riverbank, offering up a good chance of boat-based sightings too.

Enjoy a sundowner boat cruise on the Chobe River

Leave your lodge at dusk to sail down the shimmering Chobe River. Gently pass the wading pods of hippo and the sharp-eyed crocodile as your guide leads you on a scenic boat cruise. In the golden afternoon light, spy massive herds of elephant and buffalo, and big cats who leave their shady turf for a drink, African painted dog panting after a chase and birdlife galore. This is the perfect time to whip your camera out! Clink your cocktails as the sun dips below the horizon before returning to the jetty - and spotting all the nocturnal wildlife you can on the way.

Track Chobe's wildlife on a game drive

Embark on a game drive as dawn appears or dusk approaches, where the wildlife of Chobe is on full display. Your knowledgable guide knows every hot spot and secret perch so they'll steer your experience in the right direction. This region of Botswana is home to the largest concentrations of elephant in Africa so you'll be treated to herds marching across the plains and stopping by the river. Keep your binoculars ready to spot the flick of a leopards tail and ferocious yawn of a lion. Stop for sustenance beneath a leafy acacia before heading back to your lodge with plenty of stories to tell.

Witness huge herds of Elephants in Chobe

Take to the plains of Chobe National Park in Northern Botswana, the elephant capital of the world, on a game drive to remember. Leave as dawn breaks or in the dusky late afternoon when herds of strolling elephant make their way to the banks of Chobe River and nearby waterholes to drink, splash and cool off. Your guide has all the know-how to find elephant on the move and with more than two thirds of Africa's pachyderm population, you can't go wrong. This is especially true in the dry season (June to September). Stop for a late morning cup of coffee or an early evening cocktail as elephants meander past before returning to base.

What to do in Chobe

Enjoy a sundowner boat cruise on the Chobe River

Track Chobe's wildlife on a game drive

Witness huge herds of Elephants in Chobe

Still not sure what to do?