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Chobe National Park

Botswana🇧🇼 | national parksChobe National ParkDry-season elephants, river cruises, Savuti channel, Linyanti wetlands | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Chobe
🏆 Top picknational park ranked #2
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

Chobe National Park is best known for its elephants, an estimated 50,000 or more, which come down to the Chobe River in dry-season afternoons to drink, bathe and cross between sandbars. It lies in the north of Botswana, west of Kasane and the Zimbabwe and Zambia borders. The river front is the draw, with buffalo, hippos, lions and sable antelope in easy reach. Inland, the Savuti and Linyanti areas are quieter, sandy and demanding. Public roads inside the park are deep sand, so self-driving needs a high-clearance 4x4. Most backpackers without one join shared boat cruises or game drives out of Kasane, which is cheaper than a private vehicle. Walking inside the park is not permitted because of predators and elephants, so hiking is limited to guided options outside the gates. Mornings on the river are peaceful, midday is hot and still. Wildlife lovers and photographers will like it most. Anyone wanting long independent treks will not.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #2 national park in BotswanaWhat makes it a must-see national park

Chobe National Park rewards backpackers who like to piece their own trip together. Kasane, the gateway town, has hostels, campsites and rental shops, so you can arrange a morning game drive and an afternoon river cruise without booking a full safari package. The park's famous Chobe Riverfront sits close to town, meaning you spend more time watching animals than driving to reach them. Cruises put you at eye level with elephants swimming across the channel, and the shared boats keep costs sensible.
If you have a capable 4x4 and camping gear, Savuti opens a wilder side, with lions hunting zebra near the Savuti Channel and rock paintings on Gubatsa Hills. Self-drivers need to carry fuel, water and recovery gear. Chobe is easy to combine with Victoria Falls, roughly a short hop across the border, … read more 👉
Chobe National Park rewards backpackers who like to piece their own trip together. Kasane, the gateway town, has hostels, campsites and rental shops, so you can arrange a morning game drive and an afternoon river cruise without booking a full safari package. The park's famous Chobe Riverfront sits close to town, meaning you spend more time watching animals than driving to reach them. Cruises put you at eye level with elephants swimming across the channel, and the shared boats keep costs sensible.
If you have a capable 4x4 and camping gear, Savuti opens a wilder side, with lions hunting zebra near the Savuti Channel and rock paintings on Gubatsa Hills. Self-drivers need to carry fuel, water and recovery gear. Chobe is easy to combine with Victoria Falls, roughly a short hop across the border, so it fits an overland route through southern Africa naturally. Tours work well here, but independent travelers are far from shut out.

💡 HighlightsEssential experiences to have while exploring Chobe

  1. Chobe Riverfront: The park's signature stretch, where elephant herds, buffalo and hippos gather at the water in the dry season. Drives along the river road give the best chance of lions and kudu too.
  2. Chobe River boat cruises: Shared or private boats drift beside herds at eye level, and the view of crocodiles and fish eagles from the water is hard to match on land.
  3. Sedudu Island: A grassy island in the river, popular with elephants and a favorite stop for photographers as herds cross to graze.
  4. Savuti Marsh and Channel: A remote area where the channel has flooded and dried over the years, leaving open plains that draw lion, hyena and zebra.
  5. Gubatsa Hills rock paintings: Ancient San paintings on a small rocky outcrop near Savuti, an easy stop within a bush drive.
  6. Linyanti Marsh: A secluded wetland
… read more 👉
  1. Chobe Riverfront: The park's signature stretch, where elephant herds, buffalo and hippos gather at the water in the dry season. Drives along the river road give the best chance of lions and kudu too.
  2. Chobe River boat cruises: Shared or private boats drift beside herds at eye level, and the view of crocodiles and fish eagles from the water is hard to match on land.
  3. Sedudu Island: A grassy island in the river, popular with elephants and a favorite stop for photographers as herds cross to graze.
  4. Savuti Marsh and Channel: A remote area where the channel has flooded and dried over the years, leaving open plains that draw lion, hyena and zebra.
  5. Gubatsa Hills rock paintings: Ancient San paintings on a small rocky outcrop near Savuti, an easy stop within a bush drive.
  6. Linyanti Marsh: A secluded wetland in the northwest with wild dogs, red lechwe and sizable elephant herds, usually visited from camps or with a self-sufficient 4x4.
  7. Ihaha: A riverside area upstream of Kasane with campsites and quieter game viewing, with buffalo and elephants coming right to the bank.
  8. Serondela: A popular picnic and viewing zone on the river, where large elephant and giraffe groups gather in dry months.
Chobe National Park has no free sights, but the riverfront drive and the Gubatsa Hills paintings cost only the standard park entry, making them the least expensive items on this list.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

🌤️ When to go?Weather, crowds, and seasonal trade-offs

  • Dry Season (May to October): Game viewing peaks because animals crowd the Chobe River as pans dry out. Days run 25 to 32°C (77 to 90°F), nights drop to 5 to 10°C (41 to 50°F) in June and July, and daylight lasts roughly 11 hours. Beds and river cruises are priciest and book out months ahead.
  • Hot Build-up (September to November): Afternoons reach 35 to 40°C (95 to 104°F). Elephant herds along the Savuti and Chobe riverfront are at their densest, and the first storms arrive late in the period.
  • Green Season (December to March): Expect 28 to 35°C (82 to 95°F), afternoon thunderstorms, daylight of about 13 hours, and sandy tracks turning to mud. Birding is excellent with migrants present, lodges drop rates by 30 to 50 percent, and crowds thin out.
  • Shoulder (April and May): Roads dry, grass is still
… read more 👉
  • Dry Season (May to October): Game viewing peaks because animals crowd the Chobe River as pans dry out. Days run 25 to 32°C (77 to 90°F), nights drop to 5 to 10°C (41 to 50°F) in June and July, and daylight lasts roughly 11 hours. Beds and river cruises are priciest and book out months ahead.
  • Hot Build-up (September to November): Afternoons reach 35 to 40°C (95 to 104°F). Elephant herds along the Savuti and Chobe riverfront are at their densest, and the first storms arrive late in the period.
  • Green Season (December to March): Expect 28 to 35°C (82 to 95°F), afternoon thunderstorms, daylight of about 13 hours, and sandy tracks turning to mud. Birding is excellent with migrants present, lodges drop rates by 30 to 50 percent, and crowds thin out.
  • Shoulder (April and May): Roads dry, grass is still tall, and prices are mid-range.
Book August campsites at least six months out, or aim for late May when the roads are firm and the crowds haven’t arrived.


source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: fair for travelingFEBFebruary: fair for travelingMARMarch: fair for travelingAPRApril: fair for travelingMAYMay: highly recommended for travelingJUNJune: excellent for travelingJULJuly: excellent for travelingAUGAugust: excellent for travelingSEPSeptember: highly recommended for travelingOCTOctober: excellent for travelingNOVNovember: fair for travelingDECDecember: fair for traveling
Botswana - Chobe National Park

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🛏️ Where to stay?Where staying makes the most sense

Most backpackers sleep in Kasane, the town at the park’s northeastern gate, where hostels, guesthouses and campsites sit a 10 to 20 minute drive from the Sedudu entrance. Dorm beds and budget rooms run about US$20 to 60, and riverside campsites in town cost roughly US$10 to 20 per person. Several places run affordable boat cruises and park transfers, which solves the lack of a car.

Inside the park, camping is the only budget option. Public campsites at Ihaha on the riverfront and Savuti in the west cost about US$30 to 50 per person, are basic, and must be booked in advance through the operators … read more 👉
Most backpackers sleep in Kasane, the town at the park’s northeastern gate, where hostels, guesthouses and campsites sit a 10 to 20 minute drive from the Sedudu entrance. Dorm beds and budget rooms run about US$20 to 60, and riverside campsites in town cost roughly US$10 to 20 per person. Several places run affordable boat cruises and park transfers, which solves the lack of a car.

Inside the park, camping is the only budget option. Public campsites at Ihaha on the riverfront and Savuti in the west cost about US$30 to 50 per person, are basic, and must be booked in advance through the operators handling the sites. Lodges inside and on the boundary run from US$300 up, so skip them on a tight budget. Elephants and hyenas walk through camp, so keep food locked in your vehicle.

Across the border, Livingstone in Zambia and Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe are about 1 to 1.5 hours away by road and make a handy pairing. Kasane has supermarkets, fuel and ATMs, so stock up there before heading in.
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Best quality hotels in Botswana

👛 Costs (as of 22 October 2026)Money, prices, and spending tips

Chobe National Park costs most backpackers around US$125 to 150 per day, with a self-drive or guided safari pushing that higher.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Park entryUS$15 to 25Foreign visitors pay a daily conservation fee, with a small extra charge per vehicle. Fees are paid in pula and rates for non-residents are much higher than for citizens.
Accommodation (high season)US$20 to 50Kasane dorms and basic campsites. Camping inside the park costs about US$30 to 50 per person and fills early in the dry months.
Accommodation (green season)US$15 to 35Cheaper guesthouse rates and plenty of space.
Local transportUS$10 to 25Shared taxis and short transfers around Kasane. Airport and border transfers cost more.
ActivitiesUS$50 to 70A shared three-hour river cruise runs around US$50 to 70, while a
… read more 👉
Chobe National Park costs most backpackers around US$125 to 150 per day, with a self-drive or guided safari pushing that higher.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Park entryUS$15 to 25Foreign visitors pay a daily conservation fee, with a small extra charge per vehicle. Fees are paid in pula and rates for non-residents are much higher than for citizens.
Accommodation (high season)US$20 to 50Kasane dorms and basic campsites. Camping inside the park costs about US$30 to 50 per person and fills early in the dry months.
Accommodation (green season)US$15 to 35Cheaper guesthouse rates and plenty of space.
Local transportUS$10 to 25Shared taxis and short transfers around Kasane. Airport and border transfers cost more.
ActivitiesUS$50 to 70A shared three-hour river cruise runs around US$50 to 70, while a shared game drive costs about the same.
Food and suppliesUS$15 to 25Self-catering from Kasane supermarkets is cheapest. A restaurant meal costs US$10 to 18.
Total Daily BudgetUS$125 to 150One day with high-season accommodation, one activity and self-catered meals.
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🥾 TrailsWhere to hike in Chobe: trails for every level

Chobe National Park does not allow independent walking on its main tracks, as lions, buffalo and elephants make unguided hiking dangerous. Walks happen with licensed guides, mostly in nearby areas, and the park experience is mainly game drives and river cruises.
  • Chobe Riverfront drive: Sandy tracks follow the river from the Sedudu Gate, around 2 to 4 hours, easy driving in dry months, and close to the water for elephants and hippos.
  • Savuti loop: A 4x4 route over deep sand and rocky patches, best done over a full day or longer, difficult, with marsh, hills and big predators.
  • Guided bush walks: Offered
… read more 👉
Chobe National Park does not allow independent walking on its main tracks, as lions, buffalo and elephants make unguided hiking dangerous. Walks happen with licensed guides, mostly in nearby areas, and the park experience is mainly game drives and river cruises.
  • Chobe Riverfront drive: Sandy tracks follow the river from the Sedudu Gate, around 2 to 4 hours, easy driving in dry months, and close to the water for elephants and hippos.
  • Savuti loop: A 4x4 route over deep sand and rocky patches, best done over a full day or longer, difficult, with marsh, hills and big predators.
  • Guided bush walks: Offered outside the park boundaries by some Kasane operators, about 2 to 3 hours, easy to moderate, through woodland and floodplain with a trained guide.
  • Ihaha river track: Short, bumpy road passing campsites, suited to a half day, with excellent bird and buffalo viewing.
Getting to Chobe National Park is easiest by flying or driving to Kasane, then entering via Sedudu Gate, a short ride from town. Public transport to the gate is scarce, so most visitors take a taxi or a booked game drive. The riverfront gets busy in the dry season, particularly around mid-morning and late afternoon when boats and vehicles cluster. Entry is paid per person and per vehicle, with fees for non-citizens higher than locals, and campsite bookings are required for Savuti and Ihaha.
⚠️ Hiking info can sometimes be outdated or inaccurate. Before you hit the trail, check the latest conditions with locals. If you do spot anything that's off, I'd love to hear from you, so I can update it for fellow travelers.

🛡️ SafetySafety Tips and Common Scams in Chobe

Chobe is straightforward and well managed, but the animals are real and close. Elephants, buffalo, lions and hippos use the same riverfront and sand tracks you do. Walking inside the park is not permitted, so you experience it from a vehicle or boat, and you must stay inside it, especially at dusk and after dark. At campsites, expect elephants and hyenas to wander through at night. Keep food sealed in a vehicle, zip tents shut and keep your torch pointed down. Give elephants plenty of room and never block their path, since a mock charge usually follows a vehicle cutting too close.

The real challenge is the terrain. Deep sand on the Savuti and Mababe tracks needs a high-clearance 4x4, lowered tire pressure, recovery gear and a second spare. Carry at least 5 liters of water per person daily, … read more 👉
Chobe is straightforward and well managed, but the animals are real and close. Elephants, buffalo, lions and hippos use the same riverfront and sand tracks you do. Walking inside the park is not permitted, so you experience it from a vehicle or boat, and you must stay inside it, especially at dusk and after dark. At campsites, expect elephants and hyenas to wander through at night. Keep food sealed in a vehicle, zip tents shut and keep your torch pointed down. Give elephants plenty of room and never block their path, since a mock charge usually follows a vehicle cutting too close.

The real challenge is the terrain. Deep sand on the Savuti and Mababe tracks needs a high-clearance 4x4, lowered tire pressure, recovery gear and a second spare. Carry at least 5 liters of water per person daily, use sun protection in the heat, and start long drives early. Mobile signal fades outside Kasane, so carry a paper map and download offline maps. Malaria is present, so take prophylaxis and cover up at dusk.
Check Country Safety

FAQFrequently asked questions about Chobe

Plan three days for Chobe National Park if you want the riverfront plus a cruise. A day on the Chobe riverfront near Kasane covers the main elephant action, a second adds a boat cruise, and reaching Savuti in the west needs two more days because the sand track from Kasane takes 6 to 8 hours.
Chobe National Park is workable without a car, though only around Kasane. Operators in town run shared half-day or full-day game drives for roughly US$50 to 100 and river cruises from about US$50, with hotel pickup. Savuti and Linyanti are not reachable without a 4x4, so book a multi-day guided camping trip if you want them.
Yes, Chobe National Park charges a daily entry fee, and non-citizens pay roughly US$15 to 25 per person plus a small vehicle fee. Campsites inside the park are booked separately and cost about US$30 to 50 per person. Pay at the Sedudu gate near Kasane, though carrying cash in pula or a card makes it smoother, and book campsites months ahead for June to October.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Botswanan national parks near Chobe

Explore more nearby:

  • Linyanti Wildlife Reserve—Private concessions, wild dog dens, channel crossings, night drives| 51 km away
  • Chobe Riverfront—Kasane waterfront, floodplain drives, hippo pods, birders' river| 76 km away
  • Okavango Delta—Mokoro channels, island walks, Chief's Island, scenic flights| 153 km away

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We 💚 feedbackFinal thoughts on exploring Chobe

Chobe National Park is worth two full days at minimum: one river cruise and one game drive, with a third day if you want Savuti. I would skip rushing it as a day trip from Victoria Falls and bring binoculars and a long-sleeved shirt for boat mornings, since the river wind is cool.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on in-depth research, insights shared by experienced travelers, and feedback from the local travel community in Botswana. While every effort is made to keep the information accurate and current, conditions can change — so if you spot anything incorrect or outdated, please get in touch.



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