"The famous Chobe National Park has two prime safari areas. The waterfront, in the north, comprises a network of floodplains and riverine loops alongside the Chobe river. Elephant and buffalo pack this area during the dry season, where boat cruises will also find hippos, crocodiles and prolific birdlife. Savuti Marsh, in the southwest, protects an open plain, where zebra migrate in their thousands, leopards haunt the rocky kopjes and large lion prides do battle with abundant spotted hyenas. Conditions here change rapidly whenever the enigmatic Savuti Channel starts to flow. Between these two areas, a hinterland of mopane woodland shelters remote seasonal pans where game also gathers. Other notable wildlife throughout the park includes wild dog, sable and, in open areas, cheetah.”
- Mike Unwin
Mike is an award winning writer and author of the Bradt Guide to Southern African Wildlife.
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PLAN MY JOURNEYChobe National Park & Savuti
Chobe National Park, in Botswana’s far north, attracted worldwide attention during the early 1970s, when it hosted Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton on their second honeymoon. It has since remained one of Africa’s most popular safari destinations – and with justification. The prolific dry-season game herds and wealth of predators make for a spectacular wildlife experience in beautiful country. Just remember that you won’t be enjoying it alone.
Much of the park’s 11,700 sq kms comprises dense mopane woodland far from any road. Interest thus focuses on two key areas developed for safaris. Best-known is the Chobe Waterfront in the far north, which lies within a day-trip of Victoria Falls in neighbouring Zambia. In peak season, this area teems with game, with elephant trooping down to the water in constant procession and buffalo massing on the floodplains in their thousands. Game drives around the riverine loop roads encounter giraffe, waterbuck and sable, among other herbivores, while lion are plentiful, leopard regular and I have seen wild dog bringing down a young kudu. River cruises allow you to eyeball the drinking herds and spot prowling predators while also enjoying the hippos, crocodiles and prolific birdlife – which includes African skimmers among the usual wealth of storks, herons and kingfishers. Baboons and banded mongooses forage through the lodges, while hyenas abound after dark.
A very different landscape lies across the park in the southwest, abutting Moremi. Here, Savuti Marsh comprises a broad plain, fringed with woodland and punctuated with rocky kopjes, where thousands of zebra, plus wildebeest, tsessebe and other grazers, arrive for the fresh grazing. This area has generated a fine crop of hair-raising campfire yarns, with its large and notoriously bold lion prides doing nightly battle with the local hyenas and even hunting elephants. Conditions change very quickly whenever the unpredictable Savuti Channel, an outlet of the Linyanti River, begins to flow. Cheetah hunt the open areas, alongside kori bustards and other grassland birds. This area is less visited than the Chobe river front, with fewer camps and more of a wilderness feel. For the real aficionado, a scattering of seasonal pans in the wilderness that lies between the two offers serious bush adventure.
When to go
Find out when is best to visit
- Excellent
- Good
- Poor
WET SEASON – ‘EMERALD SEASON’
During this period large concentrations of grazers can be found around the Savuti Marsh in time for calving season. This sheer number of young animals attracts large predator numbers from the surrounding areas. This is also a great time of year to see migratory bird species.
Like the rest of Botswana, Chobe & Savuti have very distinct wet and dry seasons; rain is common, usually in the form of sharp thunderstorms from November through to early May, the rest of the year clear skies dominate. We would generally recommend visiting the park during the peak of the dry season; as the landscape dries up wildlife becomes more concentrated around the rivers and watercourse while at the same time thinner/ drier vegetation improves visibility. Having said this, Chobe and Savuti can offer great game viewing throughout the year. There is a lot to be said for the ‘emerald season’; beautiful green scenery, fantastic birding, and fewer tourists can make for a wonderful and unique experience.
WET SEASON – ‘EMERALD SEASON’
During this period large concentrations of grazers can be found around the Savuti Marsh in time for calving season. This sheer number of young animals attracts large predator numbers from the surrounding areas. This is also a great time of year to see migratory bird species.
Like the rest of Botswana, Chobe & Savuti have very distinct wet and dry seasons; rain is common, usually in the form of sharp thunderstorms from November through to early May, the rest of the year clear skies dominate. We would generally recommend visiting the park during the peak of the dry season; as the landscape dries up wildlife becomes more concentrated around the rivers and watercourse while at the same time thinner/ drier vegetation improves visibility. Having said this, Chobe and Savuti can offer great game viewing throughout the year. There is a lot to be said for the ‘emerald season’; beautiful green scenery, fantastic birding, and fewer tourists can make for a wonderful and unique experience.
WET SEASON – ‘EMERALD SEASON’
During this period large concentrations of grazers can be found around the Savuti Marsh in time for calving season. This sheer number of young animals attracts large predator numbers from the surrounding areas. This is also a great time of year to see migratory bird species.
Like the rest of Botswana, Chobe & Savuti have very distinct wet and dry seasons; rain is common, usually in the form of sharp thunderstorms from November through to early May, the rest of the year clear skies dominate. We would generally recommend visiting the park during the peak of the dry season; as the landscape dries up wildlife becomes more concentrated around the rivers and watercourse while at the same time thinner/ drier vegetation improves visibility. Having said this, Chobe and Savuti can offer great game viewing throughout the year. There is a lot to be said for the ‘emerald season’; beautiful green scenery, fantastic birding, and fewer tourists can make for a wonderful and unique experience.
DRY SEASON
Wildlife will begin to move closer to the riverfront as the clear skies dominate. The rains fade, and midday temperatures are more pleasant. Mornings can be surprisingly cool, so it is advisable to pack some warm clothes.
Like the rest of Botswana, Chobe & Savuti have very distinct wet and dry seasons; rain is common, usually in the form of sharp thunderstorms from November through to early May, the rest of the year clear skies dominate. We would generally recommend visiting the park during the peak of the dry season; as the landscape dries up wildlife becomes more concentrated around the rivers and watercourse while at the same time thinner/ drier vegetation improves visibility. Having said this, Chobe and Savuti can offer great game viewing throughout the year. There is a lot to be said for the ‘emerald season’; beautiful green scenery, fantastic birding, and fewer tourists can make for a wonderful and unique experience.
DRY SEASON
Wildlife will begin to move closer to the riverfront as the clear skies dominate. The rains fade, and midday temperatures are more pleasant. Mornings can be surprisingly cool, so it is advisable to pack some warm clothes.
Like the rest of Botswana, Chobe & Savuti have very distinct wet and dry seasons; rain is common, usually in the form of sharp thunderstorms from November through to early May, the rest of the year clear skies dominate. We would generally recommend visiting the park during the peak of the dry season; as the landscape dries up wildlife becomes more concentrated around the rivers and watercourse while at the same time thinner/ drier vegetation improves visibility. Having said this, Chobe and Savuti can offer great game viewing throughout the year. There is a lot to be said for the ‘emerald season’; beautiful green scenery, fantastic birding, and fewer tourists can make for a wonderful and unique experience.
DRY SEASON
The landscape continues to dry up, with good game sightings becoming more likely. Midday temperatures are average around 25°C/77°F, the mornings can be surprisingly cool at around 11°C/52°F, so be sure to pack a warm fleece.
Like the rest of Botswana, Chobe & Savuti have very distinct wet and dry seasons; rain is common, usually in the form of sharp thunderstorms from November through to early May, the rest of the year clear skies dominate. We would generally recommend visiting the park during the peak of the dry season; as the landscape dries up wildlife becomes more concentrated around the rivers and watercourse while at the same time thinner/ drier vegetation improves visibility. Having said this, Chobe and Savuti can offer great game viewing throughout the year. There is a lot to be said for the ‘emerald season’; beautiful green scenery, fantastic birding, and fewer tourists can make for a wonderful and unique experience.
DRY SEASON
The landscape continues to dry up, with good game sightings becoming more likely. Midday temperatures are average around 25°C/77°F, the mornings can be surprisingly cool at around 11°C/52°F, so be sure to pack a warm fleece.
Like the rest of Botswana, Chobe & Savuti have very distinct wet and dry seasons; rain is common, usually in the form of sharp thunderstorms from November through to early May, the rest of the year clear skies dominate. We would generally recommend visiting the park during the peak of the dry season; as the landscape dries up wildlife becomes more concentrated around the rivers and watercourse while at the same time thinner/ drier vegetation improves visibility. Having said this, Chobe and Savuti can offer great game viewing throughout the year. There is a lot to be said for the ‘emerald season’; beautiful green scenery, fantastic birding, and fewer tourists can make for a wonderful and unique experience.
DRY SEASON
Clear skies still dominate. Midday temperatures begin to rise and can at times be hot. Morning remain surprisingly cool.
Botswana has very distinct wet and dry seasons; rain is common, usually in the form of sharp thunderstorms from October through to early May, the rest of the year clear skies dominate. As Botswana is predominately a safari destination we would generally recommend visiting during the peak of the dry season; as the landscape dries up, wildlife becomes more concentrated around the rivers and watercourse while at the same time thinner/ drier vegetation improves visibility.
Having said this, there is a lot to be said for the ‘emerald season’; beautiful green scenery, fantastic birding, large flowing rivers and fewer tourists can make for a wonderful and unique experience.
There are also two significant exceptions to the above rule of thumb; Kalahari Desert and the Makgadikgadi which come into their own during the wet season as wildlife moves in to take advantage of the fresh, lush grass.
Temperatures can be very high in and around the wet season; when the sunlight is at its strongest, however nights can be cool to sub-freezing throughout the year. So, don’t forget to pack warm clothing!
DRY SEASON
Clear skies still dominate, the landscape has now become quite parched; ultimately making this the perfect time for game viewing. Midday and night temperatures are climbing, with midday temperatures becoming hot, averaging 29°C/84°F in August and 33°C/91°F in September. Mornings remain surprisingly cool, so do pack something warm.
Like the rest of Botswana, Chobe & Savuti have very distinct wet and dry seasons; rain is common, usually in the form of sharp thunderstorms from November through to early May, the rest of the year clear skies dominate. We would generally recommend visiting the park during the peak of the dry season; as the landscape dries up wildlife becomes more concentrated around the rivers and watercourse while at the same time thinner/ drier vegetation improves visibility. Having said this, Chobe and Savuti can offer great game viewing throughout the year. There is a lot to be said for the ‘emerald season’; beautiful green scenery, fantastic birding, and fewer tourists can make for a wonderful and unique experience.
DRY SEASON
Game viewing can be spectacular during October; however, temperatures continue to rise before the start of the rains, with midday temperatures over 40°C/104°F not uncommon. We suggest early morning starts during this time to make the most of the cool temperatures!
Like the rest of Botswana, Chobe & Savuti have very distinct wet and dry seasons; rain is common, usually in the form of sharp thunderstorms from November through to early May, the rest of the year clear skies dominate. We would generally recommend visiting the park during the peak of the dry season; as the landscape dries up wildlife becomes more concentrated around the rivers and watercourse while at the same time thinner/ drier vegetation improves visibility. Having said this, Chobe and Savuti can offer great game viewing throughout the year. There is a lot to be said for the ‘emerald season’; beautiful green scenery, fantastic birding, and fewer tourists can make for a wonderful and unique experience.
WET SEASON
The first rains arrive, usually in the form of sharp afternoon showers. The temperatures still however remain very hot, while the humidity adds a level of discomfort. Game viewing can still be great, but just be prepared for a little heat.
Like the rest of Botswana, Chobe & Savuti have very distinct wet and dry seasons; rain is common, usually in the form of sharp thunderstorms from November through to early May, the rest of the year clear skies dominate. We would generally recommend visiting the park during the peak of the dry season; as the landscape dries up wildlife becomes more concentrated around the rivers and watercourse while at the same time thinner/ drier vegetation improves visibility. Having said this, Chobe and Savuti can offer great game viewing throughout the year. There is a lot to be said for the ‘emerald season’; beautiful green scenery, fantastic birding, and fewer tourists can make for a wonderful and unique experience.
WET SEASON
During this period large concentrations of grazers can be found around the Savuti Marsh in time for calving season. This sheer number of young animals attracts large predator numbers from the surrounding areas. This is also a great time of year to see migratory bird species.
Like the rest of Botswana, Chobe & Savuti have very distinct wet and dry seasons; rain is common, usually in the form of sharp thunderstorms from November through to early May, the rest of the year clear skies dominate. We would generally recommend visiting the park during the peak of the dry season; as the landscape dries up wildlife becomes more concentrated around the rivers and watercourse while at the same time thinner/ drier vegetation improves visibility. Having said this, Chobe and Savuti can offer great game viewing throughout the year. There is a lot to be said for the ‘emerald season’; beautiful green scenery, fantastic birding, and fewer tourists can make for a wonderful and unique experience.
Experiences
Explore Chobe National Park & Savuti Properties
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Chobe Bush Lodge
Chobe Bush Lodge
Somewhere between a hotel and a lodge, this 38-room establishment offers mid-range travellers affordability and close proximity to Chobe National Park. An extensive range of activities are available - from game drives and boat ..
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Chobe Game Lodge
Chobe Game Lodge
Chobe Game Lodge sits on the banks of the River Chobe with Morrocan-style furnishings, ornate décor and lush gardens to explore. With its prime location as the only property within the park, the lodge is the perfect choice for ..
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Chobe Savanna Lodge
Chobe Savanna Lodge
Tucked away in the serene landscapes of the Eastern Caprivi, away from the well-trodden Kasane riverfront, Chobe Savanna Lodge stands as a testament to an authentic safari experience. Operated by Desert & Delta Safaris, with over ..
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Muchenje Safari Lodge
Muchenje Safari Lodge
Muchenje Safari Lodge is a traditional lodge with simple yet beautiful chalets and a relaxing atmosphere. This peaceful accommodation is on the quieter side of the national park yet within easy reach of all its activities.
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Sanctuary Chobe Chilwero
Sanctuary Chobe Chilwero
With panoramic views across the Chobe River and beyond, Sanctuary’s Chobe Chilwero is a luxury riverside retreat with elegance in abundance. Meaning ‘place of high view’ in local Setswana, the lodge sits above the river and ..
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Savute Safari Lodge
Savute Safari Lodge
Nestled along the storied banks of the Savuti Channel, within the renowned Chobe National Park, Savute Safari Lodge promises an unforgettable African escapade. A bridge between luxurious comfort and the wild beauty of nature, the ..
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Savuti Camp
Savuti Camp
With a fantastic setting on the banks of the Savuti river (located within a private game reserve and neighbouring the Chobe National Park), this exclusive tented camp is a nature-lover’s haven. Guests at Savuti Camp are spoilt ..
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Zambezi Queen
Zambezi Queen
Explore the Chobe River on a two or three night cruise aboard the five-star Zambezi Queen. A stay at this luxury floating hotel means soaking up the views, wildlife and landscape in an intimate and unique way, with style, comfort ..
What People Say
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The personalised service provided was far beyond my expectations. A three week trip visiting four countries in Africa, multiple game reserves, wineries and much, much more was flawless. While a close encounter with a leopard and her cubs…
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We got in touch after hearing about Hide & Seek from a friend. Have to say hats off to Jamie, he was so patient throughout, even through our indecisiveness! Ultimately we ended up with the most incredible holiday of our lives. Thank you again, we will be back!!
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Thank you for arranging our Safari holiday in Kenya and Tanzania for us. It was to celebrate our 40th. Wedding anniversary which was on July 1st. 2018, and through your arrangements, we have had a holiday that we will never forget...
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Thanks so much for a truly unforgettable once in a life time holiday. Hopefully we will be in touch again soon!
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Spot on in terms of itinerary . We not disappointed by any of the suggestions and had the best holiday ever! Thank you!
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Jamie was very helpful throughout the booking process and recommended the perfect holiday. There was nothing we would change having now been out to Tanzania. I would highly recommend Hide & Seek to friends and relatives.
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Jamie was excellent. Once I described what we wanted I knew he would come up with the business. ..and he did!!! 5 stars
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We spoke to numerous travel agents over the period we looked at booking our honeymoon and only hide and seek gave me the confidence I was looking for. Really pleased with our decision.
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Hide and seek dealt with our last minute travel plans extremely well. Obviously, our accommodations shifted as availability diminished but ultimately they came up with a vacation that we will never forget.
