CHOBE NATIONAL PARK (january 2008)

Since we are living in Livingstone, Zambia, it is only an hour drive to Botswana. And right across the Kazangula border is already Chobe National Park. It is not part of the Okavango Delta, but since it is bordering Moremi and Savuti you could consider it one big wildlife area.

A lot of people ask me what the best parks are in Africa to see wildlife. That is a difficult question since it all depends where your priorities are. However, if it comes to seeing animals very easy Chobe ranks among the best. Chobe has been well protected for over 60 years and as such the animals are very much used of being observed by humans with big photo lenses from Toyota Landcruisers.

I have never been to a park where elephants are so easy to approach as in Chobe. The guides do come as close as 5 meters! To my opinion these guides can never work in another park again. For instance, the elephants in Kafue National Park in Zambia where I have worked for 3 years, did not let us approach closer than 200 meters or they would charge full on. No mock charges!

But also shy animals like the kudu are easy to see which makes Chobe one of the best parks in Africa to see wildlife. Especially as a first time visitor you will not be disappointed. The boat cruises on the Chobe river are phenomenal and you will see plenty of elephants, hippos, crocodiles, birds and different species of antelope. For the cats you will have to try your luck on a game drive. Mind you, in the rainy season things are a bit different - much more difficult to see wildlife as it is scattered around the park since they do not depend on the Chobe river for water.