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User Reviews of Chobe National Park (217 Reviews)

Best Park Chobe Safaris Botswana
Sort By: Date Most Helpful 31-38 of 38 Reviews

Average User Rating

4.7235 / 5 4.7 /5
4.7299 / 5 4.6077 / 5 4.2111 / 5 4.5500 / 5

Rating Breakdown

5 star 169 / 8 169
4 star 38 / 8 38
3 star 9 / 8 9
2 star 0 / 8 0
1 star 1 / 8 1
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Avatar icon bonsaisai Visited: February 2015 Reviewed: Apr 6, 2015

First time doing safari and I'll be sure to return

4 / 5 4 /5
4 / 5 4 / 5 5 / 5 / 5
Most guide books advise you to go in the dry season to see a lot of wildlife. I did my first safari ever in February in the middle of the wet season. On the morning of my drive, it was overcast, cold, and drizzling. It had rained a lot the night before. I would never have thought of going on a safari while shivering in my jacket. To my surprise, the sky cleared up in the afternoon and there were still a lot to see: giraffes, baboons, elephants, warthogs, impalas, buffaloes, etc. And to my extreme delight, even a painted African wild dog. The only thing missing from the game drive are the predators. The boat cruise on the Chobe waterfront was relaxing and exciting at the same time. We saw an elephant swimming out to an island in the middle of the channel, many hippos and crocs, and plenty of birds.

So what did I miss when doing safari in the wet season? Animals are not as numerous and concentrated but there are no crowds. More importantly, with plenty of water to
Read more drink and grass to eat, the animals are not stressed; they're not fighting for their survival. The lush vegetation is beautiful and pleasing. The cool and comfortable weather (at mid day) more than makes up for seeing fewer animals. The deep blue sky reflects on the serene water of the Chobe River like a painting. What a great place to be for the animals! And for humans, too!
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Avatar icon Terry Carew Visited: August 2010 Reviewed: Apr 5, 2015

It is always a pleasure to visit the Chobe national park.

4 / 5 4 /5
5 / 5 4 / 5 4 / 5 5 / 5
The wildlife in Chobe is diverse and abundant. The park is sub-divided (my definition) into two main centres. The river edge of the park in the very north of the park is my favourite. The road network offers visitors the option of traveling along the river edge next to the floodplain or in the densely wooded area bordering the floodplain. The river road option offers good sightings of the main attractions to Chobe, namely elephants and buffalos. These are very much in evidence as they drink twice daily. Other notable species are impala, waterbuck, sable, hippo, crocodiles, warthogs, puku, lechwe and others. Lions are usually around as are hyenas and jackals. Birdlife is magnificent. The fish eagles are plentiful as are most of the other raptors. Aquatic birds are best seen by buying a seat on a river craft operated by numerous hotels and agencies in Kasane which is outside the border of the park. Boating is very rewarding for big game spotting as well.

The other centre is
Read more to the south and west of Kasane and is referred to as Savuti. The Savuti channel runs through the park and drains into the Mbabe depression. This part of Chobe is very popular with visitors and during peak times of the year can be a bit busy. Very well wooded it is one of the best areas in Africa to see four of the big five. Birding is also of the best. Both centres are connected by a road that can be traversed only by a four wheel drive vehicle. About here to five hours traveling is the norm if conditions are good.

Visitors can access the park by self drive 4X4 vehicles (fully equipped and available for rent in Kasane) and camping is available but can be rough, or by booking with an operator and be driven around the park. Advance booking for self drive is essential as camp sites are limited.

The scenery in the park is pretty much dominated by bush and trees, but along the river edge the sunsets are superb as dust and smoke in the air make for vivid colours.

Peak seasons for visiting the park are April to September. October is very dry and can be windy and November to March is the rainy season.

More information can be obtained from the Botswana tourist board or by "googling" Chobe itself.
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Female avatar icon Tenaz United States flag US       Visited: February 2015 Reviewed: Feb 19, 2015

50-65 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

The safari in Chobe National Park was fantastic! We saw lions, hippos, giraffes & crocodiles day 1.

4 / 5 4 /5
5 / 5 5 / 5 4 / 5 3 / 5

Chobe National Park is a gem! Our guides were very patient and knew a lot about animals. We drove in open jeeps and had great access to photograph the beautiful birds and wild-life that we saw.
The park is teeming with life! We witnessed a pregnant giraffe, playful baboons, kissing hippos, grazing elephants ( swimming elephants, nursing elephants - over 200,000 elephants in Botswana) an angry lion and many impalas and kudus. The scenery was lush and green and the Chobe river was full of fabulous surprises like hippos and crocodiles! Do go!

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Male avatar icon David Sullivan United States flag US       Visited: January 2011 Reviewed: Jun 18, 2012

Email David Sullivan  |  20-35 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

4 / 5 4 /5
5 / 5 4 / 5 4 / 5 / 5

The National Park has a good variety of wildlife, but you may find yourself in competition with a bunch of other people all trying to get the same view of the lionness with cubs or other interesting sight.

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Male avatar icon JacoBrits South Africa flag ZA       Visited: April 2010 Reviewed: Jan 29, 2012

35-50 years of age

4 / 5 4 /5
5 / 5 5 / 5 4 / 5 5 / 5

Well developed but still authentic bush.

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Female avatar icon jadeheart824 United States flag US       Visited: June 2009 Reviewed: Oct 14, 2011

20-35 years of age

4 / 5 4 /5
5 / 5 3 / 5 5 / 5 / 5

LOTS of animals to see, but a lot of tourists as well.

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Female avatar icon Kelly Cheng Singapore flag SG       Visited: June 2007 Reviewed: Oct 12, 2011

35-50 years of age

4 / 5 4 /5
4 / 5 / 5 4 / 5 / 5

The most accessible herds of elephants by the river.

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Male avatar icon lesliel South Africa flag ZA       Visited: August 2010 Reviewed: Oct 4, 2011

Email lesliel  |  35-50 years of age

4 / 5 4 /5
5 / 5 4 / 5 5 / 5 5 / 5

Very popular with a wide variety due to abundance of water for Botswanna. Popularity makes for more congested camps without the seclusion of some of the other camps.

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