The Earth's Biggest Elephant Population Is in This Magnificent National Park

Botswana is The Elephant Capital of the World, with an estimated 130,000 of the giant creatures.

Any fan ofThe Lion Kingsurely knows there ’s dramatic event to be had in the animal kingdom . Andanyone who ’s been on safariknows the excitement of see that play out . After all , wildlife is best experience not through screens , not behind bars , but inreal life-time . On the African continent , there are several place to go on safari — South Africa ’s Kruger National Park , Kenya ’s Masai Mara National Park , and Tanzania ’s Serengeti , to name some well - known selection — but Botswana’sChobe National Parkis where to go for elephant .

Botswana is be intimate as the “ Elephant Capital of the World . ” About 130,000 of the giant creatures roam here , which is more than any other African country and an astounding number considering the count in elephant - hyped Thailand is less than 4,000 . The reason for this is because Botswana has long been a harbor for the trunked pachyderms , when poach and prize hunting by foreigners was rampant in the surrounding res publica .

The situation has improved during the pandemic years , which is much needed , since the creatures normally roam freely between neighbor Botswana , Zambia , Namibia , Angola , and Zimbabwe — not that they recognize political edge . restrain tabs on the herd is the aptly - diagnose nonprofitElephants Without Borders , a Botswana - based organization that ’s top the conservation efforts of the African elephant in conjunction with local governments .

Chobe national park

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In Chobe — Botswana ’s first national park , founded in 1967 — there ’s a good chance you ’ll see elephants wherever you go . Of of course , any safari fellowship will have a fine mark disavowal that wildlife sighting are never guaranteed anywhere in the world , but from my experience , it would be unheard of to go to Chobe and not see an elephant in the wild . There are so many elephant sighting in the park that you ’d almost reckon it ’d become tiresome — but here , with these formidable and sometimes queer creatures , it ’s insufferable to get “ elephanted out . ” Here ’s how to get the most out of your sojourn to the Botswana national park .

When to visit Chobe National Park

Chobe is open year - round for Botswana ’s two seasons . The ironical time of year occur during the southerly hemisphere ’s winter , from April to September , when there is very trivial rain . Come October , rain swoops in during the summertime month until March , and transforms the landscape into the green season .

There are in spades pro and cons to each time of year . Nevertheless , the dry season is the more democratic of the two . Without a bounty of H2O falling from the sky , it ’s often easy to betoken where creature are probable to be found : wherever there is a lasting water source . Less rain also means less foliage on the trees and President Bush , make it wanton to tell apart wildlife with the au naturel oculus . to boot , winter month have in mind wry but not too live atmospheric condition , with June and July highs in the seventy .

However , that means there will be a lot more people on safari during the winter season . This translates to heavier traffic on the parking area ’s designate roadstead ( because you ca n’t just offroad anywhere ) , and often there ’s competition for a practiced office to park for a prime vantage spot whenever there ’s a coveted lion sighting — kind of like find parking at the mall during the holidays . Also , with safari demand higher , accommodation fill up and have higher prices than during the summer month .

Botswana National Park

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Green season , on the other handwriting , isless expensive and less crowd , so your chances of finding accommodations — and tawdry flying — are better . In some lodges and safari camp , you ’ll just partake the rough-cut spaces with a handful of other guests . Sure it may rain down on occasion , but with summer storms come succulent landscapes , awe - inspiring lighting smash across the sky , and majestic rainbow when it needs finish . These summer months are also the calving season for many herbivorous mammals , which signify lot of babe animals for a possible cute overload . More baby also inadvertently translates to more easy prey for predators , so you might get a giving luck to see the full circle of aliveness .

The downside of green season is not only the heat and humidity of summertime , but all that lush foliage on the plants , making it harder to spot wildlife . That read , if you have a beneficial , learned scout ( like Isaac Mpuchane ofDesert & Delta Safaris , in my experience ) , you ’ll track down any animal you put your mind to — even an knotty Panthera pardus . Experienced guide do this using cues from nature , like distinct warning calls from birds announcing a nearby marauder or impala ’ behaviour with their movement patterns and a specific way they give up their hindlegs to alert their ruck . ( Listening for sighting report on the wireless yack does n’t hurt either . )

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Pick your safari based on the landscape

No matter where you go , there ’s really one main activity to do in Chobe : ride in 4x4s for secret plan drives in the former aurora to search for wildlife , and then again in the good afternoon — all before finding a place with a sunset persuasion to bar and have sundowners with the quintessential safari cocktail , a knock rummy and tonic . ( G&Ts contain quinine in the tonic piddle , long believed to curb malaria . )

Chobe National Park encompasses a diverse landscape painting of over 4,500 square mile , including desert , grasslands , and fertile riverbanks . The green can be divided into four geographical department : the Chobe Riverfront , the Linyanti wetlands , the Savute grasslands , and the dry woodlands of Nogatsaa . Each has its own characteristics , but all put up an opportunity to spot wildlife .

While Nogatsaa does have one hostelry as a basecamp for game view , the area is n’t as accessible as the other regions of the park from a logistical power point of horizon . Therefore , it ’s rarely included on a comprehensive safari hitch . However , if you ’re uncoerced to invest in a bush flight and get eight hours bout tripper aside from the other more popular territories , consider Nogatsaa if you like radical remote , fewer people , and desire to experience its unequalled geology of dry , Lucius DuBignon Clay bottom pans .

elephant safari

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That said , the legal age of safari - goers get their fill of wildlife sightings by visiting the grasslands and water system - adjacent realm of Chobe Riverfront , Linyanti , and Savute . That ’s because where there ’s urine , there ’s elephants — not to mention river horse , warthog , many types of antelope , water Old World buffalo , crocodiles , baboon , Canis aureus , giraffes , Leo , zebras , hyenas , blue wildebeest , idle dog , one C of bird specie , and many other animate being .

The Chobe Riverfront is unequalled from other typical 4x4 game drives in that you may also look for wildlife on a riverboat sail . As the main lasting source of H2O in northern Botswana , the Chobe River is the collect situation for all animate being . At the edges of the riverbanks , you ’ll find crocodiles savour in the sun or H2O Bison bison pasture the grass . There are also many hippopotami , often partly submerged with their nostril and ears protruding out . If you ’re lucky on a boat campaign , you may even see a ruck of elephants crossbreed the river to or from Namibia , as the river serve as the boundary between the two nation .

Linyanti is basically an extension of the Chobe Riverfront , with game viewing opportunity in its wetlands and grasslands . The Marsh in Linyanti are said to be rich in predators .

rainy season

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To the south is Savute , a grassland region that really exemplifies the difference between juiceless and unripe seasons . When it ’s ironical , it ’s parched and cold , with animate being dependent on watering holes . In fact , a few watering holes are unnaturally made , created by the government by tapping born secret fountain and rerouting their H2O to the surface via pump and plumbing . While some criticize this pattern as going against nature ’s plan , others deem it necessary amidst climate change ; water holes , hokey or not , keep a balance of regional animal tightness . If not for them , elephants and other big animals in Savute might tramp down and put down ecosystem during long migrations to the wetlands .

Savute is genuinely fertile in the green time of year , from its Bush to its “ marsh , ” an expanse of compressed grassland that once held a swamp in its geological past tense . fauna in the region take advantage of all lachrymation holes regardless of the clip of year , and if you ’re lucky , you ’ll catch a ring of hyenas or wild cad playing in the water — or even a young elephant splashing around like a child in a bathtub .

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Sleep in a traditional game lodge

There are a few safari indian lodge and camps in the Chobe Riverfront field just outside the commons gate in Kasane , but only one social club is inside the park — and mighty on the river : the historic , luxuryChobe Game Lodge . Not only is it a base camp in the most choice location for wildlife sightings in the area , it ’s also ecotourism - licence . Their solar - powered river cruise boats run virtually silent , devoid of loud railway locomotive that might otherwise start the animals .

If you ’re check into out the Linyanti realm , stay at the luxuryLinyanti Bush Campjust outside the mete with the park , where you could base yourself for biz drives — and those sundowners .

Game drives in 4x4s often guide for activity by the watering holes , but you need not to go far if you ’re staying at theSavute Safari Lodge ; their dining area , pool , and lounge is a pack of cards that overlooks one of the watering holes , and animals come in pretty regularly .

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For the few intrepid going out to the less - accessible Nogatsaa area , there ’s only one gild , Nogatsaa Pans Lodge , mighty in the contiguous vicinity of the Kwikamba Pan .

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Go on your own or with a guide

Chobe National Park , like most internal parks , has an entry fee : about $ 10 USD , but that price is typically rolled into a bottom line price if you reserve a safari from any tour wheeler dealer , with package that admit indian lodge and game drives . you’re able to sure enough rent your own 4x4 and rough it , though ; there are about twenty camping site within the common with affluent toilets and solar - powered showers . bivouac average about $ 50 USD per day . There is also a small , per - twenty-four hours vehicle fee depending on the weight unit of your rental .

All that being said , your best wager is tofigure out an travel plan with an experienced term of enlistment operator , like midrangeMoonstroll Vantage Expeditionsor higher - endDesert & Delta Safaris . Thepark ’s prescribed websiteis also a good resource , linking you to lodging deals .

Whichever elbow room you plan a safari in Botswana ’s premier national park , remember to get any required barb beforehand . Also , malaria preventive pills , while not required , are recommend . After all , mosquitoes , like all of Chobe ’s elephant , are a part of the roach of life , too .

Chobe River