Chobe & Savuti
Elephants on the river, lions at the marsh, deep sand in between: what to know before you drive through Botswana’s first national park.
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In short
Chobe National Park in northern Botswana is the country’s first national park and famous for its elephants: Botswana counts around 130,000, most densely along the Chobe, Linyanti and Kwando rivers. On the riverfront near Kasane they stay close to the water in the dry season. At Savuti, in the middle of the park, you drive through deep sand to an open marsh where lions even hunt elephants late in the dry season. You drive only in daylight and sleep only at booked campsites.
Key facts
Chobe in numbers
- Location
- Northern Botswana, from the Chobe River at Kasane to Mababe Gate in the south
- Area
- About 10,600 km² according to the wildlife department; Botswana Tourism gives 11,700 km²
- Protected since
- 1960 as a game reserve, Botswana’s first national park since 1967
- Areas
- Riverfront, Savuti, Linyanti, Ngwezumba pans
- Elephants
- 131,909 in all of Botswana (KAZA survey 2022), most densely along the Chobe, Linyanti and Kwando
- Open
- April to September 6:00 to 18:30, October to March 5:30 to 19:00
- Entry
- 270 pula per person per day, 115 pula per private foreign-registered vehicle (since 2022, increase suspended)
- Camping
- Booking only: Ihaha on the river, Savuti, Linyanti
When to go
When Chobe is at its best
In the dry season the elephants stay close to the river — family groups within 3.5 km, according to one study. In October Kasane averages 35 °C, and 72 % of the year’s rain falls from December to February.
Dry season: April – October
Elephants close to the river: June – October
Savuti lions also hunt elephants: August – November
Cool nights around 11 °C: June – August
Hot days, 32 °C and above: September – November
Rainy season, green park: November – March
Impala lambing: November – November
Marsh road to Savuti often flooded: December – March
Month by month: the best time to visit Botswana →
Areas
From the river into the sand
The park has four very different parts. Our routes usually link Savuti with the riverfront at Kasane.
North
Chobe riverfront
The best-known part: floodplains, islands and banks where elephants, buffalo, hippos and crocodiles gather in the dry season. From the water you see them on a boat trip from Kasane.
Centre
Savuti
An open marsh at the end of the Savuti Channel, which brings water from the Linyanti — when it flows: it has dried up and returned several times. The Gubatsa Hills hold rock paintings of eland, elephants and giraffes.
Northwest
Linyanti
Swamps and woodland along the Linyanti on the Namibian border, remote and with few campsites. Here and along the Kwando live most of the elephants.
East
Ngwezumba pans
Pans on clay and black-cotton soils in the east of the park, full of water after rain. Off the usual routes.
By the park
Kasane
The town at Sedudu Gate: fuel, shops and boat trips on the Chobe. The transit road through the park to Ngoma has been open around the clock since 2025.
Side trip
Victoria Falls
About 80 km from Kasane, across the border at Kazungula into Zimbabwe. German citizens get their visa on arrival, for 30 US dollars according to the German Foreign Office.
Tracks
Sand, mud and water
There is no tar inside the park. How hard a track is depends on the weather, and it can change from week to week.
- 01
Deep sand
Between Mababe Gate, Savuti and Ghoha you drive long stretches of deep sand. A steady pace, low range and less air in the tyres help.
- 02
Less air
Tracks4Africa gives about 0.8 bar as a rule of thumb for sand, and no lower for radial tyres. Pump them up again before the tar.
- 03
Two roads to Savuti
From Mababe Gate one road follows the marsh, another runs along a sand ridge. In the rainy season the marsh road is often under water — in January 2025, for example, the campsite operator advised the sand road.
- 04
On the riverfront
Self-drivers on the riverfront used to have fixed times and a one-way loop; the rules have been relaxed since 2022. You find out what applies at the gate — on our journeys from the guide.
Wildlife
What you can see
Elephants are almost certain. What else you see depends on the season and the area.
In the last major survey in 2022, 58 % of all elephants in the cross-border KAZA conservation area lived in Botswana, most densely along the Chobe, Linyanti and Kwando.
Park rules
What applies in Chobe
The rules are set out in Botswana’s National Parks and Game Reserves Regulations and apply to everyone, guides included.
- 01
Daytime only
The gates are open from 6:00 to 18:30 from April to September and from 5:30 to 19:00 from October to March. Outside these hours you do not drive or leave your campsite.
- 02
Stay on the tracks
Driving off the tracks is prohibited. The speed limit is 40 km/h.
- 03
Stay in the vehicle
Get out only at facilities, in an emergency or to collect firewood. On the road only with a clear view, at least 100 m from dangerous animals and no more than 25 m from the vehicle.
- 04
Booking only
You may spend the night only at a booked campsite. The gate asks for proof.
- 05
No feeding
Feeding animals is prohibited. Fires only in the fireplace, firewood only dead and from the ground.
- 06
On the river
Boats go clockwise around Sedudu Island. At most four boats may stop at elephants, for five minutes, and no boats run at night.
Sources: Department of Wildlife and National Parks (history, area), Botswana Tourism Organisation (areas, Savuti, Kasane), National Parks and Game Reserves Regulations (opening hours, booking requirement, park rules), fees since 1 April 2022, Government of Botswana Daily News (transit road, boating rules, 2026 increase suspended), KAZA elephant survey 2022, British Museum (rock art), Power & Compion 2009 (Savuti lions), campsite operator SKL, Tracks4Africa (tyre pressure), studies on Chobe elephants and impala, German Foreign Office (Zimbabwe visa, malaria), Botswana Ministry of Health and CDC (malaria). As of 14 November 2026. Climate figures as in the best-time guide.
Journeys
Four of our journeys cross Chobe National Park, via Savuti or along the river to Kasane. Campsites and permits are booked, and park fees are included in the price.
Journeys through Chobe
View all journeys
Frequently asked
Questions about Chobe and Savuti
When is the best time to visit Chobe National Park?
In the dry season from May to October. It hardly rains then, and the elephants stay close to the river — family groups within 3.5 km, according to one study. October is the hottest month at 35 °C on average. In the rainy season the park is green, wildlife spreads out, and the marsh road to Savuti is often under water.
How many elephants live in Chobe?
The last major survey in 2022 counted 131,909 elephants in all of Botswana, 58 % of all elephants in the cross-border KAZA conservation area. They live most densely along the Chobe, Linyanti and Kwando rivers.
How much does Chobe National Park cost?
Visitors from outside southern Africa pay 270 pula per person per day, plus 115 pula per day for a private foreign-registered vehicle (fees since April 2022). An increase to 500 pula was planned for April 2026 and has been suspended. On our journeys the fees are included in the price.
Can you self-drive in Chobe?
Yes, with a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Many tracks are deep sand, and after rain also mud and water. You drive only in daylight and only on the tracks, and sleep only at booked campsites. On our journeys the guide drives ahead.
What is Savuti?
An area in the middle of Chobe National Park: an open marsh fed by the Savuti Channel, which brings water from the Linyanti — when it flows, because it has dried up and returned several times. Savuti is known for its lions, which also hunt elephants late in the dry season, and for rock paintings in the Gubatsa Hills.
How far is Victoria Falls from Kasane?
About 80 km, across the border at Kazungula into Zimbabwe. German citizens need a visa, which is issued on arrival, for 30 US dollars according to the German Foreign Office. Visas applied for online are not always accepted at the land border from Botswana.
Is there malaria in Chobe?
Yes. Chobe District is a malaria area. According to the Ministry of Health the season runs from about October to May; in the north of the district, including the northern part of the national park, the German Foreign Office rates the risk as high all year. Get travel-medicine advice before you go.
Read on
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Plan a journey
Chobe with us
Tell us when you want to travel — we will suggest the right route via Savuti to the river.
Plan a journey