Chobe National Park

Chobe National Park, in the far north of Botswana, is famous for hosting one of the greatest concentrations of elephants in Africa, with tens of thousands roaming the park. Along the life-giving Chobe River, which forms its northern boundary, great herds of elephant, buffalo, hippo and antelope gather to drink and bathe, watched by lions and crocodiles, and the classic and magical way to experience it is on a boat safari at sunset, gliding among the wildlife as the sky blazes over the water.

What you actually see

• The elephant herds - the huge numbers gathering along the river.
• The boat safari - the sunset cruise among the wildlife on the water.
• The riverfront wildlife - the buffalo, hippos, lions and antelope.
• The birdlife - the abundant birds of the river and floodplain.

When to go

The dry season, May to October, is best, when the wildlife concentrates along the river as inland water sources dry up; the boat safaris are magical at sunset, and the elephant numbers along the Chobe are at their most spectacular late in the dry season.

Honest expectations

It is more accessible and less exclusive than the Okavango, near the town of Kasane, so it can be busier, with more vehicles and boats, especially the popular sunset cruises. It combines easily with a visit to Victoria Falls just across the borders. The elephant numbers and the sunset boat safaris, though, are genuinely spectacular and among the best in Africa.

Nearby

Victoria Falls, on the Zambia-Zimbabwe border, and the Okavango Delta are within reach.