Globechadder

Having immersed ourselves in the watery wonderland of the Okavango Delta, our Botswanan safari adventure continued its eastward trajectory, bringing us to another iconic wildlife haven: Chobe National Park. This leg of our journey promised a different kind of wild encounter, characterized by diverse landscapes and an astonishing abundance of animals.

Our entry into Chobe was through the Mababe Gate, leading us straight into the park’s western expanse. From there, we drove, following the contours of the dried-out Savuti Marsh. Even without its usual water, this area was teeming with life. Our eyes were constantly scanning, spotting an incredible array of wildlife: the graceful giraffe, majestic African bush elephant, distinctively striped zebra, agile impala, striking tsessebe, elegant sable antelope, hardy wildebeest, spiral-horned kudu, comical warthog, and the impressive eland. It was a continuous parade of Africa’s magnificent fauna, an utterly captivating introduction to Chobe.

Chobe National Park holds a special place in Botswana’s conservation history as its first national park, established in 1968. Located in the northern reaches of the country, it is Botswana’s third-largest park, renowned for being the most biologically diverse of all its protected areas. Chobe is particularly noted for possessing the world’s largest concentration of elephants, a truly awe-inspiring sight, and for its healthy population of lions – a fact we were thrilled to confirm with our first lion sighting of the entire trip!

Our exploration of Chobe focused on two distinct, yet equally rewarding, areas of the park: the Savuti Marsh and the Serondela area along the Chobe Riverfront.

The Savuti Marsh area constitutes the park’s western stretch, and it was here that we truly began our Chobe experience. The Savuti Marsh itself is a relic of a colossal inland lake, its ancient water supply long ago cut off by the relentless forces of plate tectonics. Nowadays, the marsh is fed by the famously erratic Savuti Channel. During our visit, the channel was completely dried up, transforming the landscape into vast, open plains. Despite the lack of water, this region is covered with extensive savannahs and rolling grasslands, which makes wildlife viewing particularly dynamic and engaging. The dry conditions meant animals often concentrated around remaining water sources, increasing our chances of spotting them. Here, amidst the golden grasses and scattered acacia trees, we encountered more lions, curious warthogs, elegant kudu, vast herds of impala, galloping zebra, and shaggy wildebeest. The presence of immense herds of elephants was also undeniable, their presence marked by broken branches and flattened vegetation. During the rainy seasons, the Savuti area also boasts a remarkably rich birdlife, with a staggering 450 species represented, making it a birdwatcher’s paradise. Even in the dry season, the sheer volume of diverse wildlife was astounding.

Our journey through Chobe was proving to be an exhilarating chapter, but the Savuti region had more in store for us than just incredible wildlife. Its challenging terrain, particularly the notoriously deep sands, would soon test our driving skills and our trusty Toyota Hilux to their limits.

Next, we recount our battle against the infamous deep sands of Savuti, an adventure that taught us a few valuable lessons about overland travel!

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Helpful Links

• Acacia Camp: This is where we stayed after the Okavango Delta. We wanted to get as close to the park as we could so we could enter early on our first day.
• Savuti Camp: When we made our way into the park, we stayed at Savuti Camp for our first night.
• Botswana Self-Drive Guide by Tracks4Africa
• Botswana Map by Tracks4Africa
• About Chobe National Park in Botswana
• Chobe Linyanti System – UNESCO World Heritage Centre
• Chobe Big Five safari – Wildlife in Botswana’s greatest …
• Mababe Gate (Chobe National Park)
• The Conservation Success Story of Botswana
• Botswana Tourism Organisation: Chobe National Park

Stepping Thru Our Story:

• Exploring Southern Africa: A Journey Through Namibia and Botswana
• Understanding Johannesburg’s Complex Past and Present
• Exploring Soweto: A Walking Tour Through History
• A Journey through Windhoek: History and Highlights
• Camping Under the Stars in Botswana’s Kalahari Desert
• Discover Wildlife in the Okavango Delta: Canoe and Safari Experiences
• Exploring Wildlife in Chobe National Park
• Navigating Chobe’s Sand: A Journey Through Savuti
• Explore Chobe Riverfront: A Wildlife Paradise
• Victoria Falls: The Mighty Wonder Between Zimbabwe and Zambia
• Exploring Victoria Falls: A Guide to Zambia’s Hidden Gems
• Driving the Caprivi Strip
• Exploring Namibia’s Etosha National Park
• Exploring Etosha: Elephants and Conservation Stories
• A Scenic Journey to Swakopmund from Etosha National Park
• Exploring the Namib Desert: A Guide to Sossusvlei and Deadvlei
• Lost in Namibia: A Travel Experience to Remember