Best Places To Stay On Safari In Chobe
Chobe National Park is Botswana's third largest park located in the Northern part of the country. Towards the end of the dry season, it becomes a fantastic spot for game viewing. Its river becomes the only option for thirsty wildlife in the area and many animals migrate into the region to quench their thirst and utilise the river as water resources become more and more limited throughout their territories. Elephants are in abundance at that time of year with numbers reaching up to 100,000. Due to these high numbers, the lion prides in the area have become skilled in the hunting and preying upon these giants. Buffalo herds are also in no short number and it is not irregular to see herds consisting of hundreds of individuals. It is not just the elephants that migrate in the area though; scientists have also found that a large proportion of the zebra population also begins, and ends, its annual migration in Chobe. The striped horses of Africa undertake a five-hundred kilometre round trip, all the way to Nxai Pan and back, which makes it the longest migration by a mammal on Earth. It is even longer than the wildebeest's Great Migration in the Serengeti.
Chobe National Park is great for a more affordable, quick
Botswana safari. It is very well connected to Victoria falls by car which does result in a high vehicle and visitor density. The great concentration of wildlife will always present fantastic viewing opportunities but also attracts the crowds during the high season. Your stay would certainly not be as remote if you were to compare it to a safari in the Okavango Delta. We would therefore recommend only staying a short while in Chobe (about two nights) before heading into the Okavango. There are loads of safari camps and lodges in Chobe and below are some of our favourites:
Chobe Savanna Lodge sits on the Namibian bank of the Chobe River, right at the northern tip of the Chobe National Park. The main emphasis of Chobe Savanna Lodge in the words of camp manager John is to ‘chill down’ and this lodge is definitely geared for that. Relaxing at the lounge bar sipping a cold G&T while watching the game pass by is a fantastic way to start or finish a safari.
An old favourite of ours…and such a great value lodge. Muchenje has the best views of any Chobe lodge and we love the fact that it is a privately-owned lodge located away from the crowds that Chobe National Park has become infamous for. The lodge has got a great unpretentious safari atmosphere and is significantly more economical than the other good lodges elsewhere in Chobe. Another bonus is that along with all the other activities (boating, game drives etc) you can also walk and do night drives. Muchenje is the only lodge in the park where this is possible - so a big thumbs up from us!
For those of us wanting the same luxurious accommodation in Chobe, you need look no further than Chilwero. Great views, great service and absolutely stunning rooms make this a fantastic choice however this camp is not for the authentic safari lover! Great value in low season - 1st jan to 30th June and after 01st Nov, but very pricey in the peak months.
Although the lodge is large, there is actually no comparable experience to this in Africa. The amazing rooms, facilties and service couples with the best views and largest concentrations of game in Botswana, we really do like this place. It’s perfect for a 2 or 3 night stop and excellent value for money before heading off into deeper and more remote camps for the rest of your trip.
As far as large safari lodges and hotels go, this is the most convenient and best value in the Chobe area. The atmosphere is authentic and comfortable with a safari character while in the lodge, which a lot of big lodges fail to do. Located in Kasane, on the banks of the Chobe River, the Chobe Safari Lodge has great access to Chobe National Park for the most animal filled drives you’ll get in Botswana, and most of all, offers arguably the best big river safari in Africa. If you are looking for an economical and action packed safari, then add this to your itinerary, but you should make sure you are staying in other camps on private concessions to make this work. It delivers!
This camp is run by &Beyond whose focus on quality food and drink as well as a high standard of guiding has meant that they are regarded as a company providing some of the best safari product in Africa. Chobe Under Canvas certainly lives up to the reputation. Overall a truly stunning mobile camp that is remarkably similar to the style and character of East Africa’s mobile outfits, but this one is always based on the Chobe River and moves every 5 days to comply with National Park camping rules. We love Chobe Under Canvas and the lodges value is undeniable….a very good choice indeed for a more adventurous type of stay.
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