taytrum travels

So you’re thinking about going to Botswana? 100% do it. Chobe National Park is packed with wildlife and it is an amazing experience.

Here’s the short answer: For a Botswana safari, the best time to go would be the dry season for most people.

Read on for more detail about the seasons and this amazing Botswana safari location.

Where Exactly is Chobe National Park?

Chobe National Park is located in northern Botswana, near the borders of Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. It sits just west of the town of Kasane, which serves as the main gateway for visitors.

The park is about 50 miles from Victoria Falls, making it easy to combine both destinations in one trip. Doing a day trip to Chobe from Victoria Falls (where a larger airport and town infrastructure is found) is very common.

Chobe is part of the larger Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area, which allows wildlife to move freely across countries. The Chobe River forms the park’s northern boundary and is a major draw for both animals and tourists.

How to Get to Chobe National Park

The most common entry point is the town of Kasane, which sits right at the northeastern edge of the park. Kasane has a small international airport with flights from major cities like Johannesburg, Gaborone, and Maun. The airport is only a few miles from the park entrance. However, air travel can get expensive.

Another popular route is through Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, which is about 50 miles away. From there, you can arrange a road transfer (either advance online or through your hotel) that takes about an hour and a half, including border formalities. Be sure to bring your passport as you are crossing an international border and there may be visa costs. For U.S. passport holders there is a $30-50 visa to enter Zimbabwe (as of 2025).

Many travelers also come from Livingstone in Zambia, which is around 60 miles from Kasane and follows a similar transfer process.

If you are already in Botswana and visiting the Okavango Delta or Moremi Game Reserve, you can take a short flight from Maun directly to Kasane. I arrived from Maun via van after an amazing three days in the Okavango Delta.

Self-driving is an option too, but some areas near the park require a four-wheel drive vehicle. Once you are in Kasane, guided safaris, river cruises, and lodge transfers are easy to organize because it is such as central part of the local economy.

Chobe National Park safari packages and tour options can simplify the planning for you. I used a tour package that started in Johannesburg and drove through Botswana to Victoria Falls over the course of two weeks.

When is the Best Time to Visit Chobe?

If you’re planning a trip to Chobe National Park in Botswana, timing is everything. Chobe National Park weather really determines the best time go, more so than concerns about crowds.

This place is known for its elephants and riverfront sunsets, but is still less famous than its Tanzanian and South African cousins: the Serengeti and Kruger. Because of this, crowds and costs are less of a concern when planning a safari in Botswana.

Depending on when you go, your experience can look completely different. Whether you’re hoping to see massive herds or just want to avoid getting soaked in afternoon rain, it’s worth knowing how the seasons affect what’s happening on the ground.

Botswana seasons are characterized by two main periods: the dry season and the wet season.

Chobe in the Dry Season

The dry season runs from around May to October. This is the most popular time to visit. Days are cooler, the skies stay clear, and the animals gather near the Chobe River.

Water becomes harder to find elsewhere, so elephants, buffalo, antelope, and even predators like lions and leopards stick close to the riverbanks. Game drives and boat cruises during this time are basically nonstop animal action. If you want guaranteed sightings, this is your window. In addition to the very common animals (hippos, impalas, elephants, and giraffes), I saw a leopard down by the water in Chobe in late July 2025.

July to October is peak dry season and when the wildlife density along the river is great. You’ll see elephants crossing in groups, crocodiles sunning on the banks, and hippos just floating around. The downside? It’s the busiest time of year, so expect more vehicles at sightings. Still, the trade-off is worth it if your goal is top-tier wildlife viewing. Despite this also being high season, the crowds are really not that bad compared to some places around the world infamous for crowds actually ruining the entire experience (I’m looking at you Santorini and Rome).

This is the best time to go to Chobe National Park, hands down.

Chobe in the Wet Season

Now let’s talk about the wet season, which usually starts in November and lasts until April. This is when the rains come, the park turns green, and everything feels a bit more peaceful. The crowds thin out (although I don’t think it is even that crowded in the first place), and the landscape becomes lusher.

It’s also baby animal season. You’ll likely spot young impalas, zebra foals, and a lot of bird species that migrate in during these months. Birdwatchers absolutely love this season because it’s when the variety really explodes. I never considered myself a birdwatcher, but all pretty and unique birds in Botswana may have converted me.

While there are these cool aspects, the wet season does come with its challenges. Some roads can be harder to navigate, and the grass grows tall, which makes spotting animals a little trickier. Still, if you’re into photography or just want a quieter, slower safari with moments of beauty rather than constant big game action, the green season has a charm of its own.

You’ll still see more animals at this time than you would from your couch.

Chobe in Shoulder Season

If you’re looking for a sweet spot between these two types of experiences, try shoulder months like May or November. May still has good wildlife activity without the full crowds of peak dry season, and November brings the first rains and fresh greenery while keeping some of the dry season animal patterns.

5 Chobe National Park Facts

1. Chobe is home to one of the largest elephant populations on the planet. There are over 120,000 elephants roaming the park.
   
2. Chobe is not just one kind of landscape. It has four unique ecosystems: the Chobe Riverfront, the Savuti Marsh, the Linyanti Swamps, and the dry hinterland. Each area offers a different vibe and wildlife experience.
   
3. Chobe is part of a massive conservation area called the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Park. Animals can move freely across borders between Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Angola, and Zimbabwe. There are no fences. You’ll see major animals just roaming along the highway.
   
4. Chobe became a national park in 1968, making it the first one in Botswana. Today, it’s one of the country’s biggest tourism magnets and is overall a major success story for conservation in Africa.
   
5. Chobe is home to five cat varieties: lions, leopards, cheetahs, servals, and the African wildcat.

Conclusion

In sum, the best time to visit Chobe National Park depends on what kind of experience you want. Of course, I think it is better to go anytime than never at all. For classic safari experiences, go in the dry season.

Either way, Chobe delivers amazing memories and I only wish I had spent more time there. Visiting Chobe National Park will be one of the best travel highlights of your life!

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