Overview
Chobe National Park sits just across the border in northern Botswana and is famous for hosting one of the largest concentrations of elephants on the continent, along with sizeable herds of buffalo, plentiful hippos, and healthy populations of lion, giraffe, and antelope. Because it borders Zambia and Zimbabwe, it’s easily reached as a day trip from Livingstone, even though visitors don’t stay overnight.
The day is split between two very different ways of experiencing the park: an open-vehicle game drive across the Chobe riverfront plains, and a boat cruise along the Chobe River itself, which brings guests close to animals gathering at the water’s edge. A hot lunch is served at a lodge on the riverbank between activities, and the whole outing — border crossing included — typically runs from early morning until late afternoon.
Highlights
- Cross into Botswana for a full-day safari in one of Africa's premier national parks
- Spot large herds of elephant and buffalo along the Chobe riverfront
- Enjoy both a land-based game drive and a river cruise in the same day
- Watch for hippos, crocodiles, lions, giraffes, and a wide variety of birdlife