Chobe National Park Safari from the US | Kingse
A bull elephant with heavy tusks walking a track through green bush

Botswana · Serondela · Savuti · Linyanti

Chobe National Park

Elephants by the thousand on the Chobe River, a day trip or a stay from Victoria Falls, planned from the Gold Coast and priced in US dollars.

Five stars. 5.0 on Google and Tripadvisor37 five-star reviews, every one of them

Where the Elephants Come to Drink

Tens of thousands of elephants · Riverfront game drives · Boat safaris

Chobe is where Botswana's elephants are easiest to see. Botswana has the largest elephant population of any country, roughly 130,000 animals, and in the dry season tens of thousands gather along the Chobe River, in herds that can top a hundred at a time. The park covers about 11,700 square kilometers in the north of Botswana, with the town of Kasane on its edge and Namibia across the river. Two ways of watching wildlife run side by side here: road drives along the Serondela riverfront follow the herds from a 4x4, and boat safaris cruise the same shoreline from the water.

An elephant surging into the Chobe River, the herd behind it
An elephant surging into the Chobe River, the herd behind it.

Chobe at a glance

  • Best monthsMay to OctoberThe dry season, when the herds gather at the river
  • Typical trip2 to 3 nightsOn the riverfront; four or more to add Savuti or Linyanti
  • Flying timeAbout 15 to 16 hoursAtlanta or Newark to Johannesburg non-stop, then on to Kasane or Victoria Falls
  • Time difference6 to 10 hours ahead of the USUTC+2 all year, no daylight saving
  • Highlights
    • Elephant herds
    • Sunset boat cruise
    • Riverfront game drives
    • Savuti lions
    • Victoria Falls next door

Who you're dealing with

We're an Australian company on the Gold Coast. We plan the whole trip, book it and look after you from first call to flight home, on one contract and one invoice from Kingse Safaris Pty Ltd (ABN 37 698 821 886). Drives and boat trips are led by each lodge's own guides.

How booking works →
Guests on a river boat watching an elephant herd on the bank of the Chobe River

In a guest's words

The trip far exceeded my expectations.

Five stars. Ryan Carr-Ketu, Lake Manyara, 2026, on Tripadvisor

Chobe, Sector by Sector

Tour the Park

Scroll, and the map follows you from the riverfront to Savuti, Linyanti and the falls next door.

An elephant herd drinking at the edge of the Chobe RiverThe sun setting over the Chobe River, with its reflection on the waterAn elephant herd at the water's edge on the Chobe riverfront, late afternoon

The headline sector · First stop

Serondela & the Chobe Riverfront

Serondela is the part of Chobe most travelers come for. The river forms the park's northern edge, and the floodplains beside it hold the densest concentration of elephants from May to October. A morning drive along the riverfront road opens with breeding herds drinking, and the afternoon boat puts you at eye level with hippo, crocodile and whichever herd has chosen the river for the day.

  • Elephant herds
  • Sunset boat cruise
  • Riverfront game drives
  • Day trip possible

Best monthsMay to October; herds of a hundred or more by August and SeptemberFrom Victoria FallsAbout 90 minutes by road, plus the border

Where to stay on the riverfront
A lioness watching from long grass in Savuti

Predator country · Second stop

Savuti

Savuti is a very different Chobe, a long way from the riverfront. The Savuti Channel runs from the Linyanti swamps on its own irregular rhythm, flowing for years and then drying out entirely, so the marsh and the plains change from visit to visit. Either way the area is known for strong predator numbers, and Savuti's lion prides are famous for taking on elephants.

  • Lions that hunt elephant
  • Wild dog
  • Big cat country
  • Savuti Channel

Best monthsThe dry season, when predator action is strongestFrom the riverfrontBy road or light aircraft, a link we plan for you

Best time to visit Botswana, month by month
DumaTau camp on the Linyanti waterway from the air, with its lagoon at sunsetThe deck and plunge pool at DumaTau, looking over the Linyanti lagoon

Private concessions · Third stop

Linyanti

The Linyanti swamps in the north-west are a wetland system next door to the Okavango Delta, and the wildlife sits within a patchwork of private concessions. The camps are small and all-inclusive, often with walks, night drives and off-road tracking the national park roads don't allow. The wildlife is exceptional: large lion prides, elephants in numbers through the dry months, hippo in the waterways and a rich bird life.

  • Private concessions
  • Quiet wilderness
  • Hippo and elephant
  • Light-aircraft access

Best monthsThe dry months, when elephants come through in numbersFrom Savuti or the riverfrontUsually a light-aircraft transfer

Where to stay in Linyanti
Water pouring over the cliff at Victoria Falls beside a footpath and viewing pointThe falls and the gorge from the air, with the Victoria Falls BridgeThe Victoria Falls Bridge above the Batoka Gorge, with a rainbow in the spray

Across the border · The link

Victoria Falls, Next Door

Kasane is about 90 minutes by road from Victoria Falls plus the border crossing, so the falls and Chobe fit together naturally: two or three nights at the falls for both sides, a helicopter flight and a sunset cruise, then two or three on the river. Most of our travelers come at Chobe this way, because the falls are the easiest gateway.

  • Both sides of the falls
  • Helicopter flight
  • Zambezi cruise
  • The easy gateway

Best monthsJune to August for the balance of flow and clear viewsFrom KasaneAbout 90 minutes by road, plus the border

The Victoria Falls page

Map tiles: Esri, National Geographic. Locations are indicative.

How to Experience It

Boats, Drives and Open Country

Chobe rewards a mix of water and land. Most trips combine the two.

A river safari boat alongside an elephant in the Chobe reeds

Afternoon boat cruise

A small launch along the shoreline puts you at eye level with elephants drinking, hippo, crocodiles on the sandbanks and fish eagles, with the light turning gold on the water.

Elephants wading across the Chobe River at sunset

Riverfront game drives

Morning drives along the Serondela road follow the breeding herds, sparring bulls and the rotation of buffalo, kudu and impala to the water.

A lioness watching from long grass in Savuti

Savuti game drives

Open-vehicle drives across big horizons and the Savuti Channel, for lion, cheetah, leopard, hyena and wild dog. There's no boat here, which is part of the appeal.

The deck and plunge pool at DumaTau, looking over the Linyanti lagoon

Linyanti activities

Private concessions along the Linyanti swamps often offer walks and night drives as well as day drives. Walks usually have higher minimum ages, so check each camp's rule.

Calm water along the Chobe River with a line of trees on the far bank at dusk

Photography from the water

A boat sits low, close to the water line, and the elephants come down to drink in the last light. It's the best light of the day, so it's worth planning your afternoons around it.

How Chobe Fits Into a Trip

Trip Shapes

Chobe scales from a single-day add-on to a four-night anchor. Most of our travelers come at it through Victoria Falls, the easiest gateway. Every trip is private and priced to your dates, so these are starting points.

1 day

Victoria Falls Day Trip

Falls to Kasane and back

Cross the border from Victoria Falls, drive to Kasane (about 90 minutes plus the crossing), do a morning game drive and an afternoon boat cruise, then return to the falls that evening. The Chobe riverfront in a day. Best for the time-poor and first-time Southern Africa visitors.

PricingQuoted to your datesAdded to a Victoria Falls stay

Day 1 · Land at Victoria FallsDay 4 · Fly home

  1. Victoria Falls3 nightsBoth sides and a flight
  2. By road, with a transfer we book.
  3. Chobe riverfrontDay tripA drive and a cruise, back by evening
  4. By road, with a transfer we book.
  5. Victoria FallsFly home

2 to 3 nights · Sweet spot

Chobe Riverfront Stay

River camp or lodge

Two or three nights at a riverfront camp or lodge, with morning and afternoon activities every day. The rhythm settles in and the herds become familiar. Best paired with two or three nights at Victoria Falls for a balanced five- or six-night introduction.

Chobe, 2 nights, from our 2027 quotes$1,450 to $2,150Per person at an all-inclusive river camp, an easy road transfer from Victoria Falls, in four of our 2027 quotes. Flights extra

Day 1 · Land at Victoria FallsDay 6 · Fly home from Kasane

  1. Victoria Falls2 nightsBoth sides and a flight
  2. By road, with a transfer we book.
  3. Chobe riverfront2 to 3 nightsElephants by boat and by road
  4. By light aircraft or a scheduled flight.
  5. KasaneFly home

4+ nights

Chobe + Savuti or Linyanti

The full Chobe story

Two riverfront nights plus two or three in Savuti for predators or Linyanti for private-concession wilderness, flying between camps. Easily extended into an Okavango Delta combination. Best for keen wildlife watchers and photographers.

PricingQuoted to your datesSavuti and Linyanti camps vary a lot by camp and month, so we price them to your dates

Day 1 · Land at Victoria FallsLast day · Fly home from Maun or Kasane

  1. Victoria Falls2 nightsBoth sides and a flight
  2. By road, with a transfer we book.
  3. Chobe riverfront2 nightsThe herds at the river
  4. By light aircraft or a scheduled flight.
  5. Savuti or Linyanti2 to 3 nightsPredators and wilderness
  6. By light aircraft or a scheduled flight.
  7. Maun or KasaneFly home
  • By road, with a transfer we book
  • Light aircraft or a scheduled flight

The Chobe figure comes from four of our 2027 quotes for two or more adults traveling privately, excluding flights. Savuti and Linyanti camps vary a lot by camp and month, so we price them to your dates, with no list prices. See our guide to what an African safari costs and real trips with the real prices. Nights shift with the season and the camps you choose, so treat these routes as typical shapes rather than fixed packages.

See Our Set Safaris by Budget

Where You Could Stay

Lodges We Work With, Sector by Sector

2 properties on the Chobe side and 16 around Victoria Falls: one on the Kasane riverfront, one on a private Linyanti concession, and the Victoria Falls lodges 90 minutes away by road, where most Chobe trips start and finish. The final selection flexes around your dates, group size, the season and availability. More on our Stays page.

Kasane and the riverfront

A comfortable base in Kasane with the Chobe cruises on the doorstep and Victoria Falls an easy day trip.

1 lodgeComfortable bases on the river

Linyanti

A private concession in the wilder north-west, usually reached by light aircraft, with walks and night drives the park roads do not allow.

1 lodgeA private concession in the wilder north-west

Across the border at Victoria Falls

Most Chobe trips start and finish at the Falls, 90 minutes by road.

16 lodges and campsThe 16 lodges on our Victoria Falls page

  • Classic
  • Premium
  • Luxury
  • Ultra Luxury

18 lodges and camps across three rows, 2 on the Chobe side and 16 around Victoria Falls, with the same comfort levels as our Stays page. Lodge names open each lodge's own website.

Plan Your Visit

When to Visit Chobe

The dry season is when the elephant herds concentrate at the river. The green season spreads them into the inland woodland, but brings newborns, birds and lower rates. Want it month by month, and for the Okavango Delta too? Read our best time to visit Botswana guide.

The river this month

January

Green season

The wettest and lushest stretch. The herds spread into the inland woodland, the park turns green and the birding is at its best.

  • Some inland tracks can become impassable
  • Green-season rates

Herd numbers follow the rains, so this shifts from year to year. We talk in seasons and never promise a count.

  • Dry season, May to October
  • Shoulder months, November and April
  • Green season, December to March
An elephant herd at the Chobe riverfront in the dry season

Dry season

May to October

Dry · Cool mornings · Herds at the river

The bush dries out, inland waterholes disappear and the elephant herds head for the Chobe River, so the riverfront is at its richest. Mornings and nights are cold on open vehicles and boats, especially in June and July, and October is the hottest month before the rains. Predator action is strong in Savuti.

  • May to June: herds building at the river, with cool mornings
  • July to September: the biggest herds, with herds of a hundred or more by August and September
  • October: hot and dry, with big herds still at the water

Best for the elephants and the afternoon cruise

Calm water along the Chobe River with a line of trees on the far bank at dusk

Shoulder months

November and April

First rains or last rains · Lower rates · Fewer vehicles

November brings the first rains, usually late in the month, impala lambing and the arrival of migrant birds, as the herds begin to spread inland. April is the other end of the same story: the rains easing, green-season rates and the herds starting to drift back towards the river as the inland pools shrink.

  • November: first rains and impala lambing
  • April: rains easing, with green-season rates
  • Who it suits: travelers who want lower rates with a good chance of elephants at the river

Best for value either side of the dry season

The sun setting over the Chobe River, with its reflection on the water

Green season

December to March

Rains · Newborns · Birding · Lower rates

The herds spread into the inland woodland, so the riverfront is quieter, but the park turns green, migrant birds arrive and newborn animals appear. Some inland tracks can become impassable from January to March, and a few remote camps close in the wettest weeks.

  • December to February: the wettest and lushest months, with the best birding
  • March: rains easing, with green-season rates
  • Tracks: some inland routes can become impassable from January to March

Best for birders, photographers and lower rates

From the US

Getting to Chobe

Johannesburg is the hub. Delta Air Lines flies there non-stop from Atlanta and United from Newark, and from there scheduled flights run to Kasane for Chobe, or to Victoria Falls, from where it's about 90 minutes by road plus the border.

  1. Step one

    Your US city

    There's no non-stop flight from the US to Botswana, so every route connects through a hub. You fly out of your own city and we build the connections around it.

    • New York
    • Atlanta
    • Chicago
    • Los Angeles
    • Other US cities
  2. Step two

    Johannesburg

    Delta Air Lines flies non-stop from Atlanta to Johannesburg, and United from Newark, about 15 to 16 hours. From other US cities you connect once or twice.

    • Johannesburg
    About 15 to 16 hours, Atlanta or Newark to Johannesburg
  3. Step three

    Kasane (BBK) or Victoria Falls

    Scheduled flights run from Johannesburg to Kasane, the gateway town on the park's edge. Many travelers fly to Victoria Falls instead and cross by road, about 90 minutes plus the border. The transfer we've booked meets you at the door.

    A short transfer from Kasane airport to the riverfront
  4. First night

    On the riverfront

    Your first night is at a riverfront lodge or camp, with nothing planned beyond dinner and, if the timing works, the afternoon boat. The first game drive is the next morning, with the lodge's own guide.

    UTC+2 all year · 6 to 10 hours ahead of the US
The hubs we use
ViaAirlineNote
JohannesburgDelta Air Lines or United, then a scheduled flight to KasaneNon-stop from Atlanta and Newark. The usual route.
Other US citiesOne- or two-stop optionsFrom other US cities, connecting onwards.
Victoria FallsUnder two hours by air from JohannesburgThen about 90 minutes by road to Kasane, plus the border.
MaunScheduled flights from JohannesburgFor the Okavango Delta, if you add it.
  • Kasane: the gateway town, with the riverfront lodges a short transfer from the airport
  • Victoria Falls: under two hours by air from Johannesburg, then about 90 minutes by road plus the border
  • Savuti and Linyanti: light aircraft or a long drive, built into your itinerary
  • Maun: scheduled flights from Johannesburg, for the Okavango Delta
DumaTau camp on the Linyanti waterway from the air, with its lagoon at sunset
The Linyanti camps are reached by light aircraft.
About 15 to 16 hoursAtlanta (Delta Air Lines) or Newark (United) to Johannesburg, non-stop
90 minutesBy road from Victoria Falls to Kasane, plus the border crossing
UTC+2Botswana time all year, with no daylight saving

Tell us your dates first

We lock the camps, then the flights. The river camps book out first in the June to October season, and Savuti and Linyanti have only a handful of beds each. Chobe is in Botswana, so a day trip from Victoria Falls crosses a border each way: we plan the timings and the transfers, and we add a night either side of a tight flight because the border can take time. Once your deposit is in, we place your camps, flights and transfers together, and that's the time to take out your travel insurance.

Flights

Delta Air Lines flies non-stop from Atlanta to Johannesburg and United from Newark, and from there scheduled flights run to Kasane for Chobe, and to Victoria Falls and Maun. From other US cities you connect once or twice, and we usually route via Johannesburg or Addis Ababa. Schedules change, so we check them when we build your trip, and we price your flights when you're ready to book because fares move.

The time difference

Botswana runs on UTC+2 all year, with no daylight saving. That's seven hours ahead of US Eastern time in winter and six in summer, and ten hours ahead of Pacific time in winter and nine in summer. A restful first night before the safari starts helps.

The Practical Bits

Safety, Park Fees, Children and Packing

The short version of what to sort before you fly. For visas and anything medical we point you to the official sources, starting with the State Department.

Visas and entry

US citizens can visit Botswana for up to 90 days without a visa. The rules change, so start with the State Department's Botswana page for the passport rules, check any extra documents if you're traveling with children under 18, and if you're crossing from Victoria Falls, check the rules for Zimbabwe or Zambia too. Where you're eligible, the KAZA UniVisa ($50, valid for 30 days) covers Zimbabwe, Zambia and a day trip into Chobe.

Health and malaria

Malaria and yellow fever are medical questions, so see a travel doctor before you book and take your full itinerary. Malaria is present in the north of Botswana, which includes Chobe, and the CDC recommends prescription antimalarial medicine for those areas. On yellow fever, we generally tell people the vaccine is worth having, as one shot lasts a lifetime, but your doctor always has the last say.

Is it safe?

Petty crime is common in towns and violent crime, including muggings and thefts from vehicles, can occur, so we arrange transfers. On safari the main risks are wildlife and water: keep a safe distance from animals, follow park rules and your guide's advice, and don't swim in rivers and lakes. Check the latest on the State Department's Botswana page before you book.

Park fees

Park and conservation fees are folded into your quote, and most camps include them in the nightly rate, so there's nothing to sort at the gate. See what an African safari costs and how booking works.

Children and age rules

Chobe's riverfront lodges are generally easier for younger children than the Delta camps, and some, such as Chobe Marina Lodge, have child rates for under-12s sharing with parents. Walks and some remote camps set higher minimum ages, so tell us the ages in your group and we'll check. Our family safari guide covers ages by activity.

What to pack

Layers, because dry-season mornings and nights are cold on open vehicles and boats, plus neutral clothes, a hat, sunscreen, binoculars and a light rain shell for the green season. Our packing list has the rest.

Go Further

Pair Chobe With

Chobe is the gateway as much as the destination. These are the three pairings we build most.

Water pouring over the cliff at Victoria Falls beside a footpath and viewing point

90 minutes by road

Victoria Falls

Two or three nights at the falls for both sides, a helicopter flight and a sunset cruise, then the river. Three nights at a lodge came to $990 to $1,450 per person in 19 of our 2027 quotes.

The channels and islands of the Okavango Delta from the air

By light aircraft

The Okavango Delta

From Chobe the Delta follows by light aircraft, so a loop of the falls, Chobe and the Delta works over about ten nights. Johannesburg connects them all by scheduled flights.

A red Sossusvlei dune above the dry desert floor

Desert after the river

Namibia

Namibia's dunes, Etosha and the Skeleton Coast are the opposite of the Chobe floodplain, and they connect through Johannesburg or Windhoek for a longer Southern Africa loop.

The Practical Questions

FAQ

The questions travelers ask us most about Chobe, grouped by topic.

Can't see your question? Ask us directly and a real person will answer.

Planning and cost

Can we visit Chobe as a day trip from Victoria Falls?
Yes. Kasane is about 90 minutes by road from Victoria Falls plus the border crossing, so a day trip means an early start, a morning game drive on the riverfront, lunch at a lodge, an afternoon boat cruise and the drive back. It's a good taste, and the elephants are the draw. If you have the time, two or three nights inside the park are a better answer, with room to add Savuti or Linyanti. See our Victoria Falls page.
How many days do we need at Chobe?
If you only have a day, the riverfront day trip is real safari. With two or three nights you can settle into the river, and with four or more you can split the time between the riverfront for elephants and Savuti or Linyanti for predators and wilderness. Most travelers pair two or three nights at Chobe with two or three at Victoria Falls.
How much does a Chobe safari cost?
Two nights at an all-inclusive Chobe river camp, an easy road transfer from Victoria Falls, came to $1,450 to $2,150 per person in four of our 2027 quotes, with flights extra. Savuti and Linyanti camps vary a lot by camp and month, so we price those to your dates. See what an African safari costs and real trips with the real prices.
Can we combine Chobe with Victoria Falls and the Okavango Delta?
Yes, and they fit together well. Chobe is a road transfer from Victoria Falls, and the Okavango Delta follows by light aircraft, so a loop of the falls, Chobe and the Delta works over about ten nights. Johannesburg connects them all by scheduled flights, and you can add Cape Town or Namibia. See our Victoria Falls, Botswana and Namibia pages.

When to go

When is the best time to visit Chobe?
May to October is the dry season, when the bush dries out, inland waterholes disappear and the elephant herds funnel onto the Chobe River, with herds of a hundred or more by August and September. Mornings are cold on open vehicles and boats in June and July. November to April is the green season, with rain, newborn animals and migrant birds, but the herds spread into the inland woodland. Our best time to visit Botswana guide goes month by month.

Getting there

How do we get to Chobe from the US?
Delta Air Lines flies non-stop from Atlanta to Johannesburg and United from Newark, about 15 to 16 hours, and from there scheduled flights run to Kasane for Chobe. Many travelers fly to Victoria Falls instead and cross by road. From other US cities you connect once or twice. Schedules change, so we check them when we build your trip, and we price your flights when you're ready to book because fares move.

On safari

How many elephants are there in Chobe?
Botswana has the largest elephant population of any country, roughly 130,000 animals, and a large share of them live in northern Botswana. In the dry season tens of thousands gather along the Chobe River, and herds of a hundred or more can drink together by August and September. Numbers at the river drop in the green season, when the herds spread into the inland woodland.
What is the difference between the riverfront, Savuti and Linyanti?
The Serondela riverfront is the elephant sector, with road drives and boat cruises along the Chobe River, and it's the easiest to reach from Kasane or Victoria Falls. Savuti is predator country, with big lion prides, a channel and marsh that flow in some years and dry in others, and traditional vehicle drives. Linyanti is a quiet, remote network of private concessions on the swamps, usually reached by light aircraft, with small all-inclusive camps.
Is a boat cruise or a game drive better at Chobe?
Do both. The boat puts you at eye level with elephants drinking, hippo and crocodiles, and the last hour of light on the water is the best of the day. The road drive covers more ground and finds the buffalo, antelope and predators that avoid the water's edge. Most days on the riverfront pair a morning drive with an afternoon cruise.

Health, visas and safety

Is Chobe safe for tourists?
Petty crime is common in towns and violent crime, including muggings and thefts from vehicles, can occur, so we arrange transfers. On safari the main risks are wildlife and water: keep a safe distance from animals, follow park rules and your guide's advice, and don't swim in rivers and lakes. Check the latest on the State Department's Botswana page before you book.
Do US citizens need a visa for Botswana?
US citizens can visit Botswana for up to 90 days without a visa. Your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond the day you leave, with blank pages for the stamps. The rules change, so check the State Department's Botswana page before you book, check any extra documents for traveling with children under 18, and if you're crossing from Victoria Falls, check the rules for Zimbabwe and Zambia too. Where you're eligible, the KAZA UniVisa ($50, valid for 30 days) covers Zimbabwe, Zambia and a day trip into Chobe.
Is malaria a risk at Chobe, and do I need a yellow fever certificate?
Both are medical questions for your doctor. Malaria is present in the north of Botswana, which includes Chobe, and the CDC recommends prescription antimalarial medicine for those areas. Botswana asks for a yellow fever certificate only if you arrive from a country with yellow fever risk. On the vaccine itself, we generally tell people it's worth having, as one shot lasts a lifetime, but your doctor always has the last say. Raise your whole itinerary with a travel doctor before you book, and check the State Department's Botswana page and the CDC's Botswana page for current rules.

Start Planning

Plan Your Chobe Trip

From a day trip across the border from Victoria Falls to a full four-night Chobe-and-Savuti combination. Tell us your dates and who's traveling, and we design the rest, with real prices in US dollars.

Five stars. 5.0 on Google and Tripadvisor37 five-star reviews, every one of them

Get in Touch
“Could not have imagined how it could have been better planned and delivered.”
Five stars. Gryffable, first safari, 2026, on Tripadvisor
A river safari boat alongside an elephant in the Chobe reeds

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Talk to a real person

Samara looks after our guests from the US. Email her or book a call at a time that suits you, or message her on WhatsApp, and she'll come back to you the same day, US time.

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Bookings & Client Care

Whether you're just kicking around ideas or already booked. Dates, lodges, costs, changes, payments, flights.


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