National park · Botswana
Chobe National Park
Enter Chobe via Sedudu Gate (Kasane) for a half‑day river boat (6 km (3.7 mi)) or a 2‑hour game drive; best in dry season Jun–Oct; fee BWP 70 per adult, BWP 35 child (check).Enter Chobe via Sedudu Gate (Kasane) for a half‑day river boat (3.7 mi (6 km)) or a 2‑hour game drive; best in dry season Jun–Oct; fee BWP 70 per adult, BWP 35 child (check).
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
10,566 km² (4,080 sq mi)4,080 sq mi (10,566 km²)
approximate
Established
1968
Best months
Jun–Oct
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 10Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…Across the subregion, plan every road leg to arrive befor…
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- Southern Africa ↗A rental car may leave its home country only with the rental company's cross-border letter, the registration papers and paid road taxes at each post; driving into Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique or Angola without them ends at the border.
- Southern Africa ↗Across the subregion, plan every road leg to arrive before sunset: livestock, wildlife, pedestrians and unlit trucks make night driving the main cause of serious visitor accidents.
- Botswana ↗Check visa and entry rules for your passport on official Botswana government sources before booking; most Western passports are visa-exempt, others use the Botswana e-visa.
- Botswana ↗Light-aircraft transfers limit luggage by weight and require soft bags; confirm the limit with your camp or operator before packing.
- Botswana ↗Self-driving in Moremi, Chobe and the Central Kalahari needs a properly equipped 4x4, booked campsites and experience in sand driving.
- Okavango-Chobe ↗Camp-to-camp transfers are usually by light aircraft from Maun or Kasane; baggage is limited to about 20 kg in soft bags.
- Okavango-Chobe ↗Government park and reserve fees are paid per person per day on top of camp rates; check current amounts before you budget.
- Okavango-Chobe ↗Self-drive works on the Chobe riverfront and into Moremi with a 4x4 and park permits; deep sand and water crossings need experience.
At a glance
- Country
- Botswana
- Area
- 10,566 km² (4,080 sq mi)4,080 sq mi (10,566 km²)
- Area listed as 10,566 km² (third‑largest park in Botswana); other sources give slightly different numbers, so verify if exact figure matters (check).
- Established
- 1968
- Best months
- Jun–Oct
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Kasane
Chobe National Park, established in 1968, spans over 10,500 km² in northern Botswana along the Chobe River. It hosts Africa’s largest elephant concentration, a rich array of predators in the Savuti marsh, and more than 400 bird species. The park’s riverfront, floodplains and wetlands make it a prime destination for game drives and boat safaris, especially in the dry season when wildlife gathers around water.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1968.
Size and age
10,566 km² (4,080 sq mi)4,080 sq mi (10,566 km²) · national park since 1968
Area listed as 10,566 km² (third‑largest park in Botswana); other sources give slightly different numbers, so verify if exact figure matters (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Kasane.
Why go
- Elephant herds concentrate along the Chobe River.
- River boat safaris give close views of wildlife and birds.
- Savuti marsh offers predator sightings in a dry landscape.
When to go
- JanCaution
- FebCaution
- MarCaution
- AprCaution
- MayCaution
- JunBest
- JulBest
- AugBest
- SepBest
- OctBest
- NovCaution
- DecCaution
- JanWet, animals farther from water.
- FebWet season, roads muddy.
- MarWet season, limited game viewing.
- AprTransition, occasional rain.
- MayEnd of wet, still some rain.
- JunDry, high wildlife concentration.
- JulDry, excellent game viewing.
- AugDry, good water levels.
- SepDry, elephants gather.
- OctDry, still good water.
- NovStart of rains, roads get soft.
- DecWet season begins.
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elephants (large herds)All year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Lion, leopard, buffalo (Big 5)All year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Birds (400+ species, fish eagles, storks)All year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Hippos, crocodilesAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Kasane
Drive 5 km (3.1 mi) north on tar road to Sedudu Gate; gate opens 05:30–19:00 in dry season, 06:00–18:30 in wet season.Drive 5 km (3.1 mi) north on tar road to Sedudu Gate; gate opens 5:30 AM–7:00 PM in dry season, 6:00 AM–6:30 PM in wet season.Drive 3.1 mi (5 km) north on tar road to Sedudu Gate; gate opens 05:30–19:00 in dry season, 06:00–18:30 in wet season.Drive 3.1 mi (5 km) north on tar road to Sedudu Gate; gate opens 5:30 AM–7:00 PM in dry season, 6:00 AM–6:30 PM in wet season.
15 min
Open the page →
From Victoria Falls (Zambia/Zimbabwe)
Cross border by road or boat to Kasane, then drive to gate.
1.5 h
Open the page →
From Maun
Fly to Kasane Airport (≈1 h) then road to gate.
≈2 h total
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Riverfront (Sedudu Gate area) | Elephant herds, boat launch, picnic spots. | Open with entry ticket. |
| Savuti Marsh | Predator sightings, seasonal water channels. | Guided drives only. |
| Linyanti floodplain | Wetland birds, hippos, crocodiles. | Guided drives or boat tours. |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
3 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Coordinates approximate; gate location based on Kasane maps.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry (Sedudu Gate) | BWP 70 | person | Adult; children half price (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit or guide
Park rules
- Guides
- Required for Savuti drives and any off‑gate activity.
- Camping
- Only in designated sites with a guide; no open‑camping.
- Fire
- Open fires prohibited; use provided stoves only.
- Drone
- Not allowed without park permission.
- Wildlife interaction
- Do not approach or feed animals.
Where to stay
Near the park
Kasane town
Hotels, lodges, and budget guesthouses 15 min from gate.
In the park
Chobe Game Lodge
Only permanent lodge inside park, riverfront.
In the park
Camp Savuti
Remote tented camp in Savuti region, access by bush plane.
Safety
Heat and sun exposure medium
Road conditions high
Malaria medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Riverfront area reachable by standard vehicle; short walks.
Visiting lightly
- Stay in designated camps or lodges; avoid private vehicle hires that damage sand tracks.
- Support operators that follow the park’s wildlife‑friendly boat routes.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Chobe National Park?
Entry is BWP 70 per adult (children half price) at Sedudu Gate; fees cover the riverboat and game‑drive permits (check).
What are the best hikes in Chobe National Park?
Guided drives in Savuti and walking safaris in Linyanti are the main land experiences; there are no marked hiking trails without a guide.
When is the best time to visit Chobe National Park?
Dry season June to October offers the highest wildlife concentrations and reliable road conditions.
Can I drive my own 4WD into the park?
Yes, but you must stay on the main road network and obtain a guide for any off‑gate activity.
Is malaria a risk in Chobe?
Yes, the park lies in a malaria zone; take prophylaxis and use insect repellent.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go