Chobe National Park
🇧🇼 Botswana
🐘 Largest Elephant Herds Roam ChobeChobe National Park in northern Botswana is a tropical savanna that hugs the Chobe River and stretches across flood‑plain grasslands and scattered woodlands. The park’s open plains meet river islands, creating a mosaic of water and dry land that supports large herbivore movements.
-18.690° S 24.195° E
Wildlife
⭐ Iconic Species
★ 
African Bush Elephant
Loxodonta africana
★ 
Lion
Panthera leo
★ 
Southern Giraffe
Giraffa giraffa
★ 
Chobe Dwarf Gecko
Lygodactylus chobiensis
📊 Most Spotted
Blacksmith Lapwing
Vanellus armatus
African Fish-Eagle
Haliaeetus vocifer
Egyptian Goose
Alopochen aegyptiaca
Helmeted Guineafowl
Numida meleagris
African Jacana
Actophilornis africanus
Nile Crocodile
Crocodylus niloticus
Cape Turtle Dove
Streptopelia capicola
Great Egret
Ardea alba
Greater Kudu
Tragelaphus strepsiceros
Impala
Aepyceros melampus
Common Hippopotamus
Hippopotamus amphibius
African Buffalo
Syncerus caffer
⭐ Iconic Species
★ African Bush Elephant
Loxodonta africana
★ Lion
Panthera leo
★ Southern Giraffe
Giraffa giraffa
📊 Most Spotted
Greater Kudu
Tragelaphus strepsiceros
Impala
Aepyceros melampus
Common Hippopotamus
Hippopotamus amphibius
African Buffalo
Syncerus caffer
Chacma Baboon
Papio ursinus
Common Warthog
Phacochoerus africanus
Waterbuck
Kobus ellipsiprymnus
Banded Mongoose
Mungos mungo
Leopard
Panthera pardus
Plains Zebra
Equus quagga
Lechwe
Kobus leche
Sable Antelope
Hippotragus niger
📊 Most Spotted
Blacksmith Lapwing
Vanellus armatus
African Fish-Eagle
Haliaeetus vocifer
Egyptian Goose
Alopochen aegyptiaca
Helmeted Guineafowl
Numida meleagris
African Jacana
Actophilornis africanus
Cape Turtle Dove
Streptopelia capicola
Great Egret
Ardea alba
Lilac-breasted Roller
Coracias caudatus
Fork-tailed Drongo
Dicrurus adsimilis
African Darter
Anhinga rufa
Grey Heron
Ardea cinerea
African Openbilled Stork
Anastomus lamelligerus
⭐ Iconic Species
📊 Most Spotted
Nile Crocodile
Crocodylus niloticus
Nile Monitor
Varanus niloticus
Wahlberg’s Striped Skink
Trachylepis wahlbergii
Leopard Tortoise
Stigmochelys pardalis
Fischer's Thick-toed Gecko
Chondrodactylus laevigatus
Flap-necked Chameleon
Chamaeleo dilepis
Southern African Python
Python natalensis
Tropical House Gecko
Hemidactylus mabouia
Puff Adder
Bitis arietans
Boomslang
Dispholidus typus
Spotted Bush Snake
Philothamnus semivariegatus
Olive Whip Snake
Psammophis mossambicus
Recent sightings in Chobe National Park
LIVEiNaturalistAnimal Events
1Elephant Riverfront Concentration
During the peak of the dry season, massive herds of African Bush Elephants congregate in high densities along the Chobe Riverfront to drink and bathe, creating unparalleled wildlife viewing spectacles.
2Intense Lion Pride Territorial Roaming
Lion prides actively patrol and defend their dry-season territories along the concentrated river corridors where prey species are forced to gather.
3Impala Synchronized Lambing Season
The onset of the green season triggers a synchronized birthing pulse among impalas, dropping their young simultaneously to overwhelm local predators with sheer numbers.
Sighting Calendar
Average chance of spotting the park's most-spotted species, month by month
- 1Elephant Riverfront Concentration
- 2Intense Lion Pride Territorial Roaming
- 3Impala Synchronized Lambing Season
Sighting Zones
Warmer areas are where all species together are recorded most often.
Essentials
Climate
What visitors saw
The park didn’t disappoint—on our drive through Thursday evening en route to camp, we spotted a welcoming committee of a dozen elephants and three zebras casually hanging out by the paved road, We saw so many zebras, it started to feel like we were stuck in an endless black-and-white movie.
We saw giraffes, elephants, warthogs, and plenty of antelope.
Elephant & royal ibis in the mud It didn’t stop there – we saw more beautiful birds (yellow-billed storks, yellow-billed egrets, ibises, and jacana just to name a few) as well as a new mammal for the day: the water buck, an antelope that can swim!
We see guinea fowl scuttling through the bush, a few kudus, and even the carcass of an elephant — a stark reminder of the circle of life that plays out here every day.
Quick answers
What animals can you see in Chobe National Park?
The most likely sightings are Blacksmith Lapwing (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), African Bush Elephant (seen by about 70% of wildlife watchers), Lion (seen by about 70% of wildlife watchers), African Fish-Eagle (seen by about 70% of wildlife watchers), Egyptian Goose (seen by about 60% of wildlife watchers) — among 972 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.
When is the best time to visit Chobe National Park for wildlife?
March has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.
Can you see African Bush Elephant in Chobe National Park?
Yes — about 70% of wildlife watchers report a African Bush Elephant sighting in Chobe National Park, based on 537 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Lion in Chobe National Park?
Yes — about 70% of wildlife watchers report a Lion sighting in Chobe National Park, based on 356 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Southern Giraffe in Chobe National Park?
Yes — about 60% of wildlife watchers report a Southern Giraffe sighting in Chobe National Park, based on 329 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Chobe Dwarf Gecko in Chobe National Park?
Yes — about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Chobe Dwarf Gecko sighting in Chobe National Park, based on 35 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Where Wildlife Score
How good is this park for seeing wildlife?Biodiversity
GoodHow rich is the wildlife?
Sighting
ExcellentHow likely to see animals?
Experience
Very goodHow easy and pleasant is the visit?
