Chobe River Lodge

Wildlife & Nature Off-the-beaten-track + 3 more + 3 more

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Quirky excursions

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Game Drives (Chobe Riverfront)

There is a relatively limited network of game drive tracks around the Chobe Riverfront, with off-road driving not permitted, so it is virtually guaranteed that you will see other vehicles on your drives. However, there is also little chance that you will leave Chobe dissatisfied by the volume of wildlife you have seen on game drives. Morning drives are excellent, as the bush slowly wakes up and wildlife emerges to face the day, often at its most active in these cooler hours. Along the way there are frequent stops to view animals, learn about the flora and fauna from your guide, take photographs and enjoy refreshments. Most of the tracks cling closely to the riverbank, although some routes veer into the riverine woodland where some of the more nervous antelope hide away from the big predators. Dry season game viewing by the river is sensational, with vast herds of buffalo and playful elephants gathering at the water and curious lions speculatively watching the potential bounty. There is perhaps not the same diversity of species that you will see in the Delta and Linyanti areas, but the scale of some of these big game encounters is undeniably impressive.

Fishing (Chobe Riverfront)

Some of the Chobe riverfront lodges offer fishing expeditions on the great river, which can often be combined with a longer game viewing cruise. Specimens that are abundant in the Chobe include tigerfish, tilapia and various types of bream, and for areas outside of the park a catch and release policy will not always necessarily be enforced. Equipment will be provided and a knowledgeable guide on hand to pilot the boat, point out hippos, crocodiles and birdlife as you go, before helping you try to reel in the big one! For actual fishing spots, the boat will usually be positioned near to the banks or close to rocks within the river, where fish tend to congregate in larger numbers. Should you head out on an afternoon fishing trip, the journey back to your lodge might turn into an extremely picturesque sundowner cruise with snacks and a cold drink in hand.

Mobile Safaris (Chobe Riverfront)

Mobile safaris essentially involve moving from one destination to the next, with short stays at each, using temporary camps that are set up anew at each site. These are outstanding in Botswana, partially as a potential way to visit the highlights without breaking the bank, and also as a means of getting a vintage, old fashioned safari ambience with a close to nature feel. The Chobe Riverfront area is a fantastic mobile camping destination, with operators allowed to set up camp within the national park itself, meaning you can get out onto the game viewing trails well before guests at lodges outside the park. Different levels of comfort are offered, from relative "luxury camps" with spacious en-suite tents, to simpler dome tents with shared ablutions. Activities tend to revolve around game drives and boat cruises in the Chobe, both of which are absolutely spectacular during the dry season. Some of the pleasures include a morning coffee after waking up to the sun streaming through your tent, evening drinks around a roaring campfire and, of course, the sound of animals around camp as you drop off to sleep after a rewarding day's game viewing.

Boat Cruises (Chobe Riverfront)

Boat cruises along the Chobe Riverfront are the definitive game viewing experience in this renowned national park, with the animals considerately coming to the water in huge numbers to take refreshments. Morning boating activities will focus specifically on the wildlife, with vast herds of buffalo and elephant arriving at the riverbank and often paddling into the shallower waters to drink and graze. While this happens throughout the year, it is in the dry season months that the biggest concentrations of wildlife can be seen, with prides of lion frequently drawn out during daytime hours by the rich buffalo pickings. You will also see crocodile, monitor lizards and some fantastic birdlife on a Chobe cruise, including fish eagles, kingfishers and colourful carmine bee eaters, which create nesting holes in the riverbank. Afternoon activities on the water also concentrate squarely on the wildlife for the first couple of hours, before the engine is turned off for snacks and drinks to be served as the sun begins to set over the river. The Chobe Riverfront is probably the best destination on the continent for seeing significant volumes of wildlife by boat, rather than just enjoying the tranquillity of the experience with the odd animal sighting.