Botswana, Zimbabwe · Safari

2-Day Chobe National Park Safari with River Cruise and Camping

2 Days Round trip from 57M6+VXJ Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Enjoy a Chobe River cruise with close-up sightings of birdlife, hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and African buffalo
02 Head into the park on game drives to watch Chobe's large herbivores moving to and from the river
03 Spend the night camping in Chobe National Park at an exclusive wilderness site
04 Relax with drinks and a two-course "Bush Cuisine" dinner around the campfire
05 Set out on an early morning game drive, the best time to look for big cats and other nocturnal wildlife

Experience a 2-day wildlife safari in Chobe National Park and witness its abundant animal life on game drives and a river cruise. Spend time deep in the wilderness, getting close to fantastic birdlife, hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and African buffalo along the Chobe River. After an exciting afternoon game drive, relax back at camp with drinks and dinner around the campfire before setting out again early the next morning in search of big cats and other nocturnal wildlife.

The river cruise is considered one of the highlights of the trip, as it offers the opportunity to get up close and personal with fantastic birdlife, hippos, crocodiles, and of course scores of elephant and African buffalo that make their way down to the river for water.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 2 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Budget

Transport Not included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

Cities Victoria Falls, Chobe National Park, Kasane

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Chobe River Cruise, Game Drive, and Campfire Evening

Meet the guide at 0830 hrs at Kazungula border-post (return transfers from Livingstone or Victoria Falls are included) and get assisted through immigration formalities.
Listen to a short briefing that follows on some pertinent facts, including safety and regional information.
At 0930 hrs, board the boat and commence a 3-hour boat game cruise into Chobe National Park. The river cruise is considered one of the highlights of the trip, as it offers the opportunity to get up close and personal with fantastic birdlife, hippos, crocodiles, and of course scores of elephant and African buffalo that make their way down to the river for water.
End the boat cruise at 1230 hrs and enjoy a sumptuous buffet lunch at Chobe Safari Lodge (or similar).
Do some last-minute shopping in Kasane, as there are no shops in the park.
Go for an afternoon game drive and see Chobe's large herbivores making their way to and from the river to drink.
Return to the camp shortly before sunset for drinks around the campfire and dinner.

Day 02

Early Morning Game Drive and Return to Kasane

Rise and shine early with a cup of hot and refreshing tea and/or coffee.
After a quick continental breakfast, pack up, break camp, and leave on the last game drive. This time of day is best for finding the big cats and other nocturnal animals, as they are still active and hunting.
Drop-off is in Kasane at 0800 hrs (for clients staying in Botswana) and in Victoria Falls or Livingstone at 1000 hrs.

Where this trip takes you

Chobe River cruise, Chobe National Park wildlife, Kasane

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from 57M6+VXJ 3 cities · 2 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

All camping equipment, including spacious walk-in tents with a bedroll and bedding (mattress, sheet, duvet, and pillow)
Park fees
African safari guide
All meals for the safari duration
Mineral water and house wine with dinner
Dinner is a two-course meal consisting of hearty "Bush Cuisine" cooked on open fires

What's Not Included

Soft drinks and beers
Visas where applicable, and personal items such as towels and toiletries

What to bring

Casual, comfortable clothing in dull neutral colours
Suitable footwear for sandy campsites
T-shirts, jeans, or safari trousers for cool evenings and mornings
A fleece or warm sweater for early morning game drives
A good pair of sunglasses
Sunblock, a hat, and insect repellent
Binoculars and a camera with fully charged batteries
A headlamp or torch
A bottle of whisky or similar, if you would like to sip by the campfire
A towel and your own toiletries
Any necessary medication
A thin long-sleeve shirt for sun exposure
Warm layers for winter morning drives (June, July, August)

Know before you go

Camping will be in Chobe National Park at exclusive wilderness sites, i.e. Hatab or Boga sites, with no other campers nearby. If the sites are fully booked, the tour operators will be forced to use the public site at Ihaha; this is very rare, though.
Generally, casual comfortable clothing is suitable throughout the year; dull neutral colours are most suitable.
Campsites are very sandy, so suitable footwear is advised.
T-shirts, jeans, or safari trousers are recommended for cool evenings and mornings.
A fleece or warm sweater is recommended for those early morning game drives.
A good pair of sunglasses is recommended.
Sunblock, a hat, and insect repellent are essential.
Bring binoculars and a camera with fully charged batteries - there is no electricity in the bush (charging is possible via the cigarette lighter, 12V only).
A headlamp or torch is vital.
If you enjoy a whisky or the like, you are welcome to bring a bottle along to sip by the campfire.
Bring a towel and your own toiletries (ladies, please remember there are no shops for emergencies).
Bring any medication if necessary; there is a basic medical aid box.
There will be times when you are exposed to the sun, so a thin long-sleeve shirt may come in handy.
The early morning drives will be very cold in the winter months, so layers are best to keep out the chill in the back of the game drive vehicle (June, July, August).
Please attempt to travel as light as possible - space is always an issue on safari.