Public travel plan

Chobe Safari Adventure: Bush Camping, River Cruises & Border Crossing

A classic wildlife safari through Chobe National Park, Botswana, combining rugged mobile bush camping with high-comfort river lodging and water safaris. Chobe is renowned worldwide for having one of Africa's highest con…

3 daysUpdated 8 highlights
Travel inspiration for Chobe Safari Adventure: Bush Camping, River Cruises & Border Crossing

Source videos

Travel inspiration behind this plan

Plan notes

Useful context before you go

A classic wildlife safari through Chobe National Park, Botswana, combining rugged mobile bush camping with high-comfort river lodging and water safaris. Chobe is renowned worldwide for having one of Africa's highest concentrations of elephants, alongside diverse predators and rich birdlife. For game viewing, the open floodplains allow easier animal spotting than dense bush. Pack neutral-colored safari clothing, high-zoom telephoto camera lenses, binoculars, and insect repellent. When crossing overland into Zimbabwe at Kazungula, prepare physical cash in USD for visa processing fees ($30 USD for US passport holders, $75 USD for Canadian passport holders) and ensure vehicle paperwork is readily accessible.

Resources for this plan

Shared by the source creators. These are not VibePlanit endorsements and may be affiliate links.

Sign up for group expedition · Lost LeBlanc ↗ Creator link · may be an affiliate link

Itinerary highlights

What is in this plan

Day 1: Chobe Wilderness Bush Camp & Land Safari

Experience true wilderness immersion with a mobile bush camp inside Chobe National Park. Game drives set out early in the morning when predators like leopards and lions are most active. Stay inside the camp parameters at all times, especially when mothers with calves are grazing nearby, and remain zipped inside your tent after dark.

  1. Chobe National Park Bush CampChobe National Park, Kasane, Botswana

    Experience fully immersive bush camping directly in Chobe National Park, complete with open-air bucket showers heated with 25-liter water bags, dining tents, and night sounds of roaring lions and chuckling hippos. Always remain zipped securely inside your tent at night for complete safety from wildlife.

    Watch the source moment on YouTube ↗
  2. Chobe Riverfront Game Drive TracksChobe Riverfront, Chobe National Park, Botswana

    Head out on an early morning 4x4 tracking game drive. The flatter, open terrain and sparse tree cover of Chobe provide clear visibility for spotting leopards caching prey in trees, active lion prides, and elephant breeding herds roaming the grasslands.

    Watch the source moment on YouTube ↗
  3. Chobe Floodplains ViewpointChobe River Floodplain, Chobe National Park, Botswana

    Scan the vast floodplains near the border area overlooking Namibia where Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Botswana intersect. Observe large buffalo herds attempting river crossings while Nile crocodiles wait along the water's edge.

    Watch the source moment on YouTube ↗
  4. Chobe Riverfront Sundowner SpotChobe Riverfront Sundowner Viewpoint, Chobe National Park, Botswana

    Pause for traditional safari sundowner drinks against dramatic afternoon skies as massive solitary bull elephants traverse the reeds and bathe in the setting sunlight before you head back to camp.

    Watch the source moment on YouTube ↗

Day 2: Riverfront Luxury & Chobe River Boat Safari

Transition from the mobile bush camp to high-end riverfront lodge comfort at Chobe House. In the afternoon, take a boat safari along the Chobe River for close-up wildlife encounters from the water.

  1. Chobe HouseChobe House, Kasane, Botswana

    Check into Chobe House for a refined stay along the riverfront, greeted with traditional Setswana welcome songs and hospitality before relaxing in private suites overlooking the bush.

    Watch the source moment on YouTube ↗
  2. Chobe River Boat Safari LaunchChobe River Boat Launch, Kasane, Botswana

    Board a river safari boat to navigate the water lilies and reed channels of the Chobe River. This water-level perspective offers intimate views of basking Nile crocodiles, bathing elephant families, and territorial hippopotamuses.

    Watch the source moment on YouTube ↗
  3. Chobe River Reeds & Birding AreaChobe River Wildlife Area, Chobe National Park, Botswana

    Look out for abundant river birdlife along the reeds, particularly pied and giant kingfishers diving for fish right beside the boat. Keep telephoto lenses ready for rapid action shots.

    Watch the source moment on YouTube ↗

Day 3: Overland Crossing into Zimbabwe

Conclude your Chobe exploration and complete the short overland drive to the Kazungula border post to enter Zimbabwe on the route toward Victoria Falls. Have passport pages, exact cash for visa fees, and vehicle registration documents organized to avoid delays.

  1. Kazungula Zimbabwe Border PostKazungula Border Post, Kazungula, Zimbabwe

    Cross from Botswana into Zimbabwe at the Kazungula border post. Ensure vehicle temporary import registration is ready and have exact cash ready for entry visa fees ($75 USD for Canadian citizens, $30 USD for US citizens) before continuing toward Victoria Falls.

    Watch the source moment on YouTube ↗