Chobe National Park Size & Location: 11 700km˛ in Northern Botswana, bordered by the Chobe River in the North
When to visit Chobe National Park: May - October (dry season, best for game viewing)
Climate: Dry in the cooler months with low humidity. Daytime maximum temperatures at 32° C
Rainfall: 600mm per annum varying
Altitude: 930m - 1000m above sea level
CHOBE NATIONAL PARK INFORMATION:
Chobe National Park is one of the largest games concentration in all the Africa continent and one of the world's last remaining sizeable wilderness area. By size "Chobe", this is the third largest park of the country, after the Central Kalahari Game Reserve and the Gemsbok National Park, but definitively the most diverse and spectacular. This is also the country's first national park.
ECOSYSTEMS OF CHOBE NATIONAL PARK:
Chobe National Park can be divided up to 4 areas, corresponding each to one distinct ecosystems;
* Serondela, situated in the extreme Northeast of Chobe, features lush plains and dense teak forests. The Chobe river, which flows along the Northeastern border of the park, is a drinking spot for elephants and buffaloes at dry season. The famous bee-eater is also spotted here, along the Chobe river. The most visited section of the National Park, partly because of its proximity to the Victoria Falls. The town of Kasane, situated at the Chobe river, is the most important town of the region and serves as northern entrance to the park.
* Savuti Marsh, approx. area of 10 878 km˛, constitutes the western stretch of the park (50 km north of Mababe Gate). The Savuti Marsh is the relic of a large inland lake whose water supply was cut a long time ago by tectonic movements. Nowadays the marsh is fed by the erratic Savuti Channel, which dries up when rainfall is abundant and floods up at other times. The channel can also stop flowing during long periods then curiously flows again, a consequence of tectonic activity in the area. As a result of this variable flow, there are hundred of dead trees along the channel's bank. The region is also covered with extensive savannahs and rolling grasslands, which makes wildlife particularly dynamic in this section of the park. At dry seasons, tourists going on safari often view warthogs, kudus, impalas, zebras, wildebeests and above all elephants bullying each other. At rain seasons, the rich birdlife of the park (450 species in the whole park) is well represented. Packs of lions, hyenas, zebras or more rarely cheetahs are visible as well. This Chobe region is indeed reputed for its annual migration of zebras and predators.
* Linyanti Marsh, located at the Northwest corner of Chobe and to the North of Savuti, is adjacent to Linyanti River. To the west of this area lies Selinda Reserve and on the Northern bank of Kwando River is Namibia's Mamili National Park. Around these 2 rivers are riverine woodlands, open woodlands as well as lagoons, and the rest of the region mainly consists of flood plains. There are here large concentrations of lions, leopards, wild dogs, Roan antelopes, Sable antelopes, hippopotamuses and above all enormous herds of elephants. The rarer red lechwe, sitatunga or crocodile also occur in the area. Birdlife is very rich here.
* Finally, between Linyanti and Savuti Marshes lies a hot and dry hinterland, mainly occupied by the Nogatsaa grass woodland. This section is little known and is a great place for spotting elands.
THE ELEPHANTS OF CHOBE NATIONAL PARK:
The park is probably best known for its sectacular elephant population: 120'000 elephants today, it is actually the highest elephant concentration of Africa. At dry season, these elephants sojourn in Chobe River and the Linyanti River areas. Elephants living here are Kalahari elephants, the largest in size of all known elephant species. Yet they are characterized by rather brittle ivory and short tusks.
MAIN ATTRACTIONS OF CHOBE NATIONAL PARK:
* Four unique ecosystems: Chobe river, central pans around Nogatsaa, Linyanti wetlands and the Savuti region (Mababe Depression)
* Large elephant herds
* Stunning scenery provides the backdrop to excellent game drives
CHOBE NATIONAL PARK - LINKS:
BOTSWANA SAFARIS
CHOBE NATIONAL PARK LODGES
OKAVANGO DELTA SAFARIS
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