Why the Dry Season is the Best Time to Visit Chobe National Park
Chobe National Park offers exciting adventures to tourists throughout every month of the year. Nevertheless, the dry season, which falls between May and October, remains the best time to visit Chobe national park.
Here’s why:
The absence of water in the dry season attracts many wildlife species to the Chobe River. So, visiting the river during this period always guarantees animal sightings. And since the leaves on most trees have fallen off, you can easily see animals hiding in the bush.
Ranking the Best Time to Visit Chobe National Park By Month
- August
August is the best time to visit Chobe national park for wildlife viewing in Park. In August, the dry season has fully set in, and a diverse range of wild animals gather around the Chobe River. While elephant and crocodile sightings are guaranteed in this month, you’ll also catch rarer wildlife like lions, tigers, cheetahs, and even the painted wild dogs.
The weather in August is perfect for wildlife viewings. The hot summery weather hasn’t set in yet, and it isn’t as cold as the earlier months of the dry season.
The yearly catfish run in the Kasai channel, a fishing ground near Chobe River, holds in August. If you love fishing, you can join the event and catch fishes like catfish, Spotted Bream, Pink Happy Bream, and tigerfish. You don’t need to bring any fishing equipment for bait, as they will be provided on the fishing ground.
Please note that visiting Chobe National Park in August is quite expensive, compared to taking the trip in other months. Since August is the peak safari season and a summer holiday month, most people schedule their trips around that time, which is also the best time to visit Chobe national park.
That said, you can still plan a budget tour of Chobe National Park in August if you apply the following tips:
- Pitch your tent at the Ihaha Campsite. The Ihaha Campsite is a low-priced, unfenced camping ground near Chobe National Park.
- Rent a 4×4 jeep to take you to Chobe and back to your tent at Ihaha.
- Get comfortable with seeing wildlife lurking around your living space.
If you’d rather skip the stress of planning a budget Chobe safari, you can book our affordable Botswana tour, which covers accommodation, feeding, and transfers to Chobe National Park and nearby tourist attractions like Victoria Falls.
- July
The dry season has lasted long enough for the Chobe River to attract a large variety of wild animals. So, you have a high chance of seeing endangered animals at Chobe National Park, just like in August. Thousands of buffalo and elephant herds will also flock to the river. You should take a picture of this breathtaking sight as a reminder of your Chobe tour.
The July weather in Chobe is the coldest amongst all the months of the year. You may experience hot afternoons, but the early morning and night weather will be freezing.
Remember to the best time to visit Chobe national park and don’t forget to pack warm clothes to help you cope with the weather. You’ll also need lightweight cotton outfits and sunscreen in case the afternoons get hot.
- September
September is the best time to visit Chobe national park for a wildlife and birding safari combo in Park. Since it’s still the dry season, there’s a surplus of wildlife on the riverfront. The first set of bird migrants, such as carmine bee-eaters and yellow-billed kites, also transfer to Chobe in September.
We recommend taking a boat safari along the Selinda Spillway to get an up-close look at the wildlife in the area.
You’ll need to pack a lot of light cotton clothing to help you cope with the scorching September weather.
If you’re still at Chobe National Park by September 30, go into town to watch how Botswana celebrates its Independence Day.
- June
It’s only a few weeks into the dry season. So, wild animals can still get water without having to migrate to Chobe National Park. If you visit Chobe National Park in June, most of the animals you’ll see in the park will be the permanent residents, like buffalo, elephants, and crocodiles.
As the park is fairly busy in June, you might have to spend extra to get a private guide for your small group.
Days in June start out cold, and warm up as noon approaches. By night, the temperature drops drastically to almost zero. The best way to pack for a Chobe safari in June is to fill your luggage with warm and light clothes.
- May
May marks the onset of the dry season. As the land starts drying up, the wildlife closest to the national park (elephant, hippo, buffalo) trickle to the Chobe riverfront. Sometimes, minor zebra and wildebeest migrations also occur in May. Visiting Chobe National Park in May will guarantee sightings of these animals.
However, you might be unable to see the animals in large herds. Rare wildlife may also be difficult to see, as the land hasn’t dried enough to push them out of the marshes.
The best time to visit Chobe national park is during Late May, which is an excellent time to hunt for tigerfish at Chobe National Park. Many small fish species move to Chobe River channels when floodplains experience droughts, leading to a feeding frenzy among the fish population in the river. Hunger makes the tigerfish bite the bait more often than usual.
- October
The crowds in Chobe start dwindling towards the end of October. So, if you want an intimate family safari experience in Chobe National Park, October is the best time to visit Chobe national park and the ideal time to go.
Being the hottest month of the year, October arrives with a burning heat that drains men and wildlife alike. The rising temperature forces most animals, especially the big cats, to leave the riverfront and hide under tree shades. In fact, the cheetah, which primarily operates in the day switches to a nocturnal routine because of the scorching October weather in Chobe.
As such, tourists who visit the park during the day only get a limited view of animal figures. If you are visiting Chobe in October, select a night or early morning game drive, so you can enjoy a sizable number of wildlife sightings. The temperature in the area drops significantly at night. Sometimes, it gets so cold that you need a jacket to avoid shivering during your drives.
If you must leave your lodge around noon, carry some sunscreen and a bottle of water with you.
- November
The dry season ends, and with it, the large variation of animals at Chobe National Park. As soon as the first rains hit the ground, many of the rare wildlife at the river leave Chobe for Nxai National Park.
You might still catch some endangered wildlife species at Chobe in November, but they won’t appear as frequently as in the middle of the dry season.
November is also the beginning of the rainy season, and this season lasts until April the following year. As soon as the first set of rains hit the Chobe landscape, unique trees like baobab, mopane, acacia, and sausage trees.
After viewing the wildlife in Chobe National Park, you can explore the forest with an experienced tour guide to learn about the different trees in the park.
- December
Chobe National Park experiences a full-blown zebra migration in December, and this compensates for the tons of wildlife the park recently lost due to the emergence of the rainy season.
The rains get heavier in December. But the stormy showers are often followed by a warm climate, providing much-needed relief from the chill of the rains.
You’ll need your windbreaker, rain boots, cotton clothes, and sunscreen for a comfortable stay in Chobe National Park during this period.
- February
February is the best time to visit Chobe national park for birdwatching. By this time, hundreds of bird migrants have made their way to Chobe National Park. The Wageningen University & Research Library estimates the bird species in Chobe to be about 433, reaching their maximum capacity in the peak of the rainy season.
Birds at Chobe National Park in February
Common birds you’ll find at Chobe National Park in February are:
- African fish eagle
- Spurwing goose
- Collared Palm Thrush
- White-backed vulture
- African darter
- Pygmy geese
Sadly, the wildlife population suffers a drastic drop in February. Since rainfall occurs frequently, there is little reason for animals to gather at Chobe River. However, you can expect to see a few elephants, crocodiles, zebras, wildebeest and buffaloes.
- April
The Best time to Visit Chobe National Park is in April to spot elephants drinking from the Chobe River. Low rainfall in this month causes the bushes in the park to dry out. This forces some elephants to move from the forest to the riverfront.
Other wildlife species are usually absent in Chobe National in April. Zebras and wildebeests migrate out of Chobe during this period. The majority of the birdlife has also left the park. The remaining birds fly out of Chobe National Park in April.
- January
January is the end of the mating season. As a result, touring the Chobe National Park in this month offers excellent sightings of pregnant animals. But generally, the wildlife population is still rather low, compared to the dry season.
January is also the off-season for safari enthusiasts. So, many luxury lodges in the park provide cheap offers to tourists. If you are a budget traveler planning to visit Chobe, schedule your trip in this month for a comfortable safari experience that won’t break the bank.
- March
Wildlife viewings are at an all-time low in March. But there are still many birds flying around the area. Besides, the shortage of wildlife helps you appreciate the Chobe National Park.
The best way to spend your time is to book birdwatching tours or walking safaris. Don’t forget to take advantage of the accommodation discounts offered at the lodges around the park.
When Will You Travel to Chobe National Park?
Have you chosen a time for your trip to Chobe? Then, you’ll need to start planning your trip.
Our team of expert tour operators at Good Earth Tours have gathered a wealth of experience in planning safari tours around Chobe National Park and its environs.
We can ensure you get the best the park offers in the month you visit.
Fill out our inquiry form to contact our tour operators for assistance on your tour plan.
April 9, 2024