Serondela or Chobe River front – a part of Chobe National Park in Botswana

Chobe River front is one of four different areas that Chobe National Park consists off. The other is Linyati, Savuti and Ngwezumba which all are less frequently visited by safari goers.

It is the lure of excellent game watching, both from land and water, the easy access from Kasane, attracting day visitors from Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and Livingstone in Zambia, which sometimes make the river front a little crowded which is unusual in Botswana.

The National Park got its name from the famous Chobe River which acts as a magnet for the wildlife in the area. The river supports a diversity and a concentration of wildlife that is unparalleled anywhere else in Botswana. Chobe River acts as border between Botswana and Namibia and the river origin is in the highlands of Angola. Once the river enters Botswana it changes name. It enters as the Kwando River but immediately becomes the Linyati then Itenge and finally Chobe.

Chobe River area contains an interesting variety of habitats, and is rich in plant life, with mopane woodlands, mixed combretum, sandveld, floodplain, grassland and riverine woodland. Many trees have suffered considerable damage due to the high number of elephants, the current estimate is 120 000. The Elephants are migratory making seasonal movements and concentrate along Chobe/Linyati Rivers during the dry season. They disperse to Ngwezumba Pans and its rain-fed pools which act as magnets for game during the green season.

Do get out on the river by boat

You must take a river cruise when you visit to experience the park, and the animals, from another vantage point. On the river you get the possibility to get up close and personal with Hippo, Crocodile, Buffalo and a huge array of water birds. Over 440 bird species have been record in the park making this a premier venue for bird Safaris. The African Fish-Eagle, 2012 bird of the year, is common here and their distinctive cry is as evocative of the African wilderness as the roar of the Lion.

Chobe has some of the finest game viewing areas in Africa. It is notable for the concentration of Elephants but also the huge herds of Buffalo and Zebra. And when you have Buffalo, you’ll have Lions. There is a good chance of seeing large prides of Lions here. The river front is also the southernmost point where the shy Puku antelope can be seen.

The green season, the rain season, is between November and March and peaks during January and February. Much of the Chobe River area is still accessible this time of year but you might have trouble travelling thru areas of clay oil. The humidity is high and these are the warmest months of the year. The bird life is abundant together with the mosquitoes and an array of stunning wild flowers. Many animals give birth during this period of abundant grazing. This is actually a delightful time in Chobe if you are prepared to negotiate some mud and doesn´t mind the mosquitos.

During the dry season, May to October, the animals congregate in huge numbers along the river front. This is the time most visitors come here and October is the hottest, but probably also the best month for game viewing.

Photo Album: Chobe River Front 2011