Chobe National Park Map — Zones, Gates & Game Drive Routes Explained

Chobe National Park — Map, Zones & Game Drive Routes

Chobe National Park covers over 1.1 million hectares of northern Botswana, stretching from the banks of the Chobe River east of Kasane to the vast Savute wetlands and the remote Linyanti marshes in the west. Understanding Chobe's four distinct zones before you visit will help you choose the right section for the experience you want — whether that's watching 50,000 elephants from a riverboat at Kasane or tracking wild dog and cheetah across Savute's open floodplain.

Chobe's Four Zones Explained

1. Chobe Riverfront (Kasane)

The Chobe Riverfront is the most visited and most famous section of the park, easily accessible from Kasane on the park's northeastern corner. The Chobe River itself forms the park's northern boundary, and the floodplains flanking it hold one of the highest concentrations of wildlife in Africa — particularly elephant, which gather in herds of hundreds to thousands during the dry season.

Key features:

• Africa's largest elephant population — herds of 50,000+ animals converge on the river during dry season
• Boat safaris on the Chobe River — perhaps the best wildlife photography platform in Africa; elephant swimming, hippo pods, Nile crocodile, and exceptional waterbirds
• Open vehicle game drives along the Chobe riverfront road
• Excellent lion and buffalo sightings; leopard occasionally

How to get there: Kasane is accessible via scheduled flights from Maun or Johannesburg (via Kasane Airport). Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe/Zambia) is approximately 80 kilometres away; many itineraries combine Chobe Riverfront with a Victoria Falls stop.

2. Savute (Savuti)

Savute is Chobe's most remote and dramatic zone — a vast, semi-arid plain built around the Savute Channel and the dry Savute Marsh. This section is 250 kilometres from Kasane and accessible only by 4×4 vehicle or charter flight to Savute Airstrip.

Key features:

• Outstanding predator sightings — lion prides, leopard, and cheetah in excellent numbers
• Africa's most significant spotted hyena clans
• Wild dog frequently seen during the denning season (June–August)
• Ancient San rock paintings at the nearby hills
• Extraordinary “clash of giants” lion-elephant confrontations documented in this zone

Savute has a completely different character from the Chobe Riverfront — wilder, drier, and more remote.

3. Linyanti Marshes

The Linyanti is Chobe's most exclusive zone — a remote wilderness of marshland, reed beds, and riparian forest in the park's northwestern corner. Access is exclusively by 4×4 or fly-in via private airstrips; only a small number of exclusive lodges (DumaTau, King's Pool, Zibalianja) operate here.

Key features:

• Africa's most important African wild dog population — the Linyanti ecosystem holds one of the largest packs on the continent
• Exceptional elephant viewing in a remote setting
• Roan and sable antelope; reedbuck and lechwe in the marsh edges
• Zero development beyond the handful of lodges — true wilderness

4. Nogatsaa and Tchinga Pans

The interior pans area between Kasane and Savute; remote, less visited, and excellent for dry-season game viewing when wildlife concentrates at the diminishing water sources. Self-drive 4×4 territory with no tourist facilities.

Chobe National Park Entry Gates

• Sedudu Gate (Kasane) — main entry to the Chobe Riverfront section; near Kasane town
• Mababe Gate (south) — southern entry to Savute; accessed from Maun via the Mababe Depression; 4×4 essential
• Kachikau Gate (east) — secondary eastern entry

Chobe National Park Entry Fees

Chobe charges daily conservation fees for non-citizen visitors. Current approximate rates:

• International adults: BWP 120–150 per person per day (~USD 9–11)
• Children under 8: Free

Guests at private lodges within the park typically have conservation fees included in their all-inclusive lodge rate.

How to Combine the Chobe Zones in One Safari

Most visitors to Chobe choose one zone per trip, but a multi-zone Botswana circuit might include:

• Chobe Riverfront (2 nights) + Savute (2 nights) + Okavango Delta (3 nights) — the classic Botswana circuit
• Victoria Falls (2 nights) + Chobe Riverfront (2 nights) + Linyanti (2 nights) — a northern Botswana combination

Plan Your Chobe Safari

African Safari Group designs Chobe safaris as standalone Botswana experiences or as part of multi-country itineraries combining Zimbabwe's Victoria Falls, the Okavango Delta, and South Africa. We handle all flights, transfers, and lodge bookings.

Enquire Now to plan your Chobe National Park safari.