subject: Experience The Rich Diversity Of Chobe National Park [print this page] Botswana's Chobe National Park is the second-largest national park in the country, covering an area of 10,566 square kilometers. The park was established through the Government proclamation no. 22 of 1961, when the country was still known as Bechuanaland. It is among the places that have the highest number of wildlife in the entire African continent. A visit to the park provides a unique experience that you will always remember.
One of the main objectives of the park is to protect the large numbers of predators in the country, the migratory elephants and the native puku antelope.
Chobe National Park is divided into four distinct ecosystems. Towards the north-east is Serondela that features dense forests, particularly in the area of the Chobe River, and lush plains. Towards the west is Savuti Marsh. Towards the north-west are the Linyanti Swamps. In between these areas is hot dry hinterland. The park provides contrasts that enrich your experience in just one place.
The park has a large population of wildlife throughout the year, and there are seasons that their numbers are almost overwhelming. Exploring the park adequately requires about three or four days, during which you will have the opportunity to see such species as elephants, tsessebes, buffalos, wildebeests, waterbucks, roans, zebras, kudus, impalas, warthogs, giraffes, elands and sables. You will also have the chance to see such predators as lions, bat-eared foxes, jackals and hyenas. You may also see wild dogs and cheetahs.
Savuti is well known for its population of predators, among of which are spotted hyenas and lions.
One of the special attractions of Chobe National Park is the large number of elephants found here. The migratory elephants make seasonal movements from Linyanti and Chobe rivers to the south-eastern parts of the park, covering a distance of about 200 kilometers. The go around the rivers during dry seasons and disperse to the latter areas during the rainy seasons.
The park gets its name from the Chobe River that marks its northern boundary. The river originates in the Angolan highlands, where it is known as Kwando. This is just one of the places where the river changes its name along its course. The area around the river has a rich plant life, which includes mopane woodlands, floodplain grasslands, mixed Combretum velds, riverine woodlands and Bachestegia sandvelds.
The Chobe River area is a special place to see the elephants. If you go there late in the evening, you will have the opportunity to see many of these huge animals. During the dry season, you will also see herds of buffalos in this area. You may even be rewarded by the sight of the rare puku.
Besides the dry-land animals, the river affords you the chance to see crocodiles and hippos. You will also be able to do some bird watching here. The evenings here are memorable.
Although you can visit the park at any time of the year, it is better to go during the dry season when the vegetation is low and the animals concentrate by the riverside. Take anti-malarial medications because there are many mosquitoes in the park.
