Our second day in Chobe National Park started with an exquisite sunrise over Chobe River. It was full of amazing sightings like chacma baboons, hippos, elephants, and kudu on game drives as well as crocodiles and hippos on the Chobe River cruise.
The main schedule for our stay was a 5:30 AM game drive through the park followed by breakfast. Then an 11:00 AM cruise on the Chobe River and lunch. The packed day ended with a 3:30 PM game drive and dinner.
Morning Game Drive
Chobe had shorter grass than Pilanesberg National Park but there were more shrubs and small trees for animals to disappear behind and under. The landscape was just as green!
Once again it was just us and our guide Sue. We were so lucky to have her and an entire game truck to ourselves!
Impala
An impala herd gathered near the river including rams and little calves.
Chacma Baboons
A troop of chacma baboons were on the ground. Mothers nursed their infants while others groomed each other.
Vervet Monkeys
Near the baboons were a couple of vervet monkeys. Some adorable babies peered down from the treetops.
Warthogs
Two warthogs grazed in the grass.
Male warthogs have four warts – two large ones beneath their eyes and two small ones just above the mouth. Females, on the other hand, have only two small warts below their eyes.
Warthog groups are called sounders. They are part of the so-called “Ugly 5” along with hyenas, wildebeests, vultures, and marabou storks.
Hippos
There was a near perfect hippo footprint in the dirt near several large ponds. Sue was an excellent tracker and showed us what to look for to find certain animals.
Two hippos were relaxing at one of the ponds. One was already in up to his nose. We were able to watch the other walk down the bank and plop in the water.
Hornbills
Southern ground hornbills hunted in the grass. They are the largest species of hornbill and are usually found in groups of three.
Mongooses
As we headed back, Sue spotted two slender mongooses hiding along the road. They were the first mongooses I had ever seen so that was exciting! They’re kind of cute.
Elevated Walkway
After a quick buffet breakfast back at the lodge, we took a stroll down the elevated walkway. It is 250 meters along the river. The deck is wide enough for wheelchair access and there are several seating areas and benches available.
At the end of the walkway is an overlook with spectacular views of Namibia and the river! You might even catch sight of some wildlife hanging by the water. Watch your step – we found a small snake and several lizards along the edges.
The walkway also hosts Botswana’s first official lovelock site. Here visitors can hook their lock on the sign and drop the key into the vault next to it. Love locks symbolize the love between couples or families.
Chobe River Cruise
The one-hour river cruise was a nice way to relax and enjoy a break from bumpy dirt roads.
Nile Crocodiles
There were several Nile crocodiles – on the bank and in the water.
Elephants
After we turned back, we caught a glimpse of elephants leaving the river to head back into the park. I’m glad we noticed them when we did; by the time we got to that spot, they were gone. It was the same ravine as the night before.
Hippo
A lone hippo calmly floated near the boat. We were able to pass by slowly and get a good look at its face.
Afternoon Game Drive
Elephants
We saw several elephants at the beginning of our afternoon game drive. One was a young male who wandered close to the vehicle. There was also a mother and her calf who crossed the road in front of us.
On the drive by the river, another elephant was twisting its trunk into all different shapes.
Cape Buffalo
Along the river, we also caught our first glimpse of Cape buffalo on the trip. There was a large herd (called a gang or obstinacy) grazing on the Namibian grasslands.
Kudu
After the buffalo, we found kudu. Several females were eating along with a few males. One was beautifully framed under the arched limbs and vines.
A young male had smaller horns while two older kudu had longer, spiral horns.
Chacma Baboons
After the kudu, we came upon more chacma baboons. Many were just lying or sitting on the road. They didn’t care about our vehicle in the slightest and almost didn’t get out of the way. I adore their expressive faces and could watch them for hours.
The sky was full of clouds and orange began to creep in as the sun started to set. I loved seeing the reflection in the large puddles on the road back to the lodge.
From the game drive, we walked straight into the lodge for a delicious dinner. We fell asleep quickly that night after such an action-packed day!
Best of Chobe Game Lodge Package
2020 Price: R59,852 (approx. $4,144) for 4 nights
So awesome I just came across this as I just posted one of my South African experiences this morning! We have Chobe booked for next year and I love your photos! It has me so excited!!!
Thank you Sarah! You’ll have so much fun at Chobe next year!
What an amazing experience! I had a Peace Corps volunteer from Namibia as a pen pal for my classroom a few years ago, and I have wanted to head there ever since. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for reading Charlene! Namibia is on my list to visit next time I am in Africa.
A trip to Africa has been on my bucket list ever since I was a young girl. Seeing your incredible photos makes me wany to go more than ever!
Thank you Linda! Africa is an amazing place to visit – definitely move it up the bucket list!
Oh my goodness, this must have been an amazing day! I am loving all your photos too – gorgeous. And thanks for teaching me a new word – sounders!
Thank you so much Katerina! Glad you learned something new 🙂
I can’t believe I missed this one. The animal shots were great. The Nile gaters just as I imagined and the Mongoose? such a good picture. Never heard of a Kudu , beautiful. Thank you for sharing your trip with us.
Thanks Liz! Kudu are beautiful – with so many antelope species there, Kudu have one of the best coat patterns in my opinion.