If you are looking to experience a safari but don't have the time or funds for a 3-5 day adventure while in southern Africa, then look no further - the Chobe Day Trip is your answer. Chobe is the second largest game park in Africa and it will not disappoint. We booked our trip through SATS (Southern Africa Touring Services) who set up us on a day trip from Victoria Falls. The trip is about an hour from Victoria Falls where you then cross the border into Botswana (immigration documents required). Bird watchers will love the 3-hour boat tour that we were booked on in the morning. We experienced a lovely Botswanan buffet lunch at Chobe Marina Lodge in Kasane and then continued on a land tour in an open-air jeep. We were astounded by the number and variety of wildlife that we were able to see in just one day - hippos, water buffalo, elephants, baboons, giraffes, zebras, and elephants galore; we even got to see a family of lions. Our guide, Du, was friendly, informative, skillful, and made us feel comfortable and safe. We will never forget this day, and we highly recommend it to anyone hoping to experience nature and wildlife in Southern Africa.
We were told that the best time to visit Chobe is in the winter months (May, June, July, August) as the animals are in search of water and therefore roam the park more frequently.
NOTE: If traveling with children under 18, Botswana Immigration REQUIRES that you have a notarized copy of your children's birth certificates in addition to their passports. They will not allow you to cross into Botswana without these documents, and you will miss an unforgettable adventure in Africa. Luckily, we found this out ahead of our journey to Chobe from SATS, and were able to produce copies which we had notarized through our travel company in Vic Falls.
