Chobe National Park

National Park · Botswana

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Photo © Diego Delso

Photo © Diego Delso — CC BY-SA 4.0 — Source: Wikimedia Commons

Where the Chobe River cuts a sinuous path through northern Botswana, the landscape transforms into one of Africa's most dynamic wetland-savanna mosaics. This national park encompasses riverine forests, floodplain grasslands, and acacia woodland that shift dramatically with the seasonal pulse of water—a rhythm that orchestrates the movement of vast herbivore populations and the predators that follow them. The Chobe floodplain becomes a sprawling aquatic garden each year, drawing concentrations of large mammals to its banks and channels, while the drier uplands support mixed woodland communities where smaller animals shelter among scattered trees. Birds of prey quarter the open country; waterbirds congregate along reed beds and open water; and a diverse array of woodland songbirds weave through the acacia canopy. The river itself becomes a highway for aquatic mammals and a hunting ground for fish-eating specialists. This interplay of habitat and hydrology—the dry season compression of wildlife at the water's edge, the wet season dispersal across flooded plains—creates an ecological theatre of rare intensity.

For wildlife photographers and serious birders, the park delivers both quantity and diversity that few African destinations match. The dry winter months concentrate the spectacle: large herbivores gather in unprecedented densities along the riverfront, predators become more visible as prey becomes scarce away from water, and the light at dawn and dusk takes on the crystalline clarity that defines African winter. Boat-based river excursions provide intimate views of animals coming to drink, while land-based circuits capture the woodland fauna. The wet season (November to March) brings its own rewards—migratory birds and waterbirds return in force, the landscape transforms into lush green, and visitors who embrace higher temperatures and variable conditions encounter fewer crowds. Road access is straightforward from the Kasane border region, and the park's infrastructure supports everything from self-drive expeditions to guided lodges, making it accessible to photographers and naturalists of varying experience.

Website chobenationalpark.co.za

Pel's Fishing Owl

Scotopelia peli

African Fish Eagle

Icthyophaga vocifer

Lilac-breasted Roller

Coracias caudatus

Water Thick-knee

Burhinus vermiculatus

Grey-headed Gull

Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus

Yellow-billed Egret

Ardea brachyrhyncha

Tropical Boubou

Laniarius major

Lappet-faced Vulture

Torgos tracheliotos

White-browed Coucal

Centropus superciliosus

Wattled Starling

Creatophora cinerea

Pink-backed Pelican

Pelecanus rufescens

Yellow-billed Stork

Actophilornis africanus

White-faced Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna viduata

Leptoptilos crumenifer

African Openbill

Anastomus lamelligerus

Blacksmith Lapwing

Vanellus armatus

Black-winged Kite

Elanus caeruleus

Southern Red-billed Hornbill

Tockus rufirostris

Alopochen aegyptiaca

Grey Go-away-bird

Crinifer concolor

Urolestes melanoleucus

Spur-winged Goose

Plectropterus gambensis

African Spoonbill

Red-billed Spurfowl

Pternistis adspersus

Fork-tailed Drongo

Dicrurus adsimilis

Yellow-billed Oxpecker

Buphagus africanus

Southern White-crowned Shrike

Eurocephalus anguitimens

African Grey Hornbill

Lophoceros nasutus

Microcarbo africanus

White-backed Vulture

Red-billed Oxpecker

Buphagus erythroryncha

Ring-necked Dove

Streptopelia capicola

Bradfield's Hornbill

Lophoceros bradfieldi

Polemaetus bellicosus

Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill

Tockus leucomelas

Black-winged Stilt

Himantopus himantopus

Terathopius ecaudatus

Southern Ground Hornbill

Bucorvus leadbeateri

Swainson's Spurfowl

Pternistis swainsonii

Red-crested Korhaan

Lophotis ruficrista

Southern Grey-headed Sparrow

Passer diffusus

Burchell's Sandgrouse

Pterocles burchelli

Burchell's Starling

Lamprotornis australis

Red-billed Teal

Anas erythrorhyncha

Emerald-spotted Wood Dove

Turtur chalcospilos

Crowned Lapwing

Vanellus coronatus

Struthio camelus

Verreaux's Eagle-Owl

Lamprotornis nitens

Centropus senegalensis

Anthus cinnamomeus

Sagittarius serpentarius

Brown Snake Eagle

Circaetus cinereus

Pearl-spotted Owlet

Glaucidium perlatum

Green-backed Camaroptera

Camaroptera brachyura

African Harrier-Hawk

Polyboroides typus

Trachyphonus vaillantii

Red-billed Quelea

Micronisus gabar

White-browed Sparrow-Weaver

Plocepasser mahali

Kittlitz's Plover

Anarhynchus pecuarius

Rattling Cisticola

Cisticola chiniana

Green Wood Hoopoe

Phoeniculus purpureus

Southern Masked Weaver

Ploceus velatus

Crimson-breasted Shrike

Laniarius atrococcineus

African Skimmer

Rynchops flavirostris

Spilopelia senegalensis

Plegadis falcinellus

African Pied Wagtail

Motacilla aguimp

African Hawk-Eagle

Aquila spilogaster

Red-billed Firefinch

Lagonosticta senegala

Pycnonotus barbatus

Pied Kingfisher

Scopus umbretta

White-crowned Lapwing

Vanellus albiceps

Brown-hooded Kingfisher

Halcyon albiventris

Double-banded Sandgrouse

Pterocles bicinctus

Ardeola ralloides

African Sacred Ibis

Threskiornis aethiopicus

Egretta garzetta

Southern Carmine Bee-eater

Merops nubicoides

Swallow-tailed Bee-eater

Merops hirundineus

Long-toed Lapwing

Vanellus crassirostris

Little Bee-eater

Merops pusillus

White-fronted Bee-eater

Merops bullockoides

Western Cattle Egret

Uraeginthus angolensis

Collared Pratincole

Glareola pratincola

Egretta ardesiaca

Wire-tailed Swallow

Hirundo smithii

Common Sandpiper

Actitis hypoleucos

Great White Pelican

Pelecanus onocrotalus

Saddle-billed Stork

Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis

Knob-billed Duck

Sarkidiornis melanotos

Tringa glareola

Coppery-tailed Coucal

Centropus cupreicaudus

Malachite Kingfisher

Corythornis cristatus

Arrow-marked Babbler

Turdoides jardineii

Necrosyrtes monachus

Yellow-bellied Greenbul

Chlorocichla flaviventris

Giant Kingfisher

Megaceryle maxima

African Wattled Lapwing

Vanellus senegallus

Calidris pugnax

White-browed Robin-Chat

Cossypha heuglini

Long-tailed Paradise Whydah

Vidua paradisaea

Laniarius bicolor

Butorides atricapilla

White-crested Helmetshrike

Prionops plumatus

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater

Merops persicus

Northern Black Korhaan

Afrotis afraoides

Fulvous Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna bicolor

African Pygmy Goose

Nettapus auritus

Blue-billed Teal

Spatula hottentota

Coqui Francolin

Campocolinus coqui

Pternistis natalensis

Black-bellied Bustard

Lissotis melanogaster

Great Spotted Cuckoo

Clamator glandarius

Levaillant's Cuckoo

Clamator levaillantii

Diederik Cuckoo

Chrysococcyx caprius

Cuculus gularis

Yellow-throated Sandgrouse

Pterocles gutturalis

Speckled Pigeon

Mourning Collared Dove

Streptopelia decipiens

Streptopelia semitorquata

African Green Pigeon

Paragallinula angulata

Red-knobbed Coot

Fulica cristata

Allen's Gallinule

Porphyrio alleni

African Swamphen

Porphyrio madagascariensis

Zapornia flavirostra

Grey Crowned Crane

Balearica regulorum

Tachybaptus ruficollis

Spotted Thick-knee

Burhinus capensis

Common Ringed Plover

Charadrius hiaticula

Three-banded Plover

Thinornis tricollaris

Greater Painted-snipe

Rostratula benghalensis

Microparra capensis

Eurasian Curlew

Numenius arquata

Gallinago nigripennis

Phalaropus fulicarius

Common Greenshank

Tringa nebularia

Calidris minuta

Double-banded Courser

Smutsornis africanus

Three-banded Courser

Rhinoptilus cinctus

Temminck's Courser

Cursorius temminckii

Rock Pratincole

Glareola nuchalis

Chlidonias hybrida

White-winged Tern

Chlidonias leucopterus

Ciconia abdimii

African Woolly-necked Stork

Ciconia microscelis

Great Cormorant

Phalacrocorax carbo

Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

White-backed Night Heron

Calherodius leuconotus

Rufous-bellied Heron

Ardeola rufiventris

Black-headed Heron

Ardea melanocephala

Pandion haliaetus

Black-chested Snake Eagle

Circaetus pectoralis

Lesser Spotted Eagle

Clanga pomarina

Wahlberg's Eagle

Hieraaetus wahlbergi

Ayres's Hawk-Eagle

Hieraaetus ayresii

Dark Chanting Goshawk

Melierax metabates

Pale Chanting Goshawk

Melierax canorus

Ovambo Sparrowhawk

Accipiter ovampensis

African Marsh Harrier

Circus ranivorus

Western Barn Owl

African Barred Owlet

Glaucidium capense

Southern White-faced Owl

Ptilopsis granti

African Wood Owl

Strix woodfordii

Red-faced Mousebird

Urocolius indicus

Common Scimitarbill

Rhinopomastus cyanomelas

Trumpeter Hornbill

Bycanistes bucinator

Coracias naevius

Racket-tailed Roller

Coracias spatulatus

Broad-billed Roller

Eurystomus glaucurus

Striped Kingfisher

Halcyon chelicuti

Woodland Kingfisher

Halcyon senegalensis

Half-collared Kingfisher

Alcedo semitorquata

European Bee-eater

Merops apiaster

Greater Honeyguide

Indicator indicator

Bennett's Woodpecker

Campethera bennettii

Bearded Woodpecker

Chloropicus namaquus

Cardinal Woodpecker

Dendropicos fuscescens

Greater Kestrel

Falco rupicoloides

Dickinson's Kestrel

Falco dickinsoni

Red-necked Falcon

Falco chicquera

Falco amurensis

Falco biarmicus

Poicephalus meyeri

Brown-crowned Tchagra

Tchagra australis

Black-crowned Tchagra

Tchagra senegalus

Black-backed Puffback

Dryoscopus cubla

African Paradise Flycatcher

Terpsiphone viridis

Red-backed Shrike

Lanius collurio

Southern Black Tit

Melaniparus niger

Pinarocorys nigricans

Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark

Eremopterix leucotis

Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark

Eremopterix verticalis

Fawn-colored Lark

Calendulauda africanoides

Rufous-naped Lark

Corypha africana

Red-capped Lark

Calandrella cinerea

Terrestrial Brownbul

Phyllastrephus terrestris

African Red-eyed Bulbul

Pycnonotus nigricans

Neophedina cincta

Hirundo rustica

Western House Martin

Delichon urbicum

Lesser Striped Swallow

Cecropis abyssinica

Long-billed Crombec

Sylvietta rufescens

Phylloscopus trochilus

Luapula Cisticola

Cisticola luapula

Zitting Cisticola

Cisticola juncidis

Tawny-flanked Prinia

Prinia subflava

Southern Pied Babbler

Turdoides bicolor

Acridotheres tristis

Meves's Starling

Lamprotornis mevesii

Violet-backed Starling

Cinnyricinclus leucogaster

Groundscraper Thrush

Turdus litsitsirupa

Kurrichane Thrush

Turdus libonyana

White-browed Scrub Robin

Cercotrichas leucophrys

Pale Flycatcher

Agricola pallidus

Grey Tit-Flycatcher

Fraseria plumbea

Ashy Flycatcher

Fraseria caerulescens

Southern Black Flycatcher

Melaenornis pammelaina

Collared Palm Thrush

Cichladusa arquata

African Stonechat

Saxicola torquatus

Myrmecocichla arnotti

Capped Wheatear

Oenanthe pileata

Scarlet-chested Sunbird

Chalcomitra senegalensis

Purple-banded Sunbird

Cinnyris bifasciatus

White-bellied Sunbird

Cinnyris talatala

Cinnyris cupreus

Yellow-throated Bush Sparrow

Gymnoris superciliaris

Northern Grey-headed Sparrow

Red-billed Buffalo Weaver

Bubalornis niger

Thick-billed Weaver

Amblyospiza albifrons

Spectacled Weaver

Ploceus ocularis

Holub's Golden Weaver

Ploceus xanthops

Lesser Masked Weaver

Ploceus intermedius

Ploceus cucullatus

Red-headed Weaver

Anaplectes rubriceps

Southern Red Bishop

Black-faced Waxbill

Brunhilda erythronotos

Violet-eared Waxbill

Granatina granatina

Jameson's Firefinch

Lagonosticta rhodopareia

Brown Firefinch

Lagonosticta nitidula

Village Indigobird

Vidua chalybeata

Shaft-tailed Whydah

Motacilla capensis

Rosy-throated Longclaw

Macronyx ameliae

Anthus vaalensis

Plain-backed Pipit

Anthus leucophrys

Black-throated Canary

Crithagra atrogularis

Lark-like Bunting

Emberiza impetuani

Cinnamon-breasted Bunting

Emberiza tahapisi

African Finfoot

Podica senegalensis

Bostrychia hagedash

Kaupifalco monogrammicus

European Roller

Coracias garrulus

Grey-headed Kingfisher

Halcyon leucocephala

Collared Sunbird

Hedydipna collaris

White-backed Duck

Thalassornis leuconotus

Spatula smithii

Southern Pochard

Netta erythrophthalma

Orange River Francolin

Scleroptila gutturalis

Coturnix coturnix

Harlequin Quail

Coturnix delegorguei

European Nightjar

Caprimulgus europaeus

Rufous-cheeked Nightjar

Caprimulgus rufigena

Fiery-necked Nightjar

Caprimulgus pectoralis

Caprimulgus natalensis

Freckled Nightjar

Caprimulgus tristigma

Square-tailed Nightjar

Caprimulgus fossii

Böhm's Spinetail

Neafrapus boehmi

African Palm Swift

Cypsiurus parvus

Tachymarptis melba

African Black Swift

White-rumped Swift

Purple-crested Turaco

Gallirex porphyreolophus

Schalow's Turaco

Tauraco schalowi

Centropus grillii

Chrysococcyx klaas

African Emerald Cuckoo

Chrysococcyx cupreus

Cuculus clamosus

Red-chested Cuckoo

Cuculus solitarius

Cuculus canorus

Namaqua Sandgrouse

Pterocles namaqua

Red-chested Flufftail

Sarothrura rufa

Rallus caerulescens

Crecopsis egregia

Gallinula chloropus

Baillon's Crake

Zapornia pusilla

Black-necked Grebe

Podiceps nigricollis

Greater Flamingo

Phoenicopterus roseus

Lesser Flamingo

Phoeniconaias minor

Common Buttonquail

Turnix sylvaticus

Recurvirostra avosetta

Pluvialis squatarola

Anarhynchus asiaticus

Eurasian Whimbrel

Numenius phaeopus

Green Sandpiper

Tringa ochropus

Marsh Sandpiper

Tringa stagnatilis

Ruddy Turnstone

Arenaria interpres

Curlew Sandpiper

Calidris ferruginea

Bronze-winged Courser

Rhinoptilus chalcopterus

Black-winged Pratincole

Glareola nordmanni

Hydroprogne caspia

Egretta vinaceigula

African Cuckoo-Hawk

Aviceda cuculoides

European Honey Buzzard

Pernis apivorus

White-headed Vulture

Trigonoceps occipitalis

Gyps coprotheres

Western Banded Snake Eagle

Circaetus cinerascens

Macheiramphus alcinus

Long-crested Eagle

Lophaetus occipitalis

Hieraaetus pennatus

Aquila nipalensis

Circus macrourus

Montagu's Harrier

Circus pygargus

Western Marsh Harrier

Circus aeruginosus

African Scops Owl

Otus senegalensis

Spotted Eagle-Owl

African Pygmy Kingfisher

Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird

Pogoniulus chrysoconus

Acacia Pied Barbet

Tricholaema leucomelas

Black-collared Barbet

Lybius torquatus

Brown-backed Honeybird

Prodotiscus regulus

Falco rupicolus

Red-footed Falcon

Falco vespertinus

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Brown-necked Parrot

Poicephalus fuscicollis

Orange-breasted Bushshrike

Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus

Retz's Helmetshrike

Prionops retzii

White-breasted Cuckooshrike

Ceblepyris pectoralis

Black Cuckooshrike

Campephaga flava

Black-headed Oriole

Oriolus larvatus

African Golden Oriole

Oriolus auratus

Eurasian Golden Oriole

Oriolus oriolus

Southern Fiscal

Lanius collaris

Lesser Grey Shrike

Corvus capensis

Melaniparus cinerascens

Grey Penduline Tit

Anthoscopus caroli

Cape Penduline Tit

Anthoscopus minutus

Calendulauda sabota

Monotonous Lark

Mirafra passerina

Grey-rumped Swallow

Pseudhirundo griseopyga

Brown-throated Martin

Riparia paludicola

Riparia riparia

Large Rock Martin

Ptyonoprogne fuligula

Pearl-breasted Swallow

Hirundo dimidiata

White-throated Swallow

Hirundo albigularis

Greater Striped Swallow

Cecropis cucullata

Red-breasted Swallow

Cecropis semirufa

Cecropis senegalensis

South African Cliff Swallow

Petrochelidon spilodera

Red-faced Crombec

Sylvietta whytii

Greater Swamp Warbler

Acrocephalus rufescens

Lesser Swamp Warbler

Acrocephalus gracilirostris

Great Reed Warbler

Acrocephalus arundinaceus

Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

Common Reed Warbler

Acrocephalus scirpaceus

Acrocephalus palustris

Olive-tree Warbler

Hippolais olivetorum

Icterine Warbler

Hippolais icterina

Little Rush Warbler

Bradypterus baboecala

Red-faced Cisticola

Cisticola erythrops

Tinkling Cisticola

Cisticola rufilatus

Chirping Cisticola

Cisticola pipiens

Cisticola fulvicapilla

Desert Cisticola

Cisticola aridulus

Yellow-breasted Apalis

Stierling's Wren-Warbler

Calamonastes stierlingi

Barred Wren-Warbler

Calamonastes fasciolatus

Yellow-bellied Eremomela

Eremomela icteropygialis

Green-capped Eremomela

Eremomela scotops

Burnt-necked Eremomela

Eremomela usticollis

Chestnut-vented Warbler

Curruca subcoerulea

Common Whitethroat

Curruca communis

Southern Yellow White-eye

Zosterops anderssoni

Hartlaub's Babbler

Turdoides hartlaubii

Lesser Blue-eared Starling

Lamprotornis chloropterus

Red-winged Starling

Onychognathus morio

Bearded Scrub Robin

Tychaedon quadrivirgata

Kalahari Scrub Robin

Cercotrichas paena

Chat Flycatcher

Agricola infuscatus

Fiscal Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher

Muscicapa striata

Red-capped Robin-Chat

Cossypha natalensis

Thrush Nightingale

Luscinia luscinia

Ant-eating Chat

Myrmecocichla formicivora

Oenanthe familiaris

Amethyst Sunbird

Chalcomitra amethystina

Cinnyris mariquensis

Passer motitensis

Passer domesticus

Scaly-feathered Weaver

Sporopipes squamifrons

Southern Brown-throated Weaver

Ploceus xanthopterus

Yellow-crowned Bishop

White-winged Widowbird

Euplectes albonotatus

Bronze Mannikin

Spermestes cucullata

Estrilda astrild

Ortygospiza atricollis

Red-headed Finch

Amadina erythrocephala

Orange-breasted Waxbill

Amandava subflava

Orange-winged Pytilia

Purple Indigobird

Vidua purpurascens

Pin-tailed Whydah

Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah

Crithagra flaviventris

Southern Black Korhaan

American Flamingo

Phoenicopterus ruber

Asian Woolly-necked Stork

Ciconia episcopus

Butorides striata

Ardea intermedia

Northern Red-billed Hornbill

Tockus erythrorhynchus

Ethiopian Boubou

Laniarius aethiopicus

Northern Yellow White-eye

Zosterops senegalensis

Panthera pardus

African Wild Dog

Acinonyx jubatus

Southern Lechwe

Aepyceros melampus

Tragelaphus strepsiceros

African Savanna Elephant

Loxodonta africana

Common Hippopotamus

Hippopotamus amphibius

Damaliscus lunatus

Phacochoerus africanus

Syncerus caffer

Southern Giraffe

Giraffa giraffa

Black-backed Jackal

Lupulella mesomelas

Kobus ellipsiprymnus

Common Dwarf Mongoose

Helogale parvula

Raphicerus campestris

Yellow Mongoose

Cynictis penicillata

Hippotragus niger

Hippotragus equinus

Smith's Bush Squirrel

Paraxerus cepapi

Chlorocebus pygerythrus

Blue Wildebeest

Connochaetes taurinus

Common Slender Mongoose

Herpestes sanguineus

Crocuta crocuta

Malbrouck Monkey

Chlorocebus cynosuros

Mellivora capensis

African Savanna Hare

Hystrix africaeaustralis

Sub-Saharan Pygmy Mouse

Oreotragus oreotragus

Otocyon megalotis

Leptailurus serval

Southern Bushbuck

Tragelaphus sylvaticus

Lepus saxatilis

Egyptian Slit-faced Bat

Nycteris thebaica

African Wildcat

Parahyaena brunnea

Civettictis civetta

Southern Reedbuck

Redunca arundinum

Tragelaphus oryx

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