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Frequently asked questions.
How much does the Chobe day trip cost?
From Victoria Falls or Livingstone around 100 to 350 USD per person, depending on the operator, group size and inclusions, usually plus 20 USD park fee in cash. From Kasane, boat cruise and game drive cost from around 45 to 50 USD each plus park fee. The visa for the return to Zimbabwe and tips come on top.
Do I need a passport and visa?
A passport is compulsory; even from Kasane it is checked at the gate together with the fee receipt. Germans enter Botswana visa-free. For the return to Zimbabwe in the evening you need a double-entry visa, the KAZA visa or a new single-entry visa for 30 USD; Zambia is visa-free for Germans.
Can I drive through Chobe myself?
Yes, with a 4x4 and cash for 270 BWP per person and 115 BWP per vehicle at the Sedudu Gate. The tracks on the Riverfront are sand, and leaving the track is prohibited. For the boat cruise you book an operator in Kasane anyway.
Boat or 4x4, which is more worthwhile?
In the dry season the boat: elephants, buffalo, hippos, crocodiles and water birds can be watched close up and calmly from the water. The 4x4 shows the hinterland with giraffes, antelope and, with luck, big cats. The standard tour does both, and that is the right choice.
When is the best time to visit Chobe?
May to October, when the elephants are at the river; the highest density is in September and October, but then in heat above 40 °C. June to August is cooler and very good for the boat cruise. November to March is green, rich in birds and cheaper, but the animals are scattered.
Do I need malaria prophylaxis?
The Chobe District is a year-round high-risk area according to the German Federal Foreign Office, as are Victoria Falls and Livingstone. For such areas, drug prophylaxis after medical advice is recommended, plus mosquito protection. Clarify this with a tropical medicine specialist before you travel.
Does Chobe work with children?
Yes, children under 8 pay no park fee, 8 to 17 half, and many operators offer child prices. The boat cruise is child-friendly, the long day with the border and the heat less so. Botswana requires a birth certificate for minors.
How many elephants are there in Chobe?
For the national park, Elephants Without Borders gives 15,404 animals from the 2018 count, with a declining trend since 2006. Botswana as a whole had around 131,909 elephants in 2022, more than any other country. At the river you still see herds of hundreds of animals in the dry season, because they come to the water from the surrounding area.
When do the park gates open?
According to operators, the Sedudu Gate opens at 06:00 and closes at 18:30 from April to September, and from October to March 05:30 to 19:00. An official DWNP page with gate times could not be retrieved; the operators in Kasane know the current times.
Do you see the same animals from the boat as from the 4x4?
No. From the boat, hippos, crocodiles, water birds and drinking or swimming elephants are in the foreground; from the 4x4, antelope, giraffes, buffalo herds in the woodland and, with luck, big cats. That is why the combination makes sense.
