CHOBE VERSUS ETOSHA: WHICH NATIONAL PARK IS BEST?
Chobe National Park in Botswana and Etosha National Park in Namibia are top-draw safari destinations in southern Africa. Both are located in countries that have a dry, arid climate yet boast a great diversity of fauna and flora.
Botswana and Namibia’s flagship national parks have so much to offer in the way of wildlife, scenery and gorgeous places to stay. You’ll find it hard to choose between the two.
Chobe National Park
Chobe National Park lies nestled in the northern region of Botswana, against the country’s border with Namibia. It’s world-renowned as the ‘Home of the Elephant’, boasting the largest population of elephant in Africa. Last count, Chobe was home to over 120 000 of these gentle giants.
You’ll also find large populations of Cape buffalo and endless herds of zebra and wildebeest in the migration season. Chobe is also a top-notch birding destination with over 450 recorded bird species.
The lifeblood of the national park is the beautiful Chobe River. The lush floodplains of Chobe River and the dense riverine forests attract a density of game and birdlife that is quite hard to believe until you see it. The beautiful Chobe River is also why the national park is so popular for idyllic canoe safaris.
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Etosha National Park
Etosha National Park is Namibia’s flagship safari destination, offering visitors a completely different experience. A striking feature of the national park is the Etosha Pan which is a natural salt lake that covers 23% of the total area. The salt pan is so large it can be seen from space.
Despite being located in the driest region in southern Africa with a harsh desert climate, Etosha National Park is renowned for its rich fauna and flora. It’s home to 4 out of the Big 5 (no buffalo), an abundance of antelope and plains game as well as over 340 recorded bird species.
Etosha’s claim to fame is its strong population of black rhino, one of the most vulnerable mammals on the continent. Game viewing in Etosha is relatively easy because the animals tend to congregate close to the man-made waterholes.
Annual flooding transforms the parched salt pan into a glistening shallow lake and this is when the pelican and flamingo show begins. After seasonal flooding, Etosha Pan is blanketed by a pink carpet of these quirky birds who feed on the nutrient-rich algae on the sides of the salt pan.
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Chobe versus Etosha: which one would we pick?
It’s impossible to pick one as the best as they both offer so much but are also so different. Looking at the basic criteria for a stunning safari tour in Africa, these are the main considerations.
On price and accessibility
Chobe National Park is for the adventurous nature lover with a bigger travel budget. Botswana’s low-volume, high-income tourism model makes it a pricey safari destination. The trade-off is Chobe offers an exceptional safari holiday that’s exclusive and authentic.
Most people book fly-in/fly-out charter flights from Johannesburg or Maun and that’s pretty much what makes Chobe a more expensive safari destination.
Etosha National Park comes with a lower price tag, mostly because it’s more accessible. It’s a scenic 4.5-hour drive from the airport in Windhoek and you can comfortably do a self-drive safari tour on well-maintained roads in a sedan or 2×4 vehicle.
On tourist numbers
Chobe National Park can receive anything up to 2.5 million visitors a year, with the highest numbers in the busy safari season between end April and September. It often means there is congestion at wildlife sightings and you have to ‘queue to view’. There are more remote places you can visit in Chobe to escape the safari crowds so do your homework for a more authentic and exclusive safari tour of Chobe.
Compared to Chobe and other popular safari destinations in Africa, Etosha National Park is essentially empty. The scale of the Park is so vast, you might only pass one car on the road in the quiet months. This is particularly appealing for those who don’t like to share their animal sightings with the safari hordes but feeling like you’re all on your own in the middle of nowhere can be a little daunting for some.
You might want to consider a Kruger National Park Safari including a stopover Cape Town Tour.
On accommodation
Chobe National Park only has three public campsites and they can only be accessed by a rugged 4×4 vehicle. They book up well in advance so you need to plan your holiday to Chobe well ahead of time. Chobe has 9 safari lodges and they also book up months in advance. They’re not cheap but well worth the price for an exclusive safari experience.
Etosha National Park offers a wider range of accommodation for every type of travel budget. The Park offers a number of well-maintained campsites for the more budget-conscious traveller and a selection of safari lodges and hotels that range from comfortable to ultra-luxury.
On malaria
Chobe is located in a malaria region in southern Africa. Anti-malaria tablets are highly recommended on a safari holiday, particularly in the late rainy season which is roughly from January to April.
Etosha is located in a malaria-free region. In fact, it’s generally free of mosquitoes in the colder winter months between end April and September. Pack insect spray purely as a repellent.
