The Chobe National Park, Botswana
The Chobe National Park, which is the second largest national
park in Botswana and covers 10,566 square kilometres, it has
one of the greatest concentrations of game found on the African
continent. Its uniqueness in the abundance of wildlife and
the true African nature of the region, offers a safari experience
of a lifetime.
The original inhabitants of what is now the park were the San
people, otherwise known in Botswana as the Basarwa or Bushmen.
They were hunter-gatherers who lived by moving from one area
to another in search of water, wild fruits and wild animals.
In 1931 the idea of creating a national park in the area was
first mooted, in order to protect the wildlife from extinction
and to attract visitors. In 1932, an area of some 24,000 square
kilometres in the Chobe district was declared a non-hunting
area and the following year, the protected area was increased
to 31,600 square kilometres. However, heavy tsetse fly infestations
resulted in the whole idea lapsing in 1943.
In 1957, the idea of a national park was raised again when
an area of about 21,000 square kilometres was proposed as a
game reserve and eventually a reduced area was gazetted in
1960 as Chobe Game Reserve. Later, in 1967, the reserve was
declared a national park - the first national park in Botswana.
In 1980 and again in 1987, the boundaries were altered, increasing
the park to its present size.
A major feature of Chobe National Park is its elephant population.
First of all, the Chobe elephant comprise part of what is probably
the largest surviving continuous elephant population. This
population covers most of northern Botswana plus northwestern
Zimbabwe. The Botswana's elephant population is currently estimated
at around 120,000. This elephant population has built up steadily
from a few thousand since the early 1900s and has escaped the
massive illegal offtake that has decimated other populations
in the 1970s and 1980s. The Chobe elephant are migratory, making
seasonal movements of up to 200 kilometres from the Chobe and
Linyanti rivers, where they concentrate in the dry season,
to the pans in the southeast of the park, to which they disperse
in the rains. The elephants, in this area have the distinction
of being the largest in body size of all living elephants though
the ivory is brittle and you will not see many huge tuskers
among these rangy monsters.
The park is divided into four distinctly different
eco systems:
Serondela with
its lush plains and dense forests in the Chobe River area in
the extreme north-east
The Savuti
Marsh in the west about fifty kilometres north
of Mababe gate;
The
Linyanti Swamps in the north-west
And the dry hinterland in between
Entrance to the Park requires a daily Park Entrance Fee ( link
to current costs), For local Lodge and Hotel Residents this
is included in the price of your Game Drive.
Mobile Camping Safaris that travel through all regions of the
Park are an excellent way of discovering the diversity of The
Chobe National Park
Government Public camping grounds are situated within Chobe
at Ihaha, Savuti and Linyanti with toilet and shower facilities
available.
Each of these camping grounds has its own unique character
and a visit to each is recommended - however, it is once again
stressed that a four-wheel drive vehicle is essential. Visitors
travelling through the park should remember that this is essentially
a wilderness area and, as such, no services are available between
Kasane and Maun. Because of this, it is wise to carry basic
safety items such as water, food, fuel, torches, extra wheels,
tools, jacks and pumps. In all public camping grounds booking
for campsites is essential, through the Department of Wildlife
and National Parks at DWNP@Gov.bw .
Game viewing is at its best during the dry season April to
October, when the majority of natural pans have dried up. It
is also wise to note that no fuel supplies are available within
the park and visitors travelling between Kasane and Maun should
ensure that they are self-contained for the entire journey.
All drinking water should be boiled or chemically treated.
Mosquitoes are prevalent throughout the park and visitors are
strongly advised to take an anti-malarial prophylactic before,
during and for four weeks from visiting the park, especially
during the rainy season. |
