The Chobe National Park, which is the second largest national park
in Botswana and covers 10,566 square kilometres, 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.
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 north-western 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: the lush pains and dense forest of the Serondela area in the extreme north east, the Savuti marshlands of the west, the Linyanti swamps in the north-west and the dry hinterlands inbetween.
Southern Africa / Botswana / Chobe National Park
Kings Pool Camp
Savuti
Situated in North Botswana, between Okavango & Chobe, within the private Linyanti Concession ,borders Chobe National Park to the east and overlooks Linyanti River and Kings Pool lagoon. Elephant are found all
year round but peak roughly from May till late Oct. Lion are seen regularly and it is a good area for Leopard and Wild Dogs. Plains game is good year round but peaks in the dry months. Excellent birding especially Carmine Bee-eaters in summer.
Great hippo and game viewing on the lagoon in from of camp.
Rooms
Number of tents: 9 tents in total consisting of: - 8 x ¾ twin bedded tents - 1 kingsize-bedded honeymoon tented suite under thatch with a ball & claw bath - 1 twin guide room en-suite which comprises 2 tented rooms sharing 1 bathroom (it is not the same standard as these premier guest units although it is similar to a vintage camp tent.
In the Rooms
Tent details: - Luxury tented rooms with thatched roof bathrooms - Views from tents of lagoon year round - Plunge pool in each unit - Sala at each unit - Lounge area in each unit -Stacking doors with shade net in the frame which can fold open onto the deck if you want it all open - Fans in all guest tents - Brick and thatch bathroom tiled walls and floor - Each unit has a dressing area (rectangular shape subdivided by luggage rack/cupboard), bedroom, bathroom (separate toilet, double vanity and basin, shower, sliding door off the front to the deck with an outside shower) - Rooms built on raised teak deck - Soaps, shampoos and insect repellent are supplied in each tent - Outdoor shower
Facilities: Large dining room, pub and lounge under thatch, deck on stilted platforms,swimming pool, curio shop, open air boma for dinner around camp fire, camp hide with underground hides near the camp.
Can do cocktail Reception between DumaTau and King Pool (on request only for large groups taking over both camps).
Things to do:
Game drives via 4 x 10 seater open 4 x 4 Land Rovers each accommodating a maximum of seven guests, allowing all guests an outside seat
Walking safaris
Hides for Game viewing
SUGGESTED DAILY ACTIVITY SCHEDULE
Below is only a suggestion as to what may happen in camp - as daily wildlife sightings tend to throw the schedule right out of schedule.
Summer/winter
05h00/06h00 - Wake up call. Light continental breakfast consisting of cereals, tea/coffee/juices and pastries to be served in the dining area.
05h30/06h30 - Depart on morning activity, returning to camp at approximately 10h00.
10h00/11h00 - Brunch will be served, this will consist of a selection of breakfast and lunch dishes. From now until afternoon tea, guests will be at leisure. The hides are available for midday activity.
15h00/16h00 - Afternoon tea will be serviced - this will consist of a selection of sweet and savoury snacks.
15h30/16h30 - Depart on afternoon game viewing activity - drinks and snacks will be served for sundowners during the course of the activity.
19h00/19h30 - Return to camp (but could be later if good game sightings).
19h30/20h00 - Pre-dinner drinks and snacks will be served at the pub.
20h00/20h30 - Three course dinner - generally speaking the starter, main course and desert is served.
21h00/21h30 - Coffee and liqueurs will be served at the camp fire.
Children: Children over 8 years are welcome
Restaurant:All meals are served in the dining room.
Credit Cards Accepted: Visa and Mastercard
Additional Information: All drinks are included in the nightly tariff, with the exception of premium wines & champagne, and premium liqueurs & spirits.
Laundry is done on a daily basis and inclusive in the nightly tariff
Flying times to/from Maun 45 minutes To/from Kasane 45 minutes Kasane to Victoria Falls 20 minutes.
Southern Africa / Botswana / Chobe National Park
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BEST TIME TO VISIT AND THINGS TO DO
1. Bird Watching
A broad mix of habitats ensures that Botswana attracts a huge variety of bird species. More than 550 species have been recorded including 440 in the Okovango region and 460 in the Kasane region. Each year during the rainy season the Makgadigadi Pans fills up with water attracting hundreds of thousands of colourful migrating water birds to the region. The best time to visit is between November and March when the intra African and European migrants are present.
2. Fishing
More than 80 species of fish with tiger, bream and barbel being the most common are found in the Okovango Delta and Chobe River systems.
3. Game Viewing
Botswana is arguably one of the best safari destinations in the world with more than 37% of its land area set aside for national parks, reserves and wildlife management areas. It boasts the largest elephant population in the world and is home to over 164 mammal species and 157 reptile species. Some of the most animal rich national parks include Chobe National park, Moremi Game Reserve/Okovango Delta, Tuli Game Reserve, Central Kalahari game Reserve and the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. You can safari by vehicle, boat or by foot. Best game viewing months are in the dry season between May and August when the animals congregate near the water.
4. Rock Art
West of the Okovango Delta in the Tsodilo Hills there are more than 4000 rock paintings at 500 individual sites chronicling thousands of years of human life in the area. Botswana is still home to around 3000 San (or Bushmen) people who follow a hunter-gatherer tradition dating back 100 000 years. Some of these communities can be found close to Tsodilo Hills.
CAPITAL: Gaborone
CLIMATE:
Summer: Summer runs from November to April and it is very hot and wet. Day time temperatures can be as high as 38 degrees C with night time temperatures averaging around 23C. It is also Botswana’s rainy season with most rains falling in the afternoon.
Winter: Winter runs from May to October and is dry, sunny and cool with daytime temperatures averaging 20C and nights averaging around 5 C
COMMUNICATION:
The international country code is +267
All major cities have good cellular network coverage, but once you go off the main routes or into the national parks there is no reception.
Internet cafes are available in Gaborone, Maun, Kasane and Francistown
ELECTRICITY:
220/240V. Two plug types are used: a three round pin and a two parallel flat pin with rectangular grounder. Many of the game lodges rely on generators for power.
LANGUAGE:
The official language is English and it is spoken widely, especially in the tourist areas. The national language is Setswana.
TIME: GMT + 2 hours
ENTERING AND GETTING AROUND:
AIRPORT DEPARTURE TAX: None
ARRIVAL BY AIR:
Botswana has 3 main airport arrival hubs being Gaborone, Maun and Kasane
CUSTOMS:
Duty free allowance of 400 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 g of tobacco, 2 litres of wine and 1 litre of spirits, 50 ml of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette
Botswana strictly enforces its laws regarding the trade in animal products and it is illegal to remove any living or dead animal or trophy made from an animal without a government permit.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:
A valid passport is required to enter Botswana and the validity date needs to be atleast 6 months after the visitor intends to leave the country. Visitors may also be asked to produce outgoing travel documents and proof of sufficient funds to finance their stay. All visitors must check for visa requirements and these need to be obtained prior to travel. No visas are issued at port of entry.
HEALTH
Please check with your local doctor on which immunizations are deemed necessary and whether malaria prophylactics should be taken. Northern Botswana is considered a malaria risk area between November and May/June.
It is strongly recommended that you ensure that you have adequate medical insurance when visiting Botswana as private hospitals will turn away patients who cannot demonstrate ability to pay. Make sure this includes medical evacuation insurance.
MONEY
ATM’S: Available in most major towns
BANKS: There are 4 commercial banks in Botswana with branches in most major towns and villages. These are Barclays bank of Botswana, First National Bank of Botswana, Stanbic Bank Botswana and Standard Chartered Bank. Opening hours vary but most banks are open Monday to Friday from 09h00 to 15h30. Saturdays from 08h15 to 10h45.
CREDIT CARDS: Most hotels, lodges and main town restaurants and shops accept credit cards. Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Diners Club cards are widely accepted, but not all vendors accept all 4.
CURRENCY: The official currency is the Pula (BWP) which is available in denominations of P10, P20, P50 and P100 in notes. P1, P2, P5 and available in coins. Smaller units are called thebe
FOREIGN EXCHANGE:
Money can be changed at banks and government authorised Bureaux de Change. Many hotels and lodges will accept foreign currency. Bureaux de Change are found in major towns and Gaborone and Maun airports.
TRAVELLERS CHEQUES:
Travellers cheques can be cashed at Bureaux de Change and banks and are usually accepted by most hotels and game lodges.
The Chobe National Park, which is the second largest national park 
