High on African Safari: A Journey Through Botswana's Chobe National Park

There are few places on Earth that capture the soul quite like the African continent. Vast open skies, raw wilderness, and an orchestra of life in motion — it’s impossible not to fall in love. A while back, I took a trip home to Zimbabwe with my partner. We had Victoria Falls on our itinerary, and I knew I couldn’t leave without a safari adventure.

Having explored Hwange before, we decided on crossing the border for a full-day safari through Chobe National Park, Botswana — a decision that became one of that trip's highlights.

Crossing Borders into Botswana for an African Safari Adventure

After an early breakfast, we set off for the Zimbabwe–Botswana border, pausing now and then to admire animals along the roadside — a casual reminder that an African safari adventure starts before any park gates.

The border crossing was smooth. My passport is Zimbabwean so I'm visa exempt. My partner whose passport is Spanish had the KAZA visa which covers Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Botswana, allowing visitors to come and go between these countries hustle free. I defintely recomend getting this visa so you can maximise on your African Safari Adevnture in Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia. We were soon in Kasane, a quiet town that borders the park. At Chobe Marina Lodge, a smiling Tswana hostess briefed us on the day’s plan — a river safari in the morning, and a game drive in the afternoon.

Safari Cruise on the Chobe River

The Chobe River, which shimmered under the morning sun, is a lifeline for countless animals. It separates Botswana from Namibia, and every inch of its banks teems with life.

We drifted past elephants, hippos, crocodiles, water buffalo, and herds of giraffes grazing along the island shores. The captain referred to baboons our “clever cousins,” and I had to laugh — I recalled the cheeky baboon I'd seen snatching a slice of cake from a tourist’s plate in Victoria Falls.

“Being surrounded by wildlife in its natural rhythm is humbling — you’re a spectator in a world that runs perfectly without you.”

A hippo with a battle scar grazed peacefully beside a small bird plucking worms from the grass. Crocodiles dozed in the sun; one suddenly lunged into the water, startling us all. Everywhere, life coexisted in perfect, unspoken harmony.

Then came the birds — so many that I stopped counting after a while. From regal fish eagles to flocks of Egyptian geese, each species seemed to perform just for us. One vibrant bird spread its wings theatrically before flying off, as if to ask, “Did you enjoy the show?”

Game Drive Through the Savannah

After a delicious lunch at the lodge, we swapped boats for open-air 4x4s and rumbled into the wilderness. Within minutes, we were surrounded by kudu, their spiral horns gleaming in the sunlight. Two males were locked in a fierce yet elegant dance, competing for the same female.

Next came the impalas — the safari’s ever-present icons. “Staple food of the carnivore,” our guide joked. Around them, baboons ran wild: mothers with babies clinging to their fur, juveniles tumbling through branches, and alpha males standing tall, their confidence unmistakable.

When Giants Gather

As the sun began to fade, the golden hour painted Chobe in soft amber light. We arrived at a watering hole, where elephants gathered in quiet ceremony — some drinking, others bathing or scratching their backs against trees. Nearby, hippos lazed in the shallows, their slick backs glinting in the dusk.

“There’s something deeply grounding about watching elephants move — slow, deliberate, and wise beyond measure.”

From afar, they looked like moving sculptures of strength and serenity. It was one of those moments that etches itself into memory — the kind of beauty you don’t just see, you feel.

The Call to Return

As the day ended, I wasn’t ready to leave. But nature has its rhythm — and so does travel. My only solace was knowing we had a night safari booked for the following evening. I would get another high before my trip home ended.

Back in Victoria Falls the next evening, we would venture into the night for another African safari adventure at Livingstone and Stanley. One that brought us face-to-face with a ranging rhino. This guy was in for the chase. A few scratches of his hoof in the sand, and it was on. There were five on us on the jeep. Our knowledgeable and skilled guide, ourselves and another couple. We were all aware of what was coming. Holding onto the rails tight enough to find what little comfort one can find on a speeding jeep escaping a fierce rhino in the wild. Respectfully excusing ourselves for having invaded its space. It wasn't long before we were clear of the rhino and the sun had completely set. Relief setting in where fear and exhileration had been moments earlier. A reminder that out in the wild, we do not control the variables, and outcomes aren't always predictable.

By the end of our trip, I’d seen all of an African safari's Big Five, except one — the elusive leopard.

And that’s how Africa calls to you — even when you call it home. There’s always one more horizon to chase, one more encounter waiting beyond the trees, one more reminder of how extraordinary our continent truly is.

And return we shall. In 3 months I will be back on the continent and our next African Safari Adventure takes us to South Africa's Kruger National Park. Hopefully there, the leopard will not elude us.

If you’ve ever dreamed of connecting or reconnecting with the wild spirit of Africa, Chobe National Park is a perfect place to start — a reminder that the magic of this land never fades; it simply waits for you to return.

“Africa doesn’t just live in the wild — it lives in us.”

*In 2019 I wrote a version of this trip for Nzira Travel Magazine. The piece was published under their "African Adventuring" section.