Sunset cruises are offered in many parts of Southern Africa—from the Zambezi in Zambia to Namibia’s Caprivi Strip—but we saved ours for Botswana. The Chobe River, with its dense wildlife, did not disappoint.
We set off on a three-hour cruise from our lodge’s dock, gliding along the river on a spacious double-decker boat. While private tours were available, the open upper deck gave us stunning views without the extra cost.
Our first sighting: a bloat of hippos, some grazing in the reeds while others silently surfacing in the marsh, their eyes and ears barely breaking the surface.
You may think you’ve spotted a sleepy hippo, but a yawn doesn’t mean drowsiness—it’s a warning. Best to admire those teeth from afar.
Then came the moment we’ll never forget—our first time watching elephants swim. We spotted a small herd wading in, the younger members spraying themselves to cool off.
Our favourite part was watching them pull grass from the riverbed. After finding the perfect piece, they used their trunk to twirl the grass like spaghetti before shovelling the large morsel into their mouth.
Herds of Cape buffalo gathered silently at the river’s edge, keeping watch of their surroundings.
Of course, Mason was on high alert. He beat the guide to spotting a crocodile and a water monitor sunning itself on a rock. We’re convinced Mason’s future may involve binoculars and a safari vehicle.
As the sky shifted from soft pinks to deep purple and finally a fiery red, we knew we’d chosen the right place for this experience.
The magic of Chobe National Park isn’t just on land —cruising along the river is a fantastic way to experience wildlife from a different perspective, and gave us some of our most intimate wildlife encounters yet.
Curious about what Chobe has to offer? Read about our experiences inside the park. Into the Wild: Chobe National Park with Kids
Ready to Start Planning Your Safari Adventure?
Check out these related posts to help plan your trip:
- 51-Day Africa Safari – Part 1: South Africa & Namibia’s Coast
- 51-Day Africa Safari – Part 2: Namibia’s Etosha & Caprivi Strip
- 51-Day Africa Safari – Part 3: Victoria Falls & Botswana
- Our Best and Worst Day on Safari
- Camping Safari in Africa: Know Before You Go
- Camping Across Southern Africa: A Rundown of our Safari Campsites
- Navigating Border Crossings in Southern Africa
- Safari with Kids: Tips from the Road
- Etosha NP with Kids: A Family Safari to Remember
- Exploring the Caprivi Strip with Kids
- Okonjima Family Safari: Where the Wild Things Wait
- The Smoke that Thunders: A Trip to Victoria Falls
- Into the Wild: Chobe NP with Kids
- Living Giants: A Photo Journey Through Nxai Pan National Park
