Chobe National Park takes its name from the Chobe River, which forms its northern boundary, and protects about 10,700km2 of the northern Kalahari. Its vegetation varies from the lush floodplains beside the Chobe River to the scorched Savuti Marsh, dense forests of cathedral mopane to endless kilometres of mixed, broadleaf woodlands. This is classic big game country, where herds of buffalo and elephant attain legendary proportions, matched only by some exceptionally large prides of lion.

Much of the park is devoid of water in the dry season, and the vast majority of it is inaccessible, so this chapter concentrates on the four main areas of Chobe that are accessible: the Chobe Riverfront, Ngwezumba Pans, Savuti, and the Linyanti. It also covers the Chobe Forest Reserve, a populated enclave almost surrounded by the park.