Chobe Safari Day Trip from Livingstone: Game Drive & Boat Cruise

Land and water wildlife in one day across Chobe's open savanna and river

A full-day safari in Chobe National Park combines a morning game drive across open grassland with an afternoon boat cruise on the Chobe River, both led by an English-speaking guide. The day includes a buffet lunch at a hotel in the park and all transfers between Livingstone and Chobe. A minimum of two people is required to book.

Step-by-step itinerary

Chobe National Park Safari and River Cruise

• Morning game drive in Chobe Park
• Buffet lunch at Top Hotel
• Afternoon river safari on Chobe River

The Experience

The day splits into two halves, each showing a different side of Chobe. The morning game drive takes you across the park in an open vehicle where you stand a chance at seeing four of the Big Five—lions, leopards, buffalo and elephants—along with giraffes, wild dogs, birds and smaller animals moving through the grassland. The afternoon river safari on the Chobe River gives you a closer, safer vantage on wildlife that congregates at the water: elephants wading in, hippos surfacing, crocodiles on the banks, and dozens of bird species in the trees and islands along the channel. The shift from land to water means you are not watching the same animals from the same angle twice.

Lunch sits between the two drives at a hotel buffet inside the park—help-yourself with vegetarian and meat options, plus bottled water and soft drinks included throughout the day. The guide decides whether to run the game drive first or the river cruise first depending on animal movement and light, so the order can shift. All transfers run between Livingstone and Chobe, meaning you do not arrange separate transport to the park entrance.

The full day runs 11 hours from pickup to return. Infants can sit on an adult's lap, and the activity suits all fitness levels, though the game drive vehicle has open sides and the boat is exposed to sun and wind, so bring a hat and sunscreen. A live English-speaking guide leads both the drive and the cruise.

What’s included

• Morning game drive in an open vehicle with a chance to see four of the Big Five and other wildlife.
• buffet lunch with vegetarian and meat options.
• afternoon river cruise on the Chobe River.
• bottled water and soft drinks during the drive and cruise.
• all transfers between Livingstone and Chobe.
• English-speaking guide for both the drive and the boat.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by African Safari Experience Ltd

Is this one for you?Book this if you want both a morning game drive through open savanna and an afternoon boat cruise on the river in one day, seeing elephants and predators from land, then hippos and birds from water.

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Top questions

What animals am I most likely to see on the game drive and river cruise?

Chobe is home to roughly one third of Africa's elephants, so you have strong odds of seeing them on both the morning drive and the afternoon river cruise. Lions, leopards, buffalo, giraffes and wild dogs appear on the land portion; hippos, crocodiles, elephants again and a wide range of bird species gather along the Chobe River where the boat goes.

Is lunch included in the day trip price?

Yes, a buffet lunch at a hotel in the park is included, with a choice of vegetarian and meat dishes. Soft drinks come with lunch and are also provided during the game drive and boat cruise; other drinks at the buffet are not included.

How long does the full day take from Livingstone?

The safari runs 11 hours total, including the morning game drive, the buffet lunch break, the afternoon river cruise and all transfers between Livingstone and Chobe National Park.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to Chobe, or is it included?

All transfers between Livingstone and Chobe are included in the tour, so you do not need to book separate transport to the park.

What is the difference between the game drive and the river cruise?

The morning game drive takes place in an open vehicle across the park's grassland and woodland, where you see land animals like elephants, lions and giraffes. The afternoon river cruise on the Chobe River puts you on the water where hippos, crocodiles and water birds congregate at the banks and islands, and you see elephants and other animals from a different angle as they come to drink.

How many people do I need to book this tour?

A minimum of two people is required to run this safari.