Rise early for a day of birding along the Chobe River, which is dominated by an impressive sandy ridge with broad-leafed woodland vegetation. As you move into the valley the impact of the high elephant population is felt, with the paucity of large trees that typically line the rivers of sub-tropical Africa. The river itself is broad and meandering and in the flood season is an impressive sight. To the east, outside of the park, lie the riparian forests that are home to so many of the more tropical species whose ranges end abruptly in north-eastern Botswana.
Bird life along the river is plentiful and you can hope to see the African fish eagle, Tawny eagle, African openbill stork, Marabou stork, Sacred ibis, Pied kingfisher, Cattle egret, Great egret, Spur-winged goose as well as the glorious Lilac-breasted roller. Bat-hawk, Cuckoo hawk, Eurasian hobby falcon* and Ovambo sparrowhawk are more interesting raptors you can hope to see today, whilst. Corncrake*, African crake*, African rail, Luapula cisticola, Malachite kingfisher, Quail finch and Rosy-throated longclaw are found on the edges of the floodplain. Large flocks of Great white pelican investigate the drying pools as the floodwaters recede. Much larger flocks of the nomadic Red-winged pratincole and also Black-winged pratincole, numbering in their thousands, can be found on the drying floodplains. The woodlands also support Racket-tailed roller, Stierlings wren-warbler, Tree pipit* and Miombo rock-thrush (*=migratory species).
Chobe National Park is also home to vast herds of buffalo and elephant, and large numbers of hippo, as well as numerous other species which roam these floodplains. During the dry season, vast elephant herds migrate from both south and north to congregate in their thousands along the Chobe River – the largest concentration of elephants in the whole of Africa. This migration of wildlife is possibly due to the creation of protected wildlife corridors, which allow the elephants to travel between the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Park (KAZA) countries safely. Also hope to see lion, jackal, giraffe, kudu, crocodiles, waterbuck, warthogs, baboons, puku, sable and roan antelope and many other interesting animals. Note there are no cheetah near the river and leopards, although present, are rarely seen.
After a beautiful African sunset, enjoy the balmy evening and pristine stars of the Milky Way as you have never seen them before – as well as the spectacular Southern Cross.