---
type: "Article"
title: "Chobe River safari walk  – adrenaline, anyone?"
description: "We went on a walking safari along Botswana's Chobe River. It was with some trepidation that we set out on our cross-country adventure."
resource: "https://travelmemo.com/botswana/walking-safari-chobe-river"
author: "Walter Schaerer"
publisher: "Travelmemo"
photo_count: 4
tags: ["Experience", "Nature", "Safari", "Botswana"]
entities:
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/botswana"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/experience-travel"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/nature-tourism"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/safari"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/lodge"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/review"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/wildlife-tourism"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/excursion-tips"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/organizations/wilderness-safaris"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer"
generated: { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer", at: 2026-07-04T13:48:18+00:00 }
verified:
  - { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/katja-birrer", at: 2016-07-02T16:00:12+00:00 }
sources:
  - id: photos
    resource: walking-safari-chobe-river.md#photos
    title: "Original photography by Walter Schaerer"
    author: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer"
    last_modified: 2016-06-06
timestamp: 2026-07-04T13:48:18+00:00
---

# Chobe River safari walk – adrenaline, anyone?

> A guided walking safari along the Chobe River in Botswana, departing from Ngoma Safari Lodge, offering close encounters with wildlife and insight into the ecology of Chobe National Park.

## Destination
Chobe River, Botswana, adjacent to Chobe National Park; the walk departs from Ngoma Safari Lodge.

## When to go
Late June (dry season, post-rains) is described in the article; the river still runs high at this time and wildlife congregates around water sources.

## Why visit
An armed walking safari delivers an adrenaline-charged, ground-level perspective on African wildlife — tracking fresh animal prints, observing elephant behaviour, and learning to read the bush from an experienced guide.

## What to see
- **Chobe River** — A major tributary of the Zambezi, running high in late June and home to wallowing hippos, sunbathing crocodiles, and bathing elephants.
- **Wildlife at the water hole** — The lodge's man-made water hole attracts elephants, giraffes, zebras, impalas, buffaloes, Cape hunting dogs, and jackals.
- **Ghost-tree forests** — Areas of dead trees stripped bare by elephants, which knock over or ring-bark trees while feeding and scratching.
- **Baobab trees with protective fencing** — The last remaining baobabs in the area have had spiky fencing wrapped around their trunks to protect them from elephants.
- **Antlion funnel traps** — Small beetles that dig sand funnels to trap passing ants — a highlight pointed out by guide Peter during the walk.

## What to do
- **Armed walking safari** — A guided on-foot excursion led by the lodge manager, rifle in hand, tracking fresh animal prints along the Chobe River.
- **Animal-track reading** — The guide teaches guests to interpret tracks and behavioural signs of the park's wildlife during the walk.
- **Chobe National Park jeep excursion** — A separate vehicle-based game drive into Chobe National Park, referenced as the safer complement to the walking safari.

## Good to know
Botswana's elephant population (around 200,000) significantly exceeds the land's estimated carrying capacity of 150,000, making overgrazing and deforestation a serious local issue despite the photogenic scenery. Caracao grass, introduced by Central American missionaries, is now an invasive species that can clog waterways and hydropower stations.

## Photos

```yaml
photos:
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/walking-safari-Ngoma-Safari-Lodge-Botswana.jpg"
    caption: "Ngoma Safari Lodge"
    keywords: ["Africa Albida Tourism", "Botswana", "Chobe", "Katja", "Ngoma Safari Lodge", "Peter", "Walter Schaerer", "luxury travel", "one-of-a-kind travel experience", "walking safari"]
    captured: 2016-06-02
    credit: "Walter Schaerer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Ngoma-Safari-Lodge-Botswana-20.jpg"
    caption: "Ngoma Safari Lodge"
    keywords: ["Africa Albida Tourism", "Botswana", "Chobe", "Chobe National Park", "Ngoma Safari Lodge", "Safari", "luxury travel", "one-of-a-kind travel experience", "sunset"]
    captured: 2016-06-01
    credit: "Walter Schaerer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/crocodile-teeth.jpg"
    caption: "Dösendes Krokodil"
    keywords: ["Africa Albida Tourism", "Botswana", "Chobe", "Chobe National Park", "Ngoma Safari Lodge", "Safari", "crocodile", "teeth"]
    captured: 2016-06-01
    credit: "Walter Schaerer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/zebra-dead-tree-Botswana.jpg"
    caption: "Zebra und sein toter Baum"
    keywords: ["Botswana", "Kings Pool", "Linyanti", "Safari", "Wilderness Camps", "dead tree", "zebra"]
    captured: 2016-06-06
    credit: "Walter Schaerer"
```