Kasane, Botswana: Chobe River Cruise

River cruises can be a good, easy and intimate way of exploring natural surroundings. It's particularly true for the Chobe River, located in Botswana. It explores the edge of Chobe National Park, and the river attracts all sorts of creatures to its shores. 

Most of the cruises start in Kasane, located near the border with Zimbabwe. After boarding, the boat heads up river and eventually checks in at the boundary of Chobe National Park. That's essentially where the best parts begin. You'll be able to see wildlife while sipping on a beverage, which is a good way to practice tourism - especially if you aren't driving. 

When we were there in August, there were some islands in the middle of the river. As you can see in the photo, a large colony of elephants hangs out there. I'm not sure if they spent most of their time there or were just visiting for a while. Still, it's quite a sight. Hippos and crocodiles hang out close to the shore, and impalas run around the area as well. 

By the way, this region is known for malaria. It's less of a problem in the winter, but checking out the medical options before visiting is a good idea.