Chobe National Park holds Africa's greatest concentration of elephants — tens of thousands — and the way to meet them is by water: afternoon river cruises drift past herds swimming trunk-up between islands, drinking and mud-wrestling metres from the boat. Dry season, May to October, packs the riverfront densest. Base in Kasane, or day-trip across the border from Victoria Falls. Choose a small photographic boat over the double-decker party barges; the elephants notice the difference, and so will you.
Featured in Ten wildlife encounters that will humble you · Adventure