Chobe signals stronger profits as tourism boom continues
Lewanika Timothy | Wednesday May 20, 2026 06:00
In a cautionary announcement published on the Botswana Stock Exchange this week, the safari and hospitality group said its profit before tax is expected to increase by between 17% and 27% compared to the previous financial year.
The projected jump translates to an additional P33 million to P52 million above the P194.3 million profit before tax reported in the comparative period ended February 2025.
“The board would like to announce that the Group’s Profit Before Tax for the year ended February 28, 2026, is likely to be between 17% and 27% higher than that reported for the comparative period,” the company stated in the cautionary announcement.
The latest guidance points to another strong year for one of Botswana’s biggest tourism operators as demand for luxury safari experiences continues to rebound across key international markets.
Chobe Holdings owns premium tourism brands including Desert & Delta Safaris and Ker & Downey Botswana, with operations concentrated in the Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park, and Linyanti regions.
The improved outlook comes as Botswana’s tourism sector continues to benefit from strong international demand for premium safari destinations, particularly from Europe and North America, where high-spending travellers have increasingly returned following years of post-pandemic recovery. Industry operators have also benefited from stronger room rates, improved occupancies and aggressive international marketing campaigns positioning Botswana as an exclusive eco-tourism destination.
The company’s improved outlook follows a strong half-year performance in which revenue rose sharply on the back of higher occupancy levels and improved yields across its lodge portfolio.
In its previous financial results, the group had indicated that revenue growth was being driven by strong marketing initiatives and stabilising international travel demand, although rising operational costs had weighed on overall profitability during the 2025 financial year.
The cautionary announcement is significant for investors because Botswana Stock Exchange listing rules require companies to alert shareholders whenever financial results are expected to differ materially from previous reporting periods.