To book Lorato, message us on WhatsApp at +267 7430 4407, email [email protected], or send the enquiry form on loratocamping.com. Camping is $20 per person per night booked direct. A hired tent is $55 including the camping fee. We ask for a 50% deposit, and cancellation is free up to 7 days before arrival. Sending an enquiry costs nothing and needs no payment.
Key facts
- Price: $20 per person per night, booked direct. Children aged 0 to 12 pay half price.
- Tent hire: $55 per night, including the camping fee. Tents sleep 2 and come with beds, mattresses and bedding.
- Pitch limit: at most 6 people and 3 vehicles per pitch.
- Check-in and check-out: check in at any time, check out by 11:00.
- Deposit and cancellation: 50% deposit. Free cancellation up to 7 days before arrival; after that the first night is charged.
- Payment: Tab in advance or on arrival, or cash, card or EFT on arrival.
- Open: all year. Quiet hours 22:00 to 07:00.
How do I book a campsite at Lorato?
Send us your dates and numbers by WhatsApp, email or the website form, then pay the deposit once we confirm space. You can send an enquiry without paying anything.
- Pick a way to ask. WhatsApp on +267 7430 4407 is the fastest (open WhatsApp). Or email [email protected], or use the enquiry form on the Lorato home page. All three reach the same person.
- Send the details below so we can answer in one reply.
- We check space and reply with availability and the total for your stay.
- Pay the 50% deposit to confirm, as agreed with us (see below).
- Arrive at any time, check out by 11:00, and pay the balance on arrival by cash, card or EFT, or by Tab.
What should I send when I book?
Send your dates, the number of adults and children, your vehicle, whether you need a hire tent and your expected arrival time.
- Dates: arrival night and departure day.
- People: adults, and children aged 0 to 12 (they pay half price). A pitch holds at most 6 people and 3 vehicles.
- Vehicle and setup: for example a 4x4 with a rooftop tent, a caravan or a tent on the ground.
- Tent hire: how many tents you need. Each sleeps 2 and costs $55 a night including the camping fee.
- Arrival time and whether you are crossing the Ngoma border that day.
- Your name and a contact number.
When is my booking confirmed?
Tlale confirms that bookings made through the website are confirmed instantly. The enquiry form on the home page sends us your request, and for WhatsApp or email we reply with availability and the total. Your pitch is secured once we have agreed the booking with you and the 50% deposit is arranged.
How do the deposit and payment work?
We ask for a 50% deposit to confirm a booking, paid by Tab in advance. The balance is paid in advance or on arrival, by Tab, cash, card or EFT.
- Example: two adults for 2 nights at $20 comes to $80, so the deposit is $40.
- Booking.com does not take prepayment for Lorato. Booking direct is cheaper, and we pay no commission.
- There are no ATMs nearby, so bring cash if you plan to pay in cash on arrival.
What if I need to cancel?
Cancel free of charge up to 7 days before arrival. After that, the first night is charged. Message us on WhatsApp as soon as plans change.
What time can I arrive?
You can check in at any time, and check-out is by 11:00. Tell us your expected arrival time so someone is ready for you. Quiet hours are 22:00 to 07:00, so after 22:00 please arrive and set up quietly. If you are crossing from Namibia, the Ngoma border post guide has the border hours, so plan your day around them. Message us from the border if you are running late.
What should I bring?
- Your own food and drinks to cook. We no longer serve food, though cold drinks are on sale. Muchenje has a butchery and small shops, and Kasane has the supermarkets.
- Cash if you will pay on arrival. There are no ATMs nearby, and a Shell fuel station is 1 km away.
- Your own tent and camp kit, or book a hire tent (beds, mattresses and bedding are provided).
- A way to charge your devices. All 7 pitches have solar power points. The camp is off-grid.
- Border papers if you are crossing. A rental car from Namibia needs a letter, see the rental car letter guide.
Prices and booking rules
| Item | What applies |
|---|---|
| Camping | $20 per person per night, booked direct (website, WhatsApp or walk-in) |
| Children | Ages 0 to 12 pay half price ($10 per night) |
| Tent hire | $55 per night including the camping fee. Each tent sleeps 2. See tent hire near Chobe |
| Pitch limit | At most 6 people and 3 vehicles per pitch |
| Check-in | Any time |
| Check-out | By 11:00 |
| Deposit | 50% to confirm |
| Cancellation | Free up to 7 days before arrival. After that, the first night is charged |
| Payment | Tab in advance or on arrival, or cash, card or EFT on arrival |
A worked example. Two adults in their own rooftop tent for 2 nights pay 2 x $20 x 2 = $80. Two adults and two children (aged 0 to 12) pay $20 + $20 + $10 + $10 = $60 a night. A couple who hire a tent pay $55 a night.
We offer 10% off for groups of 5 or more and for longer stays, in all seasons for now. Ask us when you book about how many nights count as a longer stay.
Booking.com and other travel sites list Lorato at a higher price than the direct rate. Booking direct with us is cheaper, and we pay no commission.
Families and groups
- Children aged 0 to 12 pay half price: $10 per night instead of $20.
- A pitch holds at most 6 people and 3 vehicles. A family of 6 with 2 vehicles fits on one pitch. A larger group takes two pitches, and we have 7 pitches in all.
- Example: two adults and two children for 3 nights is 3 x ($20 + $20 + $10 + $10) = $180.
- Groups of 5 or more and longer stays get 10% off in all seasons for now. The camp holds about 40 people in total, so message us early for a group.
- Hire tents: each sleeps 2, so a family of four needs two tents ($110 a night), or bring your own.
What is included in the price
- A pitch on green grass. There are 7 pitches, and all 7 have solar power points. The camp is off-grid.
- Hot showers and clean ablutions.
- Free Starlink Wi-Fi.
- A boma with fire pits to cook and sit around.
- Cold drinks on sale. We no longer serve food, so bring your own. Muchenje village has a butchery and small shops, and Kasane has the supermarkets.
Booking Lorato versus booking a campsite inside the park
Chobe National Park has a small number of campsites, and they work differently from a campsite outside the gate. This is how they compare, using the figures in our Botswana camping guide.
| Inside the park (Ihaha, Savuti, Linyanti) | Lorato, Muchenje | |
|---|---|---|
| Who you book with | The private operator that runs the campsite. SKL runs Savuti and Linyanti; Kwalate Safaris runs Ihaha | Lorato directly |
| Price per adult per night | Set by each operator and changed each year. Ask for the current rate | $20 |
| Park fees | Paid on top, to the Department of Wildlife and National Parks | None to sleep at Lorato |
| Deposit | Set by each operator. Ask when you book | 50%, with free cancellation up to 7 days before |
| How far ahead | Book months ahead for June to October | Message us with your dates |
| Fence | Unfenced. Lions, elephants and hyenas walk through at night | Fenced |
| Facilities | Basic, and they vary by site | Hot water, solar power at every pitch, Wi-Fi |
Park campsites give you a night in the bush, which is the point of them. Lorato is a different kind of stop: a base on the tar with a fence, hot water and a lawn, 15 minutes from the Ngoma border and close to Ngoma Gate. Many travellers do both, a night with us on arrival or departure and a night or two inside the park. Our guide to camping near Chobe National Park compares the options in more detail.
Planning your dates
- Coming from Namibia. Ngoma is not open 24 hours. Plan to cross between 08:00 and 17:00 and use the campsite near the Ngoma border page for the last stretch.
- Heading to Savuti. Lorato is on the last tar before the sand. See Kasane to Savuti.
- Visiting the park. Ngoma Gate is about 7 km away. Read the Ngoma Gate day-drive guide for hours and fees.
- High season is April to October. Message early for those months.
What happens after I book?
You will have our WhatsApp number and a confirmed stay. If your plans change, tell us at least 7 days ahead and there is no charge. Your host is Tlale, the owner, who answers the WhatsApp number himself. Guests praise the clean ablutions, hot water and quiet nights. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How do I book a campsite at Chobe?
For Lorato in Muchenje, message us on WhatsApp at +267 7430 4407, email [email protected] or send the enquiry form on loratocamping.com. For campsites inside the park, book with the operator that runs each one, such as SKL for Savuti and Linyanti.
How much does it cost to camp at Lorato?
Camping is $20 per person per night booked direct. Children aged 0 to 12 pay half price. A hired tent is $55 per night including the camping fee.
Do I need to pay to send a booking enquiry?
No. You can send an enquiry without paying. We reply with availability and how to confirm.
Do I have to pay a deposit?
We ask for a 50% deposit to confirm a booking. You can pay by Tab in advance, and the balance by Tab, cash, card or EFT on arrival.
What is the cancellation policy?
Cancellation is free up to 7 days before arrival. After that, the first night is charged.
What time is check-in and check-out?
You can check in at any time. Check-out is by 11:00.
How many people can share a pitch?
At most 6 people and 3 vehicles per pitch.
Can I book through Booking.com?
Lorato is listed on Booking.com and other sites, but booking direct is cheaper and we pay no commission.
What should I send when I book?
Your dates, the number of adults and children, your vehicle, whether you need a hire tent, and your expected arrival time.
Is my booking confirmed instantly?
Tlale confirms that bookings made through the website are confirmed instantly. For WhatsApp and email we reply with availability and the total, then confirm once the 50% deposit is arranged.
What should I bring to the campsite?
Your own food, since we no longer serve it, plus cash for paying on arrival as there are no ATMs nearby. Hire tents come with beds, mattresses and bedding, and all 7 pitches have solar power points.
Is food included?
No. We no longer serve food, so bring your own. Cold drinks are on sale at the camp.
More guides for your route
Sources
Checked 24 October 2026. Rules, hours and fees change, so confirm with the official source before you travel.