Camping in Botswana means sleeping in a designated, usually booked, campsite. Botswana campsites inside the national parks are run by the wildlife department (DWNP) or private operators, and you pay park entry separately. The popular ones in Chobe, Savuti and Moremi fill up, so book well ahead. Outside the parks, fenced campsites such as Lorato in Muchenje take direct bookings. Start with camping near Chobe National Park, the campsite near the Ngoma border or how to book a campsite near Chobe.
Key facts
- Two bookings: campsites inside the parks are run by private operators, and park entry is paid separately to the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP).
- Book early: Ihaha, Savuti, Linyanti and Moremi have few sites and fill up in the dry season, roughly June to October.
- Budget: park entry for an international adult in Chobe and Moremi is reported at BWP 270 a day, plus a vehicle fee and the campsite fee. Campsite rates differ by operator and change each year, so ask before you book.
- Vehicle: a high-clearance 4x4 with low range is needed for Savuti, Linyanti and Moremi. The main tar roads suit any car.
- Safety: park campsites are unfenced. Lions, elephants and hyenas walk through at night.
Botswana camping at a glance (checked 23 October 2026)
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| Where can you camp? | Only in designated campsites: park and reserve sites, community sites and fenced campsites outside the parks. No wild camping. |
| Who do you pay? | The campsite operator for the site, and DWNP for park entry and your vehicle. Two bookings, two payments. |
| Park entry, international adult, Chobe and Moremi | BWP 270 per day (the 2022 tariff). A rise proposed for 2026 was postponed by two years. Other parks such as Makgadikgadi, Nxai Pan and the Central Kalahari charge more, so check DWNP. Children aged 8 to 17 pay half and under 8s are free, per SafariFind. |
| Vehicle fee, foreign-registered, under 3,500 kg | BWP 115 per day. Trailers and caravans BWP 60 per day. |
| Campsite fee inside a park | Set by each operator and changed each year. We could not verify a current published tariff, so ask the operator for this year's rate. |
| How far ahead to book | Popular park camps months ahead in the dry season. Tracks4Africa advises up to a year for the busiest. Fenced campsites outside the parks, including Lorato, are easier at short notice. |
| Best months | April to October is the dry, busy season. November to March is green, hot and quieter. |
| Vehicle | Any car on the tar. High-clearance 4x4 with low range for Savuti, Linyanti, Khwai and Moremi. |
Park and vehicle fees: Tourism Update (BWP 270 and BWP 205 Chobe and Moremi rates, February 2022), SafariFind (the same Chobe and Moremi rates and BWP 115 vehicle fee), Botswana Daily News (24 February 2026, increase proposed) and Gabz FM (May 2026, increase postponed by two years). We could not open an official DWNP schedule, so confirm with DWNP ([email protected]) before you travel.
How Botswana camping works
Most wild camping in northern Botswana happens at campsites inside the national parks and reserves. The campsites are run by private operators under concession, while the parks themselves are managed by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks. That means two separate payments: one to the campsite operator for your site, and one to DWNP for daily park entry and your vehicle.
Operators take bookings in writing, usually by email or an online booking system, and normally ask for a deposit to secure the site. Park fees are paid to DWNP, typically at the park gate or a DWNP office such as those in Kasane and Maun. Check with the operator how park fees are handled for your route before you travel.
Outside the parks there is a second kind of camping: fenced and community campsites near the park gates and on the main routes. They are bookable directly, often have power, hot showers and Wi-Fi, and cost less because there are no park fees to pay just to sleep there. Many travellers mix the two: a night or two in a fenced campsite near a gate, then into the park.
Campsites in Botswana by region
Who runs a campsite decides how you book it. This table lists example campsites in each region and the booking route that applies.
| Region | Example campsites | Who runs them | How to book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chobe riverfront (Kasane side) | Ihaha | Kwalate Safaris | Contact the operator; send its invoice to DWNP for the entry permit |
| Chobe: Savuti and Linyanti | Savuti, Linyanti | SKL Camps | Contact the operator; permit as above |
| Khwai and Moremi North Gate | Khwai North Gate; Khwai community campsites | SKL Camps; the Khwai community | SKL as above. Community sites: travellers report paying at the Khwai community office on arrival; confirm before you go |
| Moremi Game Reserve | South Gate, Xakanaxa; Third Bridge | Kwalate Safaris; Xomae Group | Contact the operator; permit via DWNP |
| Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pan | Khumaga; South Camp and Baines' Baobabs; Tree Island | SKL Camps; Xomae Group; DWNP | Operator, or DWNP for Tree Island |
| Central Kalahari | Deception, Kori, Xade (DWNP); Passarge, Piper, Sunday Pan (Bigfoot Tours) | DWNP and Bigfoot Tours | DWNP by email or at its Gaborone or Maun office; Bigfoot Tours directly |
| Kgalagadi (Botswana side) | Most sites; Mabuasehube Pan and Mpayathuthwa | DWNP; Inter-Tourism | DWNP, or Inter-Tourism for the two named sites |
| Chobe Enclave, outside the park | Lorato, Muchenje (fenced) | Lorato Lodge and Camping | Direct: website enquiry, WhatsApp +267 7430 4407 or [email protected] |
Operator allocations per Tracks4Africa's guide to booking Botswana national park campsites and the operators' own sites; the Khwai note is from traveller reports on iOverlander. Checked October 2026. Tracks4Africa advises booking about a year ahead for popular camps.
Botswana camping guides by region
Use this as a map of our guides. Each one covers a leg of a Botswana camping trip, with Lorato in Muchenje as the first night after the Ngoma border.
| Region or leg | Guides |
|---|---|
| Namibia into Botswana | Ngoma border post, Katima Mulilo to Kasane, food and meat rules at the border |
| Chobe riverfront and the Ngoma side | Camping near Chobe National Park, campsite near the Ngoma border, Ngoma Gate day drive, the Chobe Enclave |
| Savuti, Khwai, Moremi and Maun | Kasane to Savuti, Kasane to Maun |
| Victoria Falls and Zambia | Chobe to Victoria Falls |
| Where to stay in Kasane | Where to stay in Kasane: camping, backpackers, hotels and lodges compared |
| Camping on a budget | Cheap camping in Botswana: real cost per night |
| Camping without a tent | Tent hire near Chobe |
| Rainy-season camping | Chobe in the green season |
| Help planning | Local guides and trip planning, self-drive camping at Lorato |
| Booking | Book a campsite near Chobe |
Chobe riverfront and the Ngoma side
The Chobe riverfront has the highest density of elephants in Botswana and is the easiest area to reach, with tar roads from Kasane and from the Ngoma border with Namibia. Inside the park, Ihaha is the only public campsite on the riverfront and it books out early. Outside the park, the villages of the Chobe Enclave, such as Muchenje and Kavimba, sit on the floodplain close to the Ngoma Gate and have fenced campsites with facilities.
Savuti and Linyanti
Savuti, in the heart of Chobe National Park, is known for its predators and the Savuti Marsh. Linyanti lies on the river of the same name to the north-west. Both are reached on deep sand, and both are small campsites run by SKL, so booking ahead in the dry season is essential. From the Chobe riverfront side, the usual approach is through Kachikau and the Ghoha Gate, the sandiest stretch of the drive.
Khwai and Moremi
South of Savuti, Khwai and the Moremi Game Reserve form the classic self-drive loop into the eastern Okavango Delta. Campsites here are split between three operators, so check which one runs each night of your route before booking.
The Okavango Delta
Most of the Delta itself is private concession land, reached by air or mokoro trips from Maun. Self-drivers experience it through Moremi and Khwai, or through mokoro excursions booked in Maun.
Makgadikgadi, Nxai Pan and the Kalahari
Khumaga on the Boteti River and the Nxai Pan campsites are a good contrast to the wetter north, especially in the green season when the pans attract zebra and wildebeest. The Central Kalahari and Kgalagadi are remote and need full self-sufficiency in water and fuel.
Botswana camping fees: park entry, vehicle and campsite
Budget for three things per day: the campsite fee per person, park entry per person, and a vehicle fee. The figures below are the latest we could find, last checked on 23 October 2026. Always confirm with DWNP and the operator before you travel.
| Park entry, per person per day | Chobe and Moremi |
|---|---|
| International visitor | BWP 270 |
| Resident | BWP 205 |
| Botswana citizen | BWP 30 |
Tourism Update (fees effective 1 April 2022) and SafariFind report the same Chobe and Moremi adult rates. In February 2026 Botswana proposed higher park fees from 1 April 2026 (Botswana Daily News), and in May 2026 the increase was reported postponed by two years (Gabz FM), so treat the 2022 rates as current and confirm at the gate. Other parks charge more and we do not quote them. Children aged 8 to 17 pay half and under 8s are free, per SafariFind.
| Vehicle fee, per day | Foreign-registered | Botswana-registered |
|---|---|---|
| Under 3,500 kg | BWP 115 | BWP 30 |
| Trailer or caravan | BWP 60 | BWP 15 |
| 3,500 to 7,000 kg | BWP 1,000 | BWP 500 |
Vehicle fees per day including arrival and departure days, as reported by SafariFind and chobenationalpark.co.za (unofficial guides). Confirm with DWNP.
Campsite fees inside the parks are set by each operator (Kwalate, SKL, Xomae) and by DWNP, and they change each year. Published figures differ between sources and the operators' current tariffs were not available to us, so we do not quote them. Ask the operator for this year's rate when you book. Fenced campsites outside the parks, such as Lorato, charge their own rate with no park fees to sleep there: $20 per person per night when you book direct, children aged 0 to 12 half price.
Example: two international adults with a normal 4x4 spending one night at Savuti pay the campsite fee, park entry for each adult on each day they are inside (arriving and leaving on different days counts as two days), and the vehicle fee for each day. Add them up before you book, because park and vehicle fees can add up to more than the campsite itself.
Best time for Botswana camping: dry and green seasons
The dry season, April to October, is the main camping season. Wildlife gathers at the rivers, the sand roads are firm enough, and nights are cool to cold from June to August. It is also the busiest time, so the popular park campsites need booking months ahead.
The green season, November to March, brings heavy rain (wettest in January and February), fewer visitors and lush landscapes, but November is very hot and some routes become difficult. The Savuti Marsh road floods in places and turns slippery in the rains, and is usually drivable again from about late May or June; the Sand Ridge road is the alternative. The pans of Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pan are at their best in the rains.
Park gates open 06:00 to 18:30 from April to September and 05:30 to 19:00 from October to March. Plan to be at your campsite before the gates close.
Driving, vehicles and fuel
- Vehicle: a high-clearance 4x4 with low range for Savuti, Linyanti, Khwai and Moremi. Tar roads such as Ngoma to Kasane, Kasane to Nata and Nata to Maun suit any vehicle.
- Sand: lower tyre pressures before deep sand. Figures of about 1.2 to 2.0 bar are commonly given for the Kachikau to Savuti stretch; follow your vehicle and tyre guidance.
- Speed: 120 km/h on open roads, 60 km/h in towns and villages, and 40 km/h inside Chobe National Park. Watch for cattle, donkeys and elephants on the roads.
- No night driving: no driving in the parks after dark, and avoid open roads at night because of animals.
- Fuel: fill up in Kasane, Kazungula, Nata and Maun. There is also a Shell station in Muchenje, about 1 km from Lorato, which takes cards and cash. Carry reserve fuel for sand driving, which uses far more than tar.
- Water: carry at least 5 litres per person per day, plus a reserve.
Self-drive Botswana camping: routes and guides
Most travellers who camp in Botswana drive themselves. These are the routes our guests ask about, in the order you meet them from Namibia.
- Namibia to Chobe: Katima Mulilo to Kasane via the Ngoma border, with the first night in Muchenje.
- Chobe to Savuti: the sand road from Kasane to Savuti, 4x4 only.
- Chobe to Maun: Kasane to Maun, through Savuti or by tar via Nata.
- Chobe to Victoria Falls: across the Kazungula border.
- Sample itineraries and costs: the self-drive camping page has 5 and 7-night plans, a cost block and the 4x4 question answered.
Entering Botswana by road
Not sure which crossing fits your route? Our guide to Namibia to Botswana border posts compares Ngoma, Mohembo, Mamuno, Dobe and Impalila, and Kazungula vs Ngoma explains why the two names are not the same border.
| Border post | Neighbour | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Ngoma | Namibia (Zambezi Region) | 07:00 to 18:00 (Namibian side 08:00 to 18:00) |
| Kazungula Bridge | Zambia | Moving to 24 hours (announced February 2026) |
| Kazungula Road | Zimbabwe | 06:00 to 20:00 |
| Pandamatenga | Zimbabwe | 08:00 to 17:00 |
| Mohembo | Namibia (Caprivi / Divundu) | 06:00 to 18:00 |
| Mamuno | Namibia (Gobabis) | 07:00 to 00:00 |
| Martin's Drift | South Africa | 06:00 to 22:00 |
Botswana Tourism ports of entry list; Kazungula Bridge move to 24-hour operation announced February 2026, start date not given; Namibian Ngoma hours from Namibia Home Affairs, March 2024. Hours can change, so check before travelling.
At the border, foreign vehicles pay small road and insurance levies and need their papers, including the owner's letter of authority for rental or borrowed cars. Published amounts differ between sources, so carry some Pula in cash; card machines at small borders and gates are unreliable. Expect a foot-and-mouth disinfection mat on entry.
The Chobe transit route: the tar road between Ngoma and Kasane runs through Chobe National Park for about 65 km. Travellers who stay on the tar in daylight report paying no park fees; fees apply when you enter the park at the Ngoma or Sedudu gates for game viewing. See our Katima Mulilo to Kasane guide for the details.
Food and vet fences: Botswana controls the movement of fresh meat and some dairy between veterinary zones to stop foot-and-mouth disease, and checkpoints may confiscate fresh meat. In February 2026 the government announced restrictions after an outbreak in several zones in the north east and around Nata. Buy fresh meat close to where you will eat it, and check current rules locally. Our guide to taking meat and food across the Namibia to Botswana border has the latest restrictions.
Wildlife safety when camping in Botswana
- Park campsites are unfenced. Lions, elephants, buffalo and hyenas move through camps at night.
- Stay in your vehicle or tent after dark and use a torch when you must move around.
- Keep all food, rubbish and cool boxes locked away. Hyenas, baboons and elephants raid camps.
- Never feed animals, and keep well back from elephants, at least 10 metres.
- Do not walk outside camp without a licensed guide.
- There is little or no mobile signal in the parks. Leave your route with someone and consider a satellite communicator.
Budget camping: cheaper campsites in Botswana
Botswana has a reputation as an expensive destination, but camping keeps it within reach. The biggest savings come from how you combine nights inside and outside the parks:
- Sleep outside, drive in: camp at a fenced campsite near a gate and enter the park for the day. You pay park fees only for the days you are inside.
- Hire rather than buy: if you are backpacking or travelling light, hire a tent where it is offered instead of carrying gear across borders.
- Shop in towns: stock up on groceries in Kasane or Maun. Village shops are small and prices are higher.
- Travel in a group: campsites and vehicle fees go further when shared, and some campsites offer group discounts.
Suggested route: Namibia to the Okavango via Chobe
A classic northern loop starts at the Ngoma border from Namibia's Zambezi Region, follows the Chobe riverfront, then heads south through Savuti to Khwai and Moremi, finishing in Maun for the Okavango Delta. These are road times from Muchenje, next to the Ngoma border, calculated from OpenStreetMap routing and rounded up:
- Day 1: cross at Ngoma and camp near the border and the Ngoma Gate.
- Day 2: game drive the Chobe riverfront, or continue to Kasane (about 1 hour 15 minutes by tar).
- Days 3 to 4: Kachikau and the Ghoha Gate to Savuti on deep sand (about 106 km, allow 4 to 5 hours). See Kasane to Savuti for the route, tyres and closures.
- Days 5 to 7: Savuti to Khwai and Moremi.
- Day 8: Moremi South Gate to Maun, then the Okavango by mokoro or air.
Prefer tar the whole way? Maun is about 670 km from Muchenje via Kasane and Nata, roughly 8 hours 15 minutes of driving.
More travel guides for your route
Frequently asked questions
Where can I camp in Botswana?
Only in designated campsites. Inside the national parks and reserves these are public campsites run by the wildlife department (DWNP) or by private operators: Kwalate Safaris at Ihaha, South Gate and Xakanaxa, SKL Camps at Savuti, Linyanti and Khwai North Gate, Xomae Group at Third Bridge and Nxai Pan, and DWNP or Bigfoot Tours in the Central Kalahari. Outside the parks there are fenced campsites, such as Lorato in Muchenje near the Ngoma border, and community campsites such as those at Khwai. See the table of Botswana campsites by region above.
Do I need to book campsites in Botswana?
Yes for the park campsites. Ihaha, Savuti, Linyanti and the Moremi campsites have few sites and fill up in the dry season, roughly June to October. Tracks4Africa advises booking about a year ahead for popular camps. You book the campsite with its operator, then pay park entry to DWNP, and the operator's invoice is sent to DWNP so entry permits can be issued. Fenced campsites outside the parks, including Lorato, are easier to book at short notice.
Is wild camping allowed in Botswana?
No. Botswana Tourism Organisation's self-drive guidance says to camp only in designated campsites, and to stay close to camp and not walk in the bush without a qualified guide. We did not find an official national list of exceptions, so ask DWNP ([email protected]) or the landowner or community before you stop anywhere that is not a listed campsite. Camping on your own in the bush is also unsafe, because elephants, lions and hyenas move through at night.
How much does camping in Botswana cost?
Campsite fees inside the parks are set by each operator and change every year, so ask for this year's rate. On top of that you pay daily park entry to DWNP, reported at BWP 270 per international adult per day in Chobe and Moremi (checked 23 October 2026), plus a daily vehicle fee, reported at BWP 115 for a foreign-registered vehicle under 3,500 kg. Campsites outside the parks, such as Lorato near the Ngoma Gate, charge $20 per person per night direct, with no park fees to sleep there.
Do I need a 4x4 to camp in Botswana?
For Savuti, Linyanti, Khwai and Moremi, yes: a high-clearance 4x4 with low range, because of deep sand and seasonal water. The main tar roads, such as Ngoma to Kasane, Kasane to Nata and Nata to Maun, suit any vehicle.
Are campsites in Botswana fenced?
Campsites inside the national parks are not fenced, and lions, elephants and hyenas pass through at night. Many commercial and community campsites outside the parks are fenced.
When is the best time to go camping in Botswana?
The dry season, April to October, is the main camping season, with wildlife at the rivers and firmer sand roads. June to August nights are cold. The green season, November to March, is hot and wet, with fewer visitors and some flooded roads, but it is the best time for the Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pan.
Can I camp near Chobe National Park without paying park fees?
Yes. Park fees apply when you enter the park, not when you camp outside it. Villages in the Chobe Enclave, such as Muchenje, have fenced campsites a few kilometres from the Ngoma Gate, and travellers passing through the park on the tar transit road in daylight do not pay park fees.
Is the Ngoma border post open 24 hours?
No. The Ngoma border between Namibia and Botswana is listed as open from 07:00 to 18:00. The Kazungula Bridge border with Zambia has operated 24 hours since February 2026.
Can I take meat into Botswana's parks?
Botswana restricts the movement of fresh meat and some dairy between veterinary zones to control foot-and-mouth disease, and checkpoints may confiscate it. Buy fresh meat close to where you will eat it, and check the current rules locally.
Can I self-drive from Namibia to Botswana and camp?
Yes. Cross at the Ngoma border post with your passport, vehicle papers and a letter of authority if the vehicle is not in your name, then camp at a designated campsite. Lorato in Muchenje is about 15 minutes from the border and takes check-in at any time. See our Ngoma border post and Katima Mulilo to Kasane guides for the crossing.
Where should I stay after crossing the Ngoma border?
The Ngoma border closes at 18:00, and park campsites need booking in advance. Campsites in the Chobe Enclave, such as Lorato in Muchenje about 15 minutes from the border, are a practical first or last night.
Sources
- Tracks4Africa, How to book campsites in Botswana national parks.
- Botswana Tourism Organisation, self-drive camping (camp only in designated campsites).
- iOverlander, Khwai campsite reports (traveller reports, unofficial).
- Kwalate Safaris, SKL Camps and Xomae Group campsite information (operator allocations).
- Tourism Update, Botswana increases park and licence fees (23 February 2022).
- Botswana Daily News, proposed park fee increase (24 February 2026); Gabz FM, fee hike delayed (May 2026).
- SafariFind, Botswana national park fees (secondary source).
- Botswana Tourism Organisation, ports of entry (checked 23 October 2026); Kazungula Bridge 24-hour operation (February 2026).
- Botswana Daily News, foot-and-mouth disease restrictions (February 2026).
- Distances and times: OpenStreetMap data via OSRM routing, September 2026.