In short: stay with us at Lorato and we will book you on trips with licensed local guides: Chobe National Park game drives and boat cruises, birding walks, canoe rides, village walks, and Savuti and Okavango trips. We can also help you plan your route across Botswana, and arrange pick-ups from Kasane airport and the Ngoma border. Prices are by quote: message us on WhatsApp with your dates and plans.
Key facts
- What we do: book trips with licensed local guides, help plan routes across Botswana, and arrange transfers.
- Trips you can book: Chobe National Park game drives, boat cruises in Chobe National Park, birding walks, canoe rides, village walks, and Savuti and Okavango trips.
- Birding: bird walks are led by Stone Muzila.
- Transfers: pick-ups from Kasane airport and the Ngoma border can be arranged.
- Price: ask for a quote for any trip or for trip planning.
- Who it suits: first-time self-drivers, travellers without a 4x4 for the sand, and backpackers without a car.
- How to ask: WhatsApp +267 7430 4407 with your dates, route and what you want to do.
- Where: Muchenje, Chobe District, 15 minutes from the Ngoma border.
What we offer
Many travellers arrive at Lorato after crossing from Namibia at Ngoma with a rough plan and a lot of questions: which road to take to Savuti, whether the sand is passable this month, where to book the next campsite, or whether it is worth a morning on the river. We live here, and we work with licensed local guides.
- Local guides: we work with licensed local guides and book trips for you, including game drives, boat cruises, birding walks, canoe rides and village walks. Bird walks are led by Stone Muzila.
- Trip planning: we help you plan the next part of your journey through Botswana, based on your vehicle, your dates and the season. This is a paid service: ask for a quote.
- Transfers: we can arrange pick-ups from Kasane airport and the Ngoma border.
Who it is for
- First-time self-drivers who want local advice before tackling the sand roads to Savuti or the Okavango.
- Travellers without a 4x4, or without sand-driving experience, who would rather go with someone who knows the tracks.
- Backpackers and bus travellers without their own car, who need a guide to see the wildlife.
- Anyone short of time who wants to make the most of a day or two in Chobe.
How it works
- Message us on WhatsApp at +267 7430 4407 with your dates, how many people you are, your vehicle, and what you would like to do.
- We reply with what is possible and a quote, and book a suitable licensed local guide for you.
- Stay with us at the campsite, and we can talk the route through with you in person on arrival.
Trips you can book through Lorato
Tell us what interests you. We can book:
- Chobe National Park game drives and boat cruises in Chobe National Park. You can enter the park at Ngoma Gate, about 7 km from Lorato.
- Birding walks, led by Stone Muzila, and canoe rides near Muchenje.
- Village walks in the Chobe Enclave.
- Savuti and Okavango trips.
- Onward routes: Kasane to Savuti, through to Maun and the Okavango Delta, or across to Victoria Falls. See our Kasane to Savuti guide and Botswana camping guide.
Guided, self-drive, or a packaged safari?
- Self-drive gives you the most freedom and costs least, but needs a well-equipped 4x4, sand-driving skills and campsites booked ahead in the parks.
- A local guide for a day or an activity lets you see more with someone who knows the area, while you keep your own route and budget.
- A packaged safari handles everything, at a much higher price, and is usually booked months ahead.
Many of our guests mix the first two: they drive themselves, and take a local guide for the parts that are hard to do alone.
If you are weighing the options, these guides cover the self-drive side: Kasane to Savuti (4x4 and sand), Kasane to Maun (sand route or tar), the Ngoma Gate day drive (self-drive versus a boat cruise) and Chobe in the rainy season. On a budget, hire a tent and put the difference into a guided day.
What it costs
Ask for a quote. This applies to every trip and activity, and to trip planning across Botswana, which is a paid service. Message us with your plans and we will send a price before you commit to anything.
Pick-ups and transfers from Kasane airport and the Ngoma border can also be arranged. Ask for a quote for those too.
Frequently asked questions
Can Lorato arrange a local guide for me?
Yes. We work with licensed local guides and can book Chobe National Park game drives, boat cruises in Chobe National Park, birding walks, canoe rides, village walks, and Savuti and Okavango trips. Bird walks are led by Stone Muzila. Message us on WhatsApp at +267 7430 4407 with your dates and what you would like to do.
Can you help me plan a self-drive route through Botswana?
Yes. We help guests plan their route, for example to Savuti, Maun and the Okavango Delta, or Victoria Falls, taking into account the vehicle and the season. This is a paid service, so ask for a quote.
I don't have a 4x4. Can I still see Chobe?
Yes. A licensed local guide can take you into areas you cannot reach in an ordinary car. Ask us on WhatsApp and we will tell you what is possible on your dates.
How much does a guide cost?
Ask for a quote. Prices depend on the activity and your group size. Message us with your plans and we will give you the price before you book.
Can you arrange transfers from Kasane airport or the Ngoma border?
Yes. Pick-ups and transfers from Kasane airport and the Ngoma border can be arranged. Message us on WhatsApp with your arrival details and ask for a quote.
Where is Lorato?
In Muchenje, Chobe District, Botswana, about 15 minutes from the Ngoma border with Namibia and about 7 km from the Ngoma Gate of Chobe National Park.