In Kasane, the campsite most self-drivers mean is the riverfront site at Chobe Safari Lodge: 23 stands, each with a power point, three ablution blocks, on the Chobe River at the edge of town. In Kazungula, the Big Five Chobe Lodge lists 18 campsites, each with its own ablution block, a sink and a power point. Nightly rates change and the lodges do not publish them on their own sites, so we do not quote them: ask for the current rate in writing. Out at Lorato in Muchenje (about 60 km from Kasane on the tar road through the park) camping is $20 per person per night booked direct, and you drive into the park from the Ngoma Gate.
Key facts
- Chobe Safari Lodge (Kasane): riverfront campsite, 23 stands with a power point each, three ablution blocks, level and shaded sites (its own website, checked 23 October 2026).
- Big Five Chobe Lodge (Kazungula): 18 campsites, each with its own ablution block, a kitchen sink with hot and cold water, a light and a power point, plus a separate big-group campsite (its own website).
- Kazungula is about 8 km east of Kasane (Wikipedia). Kasane has banks with ATMs and a Spar supermarket.
- Lorato: Muchenje, Chobe District, about 60 km from Kasane on the tar road. Green grass campsite, 7 pitches with solar power points, hire tents at $55, $20 per person per night direct.
- Prices: we found no current published nightly rates for the Kasane and Kazungula sites, so none are quoted here.
Where to camp: Kasane, Kazungula, or the Ngoma side
There are three areas to choose from, and they suit different trips.
- Kasane is the town on the south bank of the Chobe River, at the north-eastern edge of Chobe National Park. Campsites here sit on or near the river, close to boat cruises, shops and the eastern side of the park.
- Kazungula is the village about 8 km east of Kasane, where the road reaches the Kazungula Bridge into Zambia. Camps here suit travellers heading to or from Zambia and Victoria Falls. Our guide to Chobe to Victoria Falls covers the crossing.
- The Ngoma side is west of the park, where the Namibia border and the Ngoma Gate are. Lorato is here, in Muchenje. Read campsite near the Ngoma border if you are coming in from Namibia.
If you are still deciding between camping in the park and camping outside it, start with Chobe National Park campsites: inside or outside, and for the wider picture, see camping near Chobe National Park.
Kasane and Kazungula campsites compared
These are the sites where we could check details against the operator's own website. Other campsites exist in both areas. If you find one we have not covered, check its own page rather than relying on an old review.
| Chobe Safari Lodge, Kasane | Big Five Chobe Lodge, Kazungula | Lorato, Muchenje | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sites | 23 stands | 18 campsites plus a big-group site | 7 pitches |
| Power | A power point at each stand | A power point at each campsite | Solar power points at all pitches (off-grid) |
| Ablutions | Three shared ablution blocks | Each campsite has its own ablution block | Shared, with hot water |
| Shade | Level, shaded sites (operator's wording) | Not stated on its site | Green grass lawn |
| River access | On the Chobe River bank | Lodge is on the river bank; campsites not stated as riverside | No. We are not on the river |
| Tents for hire | Not stated on its site | Not stated on its site | Yes, 7 tents at $55 including the camping fee |
| Price | Not published on its site. Ask | Not published on its site. Ask | $20 per person per night direct; children 0 to 12 half price |
| Where | Edge of Kasane; the town is a few minutes' walk (its website) | Kazungula, which is about 8 km east of Kasane | About 60 km from Kasane by tar road |
| Booking | Online, +267 625 0336 or [email protected] | Check the operator website for the current contact | WhatsApp +267 7430 4407 or the home page booking form |
Competitor details are from each operator's own website, checked 23 October 2026. A November 2025 Chobe Safari Lodge article quoted a rate from R450 per person per night as part of a package valid to April 2026. That was a special, not a standard rate, so do not plan around it. Thebe River Safaris also has a riverside campsite on the Kasane side. The only description we found is a third-party listing of uncertain date, so we have left it out of the table. Check its current details before you book.
Camping by the river, or stay out and drive in
Camping in Kasane puts you near the river, the boats and the shops. It also puts you where most visitors are. Camping out at Muchenje trades that for a quieter, fenced grass campsite, with the Ngoma Gate a short drive away.
Camp in Kasane if
- You want to walk to town or step onto a river cruise without driving.
- You are crossing to Zambia or Victoria Falls the next day and want to be on the eastern side.
- You need a supermarket and ATM within easy reach on arrival.
Stay out at Lorato and drive in if
- You have just crossed from Namibia at Ngoma and want your first night close to the border. See the Ngoma border post guide.
- You are driving on to Savuti or Maun and want to start from the west. See Kasane to Savuti.
- You have no camping kit. Lorato hires tents; see tent hire near Chobe.
- You want a fenced campsite with a lawn rather than a busy town site.
The trade-off is distance. Kasane is about 60 km from Lorato on the tar road, so a Kasane shop and a river cruise are a day out rather than a walk. If a river cruise is the main event, Kasane is the better base.
Lorato: green grass, solar power, hire tents, $20 direct
Lorato is a camping area in Muchenje, Chobe District, not a lodge. It holds about 40 people, with 7 pitches, each with solar power points. It is a green grass campsite with hot water and clean ablutions, check-in at any time and check-out by 11:00. A pitch takes at most 6 people and 3 vehicles. Booking direct is $20 per person per night, children aged 0 to 12 pay half price, and a hire tent is $55 a night including the camping fee, sleeping 2. We sell drinks only, with no food. Shell fuel is 1 km away.
Booking.com lists us 6.8 km from the Ngoma Gate. Booking direct is cheaper than the same night through a booking site and means no commission. To reserve, message us on WhatsApp or use the booking form on our home page. Our booking guide covers deposits, payment and cancellation.
Supplies and fuel: sort them in Kasane first
Kasane is the last proper town before the Ngoma side and the park interior, so it is where you stock up. Wikipedia lists four banks with ATMs in Kasane and a Spar supermarket in the town centre. There are no ATMs near Lorato, so draw cash in Kasane before you drive west.
We could not verify current fuel station details or opening hours for Kasane from an official source, so check before you travel and fill up in town before heading into the park or on to Savuti. Shell fuel is 1 km from Lorato.
Want to know more about the village? Read the Muchenje village guide. Planning the whole trip? Start at self-drive camping at Chobe.
Frequently asked questions
Can you camp in Kasane?
Yes. Chobe Safari Lodge has a riverfront campsite at the edge of Kasane with 23 stands, each with a power point, and three ablution blocks, according to its own website. Other campsites operate in Kasane and Kazungula.
Are there campsites in Kasane with power?
Yes. Chobe Safari Lodge lists a power point at each of its 23 stands, and Big Five Chobe Lodge in Kazungula lists a power point at each of its 18 campsites. Confirm with the operator when you book.
How much does camping in Kasane cost?
The operators we checked do not publish a standard nightly rate on their own sites, and reviews give conflicting figures, so we do not quote one. Ask for the current rate in writing. Lorato, on the Ngoma side, is $20 per person per night booked direct.
Can you camp on the Chobe River in Kasane?
Yes. Chobe Safari Lodge's campsite is on the Chobe River bank. Lorato is not on the river.
Is there camping at Kazungula?
Yes. Big Five Chobe Lodge in Kazungula lists 18 campsites, each with its own ablution block, sink and power point, and a separate big-group campsite. Kazungula is about 8 km east of Kasane.
How far is Lorato from Kasane?
About 60 km on the tar road through Chobe National Park. Lorato is in Muchenje, near the Ngoma Gate and the Namibia border.
Do I need to book campsites in Kasane?
It is safest to book. Chobe Safari Lodge takes bookings online, by phone and by email, and we cannot confirm whether walk-ins are accepted. Lorato accepts check-in at any time, but we ask guests to tell us their arrival time.
Can I hire a tent in Kasane?
We could not confirm tent hire at the Kasane and Kazungula campsites from their own websites, so ask. Lorato hires 7 tents at $55 per night including the camping fee, each sleeping 2.
Are there ATMs in Kasane?
Wikipedia lists four banks with ATMs in Kasane. There are no ATMs near Lorato, so withdraw cash in Kasane first.
More guides for your route
Sources
Checked 23 October 2026. Rules, hours and fees change, so confirm with the official source before you travel.