Lorato Lodge and Camping is a campsite on the Botswana side of the Ngoma border, about 15 minutes by road from the border post, in Muchenje village, Chobe District. Camping is $20 per person per night booked direct, hire tents are $55 per night including the camping fee, and you can check in at any time. Hot showers, clean water for washing and solar power points at all 7 pitches. Message +267 7430 4407 on WhatsApp before you cross and we will expect you.
Key facts
- Address: Muchenje, Chobe District, Botswana. GPS -17.9498959, 24.6858888 (plus code 3M2P+29 Muchenje).
- Distance: about 15 minutes by road from the Ngoma border post. Booking.com lists 6.8 km to the Ngoma Gate of Chobe National Park.
- Check-in: any time. Check-out by 11:00. Quiet hours 22:00 to 07:00.
- Pitches: 7, all with solar power points. Hire tents: 7, each sleeping 2, $55 per night including the camping fee.
- Facilities: hot showers, clean water for washing (not drinking water, so bring or buy drinking water), free Starlink Wi-Fi at every pitch, cold drinks for sale. No meals are served.
- Price: $20 per person per night direct. Children aged 0 to 12 pay half. A pitch holds at most 6 people and 3 vehicles.
- Payment and cancellation: 50% deposit. Pay in advance or on arrival by cash, card or EFT. Free cancellation up to 7 days before arrival; after that the first night is charged.
- Nearby: a Shell fuel station 1 km away. No ATMs in the area.
- Contact: WhatsApp +267 7430 4407, [email protected].
Where is Lorato, compared with the border?
Lorato is in Muchenje, the Chobe Enclave village at the Ngoma end of the road, about 15 minutes by road from the Botswana border post. The Ngoma Bridge border post sits on the Chobe River. On the Botswana side the road runs onto the A33 tar road, and the first villages of the Chobe Enclave lie nearby.
| From Lorato to | Distance | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Ngoma border post | About 15 minutes by road | Lorato |
| Ngoma Gate, Chobe National Park | 6.8 km | Booking.com listing |
| Shell fuel station | 1 km | Lorato |
| Kasane | About 60 km on the tar road through the park | Lorato |
For a sense of scale, the border control post's GPS (-17.92549, 24.72067) is about 4.6 km in a straight line from the campsite, with the campsite to the south west. That is our own calculation from the two sets of coordinates, so the road distance is longer.
Which Muchenje property? Muchenje has more than one place to stay. Lorato Lodge and Camping is a separate business from other Muchenje properties, so check the name, the WhatsApp number (+267 7430 4407) and the email ([email protected]) when you book.
Our Muchenje village guide covers the village, and our Chobe Enclave guide explains the villages around us.
How do I get to Lorato from the Ngoma border, and back?
Clear the Botswana side, then drive to Muchenje, about 15 minutes. Send us your arrival time, and use our Google Maps link to Lorato to find the gate. The link opens the GPS point above. Message us on WhatsApp +267 7430 4407 if you need help.
From the border post to Lorato (entering Botswana)
- Finish immigration, customs and the vehicle charges on the Botswana side. Pay in pula cash. See the Ngoma border post guide.
- Message +267 7430 4407 on WhatsApp with your arrival time, then drive to Muchenje using the Google Maps link.
- Allow about 15 minutes. Lorato lies south west of the border post on the map, in the village, and the Shell station is 1 km from us.
From Lorato to the border post (leaving Botswana for Namibia)
- Allow about 15 minutes to the border post and leave in the morning. The Botswana side is listed as open 07:00 to 18:00 and the Namibian side 08:00 to 18:00.
- Check-out is by 11:00, so an early start costs you nothing. Fill up at the Shell in Muchenje first, and carry the vehicle and rental papers. See the rental car letter guide.
- Katima Mulilo, the nearest Namibian town, is about 70 km north west of the border on the B8. See Katima Mulilo to Kasane for the route.
From Kasane to Lorato
Drive west on the A33, about 60 km on tar through Chobe National Park, in daylight, to the Ngoma end. Lorato is in Muchenje, before the border post.
Can I arrive late after crossing the border?
Yes. Check-in at Lorato is at any time and someone is always available, so a late arrival at the camp is fine. The limit is the border, not us: Ngoma is not a 24-hour post, and if you arrive after it closes you wait until morning.
- Clear the border before it closes. The Botswana side is listed as open 07:00 to 18:00 and the Namibian side 08:00 to 18:00 (Botswana Tourism, checked 23 October 2026). Cross between 08:00 and 17:00 to stay safe.
- Message us from the border or earlier so we know when to expect you.
- Quiet hours are 22:00 to 07:00, so keep generators and music off after that.
- Do not rely on cards or ATMs. Border charges in Botswana are paid in pula cash, and there are no ATMs in the area. Draw cash in Katima Mulilo or Kasane first.
If you drive the A33 through the park, do it in daylight. Elephants cross the road and animals are hard to see after dark.
How does Lorato compare with campsites on the Namibian side near the border?
The Namibian side has a well known camp 4 km before the border. The choice comes down to which side of the border you want to sleep on. We compare against Chobe River Campsite, run by Gondwana, using what Gondwana publishes on its own page (checked 24 October 2026). It is a good camp and has things we do not, such as a restaurant and a pool.
| Lorato (Botswana side) | Chobe River Campsite (Namibian side) | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Botswana, Muchenje | Namibia, Zambezi Region |
| Distance to the border post | About 15 minutes by road | 4 km, on the B8 |
| Price (as published) | $20 per person per night direct | N$360 per person sharing |
| Number of sites | 7 pitches, plus 7 hire tents | 4 campsites, up to 6 people each |
| Power at the site | Solar power points at all 7 pitches | No power points |
| Hot water | Hot showers | Hot water, heated by fire |
| Check-in and out | Check-in any time; check-out 11:00 | Check-in 14:00; check-out 10:00 |
| Food and drink | Cold drinks only, no meals | Restaurant and bar |
| Other facilities | Free Starlink Wi-Fi, boma with fire pits | Pool, Wi-Fi, curio shop, 24-hour security |
We have not converted the prices, because the rand and dollar rates move; check today's rate. Gondwana's page also lists boat cruises and canoe trips, which we do not run, though we can link you with local guides. If you are still in Namibia the night before you cross, a camp on that side is the natural choice. If you have already crossed, or are leaving Botswana at dawn, Lorato is on the road you are already on.
The comparison covers only what is published. We have not stayed at Chobe River Campsite and do not rate it.
Why stay on the Botswana side of the Ngoma border?
Because it is where you are after the border, and it puts the first night on the Botswana road, close to Ngoma Gate. Sleeping on the Botswana side has three practical advantages.
- You have already cleared the border. You do not need to cross in the morning and then drive on, so your first Botswana night is behind you by afternoon.
- You are on the transit road. The A33 east to Kasane and Victoria Falls, and the way on to Savuti, both start from this end. See Kasane to Savuti and Chobe to Victoria Falls.
- Ngoma Gate is next door. Booking.com lists the gate 6.8 km away, so an early drive on the Chobe riverfront needs no long transfer. See the Ngoma Gate day drive.
Lorato is also a green grass campsite, which guests mention along with the clean ablutions, the hot water and the quiet nights.
About your host: Lorato is a family-run camp, and guests on Booking.com call out the friendly, knowledgeable owner.
What should I do after crossing the border?
Get pula and fuel, buy food, then set up and rest.
- Get pula and fuel if needed. The Shell in Muchenje takes cards and cash. Cash for the border must be in pula.
- Buy food. There are no supermarkets near the border. Muchenje has a butchery and small shops with basic groceries. Kasane has the supermarkets. We do not serve meals, and fresh meat and dairy may be taken at the border, so read the food rules.
- Set up and rest. Hot showers, clean water for washing (not for drinking), solar power and free Starlink Wi-Fi at every pitch.
- Plan the next day over a fire at the boma.
Where can I go the next morning?
Most guests go to the Chobe riverfront, Kasane and Victoria Falls, or Savuti.
- Chobe riverfront. Ngoma Gate is close by. You need a 4x4 and pula cash for the park. See the Ngoma Gate day drive.
- Kasane and Victoria Falls. Drive the A33 east. See Katima Mulilo to Kasane.
- Savuti and Maun. Lorato is on the last tar before the sand. See Kasane to Savuti.
- Without a 4x4. We can link you with a local guide.
For comparison with camping inside the park, read camping near Chobe National Park.
How do I book?
Message +267 7430 4407 on WhatsApp, email [email protected], or send the enquiry form on loratocamping.com. Sending an enquiry costs nothing. Website bookings are confirmed instantly. We ask for a 50% deposit, and cancellation is free up to 7 days before arrival. Direct is cheaper than Booking.com, and we pay no commission. Full terms are on our how to book a campsite page.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a campsite near the Ngoma border?
Yes. Lorato Lodge and Camping is in Muchenje, Chobe District, about 15 minutes by road from the Ngoma border post on the Botswana side. It is the first campsite after the border for most self-drivers.
How do I get from the Ngoma border post to Lorato?
Clear the Botswana side, message +267 7430 4407 on WhatsApp with your arrival time, and drive to Muchenje, about 15 minutes. Use the Google Maps link to Lorato: https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=-17.9498959,24.6858888 (GPS -17.9498959, 24.6858888). Message us on WhatsApp if you need help.
Can I arrive late at Lorato after crossing the border?
Yes. You can check in at any time and someone is always available. Quiet hours are 22:00 to 07:00. Ngoma itself is not open 24 hours, so clear the border before it closes.
What time does the Ngoma border close?
The Botswana side is listed as open 07:00 to 18:00 and the Namibian side 08:00 to 18:00. Cross between 08:00 and 17:00.
Should I camp on the Namibian or the Botswana side of the Ngoma border?
Camp on the Namibian side if you are still in Namibia the night before crossing. Camp at Lorato if you have already crossed or want your first Botswana night near Ngoma Gate. Lorato has solar power points and check-in at any time; the Namibian camp we compared has a restaurant and a pool.
Is Lorato cheaper than the campsite on the Namibian side?
Lorato is $20 per person per night direct. Chobe River Campsite publishes N$360 per person sharing. The two are in different currencies, so check today's exchange rate to compare.
Can I hire a tent near the Ngoma border?
Yes. Lorato has 7 hire tents at $55 per night including the camping fee. Each sleeps 2.
How far is Lorato from Ngoma Gate?
Booking.com lists Lorato 6.8 km from the Ngoma Gate of Chobe National Park.
How much is a campsite near the Ngoma border?
Camping at Lorato is $20 per person per night booked direct. Children aged 0 to 12 pay half price. Tent hire is $55 per night including the camping fee.
Is there fuel or an ATM near the Ngoma border?
There is a Shell fuel station in Muchenje, about 1 km from Lorato, taking cards and cash. There are no ATMs in the area, so draw pula in Katima Mulilo or Kasane first.
Can I buy food at Lorato?
We sell cold drinks but no longer serve food. Muchenje has a butchery and small shops with basic groceries, and Kasane has supermarkets.
More guides for your route
Sources
Checked 24 October 2026. Rules, hours and fees change, so confirm with the official source before you travel.