Inside the park there are three public campsites: Ihaha (riverfront, listed as run by Kwalate Safaris), and Savuti and Linyanti (run by SKL Group of Camps). All are unfenced, you need a confirmed booking to sleep there, and park fees are paid on top. Booking guides say sites fill about a year ahead for the dry season. Outside the park, Lorato in Muchenje is 6.8 km from the Ngoma Gate (per Booking.com), fenced, and $20 per person per night booked direct, with no park fee just to sleep.
Key facts
- Ihaha (about 10 sites): riverfront inside the park, listed as run by Kwalate Safaris. No electricity, no fence.
- Savuti (14 sites) and Linyanti (5 sites): run by SKL Group of Camps, reached by a self-driven 4x4, no fence. SKL's pages list ablution blocks with showers.
- Park fees on top (checked 23 October 2026): BWP 270 per non-resident adult per day and a reported BWP 115 for a foreign-registered vehicle. A 2026 increase was postponed.
- Operator nightly rates: published figures conflict, so we do not quote them. Ask the operator for the current rate.
- Lorato: $20 per person per night direct, children aged 0 to 12 half price, fenced, check-in at any time.
Inside or outside the park at a glance
Chobe National Park has no campsites you can simply turn up at. Overnight stays need a confirmed booking with the operator, while day visits do not. That one rule shapes the whole decision.
| Ihaha | Savuti and Linyanti | Outside, at Lorato | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | Kwalate Safaris | SKL Group of Camps | Lorato, a separate business |
| Booking | Email or phone the operator | Online at sklcamps.com, or by email or phone | WhatsApp, or the booking form on our home page |
| Fence | No | No | Yes |
| Facilities | Shared ablutions with hot showers, no electricity | Ablution blocks with showers, braai areas at Savuti, no electricity | Hot water, solar power points at all 7 pitches, hire tents |
| Park fees to sleep there | Yes, paid separately | Yes, paid separately | No |
| Price | Ask the operator | Ask the operator | $20 per person per night |
Operator details checked 23 October 2026 against SKL's own pages and a Chobe camping guide that cites the operators. We do not quote Ihaha, Savuti or Linyanti nightly rates because published figures disagree.
Ihaha, Savuti, Linyanti and the other park sites
Ihaha, on the riverfront
Ihaha sits on the Chobe River inside the park, around 35 km west of Kasane by one guide's account, with about 10 sites. It is listed as run by Kwalate Safaris, which takes bookings by email and phone. There is no electricity and no fence, so elephants, hippos and hyenas can walk through camp. It is the campsite most self-drivers mean when they say they want to camp in Chobe. If you plan to drive the riverfront, our Ngoma Gate day-drive guide covers the tracks and gate hours.
Savuti, in the west
Savuti has 14 sites and is run by SKL Group of Camps, which takes bookings online. Its page lists ablution blocks with showers and communal braai areas. It is reached by a self-driven 4x4 on sandy tracks, and it is unfenced. For the road itself and where to sleep the night before, see Kasane to Savuti.
Linyanti, in the north-west
Linyanti, by the Linyanti River, has 5 sites, also run by SKL, with ablution blocks and showers. SKL says you need a self-driven 4x4 to reach it. With so few sites, expect it to book early.
Other sites, and one we cannot confirm
One recent camping guide also lists Nogatsaa in the interior, run by Ghoha Hills with 6 sites. Machenje is sometimes mentioned in older posts, but we could not find a current operator, booking page or status for it, so we do not list it. If a site is not on an operator's own booking page, treat it as unconfirmed and check with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks before you plan around it.
Camping just outside the park, near Ngoma
West of the park, the villages of the Chobe Enclave sit on the floodplain. Muchenje is at the Ngoma end, close to the border, and Lorato is there. Booking.com lists us 6.8 km from the Ngoma Gate, and the road is tar. We are about 60 km from Kasane on the tar road through the park. See the Chobe Enclave guide for the villages. If you would rather camp in town, see camping in Kasane and Kazungula.
What you get: a green grass campsite, hot water, solar power points at all 7 pitches, seven hire tents at $55 including the camping fee (each sleeps 2), check-in at any time, and check-out by 11:00. What you do not get: lions at your tent door, or a meal. We sell drinks only. Shell fuel is 1 km away and there are no ATMs nearby, so bring cash.
Many travellers do both: a night or two inside the park for the bush, and a night with us before or after. If you have crossed from Namibia, read campsite near the Ngoma border for why the first night after the border is often best spent here.
Costs side by side
| Cost | Inside the park | Outside, at Lorato |
|---|---|---|
| Operator or campsite fee | Set by the operator and changed over time. Published figures range widely, so ask for the current rate in writing | $20 per person per night direct (website and WhatsApp). Children aged 0 to 12 half price |
| Park entry | BWP 270 per non-resident adult per day, paid at the gate (checked 23 October 2026) | Only for days you drive into the park |
| Vehicle fee | A reported BWP 115 per day for a foreign-registered vehicle | Only for days you drive into the park |
| Other levies | Some operators add a bed levy, and a government camping levy has been listed. Ask whether they are included | None |
| Discounts | Ask the operator | 10% off longer stays and groups of 5 or more, in all seasons for now |
Park figures come from secondary guides that cite the Department of Wildlife and National Parks; we found no official fee schedule online. A fee rise was proposed in February 2026 and then postponed by two years. Pay park fees in pula cash and confirm at the gate.
The sums change when you stay several nights. Sleeping inside adds park entry and the vehicle fee for every day you are there, while sleeping outside means you pay them only on the days you drive in. Our Botswana camping guide sets out the fee basics, and cheap camping in Botswana shows what a whole night costs.
How far ahead to book, and what to do when it is full
Booking guides say availability opens about 12 months ahead and that Ihaha and Savuti often fill a year out for April to October. The operators do not publish this themselves, so treat it as a warning rather than a rule. If you want a park campsite in the dry season, ask early. Outside the dry season there is usually more choice, and the green season guide explains what the roads are like.
When the park sites are full:
- Camp outside and drive in. Lorato is a short drive from the Ngoma Gate, so you can enter at opening time and be on the riverfront early. Check the gate hours on the Ngoma Gate page before you plan the day.
- Book the first or last night with us. Message us with your dates on WhatsApp +267 7430 4407.
- Hire a tent. If you are flying in or have no camping kit, see tent hire near Chobe.
- Ask the operator about cancellations. Sites sometimes come free closer to the date.
Which suits self-drivers, backpackers and families
- Self-drivers with a 4x4: book a park site if you want the bush, and add a night at Lorato either side. Savuti and Linyanti need a self-driven 4x4, as SKL's pages say.
- Self-drivers in a normal car: the tar road to Lorato and on to Kasane suits any vehicle. The remote park campsites are reached on 4x4 tracks, so a base outside the park is the practical choice.
- Backpackers and Namibian campers: sleep outside, drive in or take a boat cruise or guide for the day, and hire a tent if you have none. Our local guides page explains what we can arrange.
- Families: park sites are unfenced and wildlife walks through at night, which suits some families and not others. Lorato is fenced, and children aged 0 to 12 pay half price. A pitch takes at most 6 people and 3 vehicles.
To book, see how to book a campsite near Chobe, or compare all three areas in camping near Chobe National Park. For the full route, start at self-drive camping at Chobe.
Frequently asked questions
Can you camp in Chobe National Park?
Yes, at Ihaha on the riverfront (listed as run by Kwalate Safaris) and at Savuti and Linyanti (run by SKL Group of Camps). You need a confirmed booking to sleep in the park, and park fees are paid separately.
Who runs the campsites in Chobe National Park?
SKL Group of Camps runs Savuti and Linyanti, according to its own pages. Ihaha is listed as run by Kwalate Safaris. Confirm the booking route with the operator.
How far ahead should I book a Chobe campsite?
Booking guides say availability opens about 12 months ahead and the popular sites can fill a year out for April to October. The operators do not publish this, so ask early.
Are the Chobe National Park campsites fenced?
No. Ihaha, Savuti and Linyanti are described as unfenced, so wildlife can walk through camp. Lorato, outside the park, is fenced.
How much does it cost to camp in Chobe National Park?
Operators set their own nightly rates and published figures disagree, so ask for the current rate. Park entry (a reported BWP 270 per non-resident adult per day) and a vehicle fee are paid on top.
Where can I camp near Chobe National Park if the park is full?
Outside the park. Lorato in Muchenje is 6.8 km from the Ngoma Gate per Booking.com, at $20 per person per night direct, with hire tents at $55.
Do I need a 4x4 to camp in Chobe National Park?
For Savuti and Linyanti, yes: SKL says a self-driven 4x4 is needed. The tar road between Ngoma and Kasane suits any vehicle, and Lorato is on the tar.
What about Machenje campsite in Chobe?
We could not find a current operator, booking page or status for a Machenje campsite, so we do not list it. Check with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks before planning around it.
Is Lorato inside Chobe National Park?
No. Lorato is a separate campsite in Muchenje, Chobe District, outside the park and near the Ngoma Gate.
More guides for your route
Sources
Checked 23 October 2026. Rules, hours and fees change, so confirm with the official source before you travel.
- SKL Group of Camps: Savuti campsite
- SKL Group of Camps: Linyanti campsites
- Visit Chobe Park: camping in Chobe, operators and booking (page dated 4 October 2026)
- chobenationalpark.co.za: Chobe camping
- chobenationalpark.co.za: Chobe gates and rules
- Botswana Daily News: proposed park fee increase (24 February 2026)
- Gabz FM: fee hike delayed by two years (May 2026)
- Botswana Daily News: Chobe National Park gate hours, Minister's statement (25 February 2025)
- Booking.com: Lorato listing (distance to Ngoma Gate)