Katima Mulilo to Kasane: Distance and Border

Short answer: Katima Mulilo to Kasane is about 131 km, roughly 1 hour 50 minutes of driving, plus time at the Ngoma border. You take the B8 east from Katima, cross the Chobe River at the Ngoma Bridge (Botswana side open 07:00 to 18:00, Namibian side 08:00 to 18:00), then follow the tar A33 through Chobe National Park to Kasane.

Key facts

Distance: about 131 km, about 1 h 50 min of driving (OpenStreetMap routing estimate, excluding the border).
Border: Ngoma Bridge. Botswana side 07:00 to 18:00, Namibian side 08:00 to 18:00, so cross between 08:00 and 17:00. No time change: both countries are on UTC+2.
Roads: the B8 in Namibia, then the A33 in Botswana. Tar all the way, fine for a 2WD car.
The park road: the A33 runs through Chobe National Park. Travellers who stay on the tar report paying no park fees. Drivers sign a register, and elephants cross the road.
Fuel and cash: draw cash in Katima Mulilo or Kasane, as there are no ATMs near the border. There is a Shell fuel station in Muchenje, about 1 km from Lorato, which takes cards and cash.
Halfway stop: Lorato in Muchenje is 81 km from Katima (about 1 hour) and 15 minutes past the border.

The route and the distance

From Katima Mulilo, follow the B8 east. The road to the Ngoma border branches off near Bukalo village, about 40 km from town. At the border you cross the Chobe River on the Ngoma Bridge into Botswana, where the road becomes the A33. It runs east through the northern part of Chobe National Park, past Kasane airport, into Kasane.

Leg	Distance	Driving time
Katima Mulilo to Lorato, Muchenje (just past the border)	81 km	about 1 hour
Lorato to Kasane	62 km	about 1 hour 5 minutes
Katima Mulilo to Kasane, total	131 km	about 1 hour 50 minutes
Kasane to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe	94 km	about 1 hour 15 minutes, plus the border

Estimates from OpenStreetMap routing (OSRM), September 2026. They do not include border formalities, wildlife on the road or stops. Route planners give 126 to 128 km and 1 h 45 min to 2 h 10 min.

The Ngoma border

Ngoma is one of several Namibia to Botswana crossings. If you are comparing routes, see which border post to use.

The Botswana side of the Ngoma Bridge border post is listed as open 07:00 to 18:00, and Namibia's Ministry of Home Affairs lists its side as 08:00 to 18:00, so plan to cross between 08:00 and 17:00. There is no time difference: Namibia has been on UTC+2 all year since 2017, and Botswana is on UTC+2 too. Leave Katima with time to spare if you want to be through before the border closes and on the road before dark.

Our Ngoma border post guide covers documents, fees and what to expect at the counters, and our guide to taking meat and food into Botswana explains what may be taken from you at the foot-and-mouth control.

The border steps, Namibia to Botswana

The usual order is below. Officers will direct you, so treat it as a guide rather than a script.

Namibian side: park, take your passports and vehicle papers inside, and get your exit stamp. Keep any letter of authority with the registration papers.
Cross the Ngoma Bridge over the Chobe River to the Botswana side.
Botswana immigration: entry stamp. Check beforehand whether your nationality needs a visa.
Vehicle charges: the road safety levy is P40 according to BURS, and the other charges vary between sources, so ask and keep receipts. Bring Pula in cash.
Foot-and-mouth control: shoe dip, tyre dip, and a check for raw meat and fresh dairy.
Drive on: Lorato in Muchenje is about 15 minutes past the border, and Kasane is 62 km from Lorato.

Food rules changed in October 2026. Foot-and-mouth disease was confirmed in Namibia's Zambezi Region, which includes Katima Mulilo, and Namibia suspended the movement of cloven-hoofed animals and their raw products there on 10 October. Do not carry raw meat or fresh dairy across Ngoma, and read our food and meat guide.

The Chobe transit road: park fees, rules and elephants

Between Ngoma and Kasane, the A33 crosses Chobe National Park on a tar road known as the transit road. It is tarred all the way and suitable for an ordinary car.

Park fees: travellers who simply drive through on the tar report paying no park fees. Fees apply when you enter the park for game viewing, at the Ngoma Gate or the Sedudu Gate near Kasane. We could not find an official Department of Wildlife and National Parks statement on transit fees, so ask at the register if you are unsure.
Register: drivers are asked to sign a register when they enter and leave the transit road.
Drive in daylight: elephants, buffalo and antelope cross the road. The Sedudu to Ngoma transit route has been open 24 hours since 1 April 2025, according to the Minister of Environment and Tourism, but he also warned that the animals are not used to people moving at night. We still advise you to be through before dark.
Speed: keep to the posted limits. Animals appear suddenly, and elephants have right of way.
Stay on the tar: no stopping to explore and no off-road driving inside the park without a park permit.

Katima Mulilo to Kasane without a car

There is no scheduled bus across the Ngoma border, so backpackers rely on shared minibuses, taxis and lifts. Reports vary:

Getting to Katima: Intercape runs Windhoek to Katima Mulilo about three times a week (roughly 20 hours), and Oasis Bus Services has run a daily service. Check times and fares with the operators before you travel.
Katima to Kasane: shared minibuses have run from the taxi rank in Katima Mulilo to Kasane, with travellers reporting fares of about N$100. Other travellers found no direct minibus, took a taxi to the border and found onward transport at Ngoma hard to arrange.
Onward from Kasane: buses run south to Francistown, and taxis wait near the Spar. Agree the fare before you get in.

If you are travelling on foot, leave Katima early in the day. WhatsApp us and we can tell you what transport is running at Ngoma that week.

The alternative: through Zambia and the Kazungula Bridge

You can also reach Kasane through Zambia: cross the Zambezi from Katima Mulilo to Sesheke at the Wenela border, drive east on the M10 to Kazungula, then cross the Kazungula Bridge into Botswana. It is about 185 km and nearly 3 hours of driving, with two border crossings instead of one, so for most travellers Ngoma is quicker. The Wenela border operates 24 hours. The Kazungula Bridge, opened in 2021, has a one-stop border post, and in February 2026 Botswana announced it would move to 24-hour operation; check the current hours before you travel.

Fuel, cash and shopping

Katima Mulilo: Shell, Engen and Puma fuel stations, Shoprite, Pick n Pay and Spar supermarkets, and bank ATMs.
Kasane: Spar, Shoprite and Choppies supermarkets, banks with ATMs including FNB and Absa, and fuel.
In between: there is a Shell fuel station in Muchenje, about 1 km from Lorato, which takes cards and cash. Muchenje village also has a butchery and small shops with very basic groceries. There are no supermarkets near the Ngoma border and no ATMs in the area, so treat Katima and Kasane as your cash and shopping stops. Carry some Pula in cash for small purchases and border levies.

Where to stay between Katima Mulilo and Kasane

The drive is short enough to do in one go, but many self-drivers break it at the border. Stopping just inside Botswana lets you cross Ngoma without watching the clock, drive the transit road in the morning light, or spend a day in the western Chobe riverfront through the Ngoma Gate, which is about 7 km from Lorato.

Frequently asked questions

How far is Katima Mulilo from Kasane?

About 131 km by road via the Ngoma border, which is roughly 1 hour 50 minutes of driving, plus time at the border. Route planners give 126 to 128 km.

Which border do you use from Katima Mulilo to Kasane?

The Ngoma Bridge border post on the Chobe River. The Botswana side is listed as open 07:00 to 18:00 and the Namibian side 08:00 to 18:00. The alternative is through Zambia via Sesheke and the Kazungula Bridge, which is longer and has two border crossings.

Do you pay Chobe park fees driving from Ngoma to Kasane?

Travellers who stay on the tar transit road report paying no park fees. Fees apply if you enter the park at the Ngoma or Sedudu gates for game viewing. We found no official statement, so ask at the register if you are unsure.

Is the road from Katima Mulilo to Kasane tarred?

Yes. The B8 in Namibia and the A33 through Chobe National Park are tar roads, suitable for an ordinary car.

Can you drive the Ngoma to Kasane road at night?

The transit route has been open 24 hours since 1 April 2025, but we advise against it. The road crosses Chobe National Park, the government has warned that wildlife is not used to night traffic, and elephants cross it, especially at dusk and after dark.

Is there a time difference between Namibia and Botswana?

No. Both countries are on UTC+2 all year.

Is there public transport from Katima Mulilo to Kasane?

There is no scheduled bus across Ngoma. Shared minibuses have run from the Katima Mulilo taxi rank to Kasane, reportedly for about N$100, but other travellers found none running. Start early and ask locally.

Where can I stay near the Ngoma border?

Lorato Lodge and Camping in Muchenje is about 15 minutes from the Ngoma border and 81 km from Katima Mulilo, at a green grass campsite with solar power, hot showers and free Starlink Wi-Fi for $20 per person per night. Check-in is at any time, and tents are available for hire at $55.

Can I bring meat from Katima Mulilo into Botswana?

No, not raw meat. FMD was confirmed in the Zambezi Region in October 2026 and Namibia suspended movement of raw animal products there, and Botswana takes raw meat at the border. See our meat and food guide.

More guides for your route

Sources

Checked 23 October 2026. Rules, hours and fees change, so confirm with the official source before you travel.

Katima Mulilo to Kasane via the Ngoma border