Short answer: for Chobe, Savuti and Victoria Falls, use the Ngoma Bridge post (Katima Mulilo side). For Maun and the Okavango Panhandle, Mohembo. For the Trans-Kalahari road from Windhoek, Mamuno / Trans-Kalahari. Dobe and Impalila are special cases. Kazungula is not a Namibia crossing: it is Botswana's border with Zambia and Zimbabwe. All of these hours can change, so check before you go.
Key facts
- Ngoma Bridge: Botswana side 07:00 to 18:00; Namibian side 08:00 to 18:00. Best for Chobe, Savuti and Victoria Falls.
- Mohembo: 06:00 to 18:00 on both official lists. Best for Maun and the Okavango Panhandle.
- Mamuno / Trans-Kalahari: Namibia lists 24 hours; the Botswana tourism list says 07:00 to midnight. Best for Windhoek to Maun.
- Dobe and Impalila: a remote 4x4 crossing and a boat-only crossing, not for most self-drive trips.
- Hours checked: 23 October 2026 against the official lists below. Namibia's list is dated March 2024.
Namibia to Botswana crossings at a glance (hours checked 23 October 2026)
| Border post | Who it suits | Botswana side hours | Namibian side hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ngoma Bridge | Chobe, Kasane, Savuti, Victoria Falls | 07:00 to 18:00 | 08:00 to 18:00 | Tar road on both sides. Not 24 hours. |
| Mohembo | Maun, the Okavango Panhandle, Shakawe | 06:00 to 18:00 | 06:00 to 18:00 | Check currency and card rules before you go. |
| Mamuno / Trans-Kalahari | Windhoek and Gobabis to Ghanzi and Maun | 07:00 to 00:00 (Botswana Tourism list) | 24 hours | Sources conflict. Plan to arrive in daylight. |
| Dobe | Remote 4x4 route between Tsumkwe and Nokaneng | Not on the Botswana Tourism list | 07:30 to 16:30 | For well-equipped 4x4 travellers only. |
| Impalila | Impalila Island (boat only) | Kasane immigration, hours not verified | 07:00 to 17:00 | No road. Mostly lodge guests. |
Botswana hours: Botswana Tourism ports of entry page, checked 23 October 2026. Namibian hours: Namibia Ministry of Home Affairs list of border posts (file dated 8 March 2024). Both countries are on UTC+2, so there is no time difference at the border. Hours change, so confirm with the border post or a recent traveller report before a long drive.
Two simple rules cover most trips. Cross in daylight, and have your passport, vehicle papers and some cash ready. Our Ngoma border documents checklist shows what the border asks for.
Ngoma Bridge: for Chobe, Savuti and Victoria Falls
Ngoma is the crossing for anyone driving from Katima Mulilo (Namibia's Zambezi Region) into Botswana's Chobe District. On the Botswana side you join the A33 through Chobe National Park to Kasane, and from there you can go south to Savuti or east to Victoria Falls. Botswana lists it as open 07:00 to 18:00 and Namibia as 08:00 to 18:00, so cross between 08:00 and 17:00.
Lorato is on the Botswana side at Muchenje, about 15 minutes from the border. Check-in is at any time, so you can clear the border, drive 15 minutes and set up camp. Our Ngoma border post guide has the full detail on hours, fees, cash and food rules, and Katima Mulilo to Kasane covers the drive.
Mohembo: for Maun and the Okavango
Mohembo is the crossing on the western side of the Caprivi Strip, near Divundu, and leads into northern Botswana's Okavango Panhandle. Both the Botswana Tourism list and the Namibian Home Affairs list give 06:00 to 18:00. It is the natural choice if you are heading to Shakawe, the Okavango or Maun rather than Chobe.
One travel guide says Mohembo does not take foreign currency. We could not confirm that from an official source, so treat it as a lead: bring some Pula in cash and a card, and ask on the day. Official fee amounts for road permits and insurance conflict between sources, so we give none here.
If you are driving the full loop, many travellers make Ngoma their second border. For the onward route, see Kasane to Maun by road.
Mamuno and Buitepos: the Trans-Kalahari
The Trans-Kalahari border sits on the road from Windhoek and Gobabis towards Ghanzi and Maun. Namibia's list calls it Trans Kalahari, and it is known as Mamuno on the Botswana side and Buitepos on the Namibian side. Namibia's list gives 24 hours. Botswana reported in December 2022 that it would move to 24-hour operation from 1 April 2023, up from 07:00 to midnight, but the Botswana Tourism list we checked still shows 07:00 to 00:00. Because the sources disagree, aim to arrive in daylight and check the current hours before a long drive.
This route does not pass the Chobe area. If you want to reach Chobe from here, the next leg is via Maun and the Kasane to Maun road.
Dobe and the Impalila boat link
Dobe is a remote border in the Nyae Nyae area. Namibia lists it as 07:30 to 16:30. It is not on the Botswana Tourism ports of entry page, and one traveller who crossed in August 2023 reported that Botswana customs closed at 16:30 and that the Botswana side had deep sand. It is a long 4x4 track, not a tar route, and we do not recommend it for a first self-drive trip.
Impalila Island is Namibian territory near Kasane. There is no road to it. You clear Botswana immigration at Kasane and cross by small boat to the Namibian post on the island, which Namibia lists as open 07:00 to 17:00. It is mostly used by lodge guests, so ask your lodge before you plan around it. Visa rules on the island depend on your nationality.
Kazungula is Zambia, not Namibia
Many people search for the Kazungula border when they mean the Ngoma Bridge. Kazungula is Botswana's border with Zambia (the Kazungula Bridge, opened in 2021) and, by a separate road crossing, Zimbabwe (06:00 to 20:00). You do not use it to come from Namibia to Chobe. You would use it after Kasane to go on to Livingstone or Victoria Falls. Botswana has announced a move to 24-hour operation at the Kazungula Bridge, but the sources we found disagree on the start date, so check before you rely on it. Our Kazungula vs Ngoma comparison sets the two side by side, and the Chobe to Victoria Falls guide covers both Kazungula crossings.
Before you go: documents and rules
- Documents and vehicle papers: passport, driving licence, registration papers and, if the vehicle is rented or not in your name, a letter of authority. See the checklist on our Ngoma border page, and the rental car letter guide.
- Food and meat: foot-and-mouth rules changed in 2026 and can change again. Read taking meat and food across the border before you pack the cooler.
- Visas: many nationalities do not need one for Botswana, but check the Botswana Tourism visa list.
- Fees and cash: amounts for road permits, insurance and cross-border charges differ between sources, so we give no totals here. Carry Pula and Namibian dollars in cash.
Plan the rest of your trip
If Chobe is on your route, start with the Botswana camping guide, then see the campsite near the Ngoma border, tent hire if you have no gear, or book your campsite directly. You can also WhatsApp us on +267 7430 4407 or use the booking form on the home page.
Frequently asked questions
Which border should I use from Namibia to Botswana?
It depends on where you are going. Use Ngoma Bridge for Chobe, Kasane, Savuti and Victoria Falls. Use Mohembo for the Okavango Panhandle and Maun. Use Mamuno, called Buitepos or Trans-Kalahari on the Namibian side, for the road from Windhoek to Ghanzi and Maun.
What are the Namibia to Botswana border post opening hours?
Ngoma is 07:00 to 18:00 on the Botswana side and 08:00 to 18:00 on the Namibian side. Mohembo is 06:00 to 18:00. The Trans-Kalahari post is listed as 24 hours by Namibia and 07:00 to midnight by Botswana Tourism. Dobe is 07:30 to 16:30 per Namibia. Hours checked 23 October 2026 and can change.
Are any Namibia to Botswana borders open 24 hours?
Namibia lists the Trans-Kalahari post as 24 hours, and Botswana announced a move to 24-hour operation at Mamuno from April 2023. The Botswana Tourism list still shows 07:00 to midnight, so confirm before you travel. Ngoma and Mohembo close at 18:00.
Is Kazungula a Namibia border?
No. Kazungula is Botswana's border with Zambia (the bridge) and Zimbabwe (the road crossing). To enter Botswana from Namibia near Chobe, use the Ngoma Bridge.
Which border is closest to Chobe National Park?
The Ngoma Bridge. On the Botswana side the A33 runs through Chobe National Park to Kasane. Lorato in Muchenje is about 15 minutes from the border.
Is there a time difference between Namibia and Botswana?
No. Both countries are on UTC+2 all year.
Can I cross from Namibia to Botswana by boat?
Impalila Island in Namibia is reached by boat from Kasane, not by road, and is used mostly by lodge guests. It is not a way to drive into Botswana.
Where can I camp after crossing at Ngoma?
Lorato Lodges and Camping in Muchenje, Chobe District, about 15 minutes from the border. It is $20 per person per night booked direct, check-in is at any time, and hire tents are $55 a night.
More guides for your route
Sources
Checked 23 October 2026. Rules, hours and fees change, so confirm with the official source before you travel.
- Botswana Tourism: ports of entry (Ngoma, Mohembo, Mamuno, Kazungula hours)
- Namibia Ministry of Home Affairs: list of Namibian border posts (file dated 8 March 2024)
- Botswana Daily News: Mamuno border post to operate 24 hours from 1 April 2023 (13 December 2022)
- The Brief Namibia: Namibia and Botswana to open 24-hour Trans-Kalahari/Mamuno border post (29 March 2023)
- Botswana Daily News: Kazungula border to operate 24 hours (February 2026)
- 4x4community forum: Dobe border post (traveller reports)
- Wikipedia: Impalila Island (boat access, no road)
- The Namibia Wetlands Route: border information
- Botswana Tourism: countries requiring visas