Chobe National Park Entry Gates & Park Rules

Chobe National Park has four operational entry gates and a clear set of rules that every visitor must follow. The Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) enforces these strictly — fines are significant, and expulsion from the park is possible for serious breaches. This page covers every gate, what it connects to, opening hours, fees, and the full park-rule set so you arrive ready and stay out of trouble.

The Four Gates at a Glance

• Sedudu Gate — main northern gate from Kasane. Handles 90%+ of day-trip and Riverfront visitors.
• Ngoma Gate — western end of the Riverfront, situated close to the Namibian border crossing (Ngoma Bridge).
• Ghoha Gate — remote northern access to Savuti via Linyanti.
• Mababe Gate — southern entrance to Savuti from Maun via the Mababe Depression.

Opening hours: April – September: opens at 06h00, closes at 18h30; October – March: opens at 05h30, closes at 19h00

Sedudu Gate (Main Entrance)

The primary tourist gate. Located about 8 km west of Kasane town and 10 km from Kasane Airport. Used for every Chobe Riverfront day trip, boat cruise pickups (which pass through), and virtually all lodge transfers.

Enter here for the Chobe Riverfront loop, Ihaha Campsite, or transfers west to Ngoma / Linyanti.

Ngoma Gate

Situated on the western end of the Chobe Riverfront sector, at the Namibian border. Used by travellers coming from the Caprivi Strip (Zambezi Region) in Namibia or travelling between the Riverfront and Linyanti.

Ghoha Gate

A remote gate at the northern end of Savuti. Access is via the Linyanti sand-track transfer road from the Chobe Riverfront. This is the route self-drivers use to reach Savuti from Kasane without going around via Maun.

Note: the Linyanti transfer road approach is deep sand. Do not attempt without a proper 4×4 — see our Chobe self-drive guide.

Mababe Gate

Southern entrance to Savuti, used by self-drivers coming up from Maun through the Mababe Depression. The classic "Maun to Savuti" route.

Park Entry Fees

Every vehicle entering Chobe National Park needs a valid park entry permit and a campsite reservation if you plan to sleep inside the park.

PARK FEES – PAYABLE AT THE DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND NATIONAL PARKS (DWNP)

Please be aware that the Botswana Park Fees are expected to increase within the year. Regrettably such increases are beyond our control and are excluded from any bookings, provisional or confirmed.

Park fees are payable in cash before departing to the National Parks.

Entry from Kasane: Payment made at Sedudu Gate.

Entry from Maun: Payment made in Maun at the Department of Wildlife offices in the main road.

There are card machines, but it does not always work.

Please note that the Department of Wildlife and National parks has changed their policy regarding payment of park fees. In the past they were charging per night and this has now changed you pay park fees per day even the day that you will be checking out - you pay for the arrival and departure day.

ATMs in Kasane (Standard Chartered, ABSA, First National Bank) dispense Pula on international cards. No ATMs inside the park.

Park Rules

These rules apply in all the Botswana National Parks, and is enforced by the DWNP rangers.

Driving Rules

• Stick to designated roads. Off-road driving is strictly forbidden and heavily fined.
• Maximum speed 40 km/h on all park roads. 30 km/h through high-wildlife areas.
• No driving after sunset. You must be out of the park, or inside your licensed campsite, by gate-close time.
• No night drives are allowed inside the park.
• Keep at least 10 m from elephants. Always give animals a clear exit path.
• Do not surround a sighting — if multiple vehicles are present, park in a single line or small cluster, never encircle the animals.

Personal Conduct

• Stay in your vehicle except at designated picnic sites and campsites.
• No walking anywhere in the park outside licensed campsites, without a registered armed guide.
• Keep noise to a minimum. Quiet engines, low voices, no music or loudspeakers.
• Do not feed wildlife. Zero tolerance — feeding creates habituated, dangerous animals.
• Do not drink alcohol while driving.
• No drones are allowed anywhere in Chobe National Park without a written DWNP permit (rarely issued).

Environmental Rules

• Pack away all rubbish.
• No fires outside designated fire pits at licensed campsites.
• No firewood collection. Bring your own or buy at campsite entrances.
• No picking plants, collecting rocks, bones, feathers, horns or any natural objects.
• No disturbing nests, breeding sites or young animals.
• Flush toilets only at campsite ablutions — never in the bush.

At Campsites

• Bookings are mandatory and must be presented at the gate and at the campsite.
• Check-out time: 11:00 AM on departure day.
• Unfenced campsites. Wildlife may walk through at any time, particularly at night. Never leave food or rubbish outside your tent or vehicle.
• Keep all food secured — hyenas, baboons and elephants are opportunistic and persistent.
• No washing in the river or boreholes except at marked ablution taps.

Fines and Consequences

Breaches of park rules can result in:

• On-the-spot fines — typically BWP 500-5,000 for minor breaches (speeding, off-road driving, littering).
• Vehicle impoundment — for serious or repeated offences.
• Expulsion from the park — for dangerous driving near wildlife, drone flying, feeding animals.
• Court prosecution — for poaching, weapons offences, or wildlife harm. Sentences include imprisonment.

Rangers patrol regularly and have full enforcement authority. Be polite, produce your permit on request, and don't argue if you're caught. The Botswana Wildlife and National Parks Act governs all enforcement.

Plan Your Visit

For park background read our Chobe National Park information page. For campsite booking details go to Chobe camping. For the full set of routes and gate locations visualised, the interactive map is the fastest orientation tool.