Chobe National Park Campsite Rates

Subject to change

Chobe River Front Campsite, Ihaha Campsite & Savuti Campsite

• Designated Campsites.
• Unfenced.
• Park fees are payable in cash on arrival at the Botswana Wildlife office.
• No entry without a reservation.
• All visitors will camp at the correct campsites.
• Must keep noise to a minimum at all times.
• No off-road driving.
• Exit the park at 11:00 am at the exit gate.

These rates include

• Camp cleaning and litter removal.
• Clean toilets and shower facilities.
• BBQ facilities.
• There is a maximum of three vehicles per site.
• Anti-bacterial soap and toilet paper in the ablution blocks.
• Daily rubbish collection.
• 12% Government tax.

The following are not allowed.

Generators, playing music, sharing of sites, feeding animals, moving between the locations at night.

Park Entry Fees

Getting There

By Air

• Air charter services are also available
• Light aircraft transfers have a 15kg luggage restriction

For flight details contact

Air Botswana Central Reservations
Tel: +267 395-1921
Web: https://www.airbotswana.co.bw

South African Airways
Tel: +267 390-2210/12
Web: www.flysaa.com

Air Namibia
Tel (South Africa): +27 11-978-5055
Tel (Namibia): +26 461-299-6444

By Road

Botswana is an access road from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Namibia. Vehicles drive on the left side of the way. A valid international driver's license and vehicle registration documents are required to operate in Botswana. Most roads in Botswana have tarr. The main routes to established areas are regularly graded. We recommend Four-wheel drive vehicles when travelling in the national parks and reserves.

By Bus

There are scheduled bus services across borders between Botswana and South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Zambia, and excellent internal bus services linking major and minor towns and villages.

Getting Around In Towns

Taxis are usually a convenient way to get around in towns and are reasonably priced. They are easy to identify in designated stations. Taxis to Gaborone are also available from Sir Seretse Khama International.

When to visit

The drastic changes in vegetation between the dry and wet months mean that many animals migrate, the most famous being the zebra migration. The abundance of wildlife makes this park an excellent place to visit year-round. The breathtaking sunsets, the many waterways and various landscapes make Chobe unforgettable.

Best Wildlife Sightings

August to October 
You will see more animals during the dry, hot months, especially around the river, as all the wildlife flock to the water. This is the best time to spot lions, giraffes, and buffalo. You can find many elephants in the Linyanti region during these months. You can see hippo, impala, baboon, blue wildebeest, kudu, warthog, vervet monkey, and many other animals that one can find year-round.

Best for Bird Watching

December to March
This is the wet season, and bird sightings increase as migrants move in. Over 450 bird species have been documented in the park.

High Season

July to October
The park is the most popular with tourists, and ample wildlife can are around the rivers. There are fewer mosquitoes in July and August.

Low Season

December to March
Many lodges offer lower rates during these months. This is the best time to experience the zebra migration from Namibia to the Makgadikgadi Pans. The migration takes place during the rainy season from November to March. Visitors won't miss spotting some of the 25 000 zebras!

Shoulder Season

April to June and November
Some lodges lower their rates for these months. As mentioned, animals are abundant year-round in the Chobe National Park, and visitors are guaranteed to spot elephants, hippo, red lechwe, blue wildebeest, kudu, warthog and vervet monkeys. If you're lucky, you may spot the elusive leopard and cheetah.

Dry Season

April to October
The weather changes in April and May, becoming dryer, but the vegetation is still lush. It is a maximum of 29°C during the day. It's a bit cooler during June, July and August, ranging from 8°C in the mornings to a maximum of 27°C in the afternoons. During September and October, it gets hotter until the rainy season starts. The heat peaks in October with an average of 35°C.

Rainy Season

November to March
From November to February, it's around 19°C in the mornings. It's hot and sunny in the afternoons, reaching 33°C before the afternoon rains. You can expect the most rainfall in January and February, but only in the afternoons. The rain is less frequent in March, and the mornings are around 17°C.

Best Weather

May to August
It's more relaxed during the day, with a maximum of 28°C and quite cold at night, with temperatures dropping to 6°C.

For further advice, you can contact us and ask our experts.

General Botswana and Chobe National Park Information

Language

The official language in Botswana is English. All guides and general staff in the camps, lodges and hotel have a good command of English.

Electrical Supply

Electricity is at 220/240v. Both square and round wall plugs are in use.

Currency

Botswana Pula (BWP). "Pula" means rain or raindrops.

Firearms & Ammunition

The issue of firearms licenses in Botswana is strict. All firearms imported under the authority of an import permit must be licensed immediately upon arrival in Botswana

Police permits for weapons are issued by:
Central Arms, The Registry
P O Box 334, Gaborone.
Tel: +267 391-4202, +267 391-4106

Diamond Purchase

You can purchase diamonds in Botswana from a jeweller or authorised dealer. A strict certification system is in place to inform the buyer of the origin of the diamond, and the stated value and quality are verified.

Gratuity Guide

In Botswana, one is not obligated to offer gratuity (tips) for services rendered at restaurants, bars, hotels, etc. It is at the discretion of the individual.

Driving

Botswana vehicles are right-hand drives, and driving is on the left-hand side of the road. We don't recommend night driving as many animals and wildlife are along the streets.

Emergency Numbers

Entry and movement inside Chobe National Park Information

Botswana National Parks and Game Reserves

(1) No person shall enter or be within a national park or game reserve unless he has a valid entry permit.

(2) A person entering a national park or game reserve shall pay such fee as is specified in the First Schedule.

(3) An entry permit, or any other permit that may be issued in respect of a national park or game reserve, shall be issued subject to the conditions contained in these Regulations and other requirements as may be endorsed therein in writing by the Director or the Officer-in-Charge.

(4) Except where authorised by the Officer-in-Charge, no person shall enter or leave a national park or game reserve other than through a point of entry or exit, declared by the Director by notice in the Gazette and identified as such through a message or a sign.

(5) No person under 18 years of age shall enter a national park or game reserve unless accompanied by a person of 18 or older.

(6) When entering a national park or game reserve, you must produce proof of identity, age or residential status: professional guides License or tourism enterprise License.

(7) A person entering a national park or game reserve shall register the required details in the register provided at the designated entry point. Any person failing to register may be prohibited from entering the national park or game reserve.

(8) In the interests of maintaining densities of visitors within the carrying capacities or some other ground specified in the management plan, the Director or the Officer-in-Charge may restrict entry to a national park or game reserve to persons holding valid reservations for established lodges, campsites or other facilities or may limit the number of persons without such reservations entering a national park or game reserve.

(9) A national park or game reserve is open to the public throughout the year.

(10) No person shall enter a national park or game reserve or move outside a designated lodge, campsite or observation hide or overnight camp in a designated walking area within the national park or game reserve between the sunset and sunrise hours set out in the Fourth Schedule except where-

(a) An employee of the Government acts in the execution of his official duties and has a valid authorisation in writing from the Officer-in-Charge of the national park or game reserve;

(b) a person is participating in an approved night game viewing drive in the company of a professional guide licensed to conduct such night game viewing drives in an area designated in the management plan as a night driving area and returns to the selected lodge, campsite or observation hide by 22 hours evening time; or

(c) A person holds a valid authorisation in writing from the Officer-in-Charge in charge of the national park or game reserve; or

(d) A person holds a filming permit or research permit endorsed for filming or research activities during such hours.

(11) No person shall deposit litter within a national park or game reserve except in a litter bin. Otherwise, you will transport your waste out of the park.

(12) In this regulation, "observation hide" means any facility designated as an observation hide in the management plan under regulation 6.5.

Fees payable

(1) The payment of fees listed under the First Schedule shall not apply to the following-

(a) Persons to whom the Director Copyright Government of Botswana has issued a waiver or a free entry permit upon application;

(b) persons in the employment of the Government, who with the written permission of the Officer-in-Charge, enter or reside in a national park or game reserve in the execution of their official duties;

(c) Persons in transit through a national park or game reserve on a designated route;

(d) members of communities living adjacent to the national park or game reserve identified as such in writing by the appropriate traditional authority, where the issue of a free permit has been authorised in writing by the Officer-in-Charge;

(e) Duly authorised visits of groups of students and others engaged in field trips;

(f) Employees of tour operators, researchers and their assistants, where the issue of a free permit has been authorised in writing by the Officer-in-Charge;

(g) Husbands, wives and children of that resident in a national park or game reserve.

(2) An organised group associated.

(a) Botswana-based educational institutions visiting the national parks or game reserves for educational purposes shall pay 50% of the entry fees listed for citizens; or

(b) Non-Botswana-based educational institutions visiting the national parks or game reserves for educational purposes shall pay 50% of the entry fees listed for residents.

(3) The Director or the Officer-in-Charge may waive or reduce any of the fees listed in the First Schedule for a person or an organised group if deemed appropriate for education, promotion, research and in the interest of wildlife, wildlife conservation, the DWNP or the nation. (

4) In calculating any fees payable for a national park or game reserve, each day's entry or residence or use of a facility shall be counted as one day irrespective of whether such entry or residence or use is only for part of the day.

(5) A person shall only use a facility that permits overnight stays in a national park or game reserve after he has obtained a valid reservation voucher for such a facility from a designated reservation office

(6) Any fees payable for the use of facilities permitting overnight stays shall be paid in full within 30 days of a reservation being made at a designated reservation office, failing which the reservation shall lapse.

(7) There shall be no refund of any of the fees paid by sub-regulation

(6) Irrespective of whether the reservation is not or only partially used.

(8) Any fees payable for overnight stays shall include any sales tax that the appropriate legislation may levy. Copyright Government of Botswana

(9) In this regulation, "researcher" means a person or persons possessing a valid research permit from the Office of the President and permitted to research a national park or game reserve by the Director.

(10) Any person who contravenes any of the provisions of this regulation shall be guilty of an offence.

Chobe National Park entry gates

Opening and closing times

April – September

Opening time 06:00 - Closing time 18:30

October – March

Opening time 05:30 - Closing time 19:00

Border Posts

Border Posts Information

• You will require a Valid Passport with least six months.
• The Original registration papers of the vehicle.
• You will require a Valid Drivers License.
• A Letter of Authorisation from the owner of the vehicle.
• Finance Letter of Authorisation to take the vehicle across the border.
• You will need Insurance documents for the vehicle.
• Please declare goods if necessary.
• You will need Unabridged Birth certificates for minors travelling with you.
• Ensure that tire tread complies with the regulations.

Malaria in Chobe

Malaria is the most feared disease in Africa and is still a significant risk for travellers. Infections do occur in Botswana, mainly in the country's northern parts. It is most prevalent in the rainy season between November and May.

• Visit a travel clinic or your local GP for some specific advice on Malaria.
• Travel clinics are usually more updated on the latest trends and medicines.

Other precautions to take while in a malaria area

• Wear long-sleeved clothes in the evenings.
• Take note that mosquitoes are active from the early evenings before the sun sets until sunrise the following day.
• Mosquitoes are more prevalent near a body of water.
• Indeed, bringing mosquito repellent is when travelling to Chobe National Park.
• The lodges have mosquito nets.
• We advise that campers keep their tent's mosquito net closed at all times.

Chobe National Park takes its name from the Chobe River. The Chobe River forms the northern boundary and protects about 11700 square km. Its vegetation varies from lush floodplains to the scorched Savuti marsh. Chobe is a classic big game country where buffalo and elephants attain legendary proportions.

The northern part of Chobe lies next to the Chobe River. This road along the river allows for excellent game viewing in an off-road vehicle. Large raptors nest close to the Chobe river, and water birds are abundant and migrating birds.

Chobe National park includes Savuti in the south of the park. The Savuti region is 5-6 hours south of the Chobe Riverfront. Savuti has one large public campsite close to the Savuti Marsh.