Chobe Self-Drive Guide: Routes, Permits, Vehicles & Camps

A self-drive safari through Chobe National Park is one of the great wilderness experiences in southern Africa — and it is entirely doable in a properly equipped 4×4 without a guide. Most of Chobe's roads are open to self-drivers, with park fees payable on arrival and the network links to the broader northern Botswana circuit (Savuti, Linyanti, Moremi, Okavango) for an extended route. This guide covers the practicalities: vehicle requirements, where to enter, where to sleep, what to pay, and the mistakes self-drivers most commonly make.

Is Chobe Suitable for Self-Drive?

Yes. The Chobe Riverfront sector (north of the park, accessed from Kasane) is the most self-drive friendly. Gravel roads, generally flat terrain, short distances, and frequent sightings mean you can comfortably manage a day trip from Kasane in a standard 4×4.

Savuti and Linyanti are a different proposition with deep sand, long distances between camps, no cellphone reception, and genuinely remote bush. Self-drivers with properly equipped 4x4 vehicles can self-drive to Savuti.

Permits & 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.

NO FUEL is available between Maun and Kasane – no fuel for sale in the parks.

NO FOOD is for sale between Maun and Kasane – be sure to have enough food and drinking water with you.

Refer to Chobe National Park information for the full entry fee breakdown across citizen / SADC / international categories.

Camping Fees Inside the Park

Campsite rates vary by location (Ihaha on the Riverfront, Savuti Campsite, Linyanti Campsite) and are booked separately. Check the Chobe camping page for current rates and booking contacts.

Advanced campsite bookings are highly recommended, especially during peak season.

Vehicle Requirements

Only 4×4 vehicles are allowed to enter and drive inside the parks.

Minimum Specification

• True 4×4 drivetrain (high and low range).
• High ground clearance (minimum 220 mm, ideally 250 mm+).
• All-terrain or mud-terrain tyres in good condition. Plus a full-size spare (two spares for Savuti).
• Long-range fuel capacity — minimum 100 litres, ideally 140-180 litres with a long-range tank. Fuel stations between Kasane and Maun are 300-400 km apart with nothing in between.
• Recovery gear: high-lift jack, sand ladders / traction boards, tow strap, shovel, tyre pressure gauge and compressor.
• Communication: satellite phone or PLB (personal locator beacon). Cellphone coverage is essentially zero once you leave the Kasane area.

Recommended Hire Options

Most self-drive safari-goers hire from specialists in Maun, Kasane, Windhoek or Johannesburg. Reputable operators include Travel Adventures Botswana, Britz, Bushlore, and Safari Drive. Expect rates from USD 250 per day for a fully equipped 4×4 with rooftop tent, fridge, camping kit and recovery gear — cheaper on long rentals and in the green season.

Entry Gates

Chobe has four main gates you can enter through:

• Sedudu Gate — the main gate from Kasane. April – September: opens at 06h00, closes at 18h30. October – March: opens at 05h30, closes at 19h00. Used by nearly all Riverfront day trips.
• Ngoma Gate — on the western end of the Riverfront, near the Namibian border at Ngoma Bridge. Useful if you're entering from the Caprivi Strip.
• Ghoha Gate — northern entrance to Savuti, accessed via a sand track from the Linyanti transfer route. Remote.
• Mababe Gate — southern entrance to Savuti, accessed from Maun via the Mababe Depression. The classic "Maun to Savuti" self-drive route.

You must exit through a gate before closing time. Staying in the park after hours (outside a licensed campsite) is a serious offence.

Classic Self-Drive Routes

Kasane Day Trip (Riverfront Loop)

The easiest introduction. Enter Sedudu Gate, drive the Chobe Riverfront road west towards Ngoma, turn around at the Serondela picnic site or Ihaha Campsite, to exit at Sedudu Gate. Expect to see elephants, buffalo, hippos, fish eagles, impala, kudu and often lion. Around 80 km round trip, taking 8-9 hours at game-viewing pace.

Kasane to Savuti (4+ hour drive)

The Northern Botswana classic. Kasane → Ngoma Gate → Linyanti transfer road → Ghoha Gate → Savuti. Around 220 km, most of it deep sand. Savuti itself rewards 2-3 full days of game driving — the Marsh area, the Rock Paintings loop and the predator hotspots around the airstrip.

Savuti to Maun (5 hour drive)

Savuti → Mababe Gate → Mababe Depression → Khwai River → Maun. A long day (roughly 200 km) on sand tracks and river crossings. Most self-drivers break this with a night at Khwai (old North Gate), which has good camping and superb wildlife. Maun is the gateway to Moremi and the Okavango if you're continuing south.

Full North to South Circuit

Kasane → Chobe Riverfront → Ihaha → Linyanti → Savuti → Khwai → Moremi → Maun. This is the classic self-drive Botswana safari. Roughly 700 km of mostly sand and gravel, with genuine wilderness between stops. Work on 7-10 days minimum; rush it and you'll miss the best of each area.

Our interactive map is the best starting point for visualising these routes.

Fuel, Water & Supplies

• Fuel: Last reliable fuel going west is Kasane. There is also a fuel station in Muchenje, close to Ngoma (about 65 km’s from Kasane). Next point is Maun, via either Savuti (720 km through the park, no fuel) or the tar road via Nata (680 km, fuel at Nata). Always top up in Kasane. Savuti has no fuel.
• Water: Carry minimum 5 L per person per day plus 20 L of vehicle-reserve water. Kasane tap water is potable; inside the park no potable water is available.
• Food: Stock up in Kasane at Shoprite, Spar or Choppies — supermarket quality is good. No shops inside the park. Savuti Campsite kiosk (when open) stocks beer, some tinned food, and firewood.
• Firewood: Do not cut any wood inside the park. Buy bundles at campsite entrances or bring your own from Kasane.

Park Rules for Self-Drivers

• Stick to designated roads. No off-road driving. Fines are steep and the park is strict.
• Speed limit is 40 km/h on all park roads — for wildlife safety and your own suspension.
• Stay in your vehicle except at designated picnic sites and campsites.
• No walking outside camps without a licensed guide. Lions, elephants and buffalo regularly pass through all campsites at night.
• Drive only between gate-open and gate-close hours (roughly 06h00-18h30). Being out after dusk is both dangerous and against park rules.
• Never approach elephants closer than 10 m, and always leave them a clear escape route.
• No fires outside designated fire pits at campsites.

Common Self-Drive Mistakes

1. Underestimating sand. The Savuti approach from Ghoha is deep, loose sand for 40+ km. Drop your tyre pressures (1.2-1.5 bar), engage 4-low, and keep momentum.
2. Running out of daylight. Distances on the map look short. Factor 20-25 km/h average on game-viewing drives, 30-40 km/h on inter-camp transfers.
3. Booking campsites late. Ihaha, Savuti and Linyanti all book out in advance for peak season. Wet-season availability is better.
4. Forgetting the Pula. Park entry fees are paid in Pula cash. There are card machines, but it does not always work. ATMs in Kasane work with most international cards.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a guide to drive in Chobe National Park?

No. Self-drivers are permitted throughout the park as long as you hold a valid park entry permit.

Can I self-drive Chobe in a 2WD SUV?

Only Transit Road passing through the Chobe Forest Reserve and the Kasane-to-Ngoma tar road are passable in 2WD. Every game-viewing route inside the park requires 4×4.

What is the best time of year for self-drive in Chobe?

May to October. Roads firm up, river crossings are passable, and night temperatures are pleasant for camping.

Can I cross between Chobe and Namibia / Zambia / Zimbabwe in a self-drive 4×4?

Yes — Kasane sits at a four-country junction. Ngoma Gate connects to the Namibian Caprivi Strip. The Kazungula border post connects Botswana to Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Plan Your Self-Drive

Self-drive visitors typically combine Chobe with the Okavango Delta and Moremi Game Reserve for the full Northern Botswana experience. Start with the interactive map to visualise routes, then check Chobe camping for campsite rates, and park information for gate hours and fee details.