Camping in Botswana

By Vicky · Published Aug. 12th, 2022 · Updated Dec. 11th, 2022

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Camping in Botswana is the best way to experience the remote wilderness of the National Parks. Read on to discover the best sites and how to book.

Map of Campsites in Botswana

What are campsites in Botswana like?

There are three main types of campsites in Botswana: 1) Campsites in the Northern Parks, 2) Campsites in the Southern Parks and 3) Campsites outside of Game Parks.

Campsites in the Northern National Parks of Botswana

These include all the sites in Chobe Riverfront, Savuti, Linyanti, Moremi, Khwai, Khama Rhino Sanctuary and the two larger campsites in Makgadigadi Pans and Nxai Pan.

In the northern parks, the campsites contain ten or so sites that are all quite close together, though often still a bit private. Additionally, the campsites have one or two shared ablution blocks with flush toilets, hot showers and running water. Don’t trust this water for drinking – preferably bring your own, or boil the water before use.

Campsites in the Southern National Parks of Botswana

These include all the sites in Mabuasehube, Khutse, Central Kalahari and the two smaller campsites in Makgadigadi Pans and Nxai Pan. In the southern desert parks the campsites are often individually located, with several hundred metres, or even kilometres, from one site to the next. This can be the case even if the sites have the same name. This makes the sites very private and you often feel like you’re the only one in the park.

Most of these sites also have their own long-drop toilet and bucket shower and in Mabuasehube the campsites have wooden A-frames for shade. There is no water at these individual campsites, and basically no water at all in any of the three big desert parks – Mabuasehube, Khutse and Central Kalahari so you must bring your own.

Campsites outside the National Parks and Game Reserves

Outside of the national parks and game reserves there are also camping options. Most campsites are attached to a lodge and have standard shared ablutions. Campers can normally also make use of the lodge restaurant/bar and pool facilities if available. Many lodges with camping, especially in Maun and Kasane, have WiFi and can organise activities such as Mokoro trips or River Cruises.

Best Campsites in Botswana

My favourite campsite in Botswana was Mabuasehube 1, a campsite with no facilities but a great view in Mabuasehube. Special mentions go to Kubu Island Campsite for its fantastic location in the hills and rocks, and Tree Island Campsite in Makgadikgadi for its remoteness.

For more details of individual sites, see our articles about each of the National Parks:

Best Campsites in the Northern Parks of Botswana

In Moremi Game Reserve the best campsites are Third Bridge and Xakanaxa, both at the end of Moremi Tongue. These sites feel the wildest and have the most animals wandering through, as well as being near many tracks for game drives. Khwai North Gate is also a nice campsite, especially sites 8-10 by the river’s edge. South Gate feels the least wild and is furthest from the areas of high game concentrations, though there are still a few animals wandering through.

In Khwai there are three good camping options – Magotho Campsites, Khwai Safari Grounds and Mbudi. There’s not much to pick between them, though if you camp at Magotho specify that you want a riverside site to be next to the water.

In Chobe National Park there are only three campsites, each in the separate areas of Savuti, Linyanti and Chobe Riverfront (Ihaha Campsite), so by default these are the best campsites here. At Savuti campsite, the Paradise Site is the best (not sure why it has its own name), followed by the other sites along the (dry) river channel, Sites 1-4. In Chobe Riverfront, all the sites in Ihaha Campsite are along the river so all have nice views, though if you want more privacy Sites 1 and 10 are at either end so a bit quieter.

Best Campsites in the Salt Pans of Botswana

In Makgadikgadi Pans you can stay at Khumaga Campsite by the Boteti River or at Tree Island Campsite. Khumaga has 10 sites close to the river, but without any real views, and a shared ablutions block. Tree Island is much wilder and has just three sites with long-drop toilets and bucket showers. We stayed at Tree Island campsite and were the only people there. It was a lovely, remote and peaceful site and we heard lions roaring in the distance overnight.

In Nxai Pans there’s a similar choice between South Camp, with 10 sites close together and shared ablutions, or Baines Baobabs with three spread-out sites and no water. The best sites at South Camp are perhaps Site 1 because it’s quite private and Site 2 because it’s closest to the pans. There are more animals around South Camp, but the Baines Baobabs sites are very peaceful and remote, in the shadows of the evocative baobab trees.

Kubu Island has a fantastic campsite, one of the best campsites in Botswana, and the journey there is part of the fun. The landscape is unique and the sunsets are amazing, although there aren’t any wild animals. It does mean you can walk around up the small hills and over the rocks.

There are several good lodges with camping around the Salt Pans including Nata Lodge*, Planet Baobab* and Moriti Wa Selemo*. Elephant Sands Lodge*, 55 km north of Nata, is a fantastic place to stay because you camp around a large waterhole visited by elephants.

Best Campsites in the Southern Parks of Botswana

In Mabuasehube the best sites are around Mabuasehube and Mpayathutlwa Pans. We stayed at Mabuasehube 1 which is on top of a little slope so has amazing views over the pan, though it has zero facilities (no toilet, no shower, not even an A-frame). The two Mpayathutlwa Pans sites also have nice views. The sites at Bosobogolo are also nice, with Site 2 having the better view (but unlike Site 1 it has no toilet or shower). All the other sites are nice, the worst one is at the Entrance Gate because it’s not far into the park and you can hear noise from the gate, making it less wild.

In Khutse all the sites are fairly private apart from the 10 at Khutse Pan itself. However, outside the weekend you may be the only people camping there and it’s near the Khutse Pan Waterhole. Molose 1 site is a nice site, and the closest one to the Molose Waterhole, while Moreswe 2 has nice views over Morweswe Pan.

In the Central Kalahari there are many campsites, and some of the most remote camping sites in Botswana, all with their own long-drop toilet and bucket shower. The sites in Deception are closest together, there are six sites and they are all surrounded by bush so you don’t get any views. Site 1 is probably the best of the six for the most privacy. However, this campsite is close to Deception Valley with a high concentration of game. The Kori Campsites are nearby and are better because they’re in more open areas. Site 3 is the best because you get a bit of a view over the pans nearby. The Passarge Valley, Motopi and Piper Pan sites are all wonderfully remote and none of the other campsites are bad either.

Best Camping in Maun and Kasane

In Maun and Kasane the lodges with camping are all slightly similar. The lodges themselves normally have a restaurant, bar, pool and (often intermittent) WiFi, while the camping is located slightly away from the lodge, with its own decent ablutions. Additionally, the lodges can organise many activities nearby.

Maun

There are many lodges with camping in Maun, see our Maun article for more details. The best camping in Maun (in my opinion) is at Island Safari Lodge* because you stay on a little private nature reserve and can walk about in the bush, it doesn’t feel like you’re near a town at all. We stayed at Croc Camp* which is close to the centre and has a great bar overlooking the river. The campsites have their own private ablutions but no view, and it’s slightly expensive. The campsites at Sedia Riverside Hotel* are also nice because they’re close to the river and you can see quite a lot of birds.

Kasane

There are a few lodges with camping in Kasane, see our Chobe National Park guide for more details. One of the best and most popular places to camp in Kasane is Chobe Safari Lodge*. A few of the sites have river views, and the lodge has a nice swimming pool plus two great bars overlooking the river. Additionally, warthog and bushbuck wander around the campsite and the lodge can organise many activities such as a river cruise. if you want more of a wilderness feel, Senyati Safari Camp* is 20 minutes out of town and has a waterhole visited by elephants and many other animals.

I hope you enjoyed our guide to Camping in Botswana. If after reading you’ve decided camping isn’t for you, luxury safari tours* are another way to explore the country. If you still want to camp, read more about Self-Drive Routes in Botswana or our 45-day road trip through Botswana, or check out our overall Guide to Botswana.

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The Lonely Planet Guidebook* covers all of Botswana, but not in much detail. The Bradt Guide* has a wealth of information and is great for planning a safari around northern Botswana, but doesn’t cover southern Botswana. The Tracks4Africa Map* is an essential item for driving around the country and its national parks. For more information, see our Best Botswana Guidebooks article.

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We went on a self-drive safari in Botswana for two months in our trusty Defender. Find out more by reading the travel book I wrote, No Footprints in the Night: On Safari in Botswana*.

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