Travel Tips

Is the Chobe Safari Lodge the Best Campsite in Kasane?

: Category: Travel Tips; 17 November 2025

Try the Camping Botswana Special and find out

If you've ever dreamed of waking up to the sound of hippos grunting in the Chobe River, then camping at The Chobe Safari Lodge in Kasane should be at the top of your Botswana bucket list.

This riverside campsite blends adventure with a dash of comfort, and right now, it's part of an incredible offer.

Camp at The Chobe Safari Lodge, Botswana’s best riverside campsite near the Chobe National Park, from R450pp/night with our Camping Botswana Special.

Running between 1 December 2025 and 15 April 2026, you can enjoy 3 nights camping at The Chobe Safari Lodge and 2 nights at Nata Lodge.

Plus, you get a free boat cruise and a braai night at the Sedudu Outdoor Dining Experience.

Camp Beside the Chobe River – Botswana’s Best Campsite

What makes The Chobe Safari Lodge the best campsite in Kasane? It's all about the location and wildly comfortable atmosphere.

Not only is it set right on the banks of the Chobe River, but the campsite also puts you within arm's reach of the park's famous elephant herds and fiery sunsets.

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The Chobe Safari Lodge campsite is located in Kasane, northern Botswana, just 10 minutes from the Chobe National Park Sedudu Gate and 10 minutes from Kasane International Airport. This makes it the closest campsite to the Chobe National Park’s main gate.

Campers can pitch their tents under shady trees, plug into on-site power points, and enjoy clean ablution facilities, steps from the lodge's bar (with amazing sunsets!), restaurants, activities desk and all the exciting new facilities. All campers get free access to the Explorers Lounge, Chobe Bush Walk, Treetops Lookout and the Elephant Centre.

These campgrounds in Kasane are particularly famous for their abundant wildlife. The Chobe Bushbuck frequently visit the campsites, and the birdlife is exceptional. Warthogs can often be seen wandering by, while squirrels bustle through the trees. On a good day, you might easily spot buffalo herds wading near Sedudu Island, which is directly opposite the campsite.

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Birdlife is excellent too.

"There are also many birds, and the campsite within the hotel grounds is the best place to find them early in the morning".

— Des, TripAdvisor review, 2025

Collared palm thrushes are found practically nowhere else in Southern Africa, but are familiar garden residents here: they love the thickly vegetated walkway leading from our safari rooms to the campsite. We also have trumpeter hornbills, black-collared barbets and the Schalow's turaco living in the fig trees.

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Another traveller mentioned the wildlife encounters:

"We always love to camp here as it is clean, showers are hot and a great swimming pool for kids to cool off in. Love the animals that roam the campsite. You can hear the fish eagles and hippo's constantly. Staff are very friendly and facilities are 5-star".

— Ben, TripAdvisor review

Why Campers Love It Here

After a few days of roughing it in Savute or Moremi, arriving at The Chobe Safari Lodge feels like a breath of fresh air. A place where you can still be close to nature, but with comfort at your fingertips.

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You can plug in your fridge, take a hot shower, then stroll over to book a sunset boat cruise, all without leaving the property. One traveller summed it up perfectly:

"Loved my time there. The facilities were excellent: clean, well-lit (especially at night) and the pathways were illuminated, making it easy to get around. Right next to the river (almost jutting out onto it) was the bar, where we gravitated for early evening drinks. It was perfect for watching the sun going down and listening to the birdlife, animal sounds, and the river flowing past".

— Judith, TripAdvisor review, 2025

Guests consistently praise the convenient location of the campsite, which is just a short drive — under 10 minutes — from the Chobe National Park gate. This makes early morning game drives a breeze. Afternoons can be spent lounging by the pool or enjoying cocktails at the riverside Monkey Bar. Don't forget to try the Monkey and the Mopane!

Recent upgrades have introduced new facilities, including the Explorers Lounge, Chobe Bush Walk, the Elephant Centre, and the Treetops Lookout, all enhancing the overall camping experience.

As part of the Botswana Camping Special, campers also score one night at the Sedudu Outdoor Dining Experience.

The Secret Perks of Visiting During the Green Season

The Camping Botswana Special runs from December to April, right in the heart of Botswana's lush green season.

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The Chobe River floodplains and surrounding teak woodlands explode into life. The dusty landscape turns emerald overnight. Wildflowers bloom and trees fill with lush foliage. The bush comes alive with energy and sound — crickets hum, frogs call, and birds sing through the mornings. The weather during this time is generally warm and pleasant, perfect for outdoor activities.

Also read: What to expect during a summer safari on the Chobe River

This is the birthing season for many species. Baby impalas, warthogs, and zebra foals take their first steps, often seen wobbling beside their mothers in the soft light of dawn.

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If you love birds, Chobe in the green season is world-class. Over 450 species can be spotted here, and during these months, migratory birds from Europe and northern Africa arrive in full plumage. Carmine bee-eaters line the riverbanks, kingfishers dart like jewels over the water, and yellow-billed storks, African skimmers, and African fish eagles fill the air with movement.

The 5-Night Camping Botswana Special

Here's what the Camping Botswana Special includes:

3 nights camping at the Chobe Safari Lodge, Kasane
2 nights at Nata Lodge, near the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans
From R450 per person per night
Valid: 1 December 2025 – 15 April 2026
Includes free Chobe boat cruise and dinner at the Sedudu Outdoor Dining Experience
Free access to the Elephant Centre, Explorers Lounge, Chobe Bush Walk, and Treetops Lookout
Terms and conditions apply

Start your trip in Nata, continue to Kasane, where you can spend your days on game drives or boat cruises, and your nights by the fire, then loop back to Nata Lodge on your way home — a peaceful, palm-filled escape near the salt pans, ideal for birding and relaxation before the end of your holiday.

Last but not least.

Frequently Asked Questions about Camping at the Chobe Safari Lodge

Q: Is the Chobe Safari Lodge campsite inside Chobe National Park?

A: No, the campsite is just outside the park’s Sedudu Gate in Kasane, making it the closest campsite to the park entrance.

Q: What facilities are available at The Chobe Safari Lodge campsite?

A: Our camping sites have power points, clean ablutions, shaded trees and access to the lodge’s restaurants, pool, and bar.

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Q: Can I see wildlife from the campsite?

A: Yes. You can sometimes view elephants and buffalo from the Sedudu Sunset Bar, when they graze on Sedudu Island across the River. Bushbuck, warthogs, honey badgers, squirrels and a variety of birds are often seen from the campsite.

What to expect during a summer safari on the Chobe River

: Category: Travel Tips; 05 November 2025

Although Botswana is a year-round safari destination, every shifting season offers its own set of spectacular highlights.

Summer lures diverse birds to our vast skies, fresh foliage unfurls from its winter slumber, and there is an unprecedented eruption of mammal, insect and reptile life during this captivating time of year.

From November to April, Botswana celebrates rainfall, lush bushveld, and thriving wildlife. The water level of the Chobe River slowly starts to rise again, peaking in May, and the shore boasts a verdant backdrop brimming with life. This is summer in Botswana, our gorgeous green season!

Here’s what to expect on a summer safari in the Chobe National Park

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Experience the Circle of Life

While wildlife may be easier to spot during the dry season because the grass is shorter and game congregates at the last water sources, summer in Botswana is the best time of year to ‘ooooh’ and ‘aaaaah’ at all the bountiful baby animals.

Plains game are well-fed on the plentiful vegetation and in peak condition to tend to their young. Impalas drop their lambs that congregate in bustling nurseries and this calving season extends to many other species, such as wildebeest, warthog, zebra, buffalo and more.

Although undeniably cute, we must remember that the Chobe National Park is not Disneyland. Predators prowl in the wake of these newborns (often with their own little ones in tow), hoping for an easy meal.

Document a Photographic Paradise

In summer, rain mainly falls as short afternoon showers and seldom spoils your safari experience (always pack a raincoat and a waterproof dry bag for electronics, just in case). Stunning emerald grasslands and abundant wildflowers create outstanding landscapes and backdrops for your animal subjects. Not to mention the epic drama of an impending downpour.

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A theatre of cloud cover creates fantastic texture for colourful sunsets at this time of year, plus longer light hours with the sun dipping below the horizon at around 19h00.

Savour the Small Stuff

It might not be to everyone’s liking, but a summer safari exhibits the full scope of wildlife in Botswana, from arachnids and adders to platannas and butterflies. Insects and frogs dominate the summer safari soundtrack, filling the Chobe National Park with a chorus of clicks, squeals and bubbling songs. These creatures also deepen the nature experience and illustrate the wider ecological web at work. After all, who will pollinate the towering riverine trees that the leopards love to loll about without the little insects?

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Set out on a Beautiful Boat Safari

The water levels across the Okavango Delta are at their lowest during summer, and water activities can be limited, but further north, the Chobe River offers year-round boating safaris.

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Watch hippos and crocodiles basking in the summer sun and admire the myriad of other species that call the Chobe River home.

Fall in love with Bird Watching

The Chobe Safari Lodge might be the easiest place to become a bird watcher!

Whether cruising the water or strolling through our indigenous gardens (have you heard about the new Chobe Bush Walk?), there are fantastic bird photography opportunities and many easy-to-identify species.

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Starting in November, migrant birds flock to the Chobe River from Asia, Europe and other parts of Africa. The cuckoo calls ring through the branches, vibrant feathers fill the skies and eagle-eyed predators patrol the waterways.

It is an extraordinary affair of kaleidoscopic plumage and raucous mating calls that bring a unique energy to this premier wilderness area. The sandy riverbanks and surrounding vegetation become home to many busy birds. A thrilling way to get up close to water bird species, such as the African jacana, African skimmer or plentiful ducks, geese, herons and egrets, is by cruising along the Chobe River.

Don’t forget to pack a pair of binoculars and pick up a species checklist when staying at The Chobe Safari Lodge.

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Where should I stay for a summer safari in Botswana?

Set on the banks of the elephant-rich Chobe River, The Chobe Safari Lodge occupies the best riverfront position in Kasane. Baboons, warthogs and mongooses may be seen at any time at our wonderfully wild accommodation. Established in 1959, decades of hosting adventurers and safari-lovers ensure this remains an ideal expedition base for iconic game viewing by boat, game drives or visits to Victoria Falls.