Words & Photos: Getaway. Article from the Getaway Online Magazine 2015.
It can be tricky to book public campsites in Botswana’s national parks and reserves. Some campsites are run by private operators, some by the Botswana Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP), and some parks have a combination of both so that a single visit can involve a convoluted back-and-forth between multiple parties before you get the dates you need. If you’re planning a trip to any of Botswana’s national parks, this is what you need to know.
Please note: this article was originally posted on 15 November 2012, but has now been updated with new contact information and prices.
Baines’ Baobabs, Botswana. Operated by Xomae Group.
Booking steps
- Decide your ideal route and pick some backup campsites in the same area. Buy a map of Botswana or go online and get a general idea of where individual campsites are – if a campsite is booked for the dates you want, it can save a lot of time to immediately be able to ask for availability at a nearby alternative.
- Know which operators manage each site. If an operator’s campsite is full there’s no point asking them for a booking at an adjacent site that they do not manage. If you can rattle off a list of their camps it makes the process a lot smoother. Happily we’ve done that for you. All the relevant information can be found below.
- If you’re staying at a mix of private and DWNP campsites, check availability at the DWNP sites first. Don’t pay until you have the full trip confirmed, but once you have the DWNP camps provisionally reserved you can contact the private operators and check availability there. If the dates work, book and pay for the private camps and then return to the DWNP to pay for those bookings. The advantage of going this way round is that you can then send the DWNP your private camp vouchers at the same time and pay them for DWNP camping and park fees together. Park fees can only be paid to the DWNP once all camping fees – for both private and DWNP sites – have been settled.
- If you’re staying at DWNP camps only (a visit to the Kgalagadi for example) then camping and park fees can be paid at the same time.
- If you’re only camping at privately run sites then you will need to book them first and then send your booking vouchers to the DWNP. Only then will the DWNP invoice you for the park fees.
- Do all this before you leave home. It is possible to sort everything out in Maun, and there are regional DWNP offices in many of Botswana’s major towns if you need to make last minute changes to your bookings, but it’s unwise to arrive at a park gate without a camp booking confirmed and paid for. If there is availability and the phone lines are working, it is possible to book everything at the gate, but you may just as easily be turned away, especially on Saturday afternoons and Sundays when booking facilities are usually closed.
- The exception is park fees which can generally be paid in cash at the gate providing you have a paid-up campsite booking voucher. Some gates now also have credit card machines, but they do not always work so carry cash to be safe. Rands, and major foreign currencies are also accepted at most park gates.
Sunset over Third Bridge campsite in Moremi Game Reserve. Operated by Xomae Group.
The Botswana Department of Wildlife and National Parks
As mention above, the DWNP handles all park entrance fees and also operates campsites in some of the parks.
Camps run by the DWNP
- All campsites on the Botswana side of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
- Eight campsites in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve: the three gate camps (Matswere Gate, Tsau Gate and Xade Gate), as well as Xaka, Kori, Deception, San and Phokoje Pans
- Two campsites in the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park: Njuca Hills and Tree Island
Contact DWNP central reservations: Tel +267 318 0774, email.
DWNP office Maun: S19.98433 E23.42992
Private camps and community concessions
1. Bigfoot Tours
Khutse: All five campsites in Khutse
Central Kalahari: Piper Pan, Letiahau, Lekhubu, Kukama, Sunday Pan, Passarge Valley and Motopi
Contact: Tel +267 395 3360, email, website.
2. Gaing-O Community Trust
Kubu Island campsite
Contact: Tel +267 297 9612
3. Kwalate Safaris
Chobe: Ihaha Camp
Moremi: South Gate and Xakanaxa
Contact: Tel +267 686 1448, email.
Maun office: S19.9778667 E23.4314333
4. Xomae Group
Moremi: Third Bridge and Gcodikwe 1 Island Camp
Nxai Pan: Baines’ Baobabs and South Camp
Contact: Tel +267 686 2221, email, website.
Maun office: S19.9769167 E23.4305
5. SKL
Chobe: Savuti and Linyanti
Moremi: North Gate
Makgadikgadi: Khumaga
Contact: Tel +267 686 5365, email, website.
Maun office: S19.9664833 E23.4506167
6. Khama Rhino Sanctuary
Campsite and chalets near Serowe
Contact: Tel +267 463 0713, website.
7. Khwai Development Trust
Khwai community concession: Magotho Camp (for self drives), and Matswere Camp and Sable Alley (usually reserved for operators)
Contact: Tel +267 680 1211
Maun office: S19.9782667 E23.4243333
8. Leap/Mababe Safaris
Tshaa Camp
Contact: Tel +267 7386 3058.
9. Tuli Wilderness
Molema Bush Camp
Contact: Tel +2778 391 4220, website.
A powerful lioness looks for dinner in Moremi National Park.
Related Content
