taytrum travels

Botswana is known for its elephants and the Okavango Delta. In fact, many travelers take the opportunity to go camping in Botswana for the unique chance to be right there in the action.

If you’re considering a camping safari in Botswana and wondering what to expect, you’ve come to the right place.

First of all, camping in Botswana is more common than in other major safari destinations for a few reasons.

There are fewer predators per square mile than in other places like Tanzania where even the safari vehicles are built different for safety reasons.

Botswana tourism also has a lower volume of people and unfenced mobile camping safaris. Meanwhile camping in other places like Tanzania have more permeant campsites and lodges.

Botswana even allows self-drive campers and wild camping inside national parks if you get a permit, whereas many places prohibit this.

In this post, I’ll highlight some of the main camping junctions and places in Botswana and what you can expect there.

Okavango Delta Camping

This is wild camping in Botswana. Camping in the Okavango Delta is an incredible and often a once in a lifetime experience.

A camping safari in the Okavango Delta brings you right into the action with game walks and mokoro rides – even swimming for some! For most camping arrangements, you’ll need to organize through an agency or directly a camping group to stay in the delta.

I’m not aware of solo camping operations where you are able to free camp wherever – and I kinda doubt that you would want to. There are carnivorous predators out here. Hippos and crocs are aplenty and I could hear lions throughout the night.

There are two main types of camping arrangements out here: set up your own canvas tent style or glamping style. The do-it-yourself version is the cheaper option.

In order to get to the campgrounds scattered around the delta, you’ll likely take a mokoro. A mokoro is like an open kayak or low canoe pushed with a stick. While you may get the chance to try them out yourself, the local guides will steer and pilot the mokoros for most of the time you’re there.

You can expect great stars in the Okavango Delta. Be sure to remember to look up at night. When moving around in the evening, you may want to implement a buddy system. A bull elephant paid my site a visit for over an hour one evening (see the photo at the end).

Now when it comes to the animals, there are no fences around the campground. there are no electric lines or anything to prevent the animals from approaching. This goes for hippos and lions too.

Be smart. It is an amazing place with animal encounters almost constantly, but remember you are not at the top of the food chain here. This is the reality of bush camping in Botswana.

During my days in the Okavango Delta I saw baboons, buffalo, hippos, crocodiles, elephants, giraffes, kudus, and more. You’ll probably have the chance to go for a game walk with you guide and they’ll teach you more about the plants and animals in the Okavango Delta.

Now for the indelicate part… the bathroom. For most people camping in the Okavango Delta, they will have a deeply dug pit toilet a short walk away from the main campground. It has four tin walls and a roof. Toilet paper is provided and you should scoop dirt into the hole when you are done to help control the smell. If you’re lucky, you’ll camp with an organization that has a make-shift toilet seat made so you don’t have to squat.

Pro-tip: you NEED a headlamp. It is totally dark out there and you won’t have a free hand for bathroom duties.

Being next to the water, the evening temperatures can get cool. Be sure to pack a warm sleeping bag and good jacket. A hat and gloves are important as well.

Camping: Kasane, Botswana

Camping in Kasane, Botswana brings you close to the epic Chobe National Park. Camping in Botswana’s national park system will usually mean spending a night in or around Kasane.

No camping safari in Botswana is complete without a stop in Kasane. Chobe National Park was one of the best highlights for me. The camping in Kasane town were similar to Maun, maybe even a little nicer.

Like Maun, Kasane is a transit hub and gateway to adventures. In Kasane’s case, it’s all about Chobe and the river. You can take a river cruise on one of your evenings in Kasane for a great sunset.

Camping in Kasane, you can expect hot showers and a quiet campground. If you stay at a camping resort like I did in Kasane, it’ll be fenced and guarded. You’re unlikely to get any big game in the campground, but baboons, warthogs, or similar critters are possible.

Camping: Maun, Botswana

Maun is the gateway to the Okavango Delta. You’ll likely pass through in your effort to get to the delta.

This is a great spot to stock up on water and food for the days in the delta. Maun is not a particularly interesting city – it’s a means to the ends and an effective place to rest and refuel before the big adventure in the delta.

Camping in Maun is comfortable, albeit not very wild. It is very city-like, even if your campground is a bit removed. There are fences around the camp properties for example. You can expect hot showers, bathrooms, and a nice restaurant in Maun though. I stayed at the Sitatunga Camp. Here, you can find a good food and laundry services too if needed.

Camping: Nata, Botswana

Nata is known for the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans and the bird sanctuary. This is a great place to see zebras, flamingos, and wildebeest.

Camping around Nata, Botswana is not particularly wild – although you can see animals off the highway. Hotels in the area offer controlled and groomed grounds for camping groups big and small.

The Nata Lodge for example is a great spot with a pool, bar, restaurant, and nice shower and bathroom facilities. You may want to bring flip flops to use as shower shoes – this goes for any communal (but still private) shower site.

You can expect a comfortable stay in Nata. You escape some of the craziness of Maun and Kasane out here. Although, I should add that Maun and Kasane are not that crazy if you come from touristy big cities like San Diego or Paris. There is just a lot more hustle and bustle compared to the delta.

Camping sites in Botswana do not typically include electric and water hookups like you find in North America. Some do. I did see hook ups in Maun, Nata, and Kasane. So, if you are traveling on a self-driving camping trip with an RV, this will help ease the camping experience.

Group Tour Camping in Botswana: Tents

If you are on a group tour, they probably provide the tents (check in advance of course). They probably don’t include a sleeping bag or camping pillow. You can expect to set up your tent at each new site. This can take 5-10 minutes depending on your skill level and if you have a buddy to help.

Group tours often have a lot of solo travelers – this is what I did. This means there will be people to help. Setting up a two-person tent by yourself can be tricky business with the poles coming apart.

The tents are canvas and quite spacious for one person. Probably would be very cramped for two people with two people’s worth of luggage. Pack light.

Most campsites have lots of flat dirt pads, while there was one in Zimbabwe with a concrete pad which helped with mud and dirt but was obviously harder to sit on.

Keep your tent zipped up when you’re not actively watching the door. Spiders and snakes can sneak in. Luckily this did not happen to me.

Safety-wise, obviously a canvas tent can’t stop something if it wants to eat you or prevent an angry elephant from stomping on through. However, most animals are not interested in you. Be mindful and respectful of the fact that you’re in their world.

I slept well all the nights except one in the delta when an elephant came grazing through and stayed for a long time. I was scared of startling him from inside the tent and didn’t move a muscle. Eventually he left and I fell asleep after the adrenaline rush subsided.

Can you spot the elephant outside the tent in the picture below? The first picture below is from the delta, while the second is from Maun.

Group Tour Camping in Botswana: Food

One of the advantages of a group safari tour is the food is handled for you. I ate very well during the whole trip, even as a vegetarian. You can expect a variety of foods with lots of sides. No meal was ever repeated. There were a few local items made every few nights, as well as classics like pasta and burgers.

Overall, a few camping in Botswana tips stand out:

• Bring a headlamp.
• Check the weather in advance. The nights get cold.
• Bring water and stock up in cities like Maun.
• Don’t be stupid. Respect wildlife and keep a distance.
• Clean up after yourself and leave no trace.

While the Serengeti gets a lot of safari love, the Okavango Delta should be on your radar. It was an amazing experience, especially if you love animals. Doing the budget-friendly camping version to see the Okavango Delta is worth the “roughing it” of the daily dirt and no-frills camp set ups. Get out there as soon as you can!

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