Happy Campers SA

Botswana is more popular than ever before, and it’s no secret why. It’s a gorgeous country that takes pride in their wildlife and conservation efforts and it’s truly one of the few countries where you can camp in unfenced camp sites. There are a number of must-see areas and national parks that would be a good starting point if you want to plan an over landing holiday in Botswana, but things get a bit tricky when it comes to booking camp sites.

Many of the camp sites and their maintenance has been outsourced to operators and you cannot book them via the Botswana Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) anymore. This is a list of the operators and how you can go about booking camp sites. I tried to get the most up to date info available but if you find any of these numbers or e-mails does not exist anymore, please let me know so that I can update my post:

Campsites run by the DWNP

• Central Kalahari Game Reserve: Xaka, Kori, Deception, San and Phokoje Pans camps as well as Matswere Gate, Tsau Gate and Xade Gate
• All campsites on the Botswana side of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (KTP), except for Mpayathulwa and Mabuasehube (KTP camps that can be booked via DWNP are as follows: Two Rivers, Rooiputs, Polentswa, Lesholoago Pan, Monamodi Pans, Bosobogolo Pan, Khiding Pan, Kaa)
• Makgadikgadi Pans National Park: Tree Island and Njuca Hills camp sites

Contact the DWNP via Central Reservations at +267 318 0774 / +267 3971405 (Gaborone office) or at +267 686 1265 / 0368 (Maun office) or e-mail them at dwnp@gov.bw

(Update January 2020: I could not reach DWNP on any of the above mentioned phone numbers earlier, I will update the post with new numbers as soon as I get them)

Private Camps and Community Concessions

There are a few big operators in Botswana, this is a list of the companies, including the campsites they run as well as contact details

1. Bigfoot Tours

• Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR): Sunday Pan, Passarge Valley, Piper Pan, Kukama, Motopi, Letiahau and Lekhubu
• Khutse: All five campsites in Khutse (Maharushele, Khutse Pan, Molose, and  Moreswe)

Contact Bigfoot at +267 395 3360 or via e-mail at reservations@bigfoottours.co.bw

Website: www.bigfoottours.co.bw

2. Gaing-O Community Trust

• Kubu Island campsite

Contact Gaing-O at +267 297 9612 or via e-mail at kubu.island@btcmail.co.bw

Website: http://www.kubuisland.com/

3. Kwalate Safaris

• Chobe National Park: Ihaha Camp
• Moremi Game Reserve: South Gate and Xakanaxa

Contact Kwalate Safaris at +267 686 1448 or via e-mail at kwalatesafari@gmail.com

Website: http://www.kwalatesafaris.com/

4. Xomae Group

• Moremi Game Reserve: Third Bridge as well as Gxhobega and Gcudikwa 1& 2 Island Campsites
• Nxai National Park: Baines Baobabs and South Camp

Contact the Xomae Group at +267 686 2221 or via e-mail at xomaesites@btcmail.co.bw

Website: www.xomaesites.com

5. SKL Camps

• Chobe National Park: Savuti and Linyanti
• Moremi Game Reserve: North Gate
• Makgadikgadi National Park: Kumaga

Contact SKL Camps at +267 686 5365 or via e-mail at reservations@sklcamps.co.bw

Website: www.sklcamps.com

6. Inter-Tourism Group

• Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (Mabuasehube): Mpayathulwa and Mabuasehube camp sites

Contact Inter-Tourism Group at  +267 350 0999 or +267 686 4664 or via e-mail at traveloptions@btcmail.co.bw

Website: http://www.inter-tourismgroup.com/

There is also few other reserves and areas that is worth your while to visit in Botswana, these are a few of those:

1. Khama Rhino Sanctuary

Campsites/chalets just outside Serowe

Contact Khama at +267 463 0713 or via e-mail at krst@khamarhinosanctuary.org.bw

Website: www.khamarhinosanctuary.org.bw

2. Khwai Development Trust

Khwai Community Concession: Magotho Camp, Matswere Camp and Sable Alley

Contact Khwai at +267 680 1211 or via e-mail at khwai@btcmail.co.bw

Website: http://www.khwaitrust.co.bw/

3. Tuli Block

Molema Bush Camp – bush style camp sites but unfortunately no self drive in the game reserve allowed

Contact Molema Bush Camp at +2778 391 4220 or via e-mail at reservations@tulitrails.com

Website: http://www.tulitrails.com/molema-bush-camp.php

4. Kwa Nokeng

Not quite a game reserve style camp site but keep Kwa Nokeng in mind if you’re planning on returning to South Africa via the Martins Drift border post. They’ve got camp sites as well as chalets with a swimming pool and a restaurant.

Contact Kwa Nokeng at +267 491 5908 or via e-mail to reservations@kwanokeng.com

Website: http://www.kwanokeng.com/

5. Camp sites near Nata

There are two camp sites on the Nata road, heading to or from Kasane, depending on which way you’re traveling:

5.1 Nata Lodge – lodge style accommodation with camp sites as well, swimming pool and restaurant available.

Contact Nata Lodge at +267 620 0070 or via e-mail to reservations@natalodge.com

Website: http://underonebotswanasky.com/camps/nata-lodge.php

5.2 Elephant Sands – Chalets and camp sites with the elephant waterhole being the special attraction at this resort.

Contact Elephant Sands at +267 734 45162 or via e-mail to bookings@elephantsandsbotswana.com

Website: http://www.elephantsands.com/

Using booking agents:

If you don’t see yourself doing all the footwork in booking your camp sites in Botswana, you can always make use of a booking agent instead. We’ve booked camp sites via Botswana Footprints before, and their service was amazing.

Contact the Botswana Footprints team at +267 680 0745 or +267 75106530 or via e-mail at info@botswanafootprints.com

Website: http://www.botswanafootprints.com/

Note: Thanks for the suggestions, I’ve added a few more camp sites that I actually forgot about (Nata area), and I will keep adding info as it comes up….