Making bookings for one of the camps in the National Parks in Botswana can be a nightmare. Bookings should be done a year in advance otherwise you might end up not having your reservations sorted out on the day you leave.
Some of the camps can still be booked through the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, but the management of some of the camps in the National Parks and Game Reserves have been awarded to private companies. Figuring out where to book which camp can be quite a brain teaser.
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Book via Wildlife and National Parks
Reserve the following camps through Wildlife and National Parks:
Central Kalahari Game Reserve: Deception, Kori, Leopard, Phokoje, Xade, Bape and Xaka campsites.
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Botswana side: All campsites with the exception of Mabuasehube Pan and Mpayathuthwa camp.
Makgadikgadi Pans National Park: Tree Island
Make your bookings by email at dwnp@gov.bw. Alternatively you can phone the Gaborone office (+267 318 0774) or the Maun office (+267 686 1265).
Book via private operators
Currently four different companies handle management and operation rights of DWNP campsites in Moremi, Savute, Chobe, Central Kalahari, Khutse, Makgadikgadi Pans and Nxai Pan. These are Kwalate Safaris, SKL Camps, Xomae Adventures and Bigfoot Tours.
Check the list below to see which company runs which campsite.
Inter-Tourism
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: Mabuasehube Pan and Mpayathuthwa camp
Contact Inter-Tourism Group
Tel: +267 715 57665
Email: campsites@inter-tourismgroup.com or traveloptions@inter-tourismgroup.com
Kwalate Safaris
Chobe NP: Ihaha
Moremi GR: South Gate (Maqwee) and Xakanaxa
Contact Kwalate Safaris at tel/fax +267 686 1448 or email kwalatesafari@gmail.com.
SKL Camps
Chobe NP: Savuti and Linyanti
Moremi GR: Khwai/North Gate
Makgadikgadi Pans NP: Kumaga
Contact SKL Camps at tel +267 686 5365, fax +267 686 5367 or email reservations@sklcamps.co.bw or sklcamps@botsnet.bw.
Xomae Group
Moremi GR: Third Bridge
Nxai NP: South Camp and Baines Baobab
Contact Xomae Group at tel/fax +267 686 2221 or email: xomaesites@botsnet.bw
Bigfoot Tours
Khutse GR: All camps
Central Kalahari GR: Passarge, Piper, Sunday Pan, Lekhubu and Letiahau Pans
Contact Bigfoot Tours at tel +267 395 3360/391 0927 or email bigfoottoursbw@gmail.com | operations@bigfoottours.co.bw
Please note that park entry fees have to be paid separately to the Department of Wildlife and National Parks. Booking invoices from the above private companies have to be mailed to dwnp@gov.bw or faxed to +267 318 0775 to be allocated permits to enter the parks.
Book via a tour operator
If you want to save yourself a lot of trouble, you can take the easy route and contact a tour operator. Various companies will do the legwork for you, from booking campsites in Botswana National Parks to arranging DWNP permits.
Ultimate Routes
They build custom routes around your destination wish list and handle bookings on your behalf. They also have suggested itineraries for Botswana that take in various national parks.
Contact Ultimate Routes at tel +27 76 902 9763 or email explore@ultimateroutes.co.za
Botswana Footprints
Based in Maun, Botswana Footprints have first-hand knowledge of the camps they book.
Contact Botswana Footprints at tel +267 680 0745 or email bookings@botswanafootprints.com
McKenzie 4×4
This Maun-based company not only hires 4x4s, they will also sort out DWNP bookings for you.
Contact McKenzie 4×4 at tel +267 686 1875 | +267 680 0155 or email info@mckenzie4x4.com
Other tour operators in Maun
Travel Adventures Botswana: tel +267 684 0351 | +267 7636 7205 or email reservations@traveladventuresbotswana.com
Go Bold Safaris: tel +267 684 0352, WhatsApp +267 75 89 9723 or email info@goboldsafaris.com
Also read: Ins and outs of a Carnet de Passage
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I have sent an e-mail to Wildlife and National Parks Saturday afternoon (23 March) en quiring about availability of camp sites in Mabuasehube. I got a reply early the next morning requesting names and registration numbers which was was send today. Within 45 minutes I go my reservation number. Excellent service.
Great to have this feedback about bookings with DWNP. And lucky you to have a reservation at Mabuasehube to look forward to!
Fantastic! They do have their good days, yes! For popular dates, the camps become quite scarce. We have enjoyed a good working relationship with DWNP over the last 5 years. it comes with its challenges however it’s a growing partnership in enabling clients bookings and park fees to be generated and paid (and confirmation docs received!) in a timeous manner.
Good day. our familie want to go to botswana to the national parks and going with a camper (motorhome) What parks can we go that are safe to travel in the motorhome. and no its not 4×4
You would need a 4×4 for any of Botswana’s national parks. There is a gravel road along the Chobe Riverfront, but even this has a section of deep sand where 2×4 pick-up trucks regularly get stuck. Unfortunately, a motorhome is not going to make it. We suggest you travel in the motorhome to Maun and then get a local operator to take you into the Okavango Delta for a day trip. You could also opt for a 2-3 night mobile safari from Maun. Similarly, Kasane offers several operators that do trips into Chobe.
Hi Wouter, T4A has answered your question well. Several of our clients have traveled Bots in non-4×4 vehicles and had a great time – like T4A mentioned, there are mobile operators that can assist with game drives and excursions into the parks where the wildlife action is happening. There are several camps accessible to you as a ‘basecamp’ from which to enjoy the sights, sounds and wilderness of Botswana. Feel free to contact Ultimate Routes for custom route design and bookings.
Hi Wouter,
All the national parks in Botswana require 4 wheel drive, especially in wet season for mud and dry season (sand!). We’d recommend rather camping outside the parks and opting in for guided game drives to access the park stress-free.
Finding it very difficult to book campsites, can someone assist by chance?Botswana Khutze region capming sites!
you can contact Lucia at Bigfoot in Gaborone.Lucia – Bigfoottours
I’ve booked through her several times.
Lucia – Bigfoottours luciaATbigfoottours.co.bw
Hi lovely Karin 🙂 thanks so much for writing the article. I’m trying to book campsites with DWNP but it’s proving to be tough, they have to send me a provisional booking so I can pay them but for some reason they are taking ages to do so. I asked them about park permits, and they say that with booking of the campsite I don’t need anything else, that that’s my permit to the park, is that true? Do you know? There is not much information about the Kalahari and DWNP is super messy so just wanted to confirm. Thanks!
Hi Paula,
You pay park fees at the parks office upon arrival. We visited the Central Kalahari and Khutse GR last year and pre-booked campsites through DWNP and BigFoot respectively. We paid the park entry fees at reception. As long as you have the provisional booking, I would not worry too much if I was you – that is the way Africa time works. You can also book through one of the private operators listed in my article or the one mentioned by OB below if that will give you peace of mind.
This guys can also help, there service is super, so try them
http://ehectitravel.com/
For Bookings in Botswana , NDM Travel Agency, Places booked include, CKGR, SAVUTI, NXAI, KHAMA RHINO, KTP,MOREMI,
Email:ndmtravelagency@gmail.com
Call: +267 680026
+267 6800264