Preparing for my first trip to Botswana

Hello everyone, I’m in the planning stages for a trip to Botswana in October 2025. This will be an extension of my trip to Namibia in January 2025. Of course, I have a lot of questions!

First one: For day trips visiting Botswana’s parks in a self-drive setup, do I need accommodation *inside* the parks? Is it possible to visit them on a day-trip basis, like in Kruger Park or Etosha?

Thanks in advance for your answers! Have a great day!

Hi there, It's always possible to visit the parks on a day trip. Normally, campsites outside the parks are cheaper, but you miss out on all the experiences of spending a night in the bush. Oops, my bad—I take that back! We also had some great encounters at campsites outside the parks. That’s Botswana for you! 🐘🦓

Hi,

Like in Kruger or Etosha, it's possible to visit for the day.

But just like in Kruger or Etosha, it's better to sleep inside the park.

However, since the areas outside are much wilder than in South Africa, staying overnight there isn't necessarily a problem.

Inside the park, I recommend Baines Baobab.

Outside, I’d avoid campgrounds used by tour groups and facilities in big villages.

Happy planning

Hi there, The issue is precisely being able to book a spot inside the parks. This is especially true for Moremi, Savuti, and Chobe, which are in high demand. It might already be too late for October 2025. Fortunately, there are backup solutions. For example, I really liked Mbudi Camp, located about ten kilometers from the North Gate of Moremi (even though I would’ve preferred to sleep inside the park). Along the Khwai River (outside Moremi), there are quite a few options.

Great to see some familiar faces (well, if I can say that) on this forum: @Girardinpho and @Atilla.

Hi Frédéric,

I see you're taking advantage of your South African residency to explore the region. 🙂 I assume your question is about the northern parks, and in that case, you already have the right answers. It wouldn’t be the same for the southern parks (CKGR and KTP), where even if it’s technically allowed, it wouldn’t really make sense.

I’ve got some questions for you: What’s motivating this first trip? Will you have a 4x4? You should bring a tent—it’ll give you more flexibility.

Great to see the platypus back here after the full Botswana experience 😉

Hello everyone, Actually, South Africa is an excellent starting point for visiting Southern Africa. To be honest, I’m torn between South Africa and Réunion Island—a Southern African adventure and a tropical island in the Indian Ocean... two completely different worlds!

I was actually asking this question specifically for Moremi, Chobe, and the Delta. I plan to rent a 4x4 and I’m considering the rooftop tent option.

I know I’m cutting it close for bookings inside these parks. We’ll see how it goes...

Thanks anyway to everyone for these initial tips!

Have a great day, everyone

Hi everyone, I hope you're having or had a great Sunday. Would any of you happen to have screenshots of the Chobe and Moremi maps? Or could you tell me where I can find them online? Have a wonderful day!

Hi there, Botswana isn’t like South Africa or Namibia—there’s no protection from animals in Botswana, so I’d recommend checking out the site "msiafricaroadtrip." You’ll get a great overview of the country and its parks. Happy travels

Hi there, For maps, check out namibiana.de—Veronica Roodt’s maps. Some of them are for sale, though a few seem to be sold out. Since you’re in South Africa, you should be able to find them in a specialized bookstore. After that, there are much more detailed maps available at the Department of Survey in Maun. Best, Roberto