Kasane - town in Botswana

Kasane is a city in the Okavango-Chobe region, the northeast corner of Botswana. Set on the south bank of the Chobe River, it faces Namibia's Caprivi Strip to the north. Zimbabwe and Zambia lie nearby. Kasane is a tourist hub, a jumping-off point for the Chobe National Park and Victoria Falls.

Get in

By car or bus: There is a paved road entering Kasane from the east and south from Nata, which connects to paved roads from Zimbabwe (notably Victoria Falls), and within Botswana from Francistown, Maun, and Gaborone. Kasane is closly located to Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, which are all possible to reach overland. Some safari-goers may emerge from the Chobe National Park to the west.

Mahube express buses has buses from Kasane going to Francistown two times a day 13:30 and 15:30.

By air: Kasane International Airport (BBK) has a few scheduled flights, e.g. Air Botswana service to Gaborone and South African Airlines to Johannesburg. Many of the charter operators from Maun will also accept charters to or from Kasane. While the distance from the airport to the town looks walkable, elephants roam the land, so ensure you have your transport arranged from the airport.

Get around

Kasane is laid out along the south bank of the Chobe River, and the main road follows the river's course. Thus the city is pretty linear.

There is not much public transport in Kasane. Many destinations (between Chobe Safari Lodge and Mowana) are within 2 km of each other, so you can get around well by foot. If you need a ride, you are best off with your own vehicle. Or, your lodge or safari operator may offer a transfer.

See

• Game drives in the Chobe National Park just to the west. It seems like every lodge offers game drives, so there are many to choose from. They typically last three hours to all day. There is a fee to enter the park, which may be included in the game drive fee.
• Self-drive game drives are also possible. Be sure you have a proper 4x4 vehicle, proper gear, enough water and fuel, and campsite reservations for the park.
• Chobe river cruises. These are offered by many operators, likely including your lodge. They typically are 3 hours long, from about 15:00-18:00, through the sunset. Some cruises are in small boats which hold only six people; others are in large double-decker boats. About P320
• Day trip to Victoria Falls, 70 km away in Zimbabwe and Zambia, are offered by many operators. Expect P400-500 for an unguided trip. Allow an additional visa fee per person (US$30-55/adult depending on citizenship), US$20/person for Victoria Falls park entrance, and further money for lunch, activities, and shopping.

Do

Buy

• The Chobe Safari Lodge has a gift shop opposite its reception desk which offers maps (including the valuable Shell Map and Infomap of Botswana), field guides to birds and plants, plus T-shirts, carvings, and other souvenirs.
• There is a well-stocked Spar and a smattering of ATMs (FNB, Barclays, Bank Gaborone) in a shopping centre on Presiden Avenue opposite the Shell station, next to Water Lily Lodge.

Eat

Many of the hotels have in-house dining rooms offering breakfast and dinner.

• The Mowana has a fine buffet dinner, with a total cost of about P200/person including drinks and tip. It includes a selection of game meats, and Botswana specialties like pap and shredded beef.
• The Chobe Safari Lodge also offers an outstanding buffet dinner, with game meat, and stir-fry cooked while you wait. Set in an open room overlooking the river, with outstanding service, it makes for a fine evening. About P180/person including drinks and tip.

Drink

The major hotels all have bars.

Sleep

• Liya Guest Lodge, 1198 Tholo Cres, +267 625 1450, +267 7175 6903 (mobile), liyaglo@botsnet.bw. Five simple rooms, each with two twin beds. Friendly attitude. Near the airport. Meals available on request. single USD 40; double USD 60
• Kubu Lodge, Kasane-Kazungula Rd (9 km E of Kasane), +267 625 0312, kubu@botsnet.bw. Riverside location, nicely decorated rooms, beautiful grounds. single USD 130; double USD 170; triple USD 198
• Garden Lodge, President Ave, +267 625 0051. charming, rooms are well-furnished, has a garden. They offer either a dinner, bed, and breakfast option, or an all-inclusive option with some activities. Dinner bed & breakfast: single USD 305/person; double USD 210/person; ask about SADC discount
• Water Lily Lodge. Charming design, with the rooms in a ring around a courtyard with fountain. Rooms have balconies that overlook the pool or the Chobe river. Clean, with friendly staff. The mediocre continental breakfast is not included and they charge P100 for it. P950/twin double 2016-08-04
• Thebe River Camping. camping with your own tent. from P105 per person 2015-05-29

Splurge

• Mowana. Built in concentric rings around a spectacular Mowana (baobab) tree, this is the top end of the hotels in town.
• Chobe Chilwero, +267 6251362, southernafrica@sanctuarylodges.com. An exquisite location, it has been remodeled with fine materials, and a price to match. USD 900/person (double), USD 1170/person (single)
• Chobe Safari Lodge, President Ave, +267 625 0336, reservations@chobelodge.co.bw. Great location next to the Chobe River. Some of the double rooms styled like traditional rondavel huts. Air conditioning, swimming pool. camping P65, double P780, family P955
• Chobe Marina Lodge. This lodge also boasts river frontage with gorgeous river views, boating jetty, excellent dining, bar, curio shop, contemporary pool with poolside bar and family friendly poolside space. Staff are efficient and knowledgeable and the dramatic entrance area is a highlight of the Lodge.

Another option may be the Chobe Game Lodge within Chobe National Park.

Connect

• Ozzy Communications. Opens 08:00. Also offers phone calls and office services. Charmingly, the sign in front translates offerings into Chinese and Japanese.
• Bureau de Change. M-F 08:00-18:30, Sa 08:30-16:00, Su 09:30-16:00. Five computers with moderate-speed connection to North America. Also offers money change service. P15 for 1st 30 minute; P10 for every 30 minutes thereafter; no partial refunds for unused time.

Go next

• Chobe National Park is immediately to the west.
• Directly to the east is Kazungula, near the confluence of the Chobe and Zambezi rivers, where Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe meet. The newly built bridge takes you directly to Zambia. Note that you can not walk across but need to use your own car or a cab. You need a special cab with a permit to cross over and that cab will only take you to the border, from there you will need to find a new cab, of which there are plenty. There is also a road into Zimbabwe. Beyond this river crossing is Victoria Falls.
• Nata is accessible via a paved road to the east and south. This road connects further to Francistown, Maun, and Gaborone.
• There are roads leading west to the Okavango Delta and Maun, but they are not paved and require a 4x4.