Kasane town
Supplies and toursSupermarkets, banks, tour operators and riverside lodges along the main road.
Botswana city guide
Kasane Travel Guide
Kasane is a small riverside town at the gate of Chobe National Park, where thousands of elephants come down to the Chobe river to drink and swim. Take a sunset boat cruise, an early game drive and a day trip to Victoria Falls, with Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia all within an hour.
2
Hostels in the city
9.3
Average, from 71 reviews
4 countries
Meet within an hour of town
BWP 270
Daily Chobe park fee
About 3 hours
A Chobe sunset cruise
Kasane at a glance
Kasane sits on the Chobe river in Botswana's far north-east, close to where four countries meet: Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia. It is a small, linear town strung along the riverbank, with lodges, campsites, supermarkets and tour operators, and elephants and warthogs often wander through.
Most people come for Chobe National Park, which starts at the edge of town. The park's riverfront is home to one of the largest concentrations of elephants in Africa, especially in the dry season from about May to October, when herds of hundreds come down to the water. Hippos, crocodiles, buffalo, giraffes, lions and huge numbers of birds live along the river too.
The best way to see them is from the water. Afternoon boat cruises on the Chobe drift past elephants drinking, swimming and crossing to the islands, and end with the sunset. Morning and afternoon game drives explore the riverfront on land.
Kasane is also a crossroads. The Kazungula bridge, opened in 2021, links Botswana to Zambia, and Livingstone is about an hour away. Victoria Falls, in Zimbabwe, is about 70 km by road. Many travellers visit Chobe on a day trip from the falls, but staying a night or two in Kasane gives you the quieter early mornings and sunsets.
Two or three nights is ideal: a cruise and a game drive, plus a day trip to Victoria Falls.
Where to stay in Kasane
Stay along the river for lodges, campsites and the park gate, or a few kilometres out for cheaper hostels and quiet. Everything is spread along one main road.
Chobe riverfront
Lodges and sundownersLodges and campsites on the river, close to the park gate.
Lesoma Valley
Quiet and cheapHostels and campsites on the edge of the bush, a short drive from town.
Kazungula
Border crossingsThe border town at the bridge to Zambia, a few kilometres east.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 2 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Chobe by boat and on land
Chobe National Park is Kasane's reason to exist. The Chobe riverfront, the park's northern edge, is where most visitors go, and it is one of the best places in Africa to see elephants.
Boat cruises are the highlight. Afternoon cruises of about three hours, usually from around 3pm to sunset, drift past elephants drinking, playing and swimming across to the islands, as well as hippos, crocodiles, buffalo and fish eagles. Photographic boats, with rotating seats, are available for serious photographers.
Game drives explore the riverfront by open vehicle, usually in the early morning or late afternoon, looking for lions, leopards, sable and puku, a rare antelope here. Many lodges and operators combine a morning drive with an afternoon cruise.
Park fees are BWP 270 a day for international visitors, from April 2026, and are often included in the activity price. Check before you book.
Outside the park, the Chobe riverfront is lovely for a sundowner, and birdwatching is excellent all year.
Kasane is also the base for day trips to Victoria Falls, in Zimbabwe, about 70 km away, and to Livingstone, in Zambia, via the Kazungula bridge. Tours include transfers and help at the borders, but you will need visa fees and park entry.
For something different, the Chobe Enclave and the villages around Kasane offer cultural visits, and the Kasane Forest Reserve has walking trails with a guide.
Free things
Kasane for free (or nearly)
Kasane's main sights are inside the park, but a few things are free.
Watch elephants and warthogs wander through town and along the roadside, especially in the dry season. Keep your distance.
The riverfront outside the park is good for birdwatching and sunsets, from a lodge or campsite terrace.
The Big Baobab tree near the old police station is a local landmark, said to have been used as a prison cell in colonial times.
Browse the craft shops and markets in town for baskets and carvings.
Ask at your hostel about free shuttles or shared trips, which keep costs down.
Food and drink
Seswaa, braai and lodge buffets
Kasane has a few restaurants and cafés serving burgers, pizzas, steak and fish, plus the lodge restaurants along the river, some with buffet dinners overlooking the water.
Look for seswaa, pounded beef, with pap and morogo (wild spinach) at local restaurants and market stalls. Magwinya, fried dough balls, are a cheap breakfast.
Bream from the Chobe river, grilled or fried, is worth trying.
The supermarkets in town, including Spar and Choppies, are good for self-catering, which most hostel and campsite guests do.
St Louis lager is the local beer, and a sundowner on the river is the town's ritual.
Nightlife
Sundowners and lodge bars
Kasane is a quiet town at night. Evenings start with a sunset cruise on the Chobe, then move to the lodge bars along the river, where travellers and guides meet.
The hostel bars are smaller and relaxed, with campfires and early nights before morning game drives.
There are a few local bars in town, but no real club scene.
Don't walk at night: elephants, hippos and buffalo move through town after dark, especially near the river. Arrange transport with your hostel or lodge.
Getting around
Getting to and around Kasane
Kasane Airport, just outside town, has flights from Gaborone, Maun and Johannesburg. Elephants roam between the airport and town, so arrange a transfer rather than walking.
By bus, Mahube Express runs from Kasane to Francistown twice a day, in the early afternoon. For Maun, take a bus to Nata and change there; it's a full day, so start early.
The Kazungula bridge to Zambia opened in 2021. You can't walk across: take a car or a licensed taxi to the border, then a Zambian taxi on the other side. Livingstone is about an hour away. Victoria Falls, in Zimbabwe, is about 70 km by road via the Kazungula border.
Kasane is a long, linear town, and most places are within about 2 km of each other. Walking is possible by day, but taxis are easier, especially for the hostels a few kilometres out. Save a driver's number for later.
Day trips from Victoria Falls and Livingstone include transfers to Kasane.
Costs
What Kasane costs
Kasane is the most affordable way to see Chobe. Hostelworld lists Elephant Trail Backpackers with dorm beds from about US$14 and private rooms from US$11, and campsites in town cost from about BWP 105 per person.
Food is moderate. Self-catering is cheapest, and restaurant meals cost around €8 to €15.
Chobe activities are the main cost. A three-hour river cruise costs around BWP 320 to BWP 450, and a half-day game drive is similar, often including park fees. Park fees are BWP 270 a day for international visitors.
A day trip to Victoria Falls costs about BWP 400 to BWP 500 without a guide, plus visa fees (US$30 to US$55) and park entry at the falls.
You can pay in pula, and many operators accept US dollars or cards. ATMs are in town.
On a budget, allow around €35 to €55 a day, before activities.
Safety
Staying safe in Kasane
Kasane is a safe, quiet town, but the wildlife is real. Elephants, hippos, buffalo and occasionally lions move through town, especially at night and near the river. Don't walk after dark, keep your distance from animals, and never get between a hippo and the water.
The UK says lodges in the Chobe area, especially those on the river, have had isolated break-ins. Lock your room and use the safe.
On cruises and game drives, stay seated, keep your hands inside the boat or vehicle and follow your guide.
Don't swim in the Chobe river: there are crocodiles and hippos, and a risk of water-borne disease.
Malaria is present in the Chobe area, so use repellent and take advice before you travel.
Use licensed taxis with blue plates.
Day trips from Kasane
Kasane is perfectly placed for Chobe and for day trips across the borders to Victoria Falls and Livingstone.
Chobe riverfront
Elephants, hippos and buffalo along the river, inside Chobe National Park.
Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)
The rainforest walk and the falls. Covered in the Victoria Falls hub.
Livingstone (Zambia)
The Zambian side of the falls and Devil's Pool in season. Covered in the Livingstone hub.
Chobe Enclave villages
Cultural visits to villages on the edge of the park.
What's on
What's on in Kasane
Kasane's calendar is mostly Botswana's national holidays, plus the busy dry season on the river.
1 July
Sir Seretse Khama Day
Nationwide
Public holiday for Botswana's first president.
Third Monday of July and the Tuesday after
President's Day
Nationwide
Public holidays.
30 September
Independence Day
Nationwide
Public holiday marking independence in 1966.
About August to October
Peak elephant season
Chobe riverfront
The busiest time on the river, so book cruises and beds ahead.
Hostels
Hostels in Kasane
Kasane has two hostels on Hostelworld, both a few kilometres from the centre, plus campsites along the river.
Best rated
Elephant Trail Backpackers
Rated 9.2 from 56 reviews, Kasane's most reviewed hostel, about 4.5 km from the centre, with dorms from about US$14 and private rooms from US$11.
Bush setting
Tilodi Backpackers and Campsite
In the Lesoma Valley, about 12 km from the centre, with dorms from about US$15 and private rooms from US$25. Rated 9.4 from 1 review.
When to go to Kasane
Kasane is hot for most of the year, with highs of 26°C to 34°C. The dry season from May to October is best for elephants on the riverfront, peaking from August to October. The rains run from November to March, when the park is green and quieter.
Jan
Rainy; green and quiet
Feb
Rainy
Mar
Rains easing
Apr
Dry season begins
May
Elephants returning to the river
Jun
Cool and dry
Jul
Peak season
Aug
Big elephant herds
Sep
Hot; huge herds on the river
Oct
Hottest; elephants at peak
Nov
Rains begin
Dec
Rainy; holidays
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average daily highs from weather2travel's Victoria Falls climate data, about 70 km away, used as an estimate for Kasane. Crowd levels are our rough guide.
How much does Kasane cost per day?
Pick a style and a number of nights for a rough total, per person, in euros.
Estimates in euros, converted from pula and US dollar prices. Beds are based on Hostelworld prices in October 2026; doing includes a Chobe cruise or game drive spread over a few days.
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Kasane FAQs
Prices and timetables change. Check before you travel.
How much does a Chobe river cruise cost?
Around BWP 320 to BWP 450 for about three hours, often including the BWP 270 park fee. Check what's included before you book.
Is a boat cruise or a game drive better in Chobe?
Do both if you can. The afternoon cruise is the highlight, with elephants swimming and drinking, and a morning game drive gives you a better chance of lions and leopards.
Can I visit Victoria Falls from Kasane?
Yes. Victoria Falls is about 70 km away, and day tours include transfers and border help. Budget for visa fees of US$30 to US$55 and park entry at the falls.
Can I walk across the Kazungula bridge?
No. Take a car or licensed taxi to the border, then a Zambian taxi on the other side. Livingstone is about an hour away.
How do I get from Kasane to Maun?
By bus, changing at Nata, a full day's journey. Or fly.
When is the best time to visit Chobe?
The dry season from May to October, especially August to October, when huge herds of elephants gather on the river.
Is Kasane safe?
Yes, but the wildlife is real. Don't walk at night, keep your distance from elephants and hippos, and lock your room.
How many days do you need in Kasane?
Two or three: a river cruise and a game drive, plus a day trip to Victoria Falls.
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