If you want to visit Chobe National Park but have a tight budget, here are a handful tips to help keep costs down.
Botswana is generally one of the more expensive safari countries in Africa, especially if you wish to visit the Okavango Delta and other remote safari destinations. That said, Chobe is one of the country’s more affordable national parks. And there are certainly ways to keep costs down. With that in mind, here are five ways to visit Chobe on a budget, followed by two overall strategies …
1. Book budget accommodation outside of the park
The majority of safari lodges inside and outside of Chobe are all-inclusive establishments. Avoid these if you’re travelling on a budget. Instead, look for accommodation like a campsite or backpacker hostel.
The cheapest campsite inside Chobe is Ihaha, currently advertised as US$50 per night for non-SADC (Southern African Development Community) adults. The Savuti and Linyanti campsites cost $70 per night for the same. If you stay just outside the park, you should be able to find a campsite for about half that price.
If, however, you’d prefer not to camp, then your best bet is a guesthouse, hostel, or lodge in the nearby town of Kasane or Kazungula. Here, you should be able to find some options for a little over US$40 per adult per night.
Nature & Wildlife, Waterways & Wetlands, Wilderness Walks, Big 5 Safari
Nature & Wildlife, Waterways & Wetlands, Wilderness Walks, Big 5 Safari
2. Plan a short or even one-day safari
You pay a park entry fee for every calendar day you set foot inside the park. So aim to make the most of each day by entering when the gates open and leaving at closing time. Even just one day inside Chobe is memorable and totally worth it.
For instance, if you head to Chobe River in the north of the park, you’re likely to see an incredible variety and density of wildlife, especially in the driest months of June to October, and especially around dawn and dusk.
Of course, there’s more to Chobe than just its eponymous river, and it’s a big park. If you can afford at least one more day, that’ll let you explore more of the park’s remoter sections and also increase your chances of seeing more animals and birds.
3. Do a shared game drive and/or boat cruise
An early morning game drive in Chobe is a fantastic way to see lots of wildlife, as many animals won’t yet be snoozing or hiding in the shade. A public (shared) game drive is the most affordable option if you’re not travelling on a package tour where a tour vehicle and guide are included.
Later that same day, since you’ve already paid the park entrance fee, I suggest you do a boat cruise on the Chobe River, as this is one of the best things about visiting the park, if not the best. While private boat cruises are offered, look for a public (aka shared) boat cruise since this is naturally cheaper.
Late afternoon boat cruises are the best, as this is when many animals are active and also head to the water to drink and bathe. You’re also on the water as the sun sets, with the warm, angled light lending everything it touches an additional layer of magic.
4. Join a budget group tour
If you want to visit Chobe as part of a bigger Botswanan tour or African trip, I recommend buying a package tour with a budget travel operator like African Overland Tours. Tour operators can get you more bang for your buck by having access to better park rates, organising group discounts, and spreading the transport-related costs between more people.
While self-driving safaris can be cheaper than tours, as you eliminate the cost of a safari guide, for instance, this isn’t necessarily the case for international visitors. Importantly, you’d need to rent a suitable 4×4 and take out insurance. What’s more, self-drive safaris bring admin and potential headaches if you’re unused to the practicalities and rules of exploring Africa’s rugged game parks. So consider the value you place on having everything handled for you.
Most international travellers agree that the safety and ease of an organised group tour is well worth it.
5. Cook your own meals, or eat where the locals do
Eating at lodges and hotels is expensive. Rather, cook your own food and pack flasks and lunchboxes for each day’s outing. Stock up on groceries in Kasane or Kazungula before heading to your campsite or accommodation if you’re staying somewhere remote.
Alternatively, if you’d like to dine out, head to non-touristy eateries outside the park. The food will be cheaper, better value for money, and you’ll enjoy a more culturally authentic and immersive experience to boot!
Two cheapest ways overall to visit Chobe
So there you have five ways to visit Chobe on a budget. But they don’t all work together. So, depending on the sort of overall trip you’re planning, adopt either of the following two strategies:
- If you’re flying in and out of northern Botswana or the nearby Victoria Falls region, overnight in Kasane or Kazungula and eat locally or arrange your own meals. If you can only manage one day in the park, book a shared Chobe game drive and shared Chobe River boat trip for the same day.
- If you’re doing a broader African safari, join a budget group overland tour that includes all transportation, food, and park permit costs. Check out the overland tours below that pair Chobe with nearby attractions like Victoria Falls and the Okavango Delta.
Note: This blog post was created by Sarah Duff in November 2015. It was rewritten by Megan Abigail White in August 2026.
