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Your gentle welcome into the wild heart of Chobe awaits in Kasane, Botswana. This quiet riverside town lies close to where four countries – Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe – meet, yet it feels wonderfully removed from the rush of the world. It’s where many unforgettable journeys begin.
Here, the Chobe River slows, the air softens, and that treasured feeling of safari freedom begins long before you reach your lodge. For travellers seeking calm, privacy, and effortless ease, Kasane is the natural home base for a restorative safari in Botswana.
Kasane isn’t just a pin on the map, it’s the moment when the long-imagined dream of Botswana becomes real. Whether arriving on a direct flight into Kasane International Airport (BBK) or via a private charter, the transition is seamless.
Within minutes of landing, you’re surrounded by river views, warm air, and the slow rhythm that draws people back to this corner of Africa again and again.
The Kasane region is also known as a transit hub. In the early mornings and late afternoons, you’ll hear the hum of 4×4 safari vehicles heading into the park. It’s a functional town with shops and markets, so there’s a gentle buzz during the day.
The Atmosphere of Kasane
Kasane is small, friendly, and beautifully positioned. It hugs the banks of the Chobe River, and each bend of the water tells a different story. Elephants cooling their feet, fish eagles calling from tall riverine trees, hippos shifting through the shallows at dusk.
You’ll find a collection of elegant hotels in Kasane, along with refined river lodges and peaceful guest houses tucked behind leafy gardens. Many guests choose accommodation in Kasane specifically for the ease it brings. You can settle in, take a moment to exhale, and begin your Chobe safari the very next morning.
Although Chobe National Park often springs to mind first, Kasane is the quiet town that makes that experience possible. It’s the gateway, the base, the soft landing before the wild. And while the town itself is calm, it’s close enough to the park that wildlife sometimes wanders through, including the famous Chobe elephants.
The Chobe Experience from Kasane
Chobe National Park is known for having one of the largest elephant populations on Earth, with over 100,000 individuals. From Kasane, you can experience the elephants in a way that feels both intimate and unhurried.
Elephants graze on Sedudu Island. They cross the shallows in the glow of late afternoon. Sometimes, they even wander through town, and wildlife authorities monitor these encounters, guiding elephants safely away when needed.
Most of the action unfolds along the riverfront. During the dry season from May to October, animals gather in astonishing numbers, with August to October being the peak of riverfront activity when the land is at its driest. It’s not uncommon to witness herds of buffalo moving like a dark, slow wave, or to see giraffes bending delicately to drink.
Look out for puku antelopes and Chobe bushbuck along the river – these are a highlight of this region.
Game drives take place along the river road, offering beautiful light and close wildlife encounters. River cruises, especially at sunset, offer a completely different perspective. The water reflects the sky, birds settle in the reeds, and the sense of being part of something ancient becomes impossible to ignore.
From Kasane, these experiences feel effortless. You’ll leave your lodge after an early wake up and step into your guided 4×4 safari vehicle or boat and drift straight into the wilderness without the need for long transfers or early-morning flights. It’s luxury not because it’s extravagant, but because it feels so natural, so thoughtfully shaped around your comfort.
Kasane’s Role in Your Botswana Itinerary
In a well-paced Botswana itinerary, a Kasane safari plays one of two roles:
It’s either your calm welcome to the north, with a gentle start before moving deeper into Chobe or onward to the Okavango Delta. Or, it’s your soft landing at the end. Many travellers pair a few nights in Kasane with fly-in lodges in the Delta or Linyanti. Making Kasane a grounding point where you can reconnect with the river, repack, and ease into (or out of) the wild.
Because almost every Chobe journey touches Kasane in some way, it’s the ideal place to organise transfers, private charters, or tailor-made Kasane holiday packages that link Botswana’s great landscapes together.
Ready to Experience Kasane?
When you’re ready to answer Botswana’s call, we’ll help you craft your Chobe journey from the ground up. Begin with a Kasane safari, shaped around your pace, and guided by people who know this region intimately.
Explore Discover Africa’s hand-picked Chobe tours and begin planning a safari that feels entirely your own.
