Campsites Between Francistown and Maun or Kasane
Elephant Sands is the number one pick for camping between Francistown and Kasane is hands down Elephant Sands. It is about 1 km off the main A33 in a low mopane forest. The campsite is rather exposed with only a few low trees and bushes and the ablutions are generally adequate, when they have not been trashed by elephants, but it is the elephants which are the main attraction. The lodge has a thatched bar, restaurant and pool overlooking a small waterhole which they keep supplied with water. They do this, even though there is insufficient water at the camp, by trucking water in during the dry season, so they are a very dedicated group of people and clearly love their elephants. The elephants come from far and wide to this little water/ mud hole and there is a constant stream of them, young bulls, old grumpy bulls and small families, trekking in and out. The accommodation rings the waterhole with the campsite on one side and so the elephants just meander through the camp and between the chalets. In effect the whole time you are there you are surrounded by elephants. Perhaps the biggest surprise is how chilled and well behaved the elephants are. Except for concerted efforts to raid the ablutions, pool pump, sprinklers, and occasionally the bins, which probably cause many a headache for the management. If you get there in time to choose there are several camp spots right on the edge of the waterhole with prime time elephant watching while drinking your wine in the evening or coffee in the morning. They roar and rumble and trumpet throughout the day and night. You can also enjoy your beverage from the bar, which has a viewing amphitheater right by the elephants. On occasion other visitors may include lion, leopard and wild dog.
The lodge is friendly, affordable, P130 ppn and firewood and ice is available. No formal wifi though, but somehow you don’t miss that when you have the real life spectacle to keep you entertained. It can get quite crowded with tour buses etc but that does not really bother you in the camp site. There are game drives into the forest if you wish. We have seen a few buck there, and owls and birds, but I personally think this is more a stopover than a destination. It definitely leaves an impression. Although it is most useful as a stopover to Kasane, it is not so far out of the way to use it en route to Maun as well. What’s 30 km extra when it comes with elephant therapy!
Pandamatenga community camp
Pandamatenga is another 100 km north of Elephant Sands towards Kasane. It is a small town with fuel and a little convenience store which sells fresh donuts. Past the town, heading north, is a community camp just off the road with trees. Quite a few community members live in the camp and run a small bar so it can be noisy You can buy some cold drinks and firewood and ice. There are few trees and the sites themselves are adequate. Unfortunately they collect their rubbish in big skips on the edge of the camp and the time we were there this had caused a positive plague of flies which was pretty unpleasant. I have heard other people have had less problems so maybe we were unfortunate and they empty the skips periodically. Anyway it is cheap, friendly and secure for a stopover and useful for the Pandamatenga border into Zim and for a stop off on Hunters Road.
Just down the road there is a flooded quarry which can be useful for bird watching in the mornings. Beware there is also a pride of resident lions. Also, about 20 km north on Hunters Road is a series of pans called Kazuma where you can also get some good game viewing.
Nata Lodge
Nata Lodge is one of several accommodation options in and around Nata. It is perhaps the most well known and is a pleasant thatched lodge with pool. They have camping behind the lodge in trees which is comfortable. The sites are quite close together. Ablutions are nice and you have use of the pool, bar and restaurant. It is perfectly adequate as a stopover en route to Maun or Kasane and can be a base to explore Nata Bird Sanctuary and the pans. Also quite a good choice for a drink or lunch if you are still en route.
Nata Bird Sanctuary
This is just before Nata on the Francistown Maun road. It is a community reserve and covers quite a large area bordering onto the pans. Well known for birding, it also has a range of game and is scenic. Lots of aardvark burrows although we have never seen an ardvaark. We have vague plans for sitting by a burrow at night to se what comes out! Beware it can get very muddy here in the wet season and we have been stuck here before.
There is a campsite on the fence with fairly spacious sites under trees. Ablutions are a bit rudimentary. There is a bar which is open sometimes. We have stayed there and enjoyed exploring the park but rumor has it there have been thefts from the camp site because of the fact it is so close to the road. If you are thinking of going get some updated info before you go.
Planet Baobab
This is our go to stop off for Maun. It is a vibey lodge, marked on the road by a statue of a large aardvark. They have various accommodations including a small camp site which has spacious stands and shade covers. There is a pool, bar and restaurant and a small bird hide which can be quite productive. They market themselves as a gateway to the pans and, in the dry season, do tours out to the pans to see the meerkats, as well as game driving at Nxai and the Boteti. Always worth a stop over.
Woodlands 4x4
This is just outside Francistown in a small forest. They have a spacious campsite, grassed stands, a small pool and some chalets. The reception sells a few drinks and wood. It is generally peaceful and the best option for a Francistown stopover. The other site we use for Francistown, which is in the Cresta Hotel in town, is noisy and less private and only useful if you need to shop or do something in town.
Boteti River Lodge
This lodge is a friendly place on the banks of the Boteti River just opposite the Khumarga ferry. If you are coming into Maun through the pans or from the south ( Rakops/Orapa) then it can be useful stop off. There is again a range of accommodation. The campsites are spacious with shade and the ablutions clean. Aloes and bougainvillea bloom around the camp. There is a bar and food can be arranged but on a set menu and there is a small swimming pool which is welcome in the heat. It’s a bit pricey though at P200 ppn. There is not much competition in the area which probably accounts for the high price.
Khumarga Camp Site
This is a destination in itself for exploring the western side of the Mgadigadi pans and the Boteti River. We find it very productive for photography at the right time of year and there is a big zebra migration to and from the river. The camp site is run by SKL and for a single nights accommodation you will need to pay 2 days of park fees according to the current protocol for Botswana Wildlife so as a stop over it is quite expensive. It is a fairly standard parks campsite, big camps in trees close to the river with 2 ablution blocks. I would make the effort to stay here, even if only for one night if you are in the right season, otherwise cross over and stay at Boteti River Lodge and take a day drive.
Our best game viewing here has been in August to October. This year, in November, we found it dry with a lot of carcasses and vultures. Having said that it has been the second year of drought in Botswana so it is possible that in other years November could still be good. Best take it on an ad hoc basis and make a decision at the time. If the river, and ferry, is running then it may be worth staying. If the river crossing is dry.......? When it’s good it’s very very good so don’t be deterred.
The lodge is friendly, affordable, P130 ppn and firewood and ice is available. No formal wifi though, but somehow you don’t miss that when you have the real life spectacle to keep you entertained. It can get quite crowded with tour buses etc but that does not really bother you in the camp site. There are game drives into the forest if you wish. We have seen a few buck there, and owls and birds, but I personally think this is more a stopover than a destination. It definitely leaves an impression. Although it is most useful as a stopover to Kasane, it is not so far out of the way to use it en route to Maun as well. What’s 30 km extra when it comes with elephant therapy!
Pandamatenga community camp
Pandamatenga is another 100 km north of Elephant Sands towards Kasane. It is a small town with fuel and a little convenience store which sells fresh donuts. Past the town, heading north, is a community camp just off the road with trees. Quite a few community members live in the camp and run a small bar so it can be noisy You can buy some cold drinks and firewood and ice. There are few trees and the sites themselves are adequate. Unfortunately they collect their rubbish in big skips on the edge of the camp and the time we were there this had caused a positive plague of flies which was pretty unpleasant. I have heard other people have had less problems so maybe we were unfortunate and they empty the skips periodically. Anyway it is cheap, friendly and secure for a stopover and useful for the Pandamatenga border into Zim and for a stop off on Hunters Road.
Just down the road there is a flooded quarry which can be useful for bird watching in the mornings. Beware there is also a pride of resident lions. Also, about 20 km north on Hunters Road is a series of pans called Kazuma where you can also get some good game viewing.
Nata Lodge
Nata Lodge is one of several accommodation options in and around Nata. It is perhaps the most well known and is a pleasant thatched lodge with pool. They have camping behind the lodge in trees which is comfortable. The sites are quite close together. Ablutions are nice and you have use of the pool, bar and restaurant. It is perfectly adequate as a stopover en route to Maun or Kasane and can be a base to explore Nata Bird Sanctuary and the pans. Also quite a good choice for a drink or lunch if you are still en route.
Nata Bird Sanctuary
This is just before Nata on the Francistown Maun road. It is a community reserve and covers quite a large area bordering onto the pans. Well known for birding, it also has a range of game and is scenic. Lots of aardvark burrows although we have never seen an ardvaark. We have vague plans for sitting by a burrow at night to se what comes out! Beware it can get very muddy here in the wet season and we have been stuck here before.
There is a campsite on the fence with fairly spacious sites under trees. Ablutions are a bit rudimentary. There is a bar which is open sometimes. We have stayed there and enjoyed exploring the park but rumor has it there have been thefts from the camp site because of the fact it is so close to the road. If you are thinking of going get some updated info before you go.
Planet Baobab
This is our go to stop off for Maun. It is a vibey lodge, marked on the road by a statue of a large aardvark. They have various accommodations including a small camp site which has spacious stands and shade covers. There is a pool, bar and restaurant and a small bird hide which can be quite productive. They market themselves as a gateway to the pans and, in the dry season, do tours out to the pans to see the meerkats, as well as game driving at Nxai and the Boteti. Always worth a stop over.
Woodlands 4x4
This is just outside Francistown in a small forest. They have a spacious campsite, grassed stands, a small pool and some chalets. The reception sells a few drinks and wood. It is generally peaceful and the best option for a Francistown stopover. The other site we use for Francistown, which is in the Cresta Hotel in town, is noisy and less private and only useful if you need to shop or do something in town.
Boteti River Lodge
This lodge is a friendly place on the banks of the Boteti River just opposite the Khumarga ferry. If you are coming into Maun through the pans or from the south ( Rakops/Orapa) then it can be useful stop off. There is again a range of accommodation. The campsites are spacious with shade and the ablutions clean. Aloes and bougainvillea bloom around the camp. There is a bar and food can be arranged but on a set menu and there is a small swimming pool which is welcome in the heat. It’s a bit pricey though at P200 ppn. There is not much competition in the area which probably accounts for the high price.
Khumarga Camp Site
This is a destination in itself for exploring the western side of the Mgadigadi pans and the Boteti River. We find it very productive for photography at the right time of year and there is a big zebra migration to and from the river. The camp site is run by SKL and for a single nights accommodation you will need to pay 2 days of park fees according to the current protocol for Botswana Wildlife so as a stop over it is quite expensive. It is a fairly standard parks campsite, big camps in trees close to the river with 2 ablution blocks. I would make the effort to stay here, even if only for one night if you are in the right season, otherwise cross over and stay at Boteti River Lodge and take a day drive.
Our best game viewing here has been in August to October. This year, in November, we found it dry with a lot of carcasses and vultures. Having said that it has been the second year of drought in Botswana so it is possible that in other years November could still be good. Best take it on an ad hoc basis and make a decision at the time. If the river, and ferry, is running then it may be worth staying. If the river crossing is dry.......? When it’s good it’s very very good so don’t be deterred.