Kasane Travel Guide
Considered to be the capital of the Chobe Region, Kasane is one of Botswana's top tourist destinations. This is evident when you enter the town which is partly bordered by the Chobe River and Chobe National Park, which are the two main attractions .
There are about ten safari lodges where you can stay.
Most of which are built along the banks of the Chobe River and offer amazing sunset views .
When i visited, i stayed at the Chobe Safari Lodge and i had what they call a "river view room" which overlooked the Chobe River.. ...Lovely place indeed.
Most of the hotels are a walking distance from the shopping malls.
Some of the shops and services you can find at the malls include...
- Grocery stores
- Clothing boutiques
- Banks
- Clinics and a hospital
- Gift Stores
- ATM machines
- internet cafes
Getting Local Currency in Kasane
Full banking services are available at the two banks that operate. They are....
- The First National Bank (FNB) - which is at the Choppies Supermarket Mall
- Barklays Bank - located at the Spar Center in the center of town.
The bank operating hours (last time i checked) are as follows....
Weekdays: 9:00 to 15:30
Weekends: 8:30 to 12:30
All banks are usually closed on public holidays.
You can exchange your foreign currency at the banks as well as at...
- The major lodges - Inquire at the reception area
- A bureau de change at the choppies mall (close to FNB)
- A Western union office
Remember to bring your passport along , it is needed to change your money. Also keep in mind that the rates used are dependent on the current bank rates.
Precautions to take in Kasane
The Chobe National Park is not fenced so animals do roam freely within the outskirts of the town. It is very common to see elephants, warthog and monkeys very close to the town center. Avoid feeding any animals as they are all potentially dangerous.
With that said i hope to see you next time i go on my annual Chobe Safari adventure!
Popular Hotels in Kasane Botswana
There are many hotels in Chobe ,however the top 3 popular hotels in Kasane Botswana in my opinion are:
- Chobe Marina Lodge
- Chobe Safari Lodge
- Mowana Safari Lodge
All 3 are built along the banks of the Chobe River in the of heart Kasane. When staying at the 3 lodges a "must see" is the unforgettable Chobe River sunset .
I think their popularity is due to the fact that they are close to most amenities such as....
- Banks
- Grocery stores
- Internet Cafes
.....and the airport is at most 4km away.
Another bonus is that they are luxurious yet not too pricey.
Some of the activities you can enjoy at all 3 safari lodges include...
- Game drives in open 4 x 4 vehicles (excellent for game viewing and photography)
- Boat cruises on the Chobe River
- Day trips to Victoria Falls
- Fishing safaris
- Birding safaris along the Chobe Riverfront
Since the hotels are popular i would recommended that you make an early booking if you desire to stay in either one of them.
Flights to Kasane
Currently there are only two kinds of flights to Kasane. They are...
- Flights on the local airline, Air Botswana ...and those on
- Private Charter aircraft
Air Botswana
Air Botswana is the only commercial airline that actually flies to Kasane. Direct flights operate between Kasane and the following towns and cities:
- Gaborone
- Maun
- Johanessburg
The flights between the Gaborone Airport and the Kasane Airport operate only on the following days:
- Tuesday
- Friday
- Sunday
The flights between the Maun and Kasane Airport operate only on the following days:
- Tuesday
- Thursday
The flights between the O.R TAMBO Airport in Johannesburg and the Kasane Airport operate only on the following days:
- Monday
- Wednesday
- Friday
PS: Keep in mind that the above flight schedules are subject to change, so always double check before you purchase your airline tickets to kasane
Kasane Airport
The Kasane airport is located about 4km from the town centre of Kasane. It has an airport code of BBK.
The main airline that flies to the airport is Air Botswana. You can get direct flights from Gaborone to Kasane on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
Other flights are organized by private charter airlines.
Services offered at the Airport include...
- Foreign currency exchange facility where you can exchange your money to Botswana Pula
- Car rental services by Avis
Transport tip
If you do not have transport from the airport to safari lodge where you will be staying, you can get a taxi. The local taxis have blue license numbers and usually also have a yellow taxi sign on the roof of the car.
The fares are reasonable and the guys are very reliable. Simply tell them where you are going and they will take you there. You can even negotiate with the taxi guys to take you around Kasane . This will give you a chance to interact with the locals.
Usually the safari lodges have airport transfer shuttles. Inquire about this when you make your reservation. But you can use the local taxis as a backup plan!....
Car Rental in Kasane Botswana
Car rental in Kasane Botswana can be done at the airport. The service provider is AVIS and they have an office at the airport for your convenience.
They offer a variety of rental cars in Kasane from sedans, mini buses to 4 wheel drive vans that are suitable for a self drive safari in the Chobe National Park.
AVIS accepts all major credit cards such as...
-Visa
-MasterCard
-Diners Club
AVIS Tip
In case you plan on doing a self drive safari vacation in Botswana, here is a quick tip that might come handy.
Lets say you rent out a vehicle in Kasane. You can use that same vehicle to explore Botswana and actually drive to South Africa or Namibia and drop it off at any AVIS office there. The same applies with the other AVIS offices within Botswana.
There is no need to return the vehicle back to Kasane. It's convenient and adds flexibility to your vacation in Botswana.
I think there is an extra fee for this though. Make an inquiry about it if you are interested.
