Wild Camping in Botswana

A Night in Chobe National Park I’ll Never Forget

In January 2025, I had an experience that still fills me with excitement: a night of wild camping in Botswana’s Chobe National Park. I had booked the safari only a day earlier, and the entire adventure felt wonderfully spontaneous — all thanks to a chance encounter I never expected.

A Chance Meeting at Jolly Boys Backpackers

While volunteering at Jolly Boys in Livingstone, I got to know a group of kayakers who spent most of their days training on the Zambezi. After a few days of seeing each other around and chatting, they told me they were taking a short break from kayaking to go on a safari. Then they asked if I wanted to come along.

I didn’t even have to think about it — of course I said yes.

Crossing Into Botswana & Starting With a Boat Safari

The next morning, we left Jolly Boys and drove about 1 hour and 10 minutes to the Botswana border. Our guide, Phillimon from Homeland Safaris, was already waiting for us.

And almost immediately, the adventure began.

Before even entering the deep bush, we boarded a boat for our first activity: a boat safari on the Chobe River — still within Chobe National Park.

From the water, the park revealed its wild heart instantly. Elephants wandered along the riverbanks, hippos bobbed between reeds, crocodiles sunbathed on the sandbanks, and birds in every size and color filled the sky. The calm flow of the river contrasted beautifully with the intensity of the wildlife around us. It was the ideal beginning to what would become an unforgettable trip.

Into the Bush – Game Drive on the Way to Camp

After the boat safari, we switched into our safari vehicle. It took just about 10 minutes from the river area to reach the park entrance for vehicles — and right there, our first land safari began.

As we drove deeper into the park, the landscape opened up into vast, untouched wilderness. We spotted impalas and kudus, towering elephants, and suddenly: fresh lion tracks clearly pressed into the sand. Phillimon stopped the vehicle, studied the footprints, and told us the lions couldn’t be far.

So we followed the tracks.

For a while we searched, driving slowly through the golden afternoon light, scanning every bush and open clearing. The sun began to sink deeper, turning the entire landscape warm and glowing.

And then, just as the sky started shifting into sunset colors, we saw them.

A lioness with her three cubs, resting in the soft light of the evening. The cubs played around her, tumbling in the grass, while the mother watched the plains with calm, powerful eyes. The sunset painted everything in gold and orange — an absolutely breathtaking moment, the kind you can’t plan and never forget.

By the time we reached our campsite, I already felt incredibly connected to this wild, ancient landscape.

Dinner Over an Open Fire & Stories Under the Stars

That evening, Phillimon’s team cooked dinner over an open fire — simple, delicious, and perfect for the bush. Food just tastes better when you're surrounded by nature, laughing together and listening to the crackle of burning wood.

Afterwards we gathered around the bonfire, sharing stories as the African night sky stretched endlessly above us. The silence, the stars, the warmth of the flames — it was a moment of pure peace.

Sleeping in the Wild – Surprisingly Comfortable

Our camp was made up of sturdy tents, each with a surprising twist: Inside were raised platforms, about 50 cm off the ground, with soft mattresses and pillows. A simple setup — yet shockingly comfortable for sleeping in the wild.

The night was magical. Wrapped warmly in my sleeping bag, I drifted off to the sounds of real Africa: rustling grass, birds calling, crickets buzzing — and, if you listened closely, the distant roar of lions. The kind of sounds that give you chills in the best possible way.

Breakfast in the Open – With Elephants Around

At sunrise, we woke to a warm, hearty breakfast served in the open. While sipping tea or coffee, we had to keep an eye out — an elephant herd was wandering by.

There’s something powerful about being that close to wildlife, sharing the same space with such gentle giants. It’s humbling, grounding, and unforgettable.

Botswana, You Were Pure Magic

What started with a spontaneous invitation at a backpackers’ hostel turned into one of the most memorable wilderness experiences of my life.

A night in Chobe National Park, a fantastic team, wonderful people, and nature that reaches deep into your soul — that’s what made this adventure so special.

Homeland Safaris took excellent care of us, yet the feeling of being truly out in the wild never faded.

If you love adventure and want to experience Africa in the most authentic way, I can’t recommend this experience enough. Botswana in January 2025 — wild, real, and absolutely unforgettable. A big thank you to Homeland Safaris! I recommend them highly! Book your next wild camping trip with them!