4x4 campers for the Kalahari, Makgadikgadi, the Okavango and Chobe
Compare the 5 campervan and motorhome rental companies in Gaborone to find the best price, and book at the price shown, mandatory fees included.
Campervan hire in Gaborone means taking the wheel of a Toyota 4x4 equipped for sleeping in a rooftop tent and cooking out in the wild. Botswana's capital, in the south-east of the country and a few kilometres from the South African border, opens the road to the Kalahari: the Khutse reserve to the west, the Makgadikgadi Pans and the Okavango Delta to the north, Chobe at the very top. Our 5 partner companies, Asco, Britz, Britz Cars, Bushlore Africa and Bushlore Africa Cars, each have a depot here.
Starting in the south rather than in Maun lets you cross the whole country and discover the central Kalahari before the great northern parks.
Public ratings collected on October 28, 2026 from independent review sites.
Public ratings collected on October 28, 2026 from independent review sites.
Public ratings collected on October 28, 2026 from independent review sites.
Public ratings collected on October 28, 2026 from independent review sites.
| Vehicle | Winter July | Spring October | Summer January | Autumn April |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campervan | from €223/day median €284/day | from €211/day median €269/day | from €159/day median €206/day | from €189/day median €226/day |
| Car and SUV | from €212/day median €255/day | from €202/day median €236/day | from €175/day median €197/day | from €182/day median €209/day |
Daily prices observed on October 20, 2026 for a 15-day rental: CoolDrive selling price, mandatory fees included, 2 rental companies compared. 100% of offers with unlimited mileage. Median excess: €1,627.
Via Molepolole, a large Tswana village, the tarred road runs west to Letlhakeng; a sand track of about a hundred kilometres then leads to the Khutse reserve, which borders the central Kalahari. You drive from pan to pan, the clay hollows visited by oryx, springbok, lions and brown hyenas. The campsites are unfenced and have no water: bring everything you need for several days.
The A1 heads north to Palapye, from where you reach the Khama Rhino Sanctuary near Serowe, home to white and black rhinos. After Francistown, Nata and its bird sanctuary border Sowa Pan; Gweta gives access to the vast Makgadikgadi Pans, then a sandy track leads to Baines' Baobabs in Nxai Pan National Park, before arriving in Maun, gateway to the Okavango.
The Trans-Kalahari Highway heads west via Jwaneng and Kang to Ghanzi, in San country, then turns north to Maun. Then comes the wild part: the Moremi reserve, on the eastern side of the Okavango Delta, then the deep sand tracks of Savuti, famous for their lions and elephants, and finally the banks of the Chobe at Kasane, another departure city of our partners, for a one-way trip.
The southern winter is the best time to leave from Gaborone: it hardly rains any more, days are sunny and mild, and the Kalahari tracks remain passable. Nights are cold in June and July, sometimes close to freezing in the desert: bring a warm sleeping bag. July and August are peak season in the northern parks, so book early.
The heat returns quickly and October is one of the hottest months in Gaborone, before the first rains. Vegetation is sparse and wildlife gathers around waterholes, making game viewing spectacular in Khutse as in the Okavango. Drive early in the morning, carry plenty of water and choose shaded pitches.
Storms arrive in November and peak from December to February, the wettest months in Gaborone. The Kalahari turns green, antelopes give birth and migratory birds flock in, especially on the Makgadikgadi Pans. On the other hand, the clay of the pans becomes slippery and some northern tracks are cut off: ask about conditions before heading out.
Most pleasant months: All year round.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31 °C | 20 °C | 85 mm | 12 h/day |
| Feb | 30 °C | 20 °C | 81 mm | 11 h/day |
| Mar | 30 °C | 18 °C | 26 mm | 11 h/day |
| Apr | 27 °C | 15 °C | 40 mm | 10 h/day |
| May | 24 °C | 10 °C | 7 mm | 10 h/day |
| Jun | 22 °C | 7 °C | 3 mm | 10 h/day |
| Jul | 22 °C | 6 °C | 2 mm | 10 h/day |
| Aug | 26 °C | 10 °C | 1 mm | 11 h/day |
| Sep | 30 °C | 14 °C | 1 mm | 11 h/day |
| Oct | 32 °C | 17 °C | 22 mm | 11 h/day |
| Nov | 32 °C | 19 °C | 43 mm | 11 h/day |
| Dec | 32 °C | 20 °C | 83 mm | 11 h/day |
Averages 2016–2025 computed from Open-Meteo data (ERA5 reanalysis).
Gaborone is the last major supply centre before the Kalahari: its shopping malls have supermarkets, camping-gear shops and ATMs for pula. Fill the fridge, buy wood or charcoal for the braai and withdraw cash, as small villages and reserve campsites offer almost nothing.
There is no fuel station or drinking water in the Khutse, Central Kalahari, Moremi or Savuti reserves. Fill up in every town you pass through, such as Molepolole, Letlhakeng, Ghanzi or Maun, take jerrycans if the rental company provides them, and plan for fuel consumption on sand, much higher than on tarred roads.
The Tlokweng border post, about twenty kilometres east of the centre, opens the road to Johannesburg, about 360 km away. To cross the border you need a letter of authorisation from the rental company and the vehicle papers: ask for them when booking. At peak times and at weekends, the wait can be long.
Heading north to Nata, Maun or Kasane, the road crosses veterinary checkpoints designed to contain livestock diseases. Officers may inspect the fridge and confiscate raw meat or dairy products, and ask you to disinfect tyres and shoes. Buy meat beyond the checkpoints and keep your receipts.
Cows, donkeys and goats often cross the A1 and the Trans-Kalahari Highway, and kudu appear suddenly at dusk. The roads are unfenced and almost never lit: finish each stage before nightfall, slow down when approaching villages and watch out for trucks overtaking on the long straight stretches.
Five partner companies have a depot in Gaborone: Asco, Britz, Britz Cars, Bushlore Africa and Bushlore Africa Cars. Britz Cars and Bushlore Africa Cars cover vehicles without camping equipment, for those who prefer to sleep in lodges. Your booking confirmation states where and when the vehicle will be handed over.
The price varies with the model, the number of berths, the season, the length of hire and any one-way trip to Maun or Kasane. To find the exact price, run a search with your dates: the rates shown are those of the Gaborone rental companies, mandatory fees included, and can be booked immediately.
For two, the Toyota Hilux Bush Camper or the Budget Toyota Bushcamper sleep two; for families, the Hilux Camp 4 Pax and the Toyota Safari 2.8 Camping sleep four. For nights in lodges, the Toyota FJ Cruiser and the Hilux without camping equipment seat five. All the models observed have four-wheel drive.
Yes, Maun and Kasane are also departure cities of our partners, so you can travel down or up the country without retracing your steps. Enter the return city when searching: the available offers are shown with any one-way fees, already included in the price.
It is often possible, but only with the rental company's consent: it provides the letter of authorisation and the vehicle documents required at the borders, sometimes for an extra fee. Specify the countries you will visit when booking. Also allow for the road tax charged on entry into Namibia and check that the insurance covers each country.
great experience! The CoolDrive agents are very helpful with all the procedures
Good customer service, great price on the vehicle, efficient process, would use again without hesitation.
First rental of this type of vehicle in a professional context where the rental must take place from France to Canada. Many questions and Cooldrive (Marlène) has been a valuable support in guiding my choices. Efficiency and responsiveness beforehand, and on-site a vehicle and service that met our expectations. No complaints. Great!
A valid national licence is generally enough for a short stay, but an international driving permit is recommended, especially if yours is not in English. Traffic drives on the left, with the steering wheel on the right. Age and licence-holding requirements depend on each rental company and are specified in the offer.
The main roads, such as the A1 to Francistown and the Trans-Kalahari Highway to Ghanzi, are tarred and in good condition, despite a few potholes. Access to the reserves, however, is on sand tracks, sometimes deep: lower the tyre pressure as instructed by the rental company and engage four-wheel drive before setting off.
In reserves such as Khutse, Moremi or Savuti, you sleep at designated campsites, to be booked in advance with the national parks or private operators. Outside the parks, many lodges have a campsite with showers. Elsewhere, ask the landowner or the village chief for permission before setting up camp.
Sir Seretse Khama International Airport, code GBE, lies north of the city, about fifteen kilometres from the centre. A taxi or an organised transfer reaches the depots in around twenty minutes. Tell the rental company your arrival time; after a long flight, it is best to spend a night in Gaborone and collect the vehicle the next morning.
For a departure between June and October, book several months ahead: it is the most popular season and rental fleets are limited. Book the Moremi and Savuti campsites at the same time, as they fill up very quickly. From November to April, demand drops and a few weeks' notice is usually enough.
The currency is the pula, withdrawn from ATMs in Gaborone, Francistown, Ghanzi or Maun. Bank cards are accepted in supermarkets, lodges and most town fuel stations, but keep cash for small villages, basic campsites and any road taxes at the border.
Gaborone and the south of the country are at low risk, but the north, around the Okavango, Savuti and Chobe, has a risk of malaria, especially during and after the rainy season. See a doctor before leaving if your route goes there, and bring insect repellent and a mosquito net.
Gaborone is Botswana's southern gateway, a few hours' drive from Johannesburg. Starting here means seeing the country in all its diversity: the central Kalahari and its clay pans at Khutse, the Khama Rhino Sanctuary, the white vastness of Makgadikgadi, then the Okavango Delta and the elephants of Chobe. Maun and Kasane, other departure cities of our partners, let you end the trip in the north without driving back.
Our five partner companies, Asco, Britz, Britz Cars, Bushlore Africa and Bushlore Africa Cars, offer Toyota Hilux, Safari and FJ Cruiser four-wheel drives, with or without a rooftop tent, for two to five travellers. And since Khutse is only a day's drive away, even a one-week trip is enough to get a taste of the Kalahari.
