4x4 campers for the Caprivi Strip, Chobe and the Okavango
Compare the 4 campervan and motorhome rental companies in Katima Mulilo to find the best price, and book at the price shown, mandatory fees included.
Katima Mulilo, the capital of the Zambezi Region, is Namibia's easternmost departure point for campervan hire. The town lies on the Zambezi, at the end of the former Caprivi Strip: Zambia begins on the other side of the bridge, Botswana and Chobe National Park lie to the south, and Victoria Falls is a few hours' drive away. Here, a campervan means a Toyota 4x4 equipped for camping, often with a rooftop tent. Our 4 partner companies, Africa on Wheels, Asco, Bushlore Africa and Caprivi, each have a depot in town.
The Nkasa Rupara, Mudumu and Bwabwata parks, far from the Etosha crowds, are less than a day's drive away.
Public ratings collected on November 7, 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 €217/day median €283/day | from €204/day median €282/day | from €174/day median €230/day | from €182/day median €251/day |
| Car and SUV | from €205/day median €261/day | from €196/day median €256/day | from €168/day median €217/day | from €175/day median €234/day |
Daily prices observed on October 21, 2026 for a 15-day rental: CoolDrive selling price, mandatory fees included, 3 rental companies compared. 100% of offers with unlimited mileage. Median excess: €1,632.
South-west of town, the Nkasa Rupara wetlands, nicknamed the little Okavango, are home to buffalo, lechwe and remarkable birdlife. Mudumu, more wooded, follows the Kwando to Kongola, where the B8 crosses Bwabwata National Park; don't miss the Horseshoe bend, where elephants come to drink, or the Popa Falls rapids. Divundu, another departure town of our partners, lets you finish the trip one way.
The Ngoma border post opens up Botswana: the transit road crosses Chobe National Park to Kasane, where a late-afternoon river cruise brings elephants and hippos very close. The Kazungula bridge then crosses the Zambezi towards Livingstone, on the Zambian side of Victoria Falls. The return follows the river via Sesheke and the Katima Mulilo bridge: three countries in one short loop.
Along the B8 to Divundu, then through the Mohembo border post, you reach the Panhandle, the upper part of the Okavango Delta, lined with papyrus and fishing villages as far as Shakawe. The rock paintings of the Tsodilo Hills, a World Heritage Site, are worth the detour before Maun, the base for mokoro trips and for Moremi. The return runs via Nata and Kasane: a big loop to plan over two weeks.
The best time to leave from Katima Mulilo: clear skies, no rain from May to August and mild days. The tracks of Mudumu and Bwabwata become passable again and the vegetation thins out, making wildlife easier to spot. Nights in June and July drop to around 12 °C: in a rooftop tent, bring a warm sleeping bag and a fleece.
The most sought-after time for wildlife: animals gather along the Kwando, the Chobe and the Zambezi, the only permanent water sources. October is the hottest month of the year, with average highs of 36 °C: drive early in the morning, set up camp in the shade and carry a good supply of drinking water.
Storms set in in November and January is the wettest month, with 228 mm of rain on average. The landscape turns green and migratory birds arrive, but the tracks of Nkasa Rupara and some sections of Mudumu become difficult or even impassable. The main tarred roads stay open: a good time for Kasane and for Victoria Falls, in full flow from March.
Most pleasant months: April to August.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29 °C | 20 °C | 228 mm | 10 h/day |
| Feb | 30 °C | 20 °C | 163 mm | 11 h/day |
| Mar | 30 °C | 20 °C | 91 mm | 11 h/day |
| Apr | 29 °C | 18 °C | 21 mm | 11 h/day |
| May | 28 °C | 14 °C | 0 mm | 11 h/day |
| Jun | 26 °C | 12 °C | 0 mm | 11 h/day |
| Jul | 26 °C | 12 °C | 0 mm | 11 h/day |
| Aug | 30 °C | 14 °C | 0 mm | 11 h/day |
| Sep | 34 °C | 18 °C | 0 mm | 11 h/day |
| Oct | 36 °C | 21 °C | 5 mm | 12 h/day |
| Nov | 34 °C | 21 °C | 55 mm | 11 h/day |
| Dec | 31 °C | 21 °C | 146 mm | 11 h/day |
Averages 2016–2025 computed from Open-Meteo data (ERA5 reanalysis).
Katima Mulilo is the last real town before hundreds of kilometres of bush: supermarkets, cash machines and fuel stations are found here, whereas there is nothing in the parks and few services in Kongola. Fill up with fuel, water and food before heading to Nkasa Rupara or Bwabwata, then top up in Divundu or Kasane.
Between Kongola and Divundu, the tarred B8 crosses Bwabwata National Park for about 200 km, unfenced: elephants, buffalo and antelope cross it at any time, like livestock near the villages. Respect the speed limits, keep your distance from elephants, never switching off the engine near them, and reach your stop before nightfall.
Heading back south towards Etosha or Windhoek, the B8 crosses the veterinary cordon fence, the “red line” that protects southern livestock from foot-and-mouth disease. At the checkpoint, raw meat and some fresh products from the north may be confiscated: plan your shopping accordingly. Botswana also carries out sanitary checks at its borders.
Four partner companies have a depot in Katima Mulilo: Africa on Wheels, Asco, Bushlore Africa and Caprivi. The exact address and handover time are in your booking confirmation. Allow half a day to get to know the vehicle, including the rooftop tent, fridge and spare wheels, before a first night at a campsite on the banks of the Zambezi.
Our searches in October 2026, covering 196 offers from three rental companies, found prices from €168 per day, mandatory fees included, for a car or SUV in January. Vehicles equipped for camping started at €174 per day in January and €217 in July, in the heart of the dry season. Run a search with your dates to get real prices.
Yes, if the rental company allows it: state the countries you plan to visit when booking to obtain the letter of authorisation and vehicle documents required at the Ngoma, Wenela or Mohembo border posts. Without them, the 4x4 cannot leave Namibia. Cross-border fees may apply, each country charges its own road taxes on entry, and visas depend on your nationality.
For two, the Toyota Bushcamper or the two-seat Hilux Bush Camper offer two berths; for families, the Hilux 4x4 Camping, the Safari Camping or the Landcruiser 79 double cab offer four. The Fortuner and the FJ Cruiser, without camping equipment, suit a lodge-based trip. In the parks, a real 4x4 is essential, often with an automatic gearbox here.
Windhoek, Divundu, Gobabis and Fort Namutomi, near Etosha's eastern gate, are also departure towns of our partners. Allow about 1,200 km of driving to Windhoek via Rundu and Grootfontein, i.e. at least three days. Any one-way fee is included in the displayed price as soon as you enter the return town in your search.
Everything was quick and quite simple. Just a small downside upon arrival, we waited a good amount of time before being taken care of.
Easy communication, in French
impeccable service with good responsiveness
A valid national licence together with an international driving permit is recommended; the permit is required if your licence is not in English, and useful for crossing into Botswana, Zambia or Zimbabwe. Traffic drives on the left in all these countries. Each rental company also sets a minimum age and a minimum number of years of driving, shown in the offer conditions.
Yes: the Zambezi Region and neighbouring countries are malaria areas, with a higher risk during and just after the rainy season. See a doctor or a travel health clinic a few weeks before departure. On the spot, insect repellent, long clothing in the evening and a mosquito net, if the rooftop tent has none, limit bites.
Campsites and lodges on the banks of the Zambezi and the Kwando welcome camper vehicles, as do the community campsites run by conservancies around Mudumu and Nkasa Rupara. In the parks, you may only sleep at designated sites. On communal land, bush camping requires the residents' consent: it is better to aim for a campsite before dark.
Mpacha Airport, south-west of town, receives domestic flights from Windhoek; check current connections. Many travellers also land in Kasane, in Botswana, or in Victoria Falls and Livingstone, a few hours' drive away, which means crossing a border before pick-up. Tell the rental company your arrival time to arrange the meeting.
All the offers found in our October 2026 searches in Katima Mulilo included unlimited mileage, valuable given the distances in the region. The median excess was €1,632, reducible depending on the options offered. Check what the insurance covers for gravel tracks, tyres and the windscreen, sensitive points on the roads of north-eastern Namibia.
For the dry season, and especially from July to October, book several months ahead: the number of vehicles available locally is limited, and the park campsites in Botswana fill up quickly. During the rainy season, availability remains wide a few weeks before departure, and observed prices are then at their lowest of the year.
Katima Mulilo is an ideal base for self-drive travel at the heart of the Kavango-Zambezi (KAZA) Transfrontier Conservation Area, which brings together Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Angola. Starting here, you are on the Zambezi from day one, a few hours from the Nkasa Rupara wetlands, the elephants of Chobe and Victoria Falls, without the long days of driving from the centre of the country.
Our four partner companies, Africa on Wheels, Asco, Bushlore Africa and Caprivi, offer Toyota 4x4s equipped for sleeping in a tent, with prices observed from €168 per day in October 2026. From April to August, the dry, mild climate is best for travelling; at the end of the dry season, wildlife crowds along the rivers. Divundu, Fort Namutomi and Windhoek then make it possible to cross the whole of northern Namibia one way.
