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African Safaris and Tours
Botswana Distance Table
Road Distances Between Botswana's Main Towns
Road distances in kilometres between Botswana's main towns, from Gaborone in the south-east to Shakawe on the Okavango Panhandle and Kasane on the Chobe River, gateway to Chobe National Park. Use it to plan a self-drive safari, or to find a sensible overnight stop between the south and the safari areas of the north.
The national speed limit is 120 km/h on open tar and 60 km/h in towns and villages, unless signs say otherwise. Average speeds over a long day are much lower once you allow for villages, livestock, fuel stops and potholes, so don't plan a journey at the speed limit. All distances in the table are by road, not in a straight line. Distances last checked October 2026.
A few driving guidelines for Botswana travel:
- Never drive at night, unless it is an emergency.
- Inside parks and reserves, and on sand or gravel off the main roads, journeys take far longer than the distance suggests. Check driving times locally before setting off.
- Always have more than enough fuel and water.
Botswana Distance Chart
| Francistown | |||||||||
| 436 | Gaborone | ||||||||
| 852 | 653 | Ghanzi | |||||||
| 291 | 725 | 490 | Gweta | ||||||
| 805 | 385 | 270 | 759 | Kang | |||||
| 495 | 929 | 894 | 409 | 1163 | Kasane | ||||
| 492 | 855 | 285 | 206 | 554 | 610 | Maun | |||
| 189 | 623 | 587 | 102 | 856 | 307 | 303 | Nata | ||
| 365 | 650 | 494 | 166 | 763 | 570 | 210 | 263 | Rakops | |
| 867 | 1121 | 469 | 581 | 738 | 481 | 376 | 678 | 585 | Shakawe |
Botswana Driving Distances: Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Maun from Kasane by road?
Maun is 610 km from Kasane by road. The route runs on tar through Nata: 303 km from Maun to Nata, then 307 km north to Kasane on the Chobe River. Towns are few and far between on this stretch, so fill up whenever you can and aim to arrive well before dark.
How far is Gaborone from Maun?
Gaborone is 855 km from Maun by road, following the shorter western route via Rakops. Driving north via Francistown (436 km from Gaborone) and then on to Maun (492 km) adds about 70 km, but Francistown makes a natural overnight stop if you would rather split the journey across two days.
How far is Kasane from Victoria Falls?
Kasane is 82 km by road from Victoria Falls town in Zimbabwe, crossing at the Kazungula border post. That short hop is why Chobe pairs so naturally with the falls on a single itinerary. Entry requirements differ on each side of the border; our Botswana visa page covers what you need.
How should I plan driving times between towns in Botswana?
Plan well below the speed limits of 120 km/h on open tar and 60 km/h in towns and villages. Villages, livestock, fuel stops and border posts all slow a long day. Sand tracks inside parks and reserves are slower still and usually need a 4x4, so set off early and arrive before dark.
Can I drive between towns after dark?
We advise against driving after dark unless it is an emergency. Wildlife, cattle and donkeys wander onto the roads and are very hard to see at night. Plan each day's drive so you reach your lodge, camp or town with daylight to spare, especially on the longer northern routes.
Which towns does the Botswana distance table cover?
The table covers ten towns: Francistown, Gaborone, Ghanzi, Gweta, Kang, Kasane, Maun, Nata, Rakops and Shakawe. Together they span the main self-drive routes, from the capital in the south-east to Kang and Ghanzi on the Trans-Kalahari Highway, Shakawe on the Okavango Panhandle and Kasane on the Chobe River.
Map of Lodges in and around Botswana
Botswana Travel Topics
10 Reasons To Visit Botswana
Ten reasons, from the Okavango's flood and Chobe's elephant herds to the Makgadikgadi salt pans, Kalahari lions and San trackers, wild dogs in the Linyanti, mokoro trips, and a low-volume tourism policy that keeps vehicle numbers down.
Best Botswana Safari Lodges
Our pick of Botswana's safari lodges, region by region: Mombo and Xigera in the Delta, Chobe Game Lodge on the river, Jack's Camp on the pans and Savute Elephant Lodge, plus how to choose between them.
Botswana Chobe National Park
A practical guide to Chobe: getting there from Kasane, river cruises versus game drives, where the elephants come down to drink, the lodges we use, and how to add Victoria Falls on the way in or out.
The Perfect Okavango Delta Honeymoon Safari
Planning a honeymoon in the Okavango Delta: the camps that suit couples, from Camp Okavango to Mombo, with sunrise boat cruises, mokoro trips, and private dinners and helicopter flights where the camp offers them.
10 Reasons To Visit The Savuti
Ten reasons to put Savuti on your route: bull elephants, big lion prides, wild dogs, the Savuti Marsh, San rock art in the Gubatsa Hills, and a channel with a habit of drying up for years at a time.
5 Best Lodges In The Chobe National Park
Five lodges in and around Chobe National Park that we would happily send you to: Chobe Game Lodge with its all-female guiding team, Ngoma, Muchenje, Chobe Chilwero, and &Beyond Chobe Under Canvas, which moves camp to follow the game.
How Much Does It Cost to Go on a Safari in Botswana?
What a Botswana safari actually costs, and why: camping versus mobile versus lodge, the season you travel, flights between camps, park fees and tips, and where a few honest savings can be made.
10 Best Lodges In Okavango Delta
Ten Okavango Delta camps we rate, from Eagle Island and Xigera to Jao, Jacana and Duba Plains, with what each does best, from mokoro trips on the water to family suites and walking safaris.