Kasane is a town in Botswana, close to Africa's 'Four Corners', where four countries almost meet: Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. It is at the far north-eastern corner of Botswana where it serves as the administrative center of the Chobe District. The population of Kasane was 7,638 in 2001 census.

Kasane briefly obtained international fame as the location of the remarriage of Elizabeth Taylor to Richard Burton, in 1975.

Transport

The town lies on the south bank of the 200–300 metres (660–980 ft) wide Chobe River which forms the border with the extreme tip of Namibia's Caprivi Strip. The Namibian island of Impalila lies opposite the town on the north bank of the river, and there is a border crossing by passenger ferry to Namibia. About 8 kilometres (5 mi) to the east of Kasane is the village of Kazungula, where Botswana has 1.6 kilometres (1.0 mi) of frontage to the Zambezi river immediately below its confluence with the Chobe River. Here the Kazungula border post serves the Kazungula Ferry crossing to Kazungula in Zambia on the north bank of the Zambezi. Nearby a second border post serves the road into Zimbabwe which runs 70 kilometres (43 mi) east to Victoria Falls.

Kasane is at the northern end of the tarred highway from Francistown and Gaborone which is a regional artery between southern and central Africa particularly for trucks too heavy for the Victoria Falls Bridge's periodic weight restrictions. There is also a tarred road to the Namibian border 51 km west at Ngoma.

Kasane is at the north-eastern boundary of Chobe National Park and its road links make it a popular access point for tourists to the park as well as those including it in an itinerary taking in the Okavango Delta, the Caprivi Strip and Victoria Falls.

The town is served by Kasane Airport.

Amenities

Kasane has a number of campsites and lodges (accommodations oriented towards the safari business). These lodges offer day trips into the Chobe National Park, and boat trips on the Chobe River.

Kasane has Barclays Bank, First National Bank, Stanbic and Standard Chartered Bank with ATM facility.

Not too long ago Kasane was a remote and forgettable small village. However, its strategic location along the main tourist routes (meeting point of four countries - Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia) has led to rapid expansion in recent years. Six kilometres east of Kasane is tiny Kazungula, which serves as the border post between Botswana and Zimbabwe and the landing for the Kazungula Ferry between Botswana and Zambia.

Situated on the Chobe River in the northeast, Kasane is a bustling little town offering trouble-free access to the Chobe National Park. As there are no boundary fences between the park and the village, game such as elephant and hippo can frequently be seen wandering down the road and through the Kasane campsites.

Kasane is the administrative centre of the Chobe District and the northern entrance to the Chobe National Park. There is one entrance into the Chobe National Park from Kasane: Sedudu gate which is south of the river.

A number of large dead trees along the Sedudu Valley Road are ideal for spotting elusive leopards, which are plentiful in the area.

Kasane also offers access to two other tourist sights: Nambia's Caprivi Strip to the west and the Victoria Falls to the east on the Zimbabwe/Zambian border.

There are a number of garages, banks, shops and river lodges in the village, as well as an international airport just 4km out of town. The lodges offer morning and evening drives into the park as far as Serondela.

Kasane also boasts an old and dignified baobab tree with its own story to tell: in the early twentieth century the hollowed out centre of the tree trunk served as the local prison for many years before the current brick structure behind it was built.

A short drive out of Kasane takes you to a bend in the Chobe River near the Kasane Rapids. A number of picnic sites can be found in the area, that are worth a visit if only to glimpse the abundance of birdlife that can be seen close to the rapids. Look out for unusual species such as the African finfoot and the halfcollared kingfisher. Most of the lodges offer river cruises, which provide a good opportunity to view birds and animals alike from close quarters. Sunset over the Chobe River is arguably one of the most photographed in Africa.

Kasane is also popular as a fishing safari destination. A wide variety of fish species can be found in the waterways off Kasane including tigerfish and bream. Most of the lodges in the area cater for fishing safaris as well as boat and tackle hire.

Across the Chobe river from Kasane is the flat grassy plains of Sedudu Island, a grazing ground for elephant, hippo and buffalo.

Visitors to Kasane can also visit the Kasane Hot Springs natural mineral spa and Inchingo fishing camp, which is an excellent area for fishing. The Sedudu Island on the Chobe River is also a favorite site for game viewing and bird watching. While in Kasane make sure to participate in one of the regular sundowner river cruises, a trip on the rapids of the Chobe River and a visit to the old hollow baobab tree.

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