Kasane and Kazungula in Botswana are moving deeper into the country’s tourism strategy, with cultural experiences and redevelopment designed to encourage longer stays in Chobe. The latest addition is Ku Muzi BOMA at Cresta Mowana Safari Resort & Spa in Kasane, which opened on 6 August 2026 as an evening cultural and dining experience built around food, music, dance, storytelling and art.
Official tourism data show that in the fourth quarter of 2024, in-transit visitors represented 25.5% of tourist arrivals, ahead of holiday and leisure visitors at 20.9%.
Ku Muzi BOMA Adds an Evening Experience in Kasane
Ku Muzi BOMA complements daytime safari activities with a night-time visitor experience. Located beside the Chobe River at Cresta Mowana Safari Resort & Spa, the venue combines dining under the stars with cultural programming connected to communities in the Chobe region.
Programming includes basket-weaving demonstrations, storytelling sessions, performances by local groups, and opportunities for artisans to sell handmade products.
The name Ku Muzi refers to a village in the Subiya language, while sections of the BOMA are named after villages in Chobe. The venue adds a locally connected tourism activity for Kasane visitors.
Chobe Tourism Focuses on Longer Stays
Botswana’s tourism strategy is increasingly addressing how long international travellers remain in the country. Government figures show the average international visitor stay declined from 6.3 nights in 2019 to 4.9 nights in 2025.
Average daily tourist expenditure reached P1,183 in 2025, compared with P1,493 in 2024. The figures support connected tourism circuits that encourage visitors to add destinations and nights.
For travellers, Chobe National Park, Chobe River activities, safari lodges and cultural experiences provide multiple options. The town is also close to the Kazungula border area and within reach of Victoria Falls, making it relevant to multi-country Southern African itineraries.
Kasane-Kazungula Redevelopment Adds Tourism Capacity
The cultural expansion is taking place alongside the Kasane-Kazungula Redevelopment Project, which is intended to strengthen tourism and create investment opportunities in Chobe.
Government plans include land parcels for new hotels and recreational facilities, increased room capacity and improvements to the tourism environment. The 2026/27 development budget includes P85.8 million for the redevelopment project and ongoing works.
Government facilities have also been relocated from the Chobe River frontage, creating space for tourism-related development.
Travel Connections Strengthen Chobe’s Role
Kasane and Kazungula occupy an important position in Southern African travel. The Kazungula Bridge connects Botswana and Zambia across the Zambezi-Chobe area. The bridge is 923 metres long and supports regional road connectivity.
A visitor can base themselves in Kasane for wildlife and river experiences, add an evening cultural programme, and continue a broader regional journey through nearby border connections.
Botswana is also seeking to connect wildlife tourism with culture, heritage, conferencing, sport and urban experiences. Plans to extend city tourism initiatives to Kasane during the 2026/27 financial year are part of that diversification programme.
What Travellers Can Experience in Kasane
A stay in Kasane can now include more than a safari schedule. Travellers can combine game drives in Chobe National Park with Chobe River activities, lodge dining, cultural performances and craft experiences. Kazungula adds another option for visitors moving between Botswana and Zambia.
For visitors planning a regional circuit, Kasane can serve as a base for safari activities before onward travel towards Kazungula and Victoria Falls, while the cultural programme provides an additional evening stop within the same itinerary.
This creates more options for travellers seeking culture alongside wildlife and cross-border regional exploration.
Key Stats
- Ku Muzi BOMA opened: 6 August 2026
- Average international stay in 2025: 4.9 nights
- Average international stay in 2019: 6.3 nights
- In-transit share of Q4 2024 tourists: 25.5%
- Holiday/leisure share in Q4 2024: 20.9%
- 2026/27 redevelopment allocation: P85.8 million
- Kazungula Bridge length: 923 metres
Conclusion
Botswana’s Chobe tourism expansion is adding reasons to remain in Kasane and Kazungula. Ku Muzi BOMA brings cultural programming into the evening, while redevelopment plans are increasing tourism capacity and supporting new visitor experiences. Together, the initiatives are strengthening Chobe as a destination where wildlife, culture, food, riverside experiences and regional travel can be combined within a longer stay.
