Chobe day trip from Victoria Falls in brief
Chobe lies about 80 to 95 km from Victoria Falls, so a day trip is realistic. Operators pick guests up at about 07:00 and bring them back at about 18:00, with a boat cruise, a game drive and lunch in between. The same kind of trip leaves from Livingstone in Zambia. Park and visa fees are usually extra.
It is a long day, and the border is part of it. The order of the boat and the game drive can differ between trips, so do not plan around a fixed sequence. This page compares the two starting points and covers what to check. For the falls themselves, see the Victoria Falls guide.
Our picks: day trips from Victoria Falls
Three day trips that combine a boat cruise and a game drive; the main difference is what the price covers.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Chobe day safari with park fees included
- Park fees
- Boat cruise and game drive
- Lunch and drinks
Hotel pickup and return via the Kazungula crossing. Visa arrangements and visa fees are extra.
Check availability →
Chobe day trip from Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
- Park fees
- Game drive and boat cruise
- Lunch and drinks
Out and back the same day via Kazungula, returning around 18:00. Visa is extra.
Check availability →
Chobe day trip from Victoria Falls with boat and game drive
- Chobe river cruise
- Open 4x4 game drive
- Buffet lunch
Boat and game drive in one day, with the air-conditioned transfer over the border. Park fees and visa are extra.
Check availability →Chobe day trips from Victoria Falls and Livingstone
Full-day trips with border transfer, boat cruise and game drive, with live prices and availability.
Victoria Falls to Chobe: two routes compared
The crossing depends on where you start.
| Starting point | Border crossing | Distance to Kasane | Driving time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) | Kazungula road crossing, not the bridge | 80 to 95 km, depending on the start point | About 1¼ hours plus the border |
| Livingstone (Zambia) | Kazungula Bridge over the Zambezi | About 82 km | Just over 1 hour plus the border |
For most visitors, a guided full day with transfers and lunch is simpler than organising the crossing yourself, because the operator handles the timing at the border. If you stay on the Zambian side and know the bridge, the Livingstone trip is slightly shorter on the road. Both routes need a passport, and border times are not predictable.
Chobe day trip from Livingstone
The Zambian start.
A Chobe day trip from Livingstone follows the same pattern as the one from Victoria Falls: pickup in the morning, a crossing at Kazungula, a cruise and a game drive in the park, and the return in the evening. The Livingstone route uses the Kazungula Bridge over the Zambezi. A lunch cruise variant, with lunch served on the boat, is offered on request from Victoria Falls or Livingstone. Pickup times and prices differ by operator, so read the booking page.
Livingstone has its own guide: see Livingstone for the town and its sights.
Border crossing and visas
Facts to settle before the day.
Two different crossings
The road crossing to Zimbabwe and the bridge to Zambia are separate borders. For the Zimbabwe road crossing, 06:00 to 20:00 is a planning figure. For the Zambian side, 06:00 to 22:00 is the usual figure, and 24-hour operation was announced for 2026. Confirm current hours with your operator.
Botswana entry
A regular German passport needs no visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days per calendar year, and British citizens can stay up to 90 days visa-free. The passport should be valid for at least 6 months, and you need free pages. Not every nationality is exempt.
The KAZA UNIVISA
It costs $50 for up to 30 days with multiple entries to Zambia and Zimbabwe, and day trips to Botswana over Kazungula are included. It is not a Botswana visa. German, Austrian, Swiss, British and US citizens are on the eligibility list.
Park fees and extras
Park and visa fees are usually extra, and one example trip names $20 for the park fee. Under the Botswana tariff valid since April 2022, a customer of a Botswana tour operator pays BWP 190 per person and day. Check what your trip includes.
Park fees →What a Chobe day trip covers
And what it leaves out.
A day trip gives you a taste of the Chobe Riverfront, the part of the park next to Kasane. You will not see the inland areas such as Savute, which lie hours away on sandy tracks. A boat cruise shows hippos, crocodiles and water birds, and the game drive adds the chance of elephants, buffalo and antelope. No trip can guarantee a sighting.
If you can add a night in Kasane, you gain a morning drive in good light and a longer boat trip. See the safari page and the river cruise page for the options, and the Kasane page for the town. For a plan that adds more days, the Botswana safari tours page compares tours from Kasane and Livingstone.
Chobe day trip: frequently asked questions
Can you visit Chobe on a day trip from Victoria Falls?
Yes. Chobe lies about 80 to 95 km from Victoria Falls, and operators run full-day trips with a border crossing, a boat cruise, a game drive and lunch. A typical trip has pickup at about 07:00 and return at about 18:00.
How much does a Chobe day trip cost?
An example price for 2026 is $229 per person for a minimum of 2 guests, with 25 percent off for children under 12. Park and visa fees are extra there. Prices differ by operator.
Do I need a visa for the Chobe day trip?
Germans, Britons and many others do not need a Botswana visa for a short stay, but you may need a visa for Zimbabwe or Zambia. The KAZA UNIVISA costs $50, and it covers day trips to Botswana over Kazungula. Check the rules for your passport.
Is it better to go from Victoria Falls or Livingstone?
Start from the side where you sleep. Victoria Falls uses the Kazungula road crossing, Livingstone uses the Kazungula Bridge. The Livingstone route is about 82 km, the Victoria Falls route 80 to 95 km.
Will the border be fast?
No one can promise it. Border times vary, and hours at the Zambian bridge may change. Ask your operator how it handles queues.
Are park fees included in the day trip price?
Usually not. Park and visa fees are extra on the example trip, and a customer of a Botswana tour operator pays BWP 190 per person and day under the tariff valid since April 2022. Check what your booking includes.