Experience Botswana in one unforgettable day with a Chobe River safari and game drive in Chobe National Park during this chobe day trip. This full-day excursion departs from your Victoria Falls hotel, crosses the Kazungula border into Botswana, and combines two of the best ways to see the region’s wildlife: from the water and from an open safari vehicle.
Chobe is famous for its large elephant herds, but the riverfront also supports hippos, crocodiles, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, antelope, abundant birdlife and, with luck, predators such as lion and leopard. Our team organises the road transfers and border handover so you can focus on the safari rather than the logistics.
From US$180 per person Duration: approximately 10–11 hours Departure: around 07:00 from Victoria Falls hotels Destination: Chobe National Park, Botswana Activities: Chobe game drive and River cruise Booking: Advance booking is recommended, especially during the dry season.
Why choose this Chobe day trip?
Join our chobe day trip for a memorable experience filled with wildlife sightings and breathtaking scenery.
Visit Botswana from Victoria Falls without changing hotels.
Combine a river safari with a land-based game drive.
Travel with organised transfers to and from your Victoria Falls hotel.
Receive assistance with the Zimbabwe–Botswana border process.
Enjoy lunch during the safari day.
Benefit from local planning support before you travel.
Ask about private departures if you prefer a more flexible experience.
Chobe day trip itinerary
Early morning – Hotel pickup
Your guide collects you from your Victoria Falls hotel and drives you towards the Kazungula border. Please have your passport, travel documents and any required visas ready.
Border crossing – Zimbabwe to Botswana
At the border, your Zimbabwean transfer team coordinates the handover with the Botswana safari team. Border processing times vary, so the schedule should be treated as a guide rather than a guarantee.
Morning & Afternoon Safari Activities – Chobe Game Drive
You will get into the Chobe Riverfront in an open safari vehicle. Your guide will look for elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, kudu, impala and other plains game, while also explaining the park’s habitats and conservation story. Lion, leopard and other predators may be seen, but wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.
Lunch – Riverside lodge or restaurant
Stop for a buffet lunch before or between the safari activities, depending on the operating schedule.
Safari activity – Chobe National Park River Cruise
You will continue your safari with the river cruise, look for elephants drinking or swimming, hippos surfacing beside the boat, crocodiles resting along the banks and colourful birdlife in the riverine vegetation. The boat offers a different viewing angle from a game drive and is particularly rewarding for photography.
Late afternoon – Return to Victoria Falls
After the safari, return to the Kazungula border and continue by road to your Victoria Falls hotel. Arrival is normally in the late afternoon or early evening, depending on border and road conditions.
Important: The order of the river cruise and game drive may change because of park operations, river conditions, seasonal conditions or supplier logistics. The confirmed operating itinerary will be provided before departure.
Your Day, Hour by Hour
Time
What’s Happening
07:00
Hotel pickup in Victoria Falls
07:00 – 08:00–08:30
Drive to Kasungula Border (70km)
09:00–12:30
Morning game drive in Chobe National Park
12:30–13:30
Buffet lunch at Cresta Mowana Lodge
13:40–16:00
Afternoon river cruise on the Chobe River
16:00–16:30
Return border crossing to Zimbabwe
17:30
Arrive back at your Victoria Falls hotel
Total duration: approximately 10 hours.
Wildlife You’ll Encounter
Chobe is most famous for elephants, the park is home to over 120,000, the highest density anywhere in Africa. But the wildlife list goes much further:
Elephants, almost certain; often seen swimming across the river
Hippos, large pods visible from the river cruise
Crocodiles, sunning on the riverbanks
Buffalo, large herds in the dry season
Lion, frequently spotted near the river
Giraffe, Zebra, Impala, Kudu, commonly seen throughout
African Fish Eagle, iconic call, spotted on nearly every river cruise
Kingfishers, Herons, Storks, outstanding birdwatching from the boat
The combination of land and water gives you a genuinely different perspective on the wildlife. Things you’ll see from the boat, hippos at eye level, elephants swimming midstream, simply aren’t visible from a land vehicle.
Wildlife you may see
Chobe is one of Southern Africa’s best-known wildlife destinations, especially for elephants concentrated around the Chobe River during the dry season. Other possible sightings include hippo, crocodile, buffalo, lion, leopard, giraffe, zebra, kudu, impala, sable and a wide variety of waterbirds and raptors.
Wildlife viewing is conducted in a natural environment. No operator can guarantee a particular animal or sighting, but the combination of river and land activities gives you two excellent opportunities to explore the park.
Chobe Day Trip Price
Guest
Price
Adults
$180 per person
Children (under 12)
$110 per person
Rates may change according to supplier pricing, park fees, exchange rates, seasonality and availability. Ask us for a current quote for your travel date. Private departures and special arrangements may be available on request.
Passport and visa information
You must carry a valid passport for the Zimbabwe–Botswana border crossing. Visa and entry requirements depend on your nationality, passport type, travel history and the current rules of both countries. Any required visa or immigration fees are normally paid by the traveller. BIRTH CERTIFICATES are required for all children under 18years participating in this trip.
If you are travelling with children, carry the documents required for minors, which may include an unabridged birth certificate and consent documentation. Send us your passport nationalities before booking so we can help you identify what to check. You remain responsible for meeting the entry requirements.
Valid passport (at least 6 months validity)
Return ticket or proof of onward travel
If travelling with children under 18: birth certificate required
Best time to visit Chobe
The dry season, generally May to October, is popular for concentrated wildlife viewing around the Chobe River. September and October can be especially rewarding for elephant and other riverfront sightings, although temperatures may be high.
The green season, generally November to April, brings greener scenery, migratory birds and young animals. Rain can affect road conditions and wildlife distribution, but the park remains rewarding and visitor numbers may be lower.
What to bring
Passport and required travel documents
Neutral, comfortable clothing
Warm layer for the early morning
Hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
Insect repellent
Comfortable closed shoes
Camera and spare batteries or power bank
Binoculars, if available
Small amount of cash for tips and personal purchases
Is this trip suitable for families?
Yes, families can enjoy the river cruise and game drive. Tell us the ages of all children before booking so we can confirm the vehicle arrangements, child rate and any operator-specific age guidance. The day is long, includes border formalities and may involve early departure, so it is worth discussing the itinerary if travelling with very young children. BIRTH CERTIFICATES are required for all children under 18years participating in this trip.
Ready to explore Chobe?
Send us your travel date, hotel name, number of adults and children, passport nationalities, and whether you prefer a shared or private departure. We will confirm availability, the current price, pickup details and border requirements before you travel.
A full-day Botswana safari with a Chobe River cruise and game drive Visit Botswana from Livingstone and experience the wildlife-rich Chobe Riverfront in one memorable day. This Chobe day trip includes collection from your Livingstone accommodation, the journey to the Kazungula border, a guided safari in Chobe National Park, lunch and a Chobe River cruise […]
The Chobe day trip gives you the highlights. One night inside the park gives you something else, the experience of Chobe after the day-trippers leave. Hippos bellowing in the dark, the smell of the campfire, lions calling across the floodplain at 3am. It’s the same wildlife, but experienced differently. This 2-day, 1-night itinerary departs from […]
Kasane Airport (BBK) serves Botswana’s Chobe gateway, and a significant number of Southern Africa safari itineraries connect here. If your route takes you from Kasane to Victoria Falls, or the reverse, this transfer handles the 80km journey including the Kasungula border crossing between Botswana and Zimbabwe. The transfer is simple: door-to-door, air-conditioned vehicle, driver who […]
Included and Excluded
Return transfers from selected Victoria Falls hotels
Assistance with the border transfer process
Chobe River cruise
Chobe National Park game drive in open 4×4 safari vehicle
Buffet Lunch
Professional safari guides
Bottled water all day
Chobe National Park entry fees, if included in the confirmed rate
Visa or immigration fees, where applicable
Personal purchases and additional drinks
Tips and gratuities
Transfers outside the stated Victoria Falls pickup area
Any item not listed under inclusions
Location Map
Frequently Asked & Question
The drive to the Kasungula border is approximately 70km and takes around 1 hour. After the border crossing (usually 30–45 minutes depending on traffic), it's a short drive into the park. Your guide handles all border paperwork, just have your passport ready.
Absolutely. Children love the river cruise especially, wildlife at close range from a boat is exciting at any age. We welcome children of all ages. Children under 12 pay $110.
Neutral-coloured clothing (khaki, beige, olive) works best on safari. Bring a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a camera, the river cruise especially rewards anyone with a good zoom lens. Binoculars are a great addition. Your water is provided, but you can bring additional snacks if you'd like.
Yes, we offer a Chobe Day Trip from Livingstone as a separate tour. Contact us and we'll sort out the logistics from your side of the border.
This tour covers Chobe National Park, game drive and river cruise. The Chobe + Impalila Island trip adds a visit to Impalila Island in Namibia, letting you tick off 3 countries in a single day. It's a longer day (13 hours vs 10) and slightly higher in price. If you want the most adventurous option, go for Impalila, if you want to focus purely on Chobe wildlife, this is the one.
This page is for departures from Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. If you are staying in Livingstone, ask for the Livingstone departure option because the transfer and border arrangements are different.
Elephants are commonly seen in Chobe, particularly near the river, but no wildlife sighting can be guaranteed. The cruise and game drive provide complementary viewing opportunities.
Yes, buffet lunch is included and it will be at the Cresta Mowana's The Muzi Boma restaurant.
Private departures may be available. Request a private quote when enquiring and tell us your group size, hotel and preferred travel date.
Book as early as possible during the dry season, school holidays and major travel periods. Last-minute availability may be possible but cannot be assumed.
Border processing can take longer during busy travel periods. Your transfer and Botswana safari teams coordinate the crossing, but the return time may change.
The standard itinerary is a morning game drive followed by lunch and an afternoon river cruise. The order may change because of park operations, river conditions or supplier logistics.
Book Your Tour
Reserve your ideal trip early for a hassle-free trip; secure comfort and convenience!