Day Trips Out of Victoria Falls Town

Four excursions are practical from Victoria Falls Town in a single day: Chobe in Botswana, Hwange in Zimbabwe, Livingstone in Zambia and the nearer Zambezi National Park. They differ in distance, paperwork and how early you must start.

Chobe National Park, Botswana

The Kazungula border is about 70 to 80 km west of town, roughly an hour on a paved road. Most day tours leave between 07:00 and 07:30, spend the morning on a river boat, stop for lunch at a riverfront lodge, and then take an open vehicle along the floodplain in the afternoon. Return to town is usually around 18:00 to 18:30. Chobe is known for elephants, with about 120,000 in the wider ecosystem. From the boat you can often see herds crossing channels, plus hippos, crocodiles and buffalo.

The KAZA UniVisa allows a same-day trip into Botswana through Kazungula. Staying overnight in Botswana voids it. Tour prices were not checked, so ask each operator what is included.

Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe

Hwange is about 100 km southeast to Hwange town and roughly 180 km to Main Camp, which is two to two and a half hours each way. The park covers 14,651 square km and is nicknamed the Land of the Giants. It holds more than 100 mammal species, over 45,000 elephants, wild dogs and lions. A day trip means leaving near 06:00 and returning around 18:30 to 19:00, with most of the day in the vehicle. If you love wildlife, staying a night or two in the park gives far more time among the animals.

Livingstone and Mosi-oa-Tunya, Zambia

Livingstone is about 10 to 15 km from town, across the Victoria Falls Bridge. You need a passport and valid Zambian entry, which is either a single-entry visa or a KAZA UniVisa, depending on your nationality. Highlights on the Zambian side include the Knife-Edge Bridge viewpoint in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park and the Livingstone Museum in Livingstone town. Devil’s Pool and Angel’s Pool are on Livingstone Island, reached by boat from the Zambian bank, and not from the Zimbabwe side.

Zambezi National Park

Zambezi National Park is the shortest outing. Its entrance is about 5 km west of town along Zambezi Drive, and morning or late afternoon drives suit people with limited time. Daily entry is US$17 for international visitors.

Practical tips

  • Take your passport on every cross-border day, even if you plan to return the same evening.
  • Pack water, sun protection and a light jacket for early starts.
  • Carry cash. Prices are quoted in US dollars, and card machines can fail.
  • Malaria is present in the region, so see a doctor about prevention before travelling.

Read more: Multi-Day Trips from Victoria Falls Town shows how to link these outings into a longer plan.

Booking help

Compare Chobe and Hwange day tours on Viator . KAZA UniVisa details are on the Zambia tourism site .