Chobe Day Trip from Victoria Falls: What to Expect

Chobe National Park in northern Botswana is home to one of the largest elephant populations in Africa, and it’s only about 80 km from Victoria Falls. That makes a Chobe day trip one of the most popular add-ons to any Victoria Falls stay. Here’s what the day looks like and how to prepare.

How the day works

You’re collected from your Victoria Falls hotel early, usually around 06:30, and driven to the Kazungula border. After Zimbabwe exit and Botswana entry formalities, your Botswana guides meet you and take you to Kasane, the gateway town on the Chobe River.

The morning is usually spent on a boat cruise on the Chobe River. It’s the best way to watch elephants drinking and swimming, hippos, crocodiles, buffalo and superb birdlife. After lunch at a riverside lodge, you switch to an open 4×4 for an afternoon game drive along the Chobe riverfront. Some operators reverse the order. You’ll be back in Victoria Falls by early evening.

Visas and passports

You need your passport. You’re crossing an international border twice. Check two things before you go:

• Botswana: many nationalities don’t need a visa, but some do. Check the current rules for your passport.
• Zimbabwe re-entry: a single-entry Zimbabwe visa won’t cover your return. You’ll need a double-entry visa or the KAZA UniVisa (when available), which covers day trips to Botswana through Kazungula.

Best time to visit Chobe National Park

Chobe is rewarding all year, but the experience changes:

• Dry season (about June to October): water sources inland dry up and huge elephant herds gather along the river. This is peak game viewing, and September and October are exceptional.
• Green season (about November to April): lush scenery, newborn animals, migratory birds and fewer vehicles. Game is more dispersed, but the river cruise is still excellent.

What will I see?

Elephants are almost guaranteed, often in the hundreds in the dry season. Hippo, crocodile, buffalo, giraffe, impala, kudu and the rare puku and red lechwe are common. Lion are seen regularly along the riverfront, and leopard is possible. Rhino isn’t usually part of a Chobe day trip.

What to pack

• Passport (essential) and any visa paperwork
• A warm layer for the early start and the boat (May to August especially)
• Hat, sunscreen and sunglasses
• Binoculars and a camera with a zoom lens
• Some US dollars or Botswana pula for drinks and tips

Want more than a day?

One day in Chobe is wonderful. Two nights is better, with sunrise drives, sunset cruises and time to linger at sightings. Our 5 Day Victoria Falls & Chobe Combo gives you both destinations without rushing. Or book the Chobe day trip now.