Chobe National Park day trip: Game drive & boat cruise

Two wildlife activities in one day: land safari and river cruise through Africa's highest elephant densities

A full-day tour from Victoria Falls or Livingstone to Chobe National Park in Botswana, combining a three-hour 4x4 game drive and a three-hour boat cruise on the Chobe River, with park entry, lunch and hotel pickup included. The operator has over 25 years running tours in the region. Kalahari Tours handles border formalities at Kazungula, so you don't arrange the crossing yourself.

The experience

You get picked up from your hotel in Victoria Falls or Livingstone at 7am and driven to the Kazungula border, where your Kalahari Tours guide meets you and walks you through immigration. After registration and a light breakfast at their base, the boat cruise starts at 9:30am. You spend three hours on the Chobe River watching herds of buffalo, elephants and other game come down to drink, plus the birdlife on the floodplains. The boat returns by 12:30pm for lunch at Coffee Buzz.

At 1:30pm you head out in a specially adapted safari vehicle for the land portion of the day. A four-hour game drive through Chobe National Park itself. The park holds the highest elephant densities in the world, and the vehicle is built to get you low and close to the animals without disturbing them. You're back at the border by 4:30pm for the return transfer to your accommodation, arriving late afternoon.

The full cost covers park entrance fees, both activities, the meals mentioned, and soft drinks during the boat cruise and game drive. The day is long but structured so that the two different vantage points (water and land) show you different parts of the ecosystem and different herds. Children from age one can come along.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup from Victoria Falls or Livingstone.
• road transfer to and from Kazungula border.
• three-hour boat cruise on the Chobe River with soft drinks.
• three-hour 4x4 game drive through Chobe National Park.
• park entrance fees.
• breakfast snack and lunch at Coffee Buzz.
• English-speaking guide throughout the day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

AgesAdult (18 to 55 years) · Senior (56 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (5 to 12 years) · Infant (1 to 4 years): free

GroupUp to 150

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 32 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Kalahari Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you're arriving with a free afternoon and want both a land safari and boat game drive in one day, with English-language commentary throughout.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (5 to 12 years); Infant (1 to 4 years): free.

What's the highest elephant density in the world really like on a game drive?

Chobe National Park holds more elephants per square kilometer than any other protected area on earth. On the land safari, you see vast herds moving through the bush and gathering at the river, especially in the dry season when water is scarce elsewhere. The 4x4 vehicle lets you move quietly through the park and stop when animals are near.

Do I need a visa to cross from Victoria Falls or Livingstone into Botswana?

Visa requirements depend on your nationality and are not handled by the tour operator. Check with your country's embassy before booking. Your Kalahari Tours guide helps with the border formalities at Kazungula, but you must have the correct documentation already in place.

How much time do I actually spend watching wildlife versus traveling?

You get six hours of wildlife viewing split between the boat cruise (three hours, 9:30am to 12:30pm) and the land game drive (four hours, 1:30pm to around 5:30pm). The remaining time covers hotel pickup, the border crossing, breakfast, lunch and the return transfer.

What happens if the border crossing takes longer than expected?

The itinerary builds in time for immigration at Kazungula, but delays can happen. If the crossing runs long, the boat departure or the land safari start time may shift. Your guide will keep you informed and adjust the schedule to fit as much wildlife viewing as possible into the remaining daylight.