Chobe National Park Day Trip: River Safari & Game Drive

Two safaris in one day: elephants from the water, then the herds on land.

A full-day tour from Livingstone into Chobe National Park combines a three-hour river safari on the Chobe River with a three-hour game drive through the park's densest wildlife zones. Your guide handles the border crossing and immigration into Botswana, and the day includes buffet lunch, park entrance and all transport from your hotel. You leave in the morning and return in the evening.

Step-by-step itinerary

Chobe National Park river and land safari

• Depart hotel in morning
• Cross border to Botswana
• Enjoy three-hour river safari
• Have buffet lunch
• Take three-hour game drive
• Return to hotel in evening

The experience

The morning river safari puts you on the Chobe River where elephants come down to drink and cross, hippos and crocodiles rest in the shallows, and the banks crowd with birdlife. The water gives you a different angle on the same animals you'll see later on land, and the pace is slow enough to watch behavior rather than just spot shapes. After a buffet lunch (vegetarian and other dietary options are available), you head out on the three-hour game drive through the park itself, where Chobe holds one of the largest elephant populations on the continent alongside buffalo, giraffe, zebra, antelope, and, with luck, lion and other predators.

Your guide manages the border crossing and immigration on the way in and out, so the logistics of entering Botswana don't fall on you. You just move through the checkpoints and get on with the wildlife. Hotel pickup and drop-off bookend the day, and the whole loop runs roughly ten hours from start to finish. Chobe sits closest to Livingstone of the major parks in the region, which is why a single day works here when it wouldn't elsewhere.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Livingstone.
• guide assistance with border crossing and immigration into Botswana.
• Chobe National Park entrance fee.
• three-hour river safari on the Chobe River.
• three-hour game drive through the park.
• buffet lunch with vegetarian and dietary options available.
• government fees.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to5h before

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Infant (1 to 4 years): free

GroupUp to 22

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 18 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Nekacheya Travel And Tours

Is this one for you?At ten hours total, this tour fills most of a day and leaves little room for other activities in Livingstone, but it's built that way because the river safari and game drive together need the time to work: rushing either one cuts into the wildlife watching that makes the trip worth taking.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (5 to 11 years); Infant (1 to 4 years): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How much of the day do I actually spend watching wildlife versus traveling and eating?

The river safari and game drive together make up six hours of the day. The rest covers the drive from Livingstone to the border, the border crossing itself, lunch, and the return journey in the evening.

What's the difference between seeing animals from the boat and from the vehicle?

The river safari lets you get close to elephants, hippos and crocodiles at water level, and you can watch them drink and interact with the water. The game drive covers more ground through the park and reaches animals on land (the herds of buffalo, giraffe and zebra) that you won't see from the river.

Do I need a visa to cross into Botswana for the day?

Visa requirements depend on your nationality. Your guide assists with the border crossing and immigration, but you'll need a valid passport. Visa fees, where required, are not included in the tour price.

What should I bring for a full day of safari?

Bring your passport, sun protection, a hat, and a camera. Light layers help with temperature changes between the water and the vehicle, and the morning and evening can be cooler than midday.