Chobe Safari Day Trip From Livingstone: Game Drive & River Cruise

Lions, elephants and hippos in one morning, then the river from a boat in the afternoon

A full-day safari tour from Livingstone to Chobe National Park in Botswana, combining a game drive and river cruise with lunch included. Hotel pickup starts at 7am, and you cross the Kazungula border into Botswana by road before meeting your guide at the park office. The itinerary alternates between land and water depending on wildlife sightings, and you return to Livingstone by 4pm.

Step-by-step itinerary

Chobe Safari Day Trip from Livingstone

• Pick up from Livingstone hotels
• Drive to Kazungula border
• Complete passport formalities
• Meet Botswana guide
• Briefing at Botswana office
• Game drive in Chobe National Park
• Lunch break
• River safari cruise
• Leave park by 4pm

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your Livingstone hotel around 7am, then a one-hour drive to Kazungula where you handle passport formalities at the border crossing between Zambia and Botswana. Once across the newly constructed Kazungula bridge, your Botswana guide meets you and takes you to the park office for a briefing on what to expect. From there, the guides decide the order of activities based on animal movement: you'll do either a game drive first followed by lunch and a river safari cruise, or reverse the sequence depending on where the wildlife is that day.

Chobe National Park holds lions, African painted dogs, blue wildebeest, Cape buffalo, giraffes, hippopotamuses, hyenas, leopards, savanna elephants, zebras and crocodiles, among others. The game drive covers the park by road with your guide calling out sightings. The river cruise takes you onto the water to watch animals at the banks and in the shallows. Lunch is included and happens between the two activities. You leave the park at 4pm to make the return drive to Livingstone, arriving back in the evening.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in Livingstone at 7am.
• private road transportation to Kazungula border and into Chobe National Park.
• English-speaking guide.
• game drive through the park.
• river safari cruise.
• lunch.
• all park fees and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (18 to 49 years) · Senior (50 and older) · Youth (10 to 17 years) · Child (5 to 9 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupUp to 100

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 9 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 9 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Cherish Travel and Tours

Is this one for you?A nine to ten hour commitment means you leave early and return by evening, leaving the rest of your day free if you arrive in Livingstone with only an afternoon or need to catch a flight the same evening. If you want a full immersion in the park with multiple game drives or an overnight stay, a longer safari works better.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (10 to 17 years); Child (5 to 9 years); Infant (under 5): 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.

What animals am I most likely to see on a Chobe safari?

Chobe is home to lions, elephants, buffalo, giraffes, hippos, zebras, hyenas and leopards. The park also holds African painted dogs, crocodiles and various antelope species including puku. Early morning game drives are best for spotting lions.

Do I need a Botswana visa to visit Chobe National Park from Livingstone?

You will cross the border at Kazungula, and visa requirements depend on your nationality. The tour includes border formalities, but you are responsible for obtaining any required Botswana visa before departure.

How long is the drive from Livingstone to Chobe National Park?

The drive from Livingstone to the Kazungula border crossing takes about one hour. After crossing into Botswana and meeting your guide, you head to the park office for a briefing before the safari activities begin.

What is included in the tour price?

The tour includes hotel pickup in Livingstone, private transportation to and from the border, a game drive in Chobe, a river safari cruise, lunch, and all park fees and taxes. You will need to bring your own camera.

Can I choose the order of the game drive and river cruise?

The guides decide whether to start with the game drive or the river cruise based on where animals are active that day. This flexibility helps maximize wildlife sightings, though you don't select the order in advance.