Chobe Safari from Livingstone: River Cruise & Game Drive

Spot elephants from the water, then track them across the savanna

A full-day safari from Livingstone combines a Chobe River boat cruise and a 3-hour afternoon game drive through Chobe National Park, with buffet lunch at Cresta Mowana Lodge and professional guide included. The tour handles border formalities at Kazungula, and your guide adjusts the activity order based on recent wildlife sightings to maximize viewing opportunities. Pickup from Livingstone and return transfers are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Chobe Safari with Boat and Game Drive

• Transfer from Livingstone to Kazungula Border
• Border formalities and enter Botswana
• 3-hour boat safari on Chobe River
• Buffet lunch at Cresta Mowana Lodge
• 3-hour afternoon game drive in Chobe Park
• Return transfer to Kasane

The experience

The day starts with a transfer from Livingstone to the Kazungula Border, where the operator handles immigration and border paperwork before you cross into Botswana. Once in Chobe National Park, your professional guide decides whether to begin with the river cruise or the game drive based on what animals were spotted the previous evening: a detail that shifts the whole day's rhythm toward what's actually out there rather than a fixed schedule. The Chobe River boat safari runs for three hours through winding channels where elephants wade and drink at the banks, hippos cluster in pods, crocodiles sun themselves, and buffalo move through the shallows. The river is also thick with birdlife: African fish eagles, kingfishers, herons, and jacanas give photographers constant targets.

After the river cruise, you'll have lunch at Cresta Mowana Safari Resort & Spa, a riverside lodge where the buffet overlooks the water. The afternoon game drive takes you into the park itself in an open 4x4 vehicle for another three hours, searching the diverse landscapes for large elephant herds, lions, leopards, buffalo, giraffes, zebras, and antelope. The open vehicle design means unobstructed sightlines in all directions and no glass between you and the animals or the light for photography.

The whole day runs about eight hours from pickup to return. Your guide speaks English and travels with you throughout, and the operator includes drinks and snacks alongside the lunch. The only logistics you handle are showing up at your hotel in Livingstone. Everything else (the border crossing, the vehicles, the timing) is arranged.

What’s included

• Professional English-speaking guide throughout the day.
• hotel pickup from Livingstone and return transfer.
• border assistance at Kazungula.
• buffet lunch at Cresta Mowana Safari Resort & Spa.
• drinks and snacks during the tour.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 06:30 and 07:00

Book up to8h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 7

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 25

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by River Runner Adventures

Is this one for you?Book this if you want your route decided by where animals were actually spotted that morning: your guide adjusts the day's order in real time rather than following a preset schedule.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4): 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 will I actually see on the Chobe River boat cruise?

The Chobe River regularly holds large herds of elephants, hippos in pods, crocodiles, buffalo, and numerous bird species including African fish eagles, kingfishers, herons, and jacanas. Your guide's knowledge of recent sightings shapes which stretch of river you explore to maximize encounters.

How long is the game drive, and what's the difference between the boat and the vehicle?

The afternoon game drive runs three hours in an open 4x4 safari vehicle. The river cruise gives you close-up views of animals at the water's edge. The game drive takes you into the park's interior landscapes where you search for lions, leopards, and the larger herds moving across the savanna.

Do I need a visa to cross into Botswana for this tour?

Visa requirements depend on your nationality. The operator assists with border formalities at Kazungula, but you are responsible for obtaining any required visa before the tour begins.

What's included in the buffet lunch, and where do we eat?

Lunch is a buffet meal at Cresta Mowana Safari Resort & Spa, a riverside lodge where you eat overlooking the Chobe River. The tour also includes drinks and snacks throughout the day.

Is this tour suitable if I have mobility concerns or a medical condition?

The tour involves transfer by vehicle, a boat cruise, and a game drive in an open 4x4. It is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnant travelers, or those with poor cardiovascular health. If you have questions about your specific situation, contact the operator before booking.