4-Day Victoria Falls, Chobe & Hwange Tour: Big 5 Safari
Sunset on the Zambezi, game drives at dawn, and the falls at first light
This 4-day tour from Victoria Falls combines wildlife viewing in two of southern Africa's premier national parks with intimate moments on the Zambezi River. You'll spend three nights at Dzimbahwe Guest Lodge, take guided game drives through Hwange and Chobe national parks in search of the big 5, cruise the Chobe River by boat, watch the sunset from the water on day one, and end with an early-morning walk through Victoria Falls before heading to the airport.
Step-by-step itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and Zambezi river Sunset Cruise
- Arrive at Victoria Falls Airport
- Transfer to accommodation
- Enjoy sunset cruise on Zambezi River
Day 2: Chobe National Park Trip from Victoria Falls
- Depart Victoria Falls to Kazungula border
- Meet Botswana guide
- Game drive in Chobe National Park
- Lunch at riverbank hotel
- Boat cruise on Chobe River
- Return to Victoria Falls
Day 3: Hwange Day Trip from Victoria Falls
- Pick up from hotel early morning
- Drive through rural villages
- Change to 4x4 vehicle
- Full day game drive in Hwange Park
- Lunch at picnic area
- Second game drive towards sunset
- Return to Victoria Falls
Day 4: Last Day Victoria Falls Sunrise Tour & Airport Transfer
- Early pickup for sunrise tour
- Tour Victoria Falls at sunrise
- Transfer to airport
What’s included
- Three nights at Dzimbahwe Guest Lodge.
- English-speaking guide throughout.
- airport pickup and drop-off.
- game drives in Hwange and Chobe national parks with experienced guides.
- river cruise on the Chobe River.
- sunset cruise on the Zambezi River with finger foods and open bar.
- tea, coffee and biscuits during game drives.
- lunch at Chobe on day two and at a picnic area in Hwange on day three.
- Every day 09:00 09:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00
Information
4-day safari visiting Victoria Falls, Chobe and Hwange national parks with game drives, river cruises, guided tours and an English-speaking guide over 3 nights.
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The experience
The tour opens with arrival at Victoria Falls International Airport, where you're met and transferred to your lodge. In the afternoon, a pickup takes you to the Zambezi River for a sunset cruise: departing at 15:30 in winter or 16:00 in summer. You'll drift downriver with finger foods and an open bar, watching birdlife and wildlife along the banks as the light turns gold.
Day two crosses into Botswana. Your guide meets you at the Kazungula border and drives you straight into Chobe National Park for a morning game drive, where the abundance of wildlife (elephants, buffalo, lions, leopards and rhinos) is what draws most visitors to this corner of the region. Tea and biscuits are served on-board. Around midday you reach a riverbank hotel for lunch, then board a boat for an afternoon river cruise, scanning the water's edge for animals coming to drink. By 17:30 you're back at the border and transferred to Victoria Falls, arriving around 17:30.
Day three is a full day in Hwange National Park. Pickup is at 06:30. You'll organize a packed breakfast with the hotel before heading out. The drive passes through rural villages with traditional huts, schools and churches, then reaches the Hwange Colliery (a working coal mine that exports across the world) before you switch to a 4×4 for the game drive itself. Strategically placed hides give unobstructed views of animals and the terrain. After the morning drive, lunch is at a picnic area. The afternoon brings a second game drive as the heat drops and animals move toward the water holes. Sunset is when wildlife congregates most densely. You're back in Victoria Falls by 16:00.
On the final morning, an early pickup takes you to Victoria Falls for a sunrise tour lasting 2 to 3 hours. You'll be among the first into the park, watching the falls catch the golden light of dawn. Afterward, you're transferred to the airport for your onward flight.
Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4): free.
What wildlife might I see on the game drives in Chobe and Hwange?
Both parks are home to the big 5 (lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and buffalo) along with a diverse range of other species. Chobe is known for its large elephant herds, while Hwange's hides are positioned to give clear sightings as animals move between feeding grounds and water holes, especially at dawn and dusk.
How does the Chobe National Park day work if I'm based in Victoria Falls?
You're picked up from your lodge and driven to the Kazungula border, where a Botswana guide meets you and takes you into Chobe for a morning game drive. After lunch at a riverbank hotel, you board a boat for an afternoon river cruise along the Chobe River, then return to the border and are driven back to Victoria Falls, arriving around 17:30.
What's included in the 3 nights at Dzimbahwe Guest Lodge?
Your accommodation is at Dzimbahwe Guest Lodge for all three nights. The tour includes your room. Meals and other services at the lodge are arranged separately. On the Hwange day trip, you'll organize a packed breakfast with the hotel before departure.
Do I need to arrange my own transport to and from the airport?
No. Pickup from Victoria Falls International Airport is included, timed to your arrival. On the final day, you're transferred to the airport after the sunrise tour of the falls. Provide your flight details in advance so pickup times can be arranged accordingly.
What time does the sunrise tour of Victoria Falls start on the last day?
The tour begins with an early pickup for the sunrise walk through Victoria Falls. The exact time depends on the season and sunrise, but you'll be among the first to enter the park. The tour itself lasts 2 to 3 hours, giving you time to explore and photograph before heading to the airport.
Operated by Cuckoo Safaris. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.
Prices and times updated 3 days ago
4-Day Victoria Falls, Chobe & Hwange Tour: Big 5 Safari
4d · EN · at your hotel
from US$ 1,100 per person
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