5-Day Victoria Falls Safari: Zimbabwe, Zambia & Botswana

See Victoria Falls from the air, then track wildlife across three countries

A 5-day tour through Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Botswana based in Victoria Falls, with guided visits to the falls from both sides, a 15-minute helicopter flight, full-day Chobe National Park safari with river cruise and game drive, night game drive with rhino tracking, and bush dinner. Includes four nights' accommodation, meals, airport transfers, and a live English-speaking guide.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and sunset cruise

• Arrive at Victoria Falls Airport
• Transfer to accommodation
• Enjoy sunset cruise on Zambezi River

Day 2: Victoria Falls and Livingstone tour

• Breakfast at accommodation
• Guided tour of Victoria Falls Zimbabwe side
• Guided tour of Victoria Falls Zambia side
• Visit Livingstone Museum
• Explore Livingstone local markets

Day 3: Chobe National Park game viewing

• Transfer to Kazungula border
• Morning game cruise on Chobe River
• Lunch at riverbank hotel
• Afternoon game drive in Chobe National Park
• Return transfer to Victoria Falls

Day 4: Helicopter flight and night safari

• Breakfast at accommodation
• 15-minute helicopter flight over Victoria Falls
• Night game drive with wildlife spotting
• Bush dinner under the stars

Day 5: Departure transfer

• Breakfast at accommodation
• Transfer to Victoria Falls Airport

The experience

The tour starts with airport pickup and a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River the same afternoon, giving you the falls' landscape before you even reach them. The next morning, a guided walk takes you across both the Zimbabwean and Zambian sides of Victoria Falls: each side reveals different trails, viewpoints, and angles of the water and rainforest. After the falls, you move into Livingstone for a city tour covering the Livingstone Museum and local markets, so you see the human history alongside the geology.

Day three is a full crossing into Botswana's Chobe National Park. You travel to the Kazungula border where a Botswana guide meets you, then spend the morning on a river cruise spotting wildlife along the Chobe River before lunch at a riverside hotel. The afternoon switches to a game drive through the park itself, where large elephant herds and other wildlife move freely. The order can flip depending on what was spotted the night before: flexibility built in to follow the animals rather than a fixed schedule.

Day four layers on the helicopter flight: a 15-minute flight that lifts you above the falls and the Zambezi to see the scale and shape of both at once. In late afternoon, a night game drive takes you into the bush with spotlights to find animals active after dark: elephants, buffalo, hyenas, civets, genets. The day ends with a bush dinner served under the stars around a campfire. On the final morning, you're transferred back to the airport.

What’s included

• Airport pickup and drop-off.
• sunset cruise on the Zambezi River with snacks and soft drinks.
• guided tour of Victoria Falls from Zimbabwe and Zambia sides.
• Livingstone Museum and city market visit.
• full-day Chobe National Park trip with river cruise, lunch, and afternoon game drive.
• 15-minute helicopter flight over the falls.
• night game drive with rhino tracking.
• bush dinner under the stars.
• four nights' accommodation at Shongwe Lookout Lodge or Pioneers Lodge Victoria Falls.
• breakfast, lunch, and dinner as specified.
• live English-speaking guide throughout.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day11 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 14:00

Book up to12h before

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

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

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

Paid on siteUS$ 78

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessiblePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Cuckoo Safaris

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English throughout, so you follow the commentary comfortably on every activity. Activities run in small groups depending on the day's bookings, and the itinerary is flexible: the order of river cruise and game drive can shift based on animal sightings the night before, so you chase what's actually moving rather than stick to a fixed schedule.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What's included in the four nights' accommodation?

Four nights at Shongwe Lookout Lodge or Pioneers Lodge Victoria Falls are included, along with breakfast each morning, lunch on days two and three, and dinner on day four (the bush dinner). The sunset cruise on day one includes snacks and soft drinks.

Do I need visas for all three countries?

Yes, you must be eligible to enter Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Botswana. The operator recommends the KAZA UniVisa (USD 50) if your nationality qualifies. It covers multiple entries between Zimbabwe and Zambia for 30 days and includes day trips to Botswana via Kazungula Border. Check eligibility with your nearest embassy before travel. Children under 18 must carry a birth certificate when crossing borders.

Are wildlife sightings guaranteed on the game drives?

Wildlife sightings are not guaranteed because animals roam freely in their natural habitat. The night game drive specifically targets rhino tracking, but encounters depend on animal movement and activity patterns on the day you travel.

What happens on the helicopter flight?

The 15-minute helicopter flight departs in the late afternoon and offers aerial views of Victoria Falls, the Zambezi River, and the surrounding landscape. It gives you a perspective of the falls' full scale and shape from above.

How does the Chobe National Park day work?

You depart Victoria Falls to the Kazungula border, where a Botswana guide takes over. The morning is spent on a river cruise along the Chobe River watching for wildlife. Tea, coffee, and biscuits are provided. After lunch at a riverside hotel, you board a safari vehicle for an afternoon game drive through the park. The order of river cruise and game drive can switch based on the previous night's animal sightings. You return to the border by approximately 17:30 for the transfer back to Victoria Falls.

What should I pack for this tour?

Comfortable walking shoes, a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, insect repellent, and a reusable water bottle are recommended. Early morning game drives can be cool during winter months (May to August), so bring a light jacket. Some national park fees are payable in cash only (USD).