Victoria Falls to Chobe: Safari Day Trip with Boat & Jeep

Summary

Elephants at dawn, river breezes, and wild moments from Victoria Falls

You’ll set out from Victoria Falls before sunrise for a full day exploring Chobe by both boat and jeep with a local guide who knows every bend in the river. Expect close-up wildlife moments, a riverside buffet lunch at Cresta Mowana Lodge, and plenty of unscripted surprises along the way — all with hotel pickup and border transfers sorted for you.

What’s the experience like?

Ever wondered how close you can actually get to an elephant without freaking out? That’s the first thing that hit me on our Chobe day trip from Victoria Falls — not just seeing them, but hearing their low rumble through the open jeep. Our guide, Tinashe, had this calm way of spotting things before anyone else. At one point he just pointed left and there was a whole family of giraffes blending into the trees like it was nothing special. The drive to Botswana was about an hour or so, mostly quiet except for the border crossing where everyone suddenly got chatty about passports and snacks.

The Chobe river cruise part surprised me most. I thought it’d be all about the big animals but honestly, the smell of water hyacinth and the weird little plops as hippos surfaced right beside us kind of stole the show. There were birds everywhere — some with colors I still can’t name. Lunch at Cresta Mowana Lodge was this big buffet spread (I may have gone back for seconds), and everyone swapped stories about what they’d seen so far. The heat outside made that cold drink taste even better — funny how you remember small things like that.

After lunch we switched back to land for another safari drive. It’s hard to explain how different everything looks in late afternoon light; even the dust felt golden somehow. Tinashe kept laughing at my attempts to pronounce “Chobe” right — I’m pretty sure I never nailed it. We watched a herd of buffalo cross right in front of us, slow and stubborn, like they owned the place (which I guess they do). Heading back toward Victoria Falls as the sun started dropping behind us, nobody said much — maybe tired or just letting it all sink in. Still thinking about those elephants.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Chobe National Park full day trip

• Pickup from Victoria Falls hotels
• Drive to Kazungula Border
• Begin boat cruise or jeep safari
• Observe wildlife in Chobe National Park
• Lunch at Cresta Mowana Lodge
• Continue jeep or boat safari
• Return to Kazungula Border
• Transfer back to Victoria Falls hotels

Top questions

How long is the drive from Victoria Falls to Chobe?

The road transfer from Victoria Falls to Kazungula Border is about 70km, roughly an hour depending on traffic.

Is lunch included on the Chobe day trip?

Yes, a buffet lunch is included at Cresta Mowana Lodge during your day trip.

Do I need a visa for Botswana if coming from Zimbabwe?

You may need a visa; travelers are advised to get a Kaza or double entry visa for Zimbabwe if planning this trip.

What animals might I see on this safari?

You could see elephants, lions, cheetahs, giraffes, buffaloes, hippos, and various birds during your Chobe safari.

Is hotel pickup included from Victoria Falls?

Yes, pickup is included from hotels around Victoria Falls Zimbabwe; Zambia pickups are possible at extra cost.

Are drinks provided during the tour?

Bottled water is provided throughout your safari day trip.

Is this tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, all areas and surfaces on this tour are wheelchair accessible.

What time does the Chobe day trip start and end?

Pickup is between 6:50AM–7:30AM; return to your hotel around 5:45PM.

What’s included

Your day includes early morning hotel pickup in Victoria Falls, round-trip transfers across the border into Botswana (don’t forget your passport), guided jeep game drives plus a boat cruise on the Chobe River with plenty of wildlife watching chances along both routes. There’s bottled water throughout and a buffet lunch served at Cresta Mowana Lodge before heading back in time for sunset.