Combining Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, and Namibia into a single itinerary is highly efficient due to the close geographic proximity of these regions. The short distances between borders allow travelers to transition between countries smoothly, minimizing transit time and maximizing time spent in each destination.
Our Kate recently completed a multi-destination route through these four countries. Here is her story from the road:
Gardens and Waterways in Victoria Falls
My journey began in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, a region that serves as both the starting and closing point of this four-country circuit.
I spent a night at Kasambabezi Lodge, which instantly felt like stepping into a lush jungle oasis, with beautifully manicured gardens filled with striking stone artwork. A Sunset Cruise on the Zambezi Ark was a great way to see the landscape from the two-storey boat, spending two hours relaxing as the afternoon light shifted into deep amber tones across the water.
Sunset Cruise on the Zambezi Ark
Wildlife and Waterfronts in Livingstone
Driving across the historic Victoria Falls Bridge into Zambia was incredible, suspended high above the roaring river canyon with the mist of the falls rising in the distance. I checked into the David Livingstone Safari Lodge right on the banks of the Zambezi River, where my newly renovated room was bright and modern. The team welcomed me with a traditional song, dance, and a welcome drink, and I even encountered three wild elephants right at the entrance.
The Lady Livingstone sunset safari and dinner cruise was a massive highlight. The food was fantastic – the chef came out to personally introduce our meals, and having local musicians playing acoustic strings in the background made the whole experience feel incredibly special. What I loved most about being on the Zambian side of the river was how quiet and exclusive it felt, with barely any other boat traffic around us.
Elephant on the river bank during the Lady Livingstone cruise
On the Angel’s Pool Excursion, a quick boat transfer took us out to Livingstone Island, where we got right into a natural rock pool sitting on the very edge of the falls. Moving right up to the lip of the rock barrier, I leaned over to look straight down into the massive 100-meter canyon with the water crashing right past me and the spray everywhere.
Kate in Angel’s Pool on the edge of Victoria Falls
River Cruises and Riverfronts in Chobe
Leaving Zambia behind, I headed toward Kasane, Botswana, crossing the Zambezi River over the Kazungula Bridge. At Elephant Valley Lodge, the cozy safari tents sit in a quiet forest reserve right outside Chobe National Park, and the electric blankets were a massive plus when the temperature dipped in the evening. The lodge directly overlooks a busy watering hole, so animals were constantly wandering right up to the edge of camp before we even headed out into the forest for a sunset game drive.
Elephant Valley Lodge watering hole
My stay at Chobe Marina Lodge was beautiful, with a river-facing room where built-in mosquito screens meant I could leave the windows wide open to the breeze. I went on their three-hour dinner cruise directly into Chobe National Park – the only one of its kind on the river. Watching the sunset bleed into dusk while eating a great meal and spotting elephants, hippos, buffalo, and crocodiles along the banks was incredible.
I had booked this stay in advance, and the lodge team welcomed me despite being closed to the public following a fire. With the kitchen and dining area unavailable, they resourcefully prepared all meals in the chef’s house across the road and brought them over to the property. They went out of their way to ensure a complete experience by organizing a warm brunch in the park and an outdoor bush dinner. Even amid the ongoing rebuilding, the food and attentive service made it a standout stay, and we look forward to supporting them once the property is fully restored.
Hippo in the water on Chobe Marina’s dinner cruise
I also headed deep into the park for a game drive. The elephant herds here are amazingly calm and let us get close enough for some incredible photos before tracking down a pride of lions. The lodge team surprised me by setting up a hot brunch right in the middle of the park, and we wrapped up the Botswana leg with an outdoor bush dinner in the valley.
Giraffe seen on a game drive through Chobe National Park
Wilderness and Culture on the Caprivi Strip
Leaving Botswana behind, I crossed the border to explore Namibia’s narrow Caprivi Strip. At Lianshulu Lodge inside Mudumu National Park, I could watch hippos and crocodiles right from the deck of my thatched chalet. A game drive through the park ended right on the water’s edge, where we watched a giant pod of over 60 hippos. Since the camp is completely unfenced and the rooms don’t have phones, the staff walked me back to my chalet every night after dark, directly through the open wilderness.
Pod of hippos seen on a game drive through Mudumi National Park
I went out on the Kwando River in a small motorized boat, which felt completely different from standard safari cruises. Being so low to the water level brought me incredibly close to the passing elephants, hippos, and birds before we pulled up to the riverbank for a sundowner and snacks.
Our Kate after her sunset river cruise
A visit to the nearby Gudugu Heritage Centre gave me a firsthand look at local daily life, watching the community forge iron tools, weave intricate baskets, and stamp millet before wrapping up with vibrant traditional music and dancing.
Our Kate learning about the traditional village
The Thunder and Trails of Victoria Falls
I returned to Zimbabwe for the final leg of the trip. Lunch at the Lookout Café sat me right over the edge of the massive gorge, looking straight down at the rushing rapids of the Zambezi River below. The afternoon sun hit at just the right angle during a walking tour of Victoria Falls along the rainforest paths, slicing through the heavy mist to paint a vibrant rainbow right in the spray of the canyon.
View of the Batoka Gorge from the Lookout Café
Samanzi Luxury Cabanas stood out with its innovative, eco-friendly design utilizing recycled plastics for its swimming pools, where my swim-up room allowed me to step straight into the water right from the doorstep.
The Dusty Roads Township Experience in Chinotimba welcomed me into a vibrant, upcycled space styled after a traditional Zimbabwean home. I enjoyed an authentic meal prepared entirely over open fires, knowing that every dish supports local women and families by utilizing ingredients sourced directly from small-scale neighborhood vendors.
The Dusty Road Township Experience restaurant
The trip wrapped up with the Flight of the Angels helicopter flight. Peering straight down from my window, I could see the Zambezi River suddenly hit the precipice, cascading into the deep, winding zigzags of the Batoka Gorge below. It’s the only way to see the entire span of the falls all at once, and seeing that massive curtain of water from the air was the ultimate way to close out the journey.
View from the Flight of the Angels