Zimbabwe Travel Forum

I am flying into Victoria Falls, and have to get to Muchenje Lodge in Chobe. My choices are:

1) Go through Zimbabwe customs, see the falls from the ground, get driven to Muchenje.

2) Avoid Zimbabwe customs by staying in transit, take a small plane to Kasane. See the falls from the air, not from the ground, miss the drive through Zimbabwe to the Botswana border.

Anybody have any advice? I wish I had thought to have more time in VF but I didn't and it would be impossible to change that now.

We drove from Chobe to the Vic Falls via the ferry crossing at Kazungula, about 70km west of Livinstone - this would probably be the way to go. I wouldn't and you needn't go through Zimbabwe customs at all.

Dear Johan,

Thanks for getting back to me. Actually the only way I can avoid Zimbabwe customs is to fly out of the airport (victoria falls) because that is where I am booked to land. Driving through Zambia would add yet another set of customs and another visa, plus having to deal with the ferry. I need to decide between flying and driving through Zimbabwe. I'm hoping someone can tell me what the drive is like. Also, my gut reaction is that I should see the falls from the ground rather than the air, and am hoping for input on that.

Thanks again,

acprincess

Hi Linda,

I see your predicament. Though I did not see the Falls from the air, I would agree that it is better viewed at ground level. Because we avoided Zim, I cannot comment on how easy or difficult it would be to get through customs. However, getting through Zambian/Botswana customs was relatively painless. There was no problem getting the requisite visas at the border post.

We only viewed the western cataracts (because we did not wish to enter Zim), but from all accounts the Zim side of the Falls are even more impressive.

I doubt very much you would have too many dramas getting through Zim customs, which opens the door on a drive to Chobe. What ground transport arrangements have you got? Can you choose the route? May be best to cross into Zambia from Vic Falls and travel via Livingston on the M10 to Kazungula. The ferry crossing is easy.

On the Zambian side you have the option of going on a mighty Tugela River sundowner cruise, if time permits.

Don't know the Zimbabwe route to Botswana at all.

Driving from Kasane to Vic Falls is easy. Getting from Vic Falls to Kasane would be easy with a taxi going on a fuel run - if they have fuel. You can go from Bots to Zambia (not by car) and walk over to the Zim side of the Falls on a cheap 1 day visa (only at that border post).

If you have a vehicle in bots, just make sure your insurance and rental compnay allow driving in Zimbabwe.

You might find a Zimbabwe taxi at Kasane getting fuel and make a roundtrip deal with them.

Johan is right about being on the ground.

BTW, do not drive in Zambia unless you rent there and stay there. THey do not subscribe to the insuance treaty that binds the other SOuthern African nations.