Activities in and Around Kazungula

October 31, 2026

Two towns share the name Kazungula, one on each bank of the Zambezi, and the activities people travel for are scattered across the surrounding countries. This page sorts them by country so you know where your passport comes into play. The wildlife centre of gravity is Kasane in Botswana, which lies roughly 8 km west of the Kazungula Bridge.

Botswana: wildlife on the Chobe

Botswana holds the headline activities. Boat cruises leave from Kasane and last around three hours, usually departing at about 9:00 to 9:30 in the morning or late in the day. Game drives enter Chobe National Park at Sedudu Gate, and afternoon departures commonly run from about 3:00 to 6:00 pm. Chobe has one of the biggest elephant populations on the continent, plus lions, leopards, buffalo, hippos, crocodiles and a long bird list. Rhino are essentially absent.

Fishing for tigerfish is also offered on the Chobe. Most operators fish catch and release, and September to November is the season most often quoted, so ask your lodge or the national parks department about timing and licences.

Park entry for international adults is about BWP 270 per day from April 2026, and cruises also attract the fee. Pay in cash at the gate if you can, as card machines are unreliable. Cruise listings start at roughly US$100 per person for a half day, and you should ask whether the park fee is included.

Namibia: Impalila Island

A speedboat from Kasane reaches Impalila Island in about 15 minutes. You clear Namibian immigration at Kasane before you board. The island is a birding stop, and operators mention Pel’s fishing owl, African finfoot and white-backed night heron on their routes.

Zambia: the Falls from the north bank

Livingstone lies about 70 km from Kazungula on the M10, and the Falls sit a little further on. Livingstone Island tours include a swim at Devil’s Pool, usually between mid-August and mid-January depending on how high the river runs. You must go with a guide. Outside swimming season, the island tours can still operate and some operators offer Angel’s Pool.

Victoria Falls: the adrenaline end

Adrenaline activities are at Victoria Falls, not at Kazungula, because the Zambezi is wide and slow here. Rafting runs through the Batoka Gorge below the Falls, with the longest trips at low water, roughly August to December. Shearwater operates the 111 m bungee from the Victoria Falls Bridge. Rafting dates shift with the river, so ask the operator.

Rules for staying safe

Do not swim in the Zambezi or Chobe. Crocodiles and hippos live in both.
Keep off the riverbank and bush fringe unless a licensed guide is with you.
Give elephants on the road plenty of room and never drive between a mother and her calf.
Chobe District is a malaria area, and the risk is greatest from about November to April. Talk to a doctor about antimalarials.
Skip elephant rides and lion encounters, which are bad for the animals.
Standard travel precautions apply, and entry rules are worth checking again before you fly, since some arrivals face health screening.

Where to look for trips

Search tours on Viator and read current official advice on the UK government Zambia page and the Botswana page .