Namibia to Victoria Falls trip – a 2023 itinerary

Our trip from Namibia through Caprivi Strip to Victoria Falls is one of the most memorable road trips we’ve done so far. The incredible landscape diversity that we could see during the 2 weeks of the Windhoek to Vic Falls trip would be difficult to see anywhere else in such a short time. Some of the highlights of the trip are the red sand dunes of Sossusvlei, the wild Skeleton Coast, Etosha National Park, wetlands of the Caprivi Strip, Chobe National Park, and Victoria Falls.

Wildlife on this trip is just as impressive; the Big 5 (lion, elephant, rhino, leopard, and buffalo), hippos, giraffes, crocodiles, seals, flamingos, and hundreds of other African animals and birds. Namibia to Victoria Falls road trip is an amazing adventure for anybody who likes nature and wildlife.

Renting a car for the road trip

If you fly to Windhoek the best and easiest way is to rent a car at the airport on arrival and drop it off on departure. It’s important to let your rental company know that you’re planning to cross the border to Namibia and Zimbabwe so they can prepare all the necessary paperwork.

Reasons we liked the Windhoek to Vic Falls trip 

We were not sure about going to Caprivi it seemed too far and completely out of the way. Our original plan didn’t include the North of Namibia never mind the Victoria Falls and Chobe National Park in Botswana. We tried to find info online and ask people about Caprivi and we did get some details. In the end and didn’t regret it once.

• Caprivi is very different from the rest of Namibia it’s very green, especially during the rainy season. Here you can see many hippos, buffalos, crocodiles, otters, water birds, and some animals you don’t see in the rest of Namibia.
• If you want to see many hippos and elephants Caprivi is the place to go. We did see many of both and the coolest thing you don’t even need to go to a National park, you can see them driving (elephants) or camping next to the river (hippos).
• Caprivi is a Namibian gateway to Victoria Falls in one trip you can visit the Namib Desert, Etosha and Chobe National Parks, and the world-renowned waterfall.
• Caprivi is a more off-the-beaten-track destination in Namibia with fewer tourists it’s a bonus to visit this part of the country on the way to Victoria Falls.
• Chobe National Park is another highlight of this trip. It’s different from Etosha National Park but just as good and a bit wilder.

Travel tips for driving from Windhoek to Vic Falls

On Namibia to Vic Falls trip you’ll cross the borders of three countries (four if you want to go to Zambia as well); Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe. Before starting the trip I’d recommend finding out if you need visas for these countries and how to arrange them. Travelers from many countries don’t need visas for Namibia and Botswana, they get 90 days on arrival. Visas to Zimbabwe can be obtained at the border, the cost is between US$30 and US$50, and it varies depending on your country.

If you’re planning to rent a car for the road trip confirm with the rental company that you’re allowed to take it across the border and make sure you get all the right paperwork for crossing.

One of our main Namibia tips is always to keep an eye on your petrol tank gas stations are far apart if you run out of petrol in the middle of nowhere it’ll be an unpleasant surprise.

There are many mosquitos in Northern Namibia, bring insect repellents otherwise they’ll eat you alive!

Caprivi is in the malaria area, especially during the rainy season. The number of cases varies from year to year. Malaria precautions are recommended just remember with any pills you have to start taking them at least 2 weeks before and after your visit. We didn’t take Malarone or any other medications (our Caprivi trip was spontaneous) and luckily didn’t get it though it was a bad malaria year in the area.

If you plan to cross to Zambia/Zimbabwe from Caprivi with your own or rental car check first the requirements for these countries as they can be slightly different from Namibian.

Travel insurance for your trip

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Namibia to Victoria Falls road trip itinerary

Day 1. Windhoek

On the first day after a long flight, you’ll need a good rest before starting your Namibia to Victoria Falls road trip. If you arrive early you can visit a couple of places in Windhoek and do a guided city tour. If your flight lands in the second half of the day the best you can do is to go out for dinner to celebrate the beginning of your Namibia road trip. 

Places to stay in Windhoek

• Budget | Chameleon Backpackers & Guesthouse | APS Guesthouse |
• Middle price | Rieks van der Walt Self-Catering Apartment | Home Inn Self-Catering |
• High-end | Hilton Windhoek | The Weinberg Windhoek |

Find the best car rental deals for your trip

Day 2. Windhoek – Sesriem (Sossusvlei), 305 km/189 mi

• Distance – 305 km/189 mi, mostly gravel road
• Driving time – 4 hours
• Petrol stops – 223 km at Solitaire; 305 km at Oasis Campsite, Sesriem

Highlights

• Spreetshoogte Pass
• Old cars at Solitaire

Luckily today’s drive is not very long. You can take your time in Windhoek, stop for breakfast at one of the coffee shops, and then start driving to Sesriem. Before you leave the city, fill up your petrol. The next station will be more than 200 km away. Most of the day you drive through a desert-like landscape with very few places to stop for food or water. 

Spreetshoogte Pass is the only mountain pass you will get on this trip. The views are quite nice. There are several picnic spots where you can stop for lunch/snacks and enjoy the scenery. 

Solitaire is a not-to-miss stop on today’s route. It’s a great place with a restaurant, freshly-baked pastries, a shop, and our favorite old rusted cars. On this Namibia to Vic Falls route Solitaire is the best spot for taking old car photos. 

Even if you arrive early enough to visit Sossusvlei I’d recommend doing it in the morning. It’s the best time to see the sunrise in the Namib desert and to have enough time to explore this incredible park. 

Places to stay in Sesriem

Sesriem has a couple of campsites and lodges that are situated close to the Sossusvlei entrance gate including one campsite inside the park. The main advantage of staying at Sesriem Campsite (inside the park) is that in the morning you can start driving to Sossusvlei about 1 hour earlier than other visitors who stay outside the park. It gives you more time to make it for the sunrise from Dune 45. Check sunrise and sunset time before you go. The campsite is often fully booked in the peak season if you decide to stay here it’s better to book it beforehand.

Oasis Campsite just 900 m from the entrance gate is a good alternative. Oasis is one of our favorite campsites in Namibia. The facilities at the Oasis campsite are better than at Sesriem Camp. You can book your camping spot online.

There are two beautiful lodges close to the gate as well if you prefer a luxurious stay; Elegant Desert Camp and Sossusvlei Lodge.

Oasis campsite facilities

• Hot water shower – Yes, each site has its own
• Flushing toilets – Yes, each site has its own
• Electricity – Yes
• Outlets – Yes
• Wi-Fi – Yes, at the reception
• Running water – Yes
• BBQ (braai) facilities – Yes, with braai grids
• Other – roofed area for braaing, shop, restaurant, swimming pool, tire workshop

Day 3. Sesriem – Swakopmund, 470 km/292 mi

• Distance – 470 km/292 mi; Sesriem – Sossusvlei – Deadvlei – Sesriem – 130 km/80 mi; Sesriem – Swakopmund 340 km/211 mi
• Driving time –  about 8 hours; 4 hours to drive inside the park; 4 hours from Sesriem to Swakopmund
• Petrol stops – Sesriem; 78 km at Solitaire; 340 km in Swakopmund

Highlights

• Sunrise from Dune 45
• Deadvlei
• Big Daddy Dune
• Sesriem Canyon
• Tropic of Capricorn
• Sunset from Dune 7

I’d recommend starting your day very early and being at the gate 15 minutes before they open (if you stay outside the park). Sossusvlei is one of the most incredible places to visit in Namibia. Most visitors start their day with the sunrise from Dune 45. The walk up the dune is quite tiring, you’ll need 15-20 minutes to get to the top.

After the sunset head towards Deadvlei stopping on the way to take photos of red sand dunes. Deadvlei is the most famous attraction of Sossusvlei. A white dried salt pan with petrified trees surrounded by the massive sand dunes. The last 8 km to Deadvlei are on a very sandy road; you’ll need a 4×4 to drive that part. If your car is not a 4×4 you can take a shuttle that costs NAD 200/US$12 per person, to and back. At Deadvlei make sure to get to the top of one of the surrounding dunes to get panoramic views of the Namib Desert and the salt pan. On the way back make a quick visit to Sesriem Canyon. 

Find more details about visiting Sossusvlei

If you’re planning to walk around in Sossusvlei, go up the dunes, etc. it’s better to be prepared. Wearing a long-sleeve shirt, long pants, a hat, sunglasses, and shoes that cover your feet (not flip-flops) is highly recommended. It gets scorchingly hot in the desert by 10 am. The sand gets very hot too; it might start burning your feet. And don’t forget about sunscreen, another must for Namibia – Vic Falls road trip.

• Entrance fee to Sossusvlei – NAD 100/US$5.
• Gate hours – from sunrise to sunset.

After getting back to Sesriem check your tires to make sure they’re fine. There is a tire repair place near Oasis Campsite in case you need help. On the way, you can stop at Solitaire for lunch or a snack. 50 km after Solitaire you’ll cross the Tropic of Capricorn there is a sign next to the road indicating it. Many tourists stop here to take photos. 

About km before Swakopmund you’ll reach Dune 7, the highest dune in the Namib Desert. You can walk to the top of it to get some nice views. It’s a great spot for watching the sunset if you happen to be there at the right time. There is no gate or entrance fee for Dune 7.

Places to stay in Swakopmund

• Budget | Skeleton Beach Backpackers | Salty Jackal Backpackers & Surf Camp |
• Middle price | Namibia Nights Accommodation | Jetty Self-Catering |
• High-end | Mylas Cottage | Driftwood Guesthouse |

Day 4. Swakopmund

Swakopmund is the nicest town in Namibia. It’s a good place to relax after the previous long driving days. There are many things to do in Swakopmund that you can visit if you feel like it, otherwise, you can just spend a day on the beach. 

If you want to see flamingos and marine animals like whales and dolphins head to Walvis Bay, a small town about 40 km south of Swakopmund. You can see flamingos from the shore. Between November and April, you can see hundreds of birds in the shallow waters of the lagoon. The best months to see humpback whales and Southern right whales are July to September, the same time you can see whales in Hermanus, South Africa. To see whales and dolphins you can join a catamaran excursion or go out on a kayak from Walvis Bay.  

There are many other adventure activities that you can do in Swakopmund. 

• Scenic Desert Tour by Bike
• Desert Quad Biking
• Tandem Skydiving
• Scenic Sandwich Harbour Tour

If all these adventures and tours don’t inspire you too much you can explore Swakopmund on foot, visit some of the attractions, and enjoy local beer and food at one of the restaurants. 

Find more details about things to do in Swakopmund

Swakopmund attractions

• Woermannhaus
• Hohenzollernhaus
• Swakopmund Museum
• The beach
• Swakopmund jetty
• Aquarium
• Kristal Galerie

Day 5. Swakopmund – Cape Cross – Etosha (Okaukuejo Camp), 650 km/403 mi

• Distance – 650 km/403 mi, mostly gravel
• Driving time –  7 hours
• Petrol stops – 75 km in Hentiesbaai; 196 km in Hentiesbaai (return from Cape Cross); 300 km in Uis; 540 km in Outjo; 650 km at Okaukuejo

Highlights

• The Skeleton Coast
• Zeila shipwreck
• Thousands of seals at Cape Point Seal Reserve
• Brandberg Mountain near Uis, the highest mountain peak in Namibia
• Rock painting at White Lady Lodge
• Giants thermite nests along the road

It’s a long day of driving with several interesting places to stop along the way so make sure to start this day early to have enough time to visit some of the highlights. Before leaving Swakopmund stock up on food, water, and snacks and fill petrol.

The day starts with driving along the Skeleton Coast, it’s a long secluded stretch along the Atlantic Ocean. It got its name because of many shipwrecks spread along the coast. Some of them are easy to access from the road like Zeila wreck, which is about 56 km from Swakopmund.

Visiting Cape Cross Seal Reserve is a not-to-miss on the Skeleton Coast. The reserve is home to over 200 000 seals. Seals are just everywhere as far as you can see. There are special boardwalks for visitors that don’t disturb the animals. If you visit the reserve between December and March you can see thousands of baby seals there. 

• Cape Cross gate hours – daily from 10 am to 5 pm
• Admission fee – NAD 150/US$10 per person, NAD 50/US$4 per car.

From Cape Cross, you’ll have to drive back to Hentiesbaai to get to the road that leads towards Etosha. If you have time you can stop at White Lady Lodge and do a walking tour to the Bushmen rock paintings. It takes about 1h30min. The lodge is a nice place to stop for lunch or a snack.

After White Lady Lodge there will be not many other attractions along the route besides giant termite nests until you reach Etosha. If you need to buy more food supplies you can stop in Outjo, it’s the last place with supermarkets, ATMs, and a bakery before Etosha. 

There are six campsites in Etosha National Park they all have similar facilities. The nearest to the Anderson Gate is Okaukuejo Camp, the oldest campsite in the park with great facilities, camping spots, chalets, a restaurant, a shop, a pool, and a waterhole nearby you can watch wild animals without leaving the camp.

• Etosha gate hours – sunrise to sunset
• Admission fee – NAD 150/US$10 per person, NAD 50/US$3 per car (10 passengers or less).

Okaukuejo Camp facilities

• Hot shower – Yes
• Flushing toilets – Yes
• Electricity – Yes
• Outlets – Yes
• Running water – Yes
• Wi-Fi – Yes, at the restaurant
• BBQ (braai) facilities – Yes
• Potable water – Yes, at the shop
• Other – swimming pool, restaurant, shop, petrol station, waterhole

Day 6. Etosha National Park

A visit to Etosha National Park is one of the highlights of the Namibia to Victoria Falls road trip. The park is famous for its diverse wildlife. It’s one of the best places in the region to see African animals and birds. Four out of the African Big 5 animals can be seen in Etosha; elephant, rhino, lion, and leopard. The only one that’s missing here is the buffalo but you’ll see many of them in the Caprivi Strip and Chobe National Park in Botswana on the way to Vic Falls. Besides these African giants, you can see in Etosha hundreds of other mammals just to name some of them: zebras, giraffes, wildebeests, different African antelopes, cheetahs, hyenas, jackals, foxes, porcupines, warthogs, and many others. 

The best time for animal watching is the dry season, between May and October when you can easily see animals at water holes inside the park. During the wet season, November to April, it’s significantly more difficult to see mammals but you will be able to see hundreds of bird species, many of which are migratory. Some of the birds that you can see in Etosha: eagles, flamingos, vultures, ostriches, owls, parrots, etc.

Early morning and night safari drives are usually the best for spotting animals. Morning drives you can do on your own or join a tour with a guide, night safaris for safety reasons are allowed only with a tour. During the day you can relax at your campsite from time to time by checking out the waterhole. 

As an option, you can stay at Okaukuejo one night and move to a different campsite e.g. Namutoni Camp, 135 km east across the park on the way to the Caprivi Strip. If you decide to stay for two nights at Okaukuejo I’d suggest on the first day exploring the northern part of the park because the next day on the way to Grootfontein you’ll drive across the southern part all the way to the eastern exit gate.

If you have a couple of days extra before heading towards Victoria Falls you can drive north of Etosha and visit the Himba people, one of the Namibian indigenous tribes that live in the Kunene Regions.Сохранить

Day 7. Etosha (Okaukuejo Camp) – Grootfontein, 302 km/187 mi

• Distance – 302 km/187 mi, tar, and gravel
• Driving time –  4 hours it might take longer as the first half you drive through Etosha
• Petrol stops – 135 km at Namutoni Camp; 246 km in Tsumeb; 302 km in Grootfontein

Highlights

• Wildlife in Etosha National Park
• Hobas Meteorite, 20 km east of Grootfontein

If you want to do some animal watching on the way to Grootfontein it’s better to start the day early. The drive from Okaukuejo Camp to the exit gate at Namutoni Camp is through Etosha Pan and you can see plenty of animals and birds.

Once in Grootfontein, you can visit the Meteorite Campsite, situated on the farm 20 km east of Grootfontein to see the Hoba Meteorite, the largest single-piece meteorite in the world, it weighs about 60 tonnes. It fell on Earth 80 000 years ago, its age estimated between 190 and 410 million years. Meteorite Campsite offers indoor accommodation and camping. You can book a room or a chalet online. The campsite has good facilities.

There is another great place to stay near Grootfontein, Pondoki Rest Camp. They offer ensuite rooms and have a restaurant and a swimming pool on their premises. A nice place to chill out.

• Hoba Meteorite gate hours – 8 am to 5 pm
• Admission fee – NAD 70/$5 pp. 

Day 8. Grootfontein – Ngepi Campsite, Divundu, 471 km/292 mi

• Distance – 471 km/292 mi, tar road
• Driving time –  4h40min.
• Petrol stops – 258 km in Rundu; 456 km in Divundu

Highlights

• We saw some elephants and antelopes along the road driving past some nature reserves or parks.
• Popa Falls, a group of small waterfalls 

As you start driving north you’ll notice the change in the scenery, more trees, rivers, and more villages and people. Northern Namibia is far more populated than the south of the country. The road is all the way tar no more bumpy gravel road though some parts have quite a lot of potholes. In this part of Namibia watch for speed cameras and road police; they often hide in the bush.

If you don’t speed and have all the required paperwork they won’t give you any trouble at least we didn’t have any problems with them during our 2 months in Namibia they did stop us a couple of times for regular document check-ups but that’s pretty much it. You’ll notice there are significantly more policemen in the north of the country mostly because of the proximity to the border with Angola. 

Before heading to the Caprivi stock on foot in Grootfontein or Rundu both places have supermarkets and ATMs.

You can stop at Popa Falls near Divundu. It’s a group of small waterfalls not very impressive though maybe because we visited the Epupa Falls before but after a week of driving through the desert, it might be nice to see a river with rapids.

Ngepi Campsite is one of our favorite campsites in Namibia. The location of the place is amazing; on the river bank surrounded by the jungle. In the river, you can see and hear night hippos and otters. The setup is fantastic; open-air jungle showers, a big lounge deck overlooking the river, a caged pool, and a big fireplace outside. You can camp here or stay in one of the cabins. They have a good restaurant where you can order breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 

If you have a day or two extra it’s a great place to chill out at the river with a beer, do a boat tour to see hippos, and visit nearby Mahango National Park where you can see many African animals.

Ngepi campsite facilities

• Hot shower – Yes
• Flushing toilets – Yes
• Electricity – Yes
• Outlets – Yes
• Running water – Yes
• Wi-Fi – Yes, at the reception
• BBQ (braai) facilities – Yes
• Potable water – Yes, filtered water
• Other – bar/restaurant, decks with couches and hammocks, tour desk

Day 9. Divundu – Katima Mulilo, 328 km/203 mi

• Distance – 328 km/203 mi, tar road
• Driving time –  3h20min.
• Petrol stops – 217 km in Kongola; 328 km in Katima Mulilo

Highlights

• Many elephants, ostriches, and antelopes along the road

Today’s drive is quite quick. Before heading to Katima Mulilo you can visit Mahango Game Reserve, about 10 km from the Ngepi campsite. The park is quite small; you’ll need about 3-4 hours. You can drive through in a 2×4 car but if it rains a lot it can be a bit difficult. 

There are two driving routes in the park; 15km and 10km (one way). The 15-kilometer route is the best to see animals. Driving here we saw elephants, many springboks, kudus, some buffaloes, wildebeests, and many birds. 

The 10km route ends at the waterhole where you might see some animals. On this route, we saw many elephants, a couple of giraffes, and many baboons. There are many giant monumental trees in the park.

• Mahango gate times – 8 am to 5 pm.
• Admission fee – NAD 100/US$ 5

Katima Mulilo is a biggish town on the Zambezi River. From here you can go on a safari boat cruise to see hippos or a fishing trip. 

Places to stay in Katima Mulilo

• Budget/middle price | Riverside guesthouse | Happy Forest B&B |
• High-end | Caprivi River Lodge |

Day 10. Katima Mulilo – Kasane, Botswana, 128 km/80 mi

• Distance – 128 km/80 mi
• Driving time – 2 hours
• Petrol stops – 128 km in Kasane

Botswana border crossing

• Ngoma border crossing (Namibia – Botswana) is open daily from 7 am to 6 pm.
• To cross both borders takes about 30 min.
• To enter Botswana you pay BWP 310/NAD 430/US$23 road fee+car insurance. They accept Namibian dollars and cards. You pay this fee every time you enter. The payment is valid for 90 days. Keep your receipt till you leave the country sometimes at roadblocks they can ask for it.
• If you drive in a rental car make sure you have all necessary documents from the car rental company to cross the border.
• You are not allowed to bring any raw food to Botswana be it meat, eggs, fruit, or vegetables. They do check your car when you enter but mainly cooler boxes.
• In Botswana be careful with road police if there is a speed limit sign, stop sign, or any other just obey them. If they stop you to check your documents make sure you put on your seat belt before you start your car.
• Namibian dollars are difficult to exchange; draw the Botswana Pula at an ATM.
• Power outlets in Botswana are the same as in Namibia, V220, type M.

If you’re planning to visit Chobe National Park the same day it’s essential to start your day very early that at 7 am you are already at the border. The park is open from 6 am to 6.30 pm (from 01 April to 30 September) and from 5.30 am to 7.00 pm (01 October to 31 March). A visit to a game park can take a whole day, for this reason, I’d recommend relaxing in a lodge/campsite and going to Chobe Park the next day but if you don’t have enough time you can visit the park on the way to Kasane. 

There are many great things to do in Kasane

• Chobe River Sunset Cruise
• Chobe National Park Overnight Camping Safari

Places to stay in Kasane

We camped at The Big 5 Chobe Lodge 11 km outside Kasane situated in a quiet place at the Chobe River. The place is nice and the staff is welcome. You can leave your tent and other camping stuff and go to Chobe or Vic Falls for a day without being worried about it. The facilities are amazing, the area is big and grassy with many trees for a nice shade. The view of the Chobe River from the restaurant is beautiful. They have chalets and rooms as well.

Big 5 Chobe campsite facilities

• Hot shower – Yes, each site has its own
• Flushing toilets – Yes, each site has its own
• Electricity – Yes, at sites
• Outlets – Yes, at sites
• Running water – Yes   
• Wi-Fi – Yes, at the restaurant
• BBQ (braai) facilities – Yes
• Potable water – No
• Other – bar/restaurant, tour desk.

More accommodation options in Kasane

• Budget | Elephant Trail Guesthouse and Backpackers |
• Middle price | Leeville Guesthouse |
• High-end | Sandpiper Villas Chobe |

Day 11. Kasane – Chobe National Park – Kasane, 12 km/7,4 mi

• Distance – 12 km/7,4 mi return from Kasane to the Chobe National Park (Sedudu Gate) + driving inside the park
• Driving time –  7-8 hours to drive around the park

The Sedu gate is the closest to Kasane Park’s entrance, only 6 km away. The road inside the park is quite bad, especially after the rain; it gets very muddy. For this reason, only 4×4 vehicles are allowed to drive inside the park. If your car is not a 4×4 you’ll have to join a safari tour. You can book a safari tour from Kasane in advance. The tour includes hotel pick up and drop off, a safari drive, food, and drinks. You can combine a safari drive in Chobe with a river cruise.

The best time to visit National parks is early morning for this particular reason. We started our day quite early but we didn’t see many animals. The best part of our day in Chobe was about lunchtime when we saw a lot of animals starting with two lionesses walking on the road in front of our car.

From Kasane, you drive to Sedudu Gate, sign in, and pay the entrance fee. Bring food and water with you. There are no shops or restaurants in the park. 

• Chobe gate hours – 6.00 am to 6.30 pm (from 01 April to 30 September); 5.30 am to 7.00 pm (01 October to 31 March).
• Park entrance fee – BWP 120/US$9 pp., plus BWP 50/US$4 per car.

Safari in Chobe National Park

The best time to visit Chobe to see mammals is the dry season between May and October. The wet season from November to March is a good time for bird watching like in Etosha. During that period you can see zebra migration as well. Many antelopes give birth during the wet season. 

The wildlife diversity of Chobe is quite impressive. Some of the African animals you can see in Chobe are elephants, buffalos, hippos, rhinos, lions, hyenas, giraffes, zebras, crocodiles, African-painted dogs, many antelopes, etc. 

During our safari in Chobe, we saw lions, hundreds of antelopes, many elephants, giraffes, hippos, warthogs, buffaloes, banded mongooses, fish eagles, and many other birds, zebras, wildebeests, and crocodiles. Most animals we saw around lunchtime were on the route along the river.

Day 12. Kasane – Victoria Falls – Kasane, 164 km/101 mi

• Distance – 164 km
• Driving time –  3 hours

The best time to visit Victoria Falls

The best time to visit the falls is after the rainy season, from February to May. During that period you can see Vic Falls at its fullest. The summer rains start in November but it takes some time for all the water to come down to the falls. Sometimes summer rains start later and in June you can still see a lot of water. As you can see, the best time to visit Vic Falls doesn’t coincide with the best time for safari in Etosha and Chobe National Parks, which is the dry season. If you come in May – June you will be able to combine both, maybe not at the very best time for either but at a good time for the falls and safaris.

Zimbabwe border crossing

We decided not to drive to Vic Falls with our can and joined a tour. Driving to Zimbabwe and back to Botswana sounded like too much of a hustle. We did a standard day tour with pick-up and drop-off in Kasane. If you want you can combine a visit to Vic Falls with white water rafting. If you don’t want to make an online booking, many lodges in Kasane offer Vic Falls tours.

To enter Zimbabwe you have to pay a car fee and then another fee to return to Botswana. For Botswana, it isn’t that much US$21. For Zimbabwe, you have to pay an entry fee, an exit fee, a carbon tax, and purchase third-party insurance (for larger 4×4 cars). All these might add up to US$ 100, which is less if you drive a small car but it’s very unlikely you’ll rent a small car for the Namibia to Vic Falls trip. 

Another reason we decided to take a tour is that the road police on the Zimbabwean side from the border to Victoria Falls sounded quite greedy in other travelers’ words. If they see a car with a foreign number plate they stop it and try to find a fault to make you pay. As I said we didn’t experience any of it because we took a tour so I can’t confirm it.

To enter Zimbabwe tourists from most countries (US, UK, most European countries, Australia, New Zealand) can get a visa on arrival at the border control. Visa fees vary depending on your passport. Usually, it’s about US$30 for a single entry visa, it’s more expensive for the UK and Canadian citizens. Even if you come only for one day you’ll have to pay this fee. South African and Namibian passport holders don’t need a visa to enter Zimbabwe; they get 90 days visa-free, with no fees. I’d suggest checking the entry requirements and fees for your country before heading to the border.

• Victoria Falls gate time – daily from 6 am to 6 pm
• The admission fee – for international visitors is US$50 pp.; for South Africans and Namibians is US$30.

If you want to spend more time at Victoria Falls you can find a shuttle from Kasane that will drive you to your selected accommodation near the falls. There are plenty of places to stay in Victoria Falls town.

• Budget | Victoria Falls Backpackers Lodge | Pillacol Guest House |
• Middle price | Dzimbahwe Guest Lodge | Drift Inn |
• High-end | Batonka Guest Lodge | Shongwe Lookout |

There are many great activities you can do at Vic Falls. If you have the time it might be worth spending a couple of days at this magnificent place. 

• Victoria Falls: Guided Walking Tour
• Dinner Cruise on the Zambezi River
• Victoria Falls: Scenic Microlight Flight

Day 13. Kasane – Rundu, 634 km/393 mi

• Distance – 634 km/393 mi, tar road
• Driving time –  6h30min.
• Petrol stops – 128 km in Katima Mulilo; 232 km in Kongola; 433 km in Divundu; 634 km in Rundu

For driving back to Windhoek you can take the same route through the Caprivi region. It’s possible to drive through Botswana but you’ll need more than 2 days for it. We drove the same way. Part of the route through Botswana was flooded; we couldn’t drive there. If you decide to go through Botswana I’d recommend doing thorough research beforehand.

Places to stay in Rundu

• Budget | Camp Hogo Kavango | Tambuti Lodge |
• Middle price | Urban Farm Haus Homestead |
• High-end | Gondwana Hakusembe River Lodge |

Day 14. Rundu – Windhoek, 716 km/444 mi

• Distance – 716 km/444 mi, tar road
• Driving time –  7 hours
• Petrol stops – 258 km in Grootfontein; 352 km in Otavi; 467 km in Otjiwarongo; 646 km in Okahandja; 716 km in Windhoek

Places to stay in Windhoek

• Budget | Chameleon Backpackers & Guesthouse | APS Guesthouse |
• Middle price | Rieks van der Walt Self-Catering Apartment | Home Inn Self-Catering |
• High-end | Hilton Windhoek | The Weinberg Windhoek |

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