5 Day Victoria Falls & Chobe Safari

Once you have arrived at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, an African Sky representative will be waiting to welcome you to South Africa. After a few formalities, you will be escorted to the appropriate check-in area for your regional flight to Victoria Falls Airport in Zimbabwe. On arrival, you are transferred to Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, set high on a plateau bordering the Zambezi National Park and overlooking a wildlife-rich waterhole. From the lodge you are just a short drive from the town of Victoria Falls and the entrance to the falls themselves, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

As you approach the area, your first glimpse of the mist rising above the thundering Victoria Falls sets the tone for your stay. After check-in at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, the late afternoon is spent at leisure, settling in, exploring the lodge’s viewing decks and waterhole, or relaxing with a drink as the sun sets. It is the perfect introduction to the natural drama of the falls and the safari atmosphere created by the surrounding Zambezi National Park.

Your morning is devoted to a guided tour of the Zimbabwean side of Victoria Falls, protected within Victoria Falls National Park. Known locally as “Mosi-oa-Tunya” – “the smoke that thunders” – the falls form a dramatic curtain of water almost two kilometers wide and over a hundred meters deep. From rainforested viewpoints along the trail, you enjoy sweeping vistas of Devil’s Cataract, Main Falls, and the viewpoints opposite the gorge, with spray rising high above the chasm during peak flow. After your walk, there is time to browse the vibrant open-air craft market in Victoria Falls town before returning to the lodge.

After some time to freshen up or relax at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, your late afternoon is spent on a tranquil sunset cruise on the Zambezi River, a classic Victoria Falls experience. As you drift along the river upstream from the falls, drinks and snacks are served while you look out for hippo, crocodile and elephant along the banks. Watching the sun sink into the Zambezi before returning to your accommodations rounds off a day rich in scenery, wildlife and the sound of thundering water.

After breakfast, you’ll be transferred by road along the Zambezi River toward the Kazungula border with Botswana. Once customs and immigration formalities are completed, you continue to Kasane and enter Chobe National Park, where you check in at Chobe Game Lodge. Positioned on the riverfront and the only permanent lodge located inside the park, it offers immediate access to prime wildlife areas. After settling in, there is time to unwind on the deck or at the pool.

Your afternoon activity may include an open-vehicle game drive or a river safari aboard one of the lodge’s electric-powered boats, guided by the renowned all-female “Chobe Angels” team. The Chobe River floodplains support vast elephant herds, buffalo, lion, leopard, antelope and abundant birdlife. As the sun sets over the river, you return to the lodge to enjoy dinner and a relaxed evening.

Begin the morning with a safari in an open 4x4 vehicle, exploring the Chobe Riverfront, home to the largest concentration of elephant in Africa. From Chobe Game Lodge, early access to these areas often allows for uncrowded sightings of elephant, buffalo, puku, antelope, lion and numerous bird species. After your game drive, return to the lodge for brunch and enjoy leisure time to relax at the pool, join an eco-tour or simply appreciate the tranquil river views.

Later in the afternoon, a river cruise provides a unique angle for observing wildlife as they come to the water’s edge. Elephant are often seen bathing or swimming between islands, while hippo and crocodile patrol the shallows. As the sky glows with the hues of sunset, you return to the lodge for dinner and a peaceful evening surrounded by the sounds of the African wilderness.

After an unhurried breakfast, take in a final look across the Chobe River floodplains before beginning your road transfer back through the border to Victoria Falls. The journey offers a last opportunity to observe rural villages, local scenery and, on occasion, wildlife along the way as you follow the course of the Zambezi River. At Victoria Falls Airport you’ll check in for your regional flight to O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.

Upon arrival in South Africa, an African Sky representative will meet you and assist with your private transfer to your hotel or preferred address in Johannesburg or Pretoria. As your safari draws to a close, you can reflect on the spectacular landscapes, dramatic waterfalls and unforgettable wildlife encounters experienced throughout your Victoria Falls and Chobe adventure.