Victoria Falls, Chobe & Okavango Overland

An overland journey from Victoria Falls through Chobe and the salt pans to Maun, connecting rivers and the delta

A popular cross-border route for small groups and self-drivers: spend two days at Victoria Falls, head to Chobe to see elephant herds along the river, drive south along the Nata road to see meerkats in the Gweta salt pans, and end in Maun to take a mokoro (dugout canoe) into the Okavango Delta. The entire route is on paved roads with five different overnight stops. The pace is relatively fast, making it ideal for those wanting to see northern Botswana on a moderate budget. The trade-off is spending only one day in the delta and staying in Maun rather than entering Moremi.

The dry season from May to October is best; petrol shortages can occasionally occur in Botswana, so refuel whenever possible

Day by day

Day 1 · Arrive in Victoria Falls & Sunset Cruise

Victoria Falls（Upper Zambezi Sunset Cruise）

The drive from the airport to the town takes about half an hour. Enjoy a sunset boat cruise on the Zambezi River in the evening.

Stay: Victoria Falls Town

Day 2 · Rainforest & Victoria Falls Bridge

Victoria Falls（Victoria Falls Rainforest Walk (Zimbabwe side)、Victoria Falls Bridge、The Boma – Dinner & Drum Show）

Walk from the town to the rainforest entrance, spend 2 to 3 hours inside the park, and then walk to the historic bridge.

Stay: Victoria Falls Town

Day 3 · Cross the Border to Kasane & Chobe River

Chobe（Kazungula Bridge、Chobe River Cruise）

Drive from Victoria Falls to Kasane (approx. 75 km, plus about 2 hours for the border crossing). Enjoy an afternoon boat cruise on the Chobe River.

Ensure you have arranged your Botswana visa in advance, and allow plenty of time for border formalities.

Stay: Kasane

Day 4 · Chobe Riverfront Game Drive

Chobe（Chobe Riverfront、Kasane Baobab Prison Tree）

Take an early morning game drive from Kasane into the park (approx. 3 to 4 hours), and return to town to relax in the afternoon.

Stay: Kasane

Day 5 · Drive South to Nata

Makgadikgadi & Nxai Pan（Nata Bird Sanctuary）

Drive from Kasane to Nata (approx. 316 km, 3.5 hours on paved roads), keeping an eye out for elephants along the highway.

This highway passes through elephant corridors; avoid driving at night.

Stay: Nata

Day 6 · Gweta Salt Pans & Meerkats

Makgadikgadi & Nxai Pan（Planet Baobab (Gweta)、Ntwetwe Pan Meerkats）

Drive from Nata to Gweta (approx. 100 km, 1 hour), and take a 4WD excursion into the salt pans in the afternoon.

The salt pan tracks are not suitable for standard 2WD cars and may be impassable during the rainy season.

Stay: Gweta

Day 7 · West to Maun

Makgadikgadi & Nxai Pan（Makgadikgadi Pans National Park (Boteti River)） → Okavango Delta (Maun)（Thamalakane River）

Drive from Gweta to Maun (approx. 200 km, 2.5 hours), passing through the Boteti River area, and arrive in the afternoon.

Stay: Maun Riverside Camps

Day 8 · Mokoro Canoe & Scenic Flight

Okavango Delta (Maun)（Mokoro Channels、Okavango Delta Scenic Flight）

Take a 4WD and motorboat transfer to the delta channels to board a traditional mokoro in the morning. You can opt for a 1-hour scenic flight in the evening.

Scenic flights should be booked in advance; leave your main luggage at your Maun accommodation.