Southern Africa Southbound: Dunes, Deltas & Falls

Arrival in Victoria Falls

Land in Victoria Falls, find your way to the campsite, and drop your bags. You'll meet the rest of the crew this evening for a drink, with the sound of the world's largest waterfall thundering in the distance. It's a low-key start before the real adventure kicks off.

DIY Reality Check: The first decision for any independent traveler here is whether to base in Zimbabwe or Zambia, a choice that dictates all subsequent visa logistics. Navigating the options—a single-entry visa, a double-entry, or the KAZA UniVisa which covers both countries—is complex. The KAZA visa isn't available to all nationalities and has specific rules; choosing a simple single-entry visa by mistake can mean being denied re-entry after a short walk across the Victoria Falls Bridge. A trip with a pre-determined base in Zimbabwe removes this entire administrative puzzle.

Rafting, Bungees, and Waterfall Mist

Today is a free day to take on Vic Falls. The baseline move is walking the trails to the observation decks and getting soaked by the spray. If you've got the budget and the nerve, your options are hair-raising: whitewater rafting the Zambezi, a helicopter flight over the gorge, or a straight-up bungee jump with the falls as your backdrop. The choice is yours.

Across the Border to Chobe

Time to hit the road. Today's short overland journey takes you across the border from Zimbabwe into Botswana, heading for the town of Kasane on the edge of Chobe National Park. Once you're settled, you have a choice to make for the afternoon.

Your best bet for seeing wildlife is either a boat cruise on the Chobe River—prime territory for hippos and crocs—or a proper 4x4 safari drive in the park itself. Either way, you're likely to see herds of elephants. The day ends back at camp near the river.