For travellers who dream beyond borders, southern Africa’s great conservation landscapes aren’t confined by fences. Here, wildlife roams across vast ecosystems, from elephant herds swimming the Chobe River to lion prides patrolling Kruger’s savannah.
A transfrontier safari — combining South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana — gives you the rare chance to experience three countries in one journey, without ever losing sight of the wild.
The idea is simple: instead of flying in and out of a single destination, you follow nature’s corridors, tracing rivers, floodplains and migration routes. Each stop offers a fresh backdrop — Victoria Falls’ spray, Hwange’s endless pans, the Okavango Delta’s mirrored lagoons — but together they form a story that feels whole.
The highlights in three countries
Kruger National Park/Joss Woodhead/Unsplash
South Africa: Kruger and Beyond
South Africa makes a natural starting point. With easy international flights into Johannesburg or Cape Town, it’s your gateway to Kruger National Park and its neighbouring private reserves. Here, the Big Five headline every safari drive, while expert trackers bring smaller details — a dung beetle at work, the distant whoop of hyena — to life. For many, this is the “classic” safari they’ve always imagined, complete with sundowners and lantern-lit dinners under the stars.
Zimbabwe: Victoria Falls and Hwange
Victoria Falls/Chris Boland/Unsplash
Cross north into Zimbabwe and the scene changes. The roar of Victoria Falls is your welcome, its mist rising like smoke from the mighty Zambezi. After a day exploring the falls and the lively craft markets, swap spray for dust in Hwange National Park. Known for its massive elephant herds and remote waterholes, Hwange is the kind of place where you settle into a hide and let the wildlife come to you. At night, you might even hear lions calling from beyond the firelight.
Botswana: Chobe and the Okavango Delta
Chobe National Park/Rory Ashman/Unsplash
A short transfer takes you to Botswana’s safari jewels. Chobe National Park is renowned for its boat cruises along the Chobe River, where elephants cross at sunset and fish eagles soar overhead. Further inland, the Okavango Delta slows everything down: mokoro canoe rides through reed-lined channels, bush walks on hidden islands, and night skies so wide they make you feel like the last human on earth.
Itineraries to inspire
Hwange National Park/Ian Mackey/Unsplash
The One-Week Wonder
Perfect for those short on time but big on ambition:
- Days 1-2: Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)
- Days 3-4: Hwange National Park (Zimbabwe)
- Days 5-6: Chobe National Park (Botswana)
- Day 7: Kruger (South Africa)
This fast-moving circuit packs in waterfalls, elephants, and Big Five game drives, but be prepared for a few flights and road transfers.
The Slow Explorer (10–12 days)
Okavango Delta/Colin Watts/Unsplash
For travellers who prefer to sink into landscapes:
- Days 1-3: Kruger or a private reserve (South Africa)
- Days 4-6: Okavango Delta (Botswana)
- Days 7-8: Moremi or Savuti region (Botswana)
- Days 9-10: Hwange (Zimbabwe)
- Day 11: Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)
Here, each stop gets room to breathe. You’ll see the contrasts: river vs desert, floodplain vs mopane woodland, iconic predator action vs quiet birding.
Things to remember
- Visas: South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana each have separate entry requirements. The KAZA Univisa, available for some nationalities, covers Zimbabwe and Zambia, with expansion to neighbouring countries under discussion. Always check the latest before you travel.
- Getting Around: Expect a mix of light aircraft flights and 4×4 transfers. Some travellers choose guided overland tours; others fly lodge-to-lodge.
- When to Go: The dry season (May to October) brings wildlife into the open and lowers malaria risk. From November to March, the landscape is green, lush, and excellent for birders, although expect afternoon showers.
- Where to Stay: Choices range from riverside tented camps to ultra-luxury lodges with plunge pools. Look for operators with strong sustainability credentials — many lodges support anti-poaching units and community projects.
A transfrontier safari isn’t just a checklist of places. It’s the rhythm of a journey that takes you from South Africa’s wide-open savannahs to Zimbabwe’s thundering falls and Botswana’s watery wilderness. Each border you cross is seamless in spirit, because the wildlife moves the same way.
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