Why add two extra days

Our 3-day itinerary covers the Falls itself and one big adventure activity. Two extra days is exactly enough to add a full-day safari without turning your trip into a logistics exercise โ€” either a Chobe National Park day trip into Botswana (renowned for its elephant population) or a Hwange National Park day safari, Zimbabwe's largest game reserve. Pick one; trying to do both in 5 days means too much time in transit and not enough time actually looking at animals.

Which safari to add?
Chobe is closer (about 1.5 hours to the border, plus a boat cruise) and doesn't require an overnight stay โ€” better if you want to stay based in Victoria Falls the whole trip. Hwange is Zimbabwe's flagship park with a much larger and more varied game count, but a proper visit benefits from an overnight stay rather than a rushed day trip.

Day 1 โ€” Arrival & the Falls

Full day

Settle in, then the Rainforest walk

Airport transfer, check in, and an afternoon walking the Victoria Falls National Park trails on the Zimbabwean side. Evening: a sunset cruise on the Zambezi.

Day 2 โ€” Your big adventure day

Full day

Helicopter, rafting, or bungee

This is the adrenaline day โ€” helicopter flight, white-water rafting, or a bungee jump/gorge swing off the Victoria Falls Bridge. See our 3-day itinerary for a full breakdown of each option. Keep the evening low-key; gorge activities take more out of you than expected.

Day 3 โ€” Zambia side & Devil's Pool

Full day

Cross the border

Use your KAZA UNIVISA to cross into Zambia (15โ€“20 minutes via the Victoria Falls Bridge border post) for the Zambian-side viewpoints and, in low-water season (roughly mid-September to December), Devil's Pool via Livingstone Island โ€” book this well ahead, it sells out. See our Zimbabwe vs Zambia side guide for the full comparison. Outside Devil's Pool season, spend the day at Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park on the Zambian side instead, known for rhino tracking on foot.

Day 4 โ€” Chobe or Hwange safari

Full day

Option A: Chobe National Park, Botswana

A day trip via the Kazungula border crossing (about 1.5 hours from Victoria Falls) combining a game drive and a river cruise on the Chobe River โ€” famous for having one of Africa's densest elephant populations. Your KAZA UNIVISA covers this as a day trip. Back in Victoria Falls by evening.

Option B: Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe

About 1.5โ€“2 hours by road (192km via the A8). A full-day game drive covers a fraction of what Hwange offers โ€” if wildlife is a priority, consider swapping this for an overnight stay at a Hwange lodge and adjusting the itinerary. A 4x4 is recommended for the game-viewing tracks; see our transport section for self-drive or chauffeured options.

Day 5 โ€” Recovery & departure

Morning

Spa, markets, and a slow morning

After four active days, keep the last morning easy: a spa treatment, the curio markets in town, or simply breakfast with a Falls view. Book your airport transfer the night before and arrive at VFA at least 90 minutes ahead of an international flight.

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