Kasane to Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) is about 80 to 90 km, around an hour of driving plus the border, via the Kazungula road border, which is open 06:00 to 20:00. Livingstone (Zambia) is about 82 km via the Kazungula Bridge, whose one-stop border post was announced to run 24 hours from 1 April 2026. Many travellers skip driving and take a day trip with a 07:00 pickup in Kasane. The KAZA UniVisa (US$50) covers Zambia and Zimbabwe for eligible nationalities. Rental cars need a cross-border letter from the rental company.
Key facts
- Distance: Kasane to Victoria Falls town about 80 to 90 km; Kasane to Livingstone about 82 km.
- Zimbabwe crossing: Kazungula road border, 06:00 to 20:00.
- Zambia crossing: Kazungula Bridge (opened May 2021), 24-hour operation announced from 1 April 2026.
- KAZA UniVisa: US$50, Zambia and Zimbabwe, multiple entries within 30 days, for eligible nationalities.
- From Lorato: Kasane is about 60 km east of Muchenje on the tar transit road.
A two-day plan from the Ngoma border to Victoria Falls
| When | What | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Cross at Ngoma between 08:00 and 17:00. Sleep at Lorato in Muchenje, 15 minutes past the border. | Katima Mulilo to Lorato 81 km |
| Day 2 morning | Drive the transit road to Kasane. Fill up, buy food and draw cash. | Lorato to Kasane 62 km, about 1 hour 5 minutes |
| Day 2 midday | Kazungula road border into Zimbabwe (06:00 to 20:00), or the Kazungula Bridge into Zambia. | Kasane to Victoria Falls about 80 to 94 km, plus the border |
| Day 2 or 3 | See the Falls. Sleep in Victoria Falls or Livingstone, or return to Botswana. |
Distances from OpenStreetMap routing (September 2026) and route planners, which differ by a few kilometres. They exclude border time.
Distances and driving times
| Route | Distance | Driving time |
|---|---|---|
| Kasane to Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe), via Kazungula road border | about 80 to 90 km | about 1 hour, plus the border |
| Kasane to Livingstone (Zambia), via Kazungula Bridge | about 82 km | about 1 to 1.5 hours, plus the border |
| Muchenje (Lorato) to Kasane, via the Ngoma to Sedudu transit road | about 60 km | see our transit road guide |
Distances are from route planners and operator pages, and they vary a little. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours or more from Kasane to Victoria Falls with the border.
The two Kazungula borders
Kazungula is not the same as the Ngoma border from Namibia. See Kazungula vs Ngoma border for the difference.
- Kazungula road border (Botswana to Zimbabwe). Open 06:00 to 20:00, according to Botswana Tourism and Tracks4Africa. We found no confirmation that it has moved to 24 hours.
- Kazungula Bridge (Botswana to Zambia). The bridge over the Zambezi officially opened on 10 May 2021 and has a one-stop border post. Botswana's Daily News reported in March 2026 that full 24-hour operation would start on 1 April 2026. We have not seen a later report confirming it runs 24 hours in practice, so arrive in daytime if you can.
Visas: KAZA UniVisa, Zimbabwe and Zambia
- KAZA UniVisa: US$50, unchanged in 2026 according to Zambia Immigration and Zambia Tourism. It allows multiple entries into Zambia and Zimbabwe within 30 days, including day trips into Botswana through Kazungula, and is sold at the Kazungula border. Only some nationalities qualify, so check the list first.
- Zambia: many nationalities, including UK, US, EU, Canadian and Australian citizens, have not needed a visa since November 2022, and 53 more countries were added from 1 January 2025.
- Zimbabwe: fees depend on nationality and are not published clearly on the official e-visa site. Check before you travel.
Taking your own vehicle into Zimbabwe or Zambia
Fees change often. Check with the border authority or your rental company before you go.
- Zimbabwe road access fee: Zimbabwe scrapped its road access fee in July 2026 (Statutory Instrument 113 of 2026). It used to be US$10 per entry. Some rental company pages still list it.
- Zimbabwe carbon tax: charged by engine size. The only official table we found, on ZIMRA's site, dates from 2013 (US$6 to US$30).
- Third-party insurance is bought at the Zimbabwean border. Reported prices vary.
- Equipment reported as required in Zimbabwe: red and white reflectors on the bumpers, two warning triangles and a fire extinguisher.
- Zambia charges its own carbon tax, road fees and insurance. We found no current official figures, so budget for them and check at the border.
Rental cars: the cross-border letter
- You need a letter of authority from the rental company and certified copies of the registration papers.
- Most companies want 48 to 72 hours' notice and charge a one-off cross-border fee.
- Some companies restrict which countries or vehicles may cross. Some bar Zimbabwe and Zambia completely. Check your contract before you plan the route.
Day trip or overnight?
Day trips from Kasane to Victoria Falls are common. Operator listings show pick-ups from about 07:30 to 08:30 in Kasane and returns around 17:40, and the operator handles the border for you. It saves the vehicle paperwork, and you can leave your car at camp.
Check the pick-up point. The listings we found collect in Kasane. We found no operator that confirms a pick-up at Muchenje or the Chobe Enclave, which is about 62 km from Kasane, so ask the operator whether they will collect from your camp or whether you must drive to Kasane first. If you need a lift, message us on WhatsApp and we will help you ask.
If you want to see the Falls at sunrise or sunset, do a helicopter flight, or cross into Zambia too, stay a night or two.
Where to stay before Victoria Falls
Travelling from Namibia's Zambezi Region to Victoria Falls, most self-drivers cross into Botswana at Ngoma, take the free transit road through Chobe to Kasane, then cross at Kazungula. Lorato is in Muchenje, just after the Ngoma border, so it is a natural first night in Botswana, and the last campsite stopover before the Falls if you are coming from Namibia: $20 per person per night, tents for hire at $55, check-in at any time. See our guides to the Ngoma border and Katima Mulilo to Kasane.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Victoria Falls from Kasane?
About 80 to 90 km by road via the Kazungula road border into Zimbabwe, around an hour of driving plus the border crossing.
What are the Kazungula border opening hours?
The Kazungula road border into Zimbabwe is open 06:00 to 20:00. The Kazungula Bridge one-stop border post into Zambia was announced to run 24 hours from 1 April 2026.
Can I do a day trip from Kasane to Victoria Falls?
Yes. Day trips are common, with pick-ups in Kasane from about 07:30 to 08:30 and returns around 17:40. The operator handles the border. Ask whether they can collect from your camp, because the listings we found collect in Kasane.
Can I take a rental car from Botswana to Victoria Falls?
Only with a cross-border letter of authority from the rental company. Most need 48 to 72 hours' notice and charge a fee, and some bar Zimbabwe or Zambia.
Does the KAZA UniVisa cover Victoria Falls?
Yes. The KAZA UniVisa costs US$50 and allows multiple entries into Zambia and Zimbabwe within 30 days, for eligible nationalities. It is sold at the Kazungula border.
Does Zimbabwe still charge a road access fee?
No. Zimbabwe scrapped the road access fee in July 2026. Carbon tax and insurance still apply to foreign vehicles.
More guides for your route
Sources
Checked 23 October 2026. Rules, hours and fees change, so confirm with the official source before you travel.
- Wild Horizons: Victoria Falls day trip from Kasane (pick-up and return times)
- Botswana Daily News: Kazungula border 24-hour operation (23 March 2026)
- Botswana Tourism: ports of entry
- Tracks4Africa: Kazungula road border post
- Botswana Daily News: Kazungula 24-hour operation (March 2026)
- Wikipedia: Kazungula Bridge
- Zambia Immigration: KAZA UniVisa
- Zambia Immigration: visa waiver for selected countries (2022)
- 263Chat: government scraps road access fee (July 2026)
- ZIMRA: carbon tax rates
- Kalahari Car Hire: crossing borders
- Rome2rio: Kasane to Victoria Falls
- chobenationalpark.co.za: Victoria Falls from Botswana