Anyone combining Victoria Falls with a Chobe National Park day trip or a Botswana safari ends up asking this question at some point: how far is it from Livingstone to Kazungula, and how bad is the border? Here's the practical answer.
The distance
Livingstone to the Kazungula border is roughly 65–70km by road — about an hour's drive under normal conditions, following the M10 south-west out of Livingstone. It's a paved, well-used route, since it's also the main freight corridor between Zambia and Botswana.
What's at the border
Kazungula is where Zambia and Botswana meet, connected since 2021 by the Kazungula Bridge over the Zambezi. As of February 2026, it operates as a 24-hour One Stop Border Post — immigration and customs for both countries are handled in a single, consolidated process, rather than the two separate checkpoints and limited operating hours that used to apply. That's a genuine improvement: it means arrival timing at the border is no longer something you have to plan carefully around, whether you're on a scheduled transfer or self-driving.
Don't confuse this with the Victoria Falls border post
Kazungula (Zambia–Botswana) is a different crossing from the Victoria Falls border post (Zimbabwe–Zambia), which sits right at the falls themselves and is a much shorter hop. If you're starting from Victoria Falls Airport in Zimbabwe rather than Livingstone, the more direct route to Kasane and Chobe is our Victoria Falls Airport to Kasane transfer, which also crosses at Kazungula but starts from the Zimbabwean side.
Planning the day
- Livingstone to Kazungula border: ~65–70km, about an hour's drive.
- Border itself: now open 24/7, so no more racing a closing time.
- Onward to Kasane/Chobe riverfront: a short additional leg once you're through.
- Carry your passport and any required visa documentation for both Zambia and Botswana — requirements vary by nationality.