Border Crossing: Zambia to Botswana at the Kazungula Bridge
Posted: September 22 2023 | Tagged: Zambia, Botswana, Border Crossings
Another African border crossing, this time detailing how I travelled from Livingstone, Zambia to Kazungula, Botswana via the Kazungula Bridge.
Having spent 10 days in Livingstone, backpacking Victoria Falls, the Railway Museum, the Livingstone Museum and walking with White Rhinos in the Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park, I was keen to get moving.
Having spent 10 days in Livingstone, backpacking Victoria Falls, the Railway Museum, the Livingstone Museum and walking with White Rhinos in the Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park, I was keen to get moving.
The Kazungula Bridge links Zambia and Botswana. It is 923m in length and was built in a curved fashion so as to avoid crossing into into Zimbabwean territory. You can read more about the Kazungula Bridge on Wikipedia.
The Four Corners of Africa:
On the map below, you can see how the four countries of Zambia, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe meet at the eastern end of the Caprivi Stip.
And how the the bridge curves to avoid Zimbabwe:
And how the the bridge curves to avoid Zimbabwe:
At Kanungula you can also cross to Zimbabwe. The Zambia Namibia border crossing is at Sesheke/ Katima Mulilo, further along the Zambezi. The Botswana to Namibia border crossing is at Ngoma.
I was coming from Livingstone. My destination was Kazungula in Botswana.
There were a few options.
UBZ run buses 4 times a week from Livingstone to Windhoek via Kasane (Botswana) and Katima (Namibia). Power Tools run buses to Kazungula (Zambia). This goes daily and departs at 12 noon. But then you got to get across the bridge using a taxi. The fare is steep because you have to pay a toll.
You can walk. There is a footpath. But its a long old slog and it's the hot season.
Temperatures are hitting 37deg C right now. Had it been 25, I would have quite happily walked.
Crossing from Zambia to Botswana, being a One-Stop Border, border formalities are done on the Botswana side. Crossing from Botswana to Zambia, the immigration offices are on the Zambia side.
So, I took a shared taxi to Kazungula Zambia for 80Kw and then had the driver take me across the bridge to the immigration office for another 100Kw.
I was coming from Livingstone. My destination was Kazungula in Botswana.
There were a few options.
UBZ run buses 4 times a week from Livingstone to Windhoek via Kasane (Botswana) and Katima (Namibia). Power Tools run buses to Kazungula (Zambia). This goes daily and departs at 12 noon. But then you got to get across the bridge using a taxi. The fare is steep because you have to pay a toll.
You can walk. There is a footpath. But its a long old slog and it's the hot season.
Temperatures are hitting 37deg C right now. Had it been 25, I would have quite happily walked.
Crossing from Zambia to Botswana, being a One-Stop Border, border formalities are done on the Botswana side. Crossing from Botswana to Zambia, the immigration offices are on the Zambia side.
So, I took a shared taxi to Kazungula Zambia for 80Kw and then had the driver take me across the bridge to the immigration office for another 100Kw.
Approaching the Kazungula Bridge:
There is a disinfecting station for vehicles and all passengers. This is against foot and mouth:
Then you enter the immigration hall. Zambia Exit is to the right, Botswana Entry to the left. It's a one-stop Border Post.
Zambia Exit and Botswana Entry stamps:
Then I had another taxi, conveniently waiting at immigration, take me directly to the Elephant Trail Backpackers for 50 Pula.
The nearest ATMs are at Choppies. There is a money changer inside the supermarket. In Botswana they do not change Zambian Kwacha or Zimbabwean Dollars. I was lucky that the last driver accepted Kwacha, 80 Kwacha..
The nearest ATMs are at Choppies. There is a money changer inside the supermarket. In Botswana they do not change Zambian Kwacha or Zimbabwean Dollars. I was lucky that the last driver accepted Kwacha, 80 Kwacha..
Do you need visa to visit Botswana?
Botswana allows 103 nationalities to enter without a visa for upto 90 days within a 12-month period. Always check the official websites before you go as things can and do change.
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