Cape Town and Victoria Falls are separated by a considerable distance—more than 1,600 miles (2,600 km)—and traveling between them can require multiple modes of transportation. The easiest method of travel is by plane. Most travelers will have a connection in Johannesburg and some drive time on either side, making this journey around 6 hours.
The other travel option is a road trip via car or bus. Self-driving via Namibia and Botswana or through Zimbabwe may appeal to adventurous travelers with extra time—you can expect this trip to take at least three days including overnight stops, plus time for exploration.
Travelers may be interested in this 14-day itinerary which brings you from Cape Town to Victoria Falls by plane with the opportunity to explore the Cape Peninsula and Botswana. After arriving, we recommend travelers look at this 5-day itinerary for Victoria Falls and Chobe River.
By Plane and Private Transfer/Rental Car
Duration: 3.5-6.5 hours
This is the most time-efficient method of travel. Travelers can either fly to Victoria Falls Airport in Zimbabwe or Livingstone Airport in Zambia.
While a direct flight from Cape Town to Victoria Falls Airport takes less than three hours, travelers may struggle to find a direct flight as nearly all of the flights go via the Johannesburg Airport. Traveling to both Victoria Falls Airport and Livingstone Airport typically takes six hours and includes a stopover in Johannesburg.
Travelers can either rent a car or get a private transfer from the airport. Victoria Falls is a 21-minute drive from Livingstone Airport and an 18-minute drive from Victoria Falls Airport.
By Rental Car or Private Transfer
Duration: 3 days
If you'd like to make a road trip out of this journey, we recommend that travelers who opt to travel by car break up the trip over at least three days. There are options available for both self-driving and private transfers.
One route option is to travel on the N1 highway through Zimbabwe. Recommended overnight stops are Bloemfontein and Louis Trichardt. An alternative route is to travel through Namibia and Botswana via the N7 and B1 highway. Good overnight stops for this journey are Keetmanshoop in Namibia and Maun in Botswana. We recommend that travelers who wish to explore the towns en route factor in an extra day or two of travel. Those who are self-driving should keep cash or a credit card accessible for the pay tolls en route.
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