🌍 Three countries in Africa in three days 🇿🇲🇿🇼🇧🇼
I'm sharing how I managed to visit three African countries in three days and how much it cost. Here's my itinerary and tips for a solo trip! Where I stayed, where I arrived, and what I saw.
Itinerary: Zimbabwe 🇿🇼 Zambia 🇿🇲 Botswana 🇧🇼 A perfect option for solo travelers!
Where the journey begins✈️
I flew to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, to see my dream and a natural wonder of the world—Victoria Falls. I flew there from Cape Town with a short layover in Johannesburg. There are direct flights, but they're more expensive 🤑
Hotel 🏨
I stayed at the N1 Hotel & Campsite Victoria Falls. It's located close to the falls and the border with Zambia. It's an easy walk to the falls. Standard rooms and bungalows are available. Victoria Falls has many prestigious and expensive lodges with animals and gardens. Everything here is very simple, yet very cozy. Excellent value for money.
Victoria Falls 💦
First, I went to Victoria Falls. It's located on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe, and you can cross the border into each country by foot across a bridge. Russian citizens need a KAZA Visa to visit Zambia and Zimbabwe. It costs $50 and is issued at the airport at the border. You don't need to fill out anything in advance. Be sure to check the immigration requirements for your country to avoid any unpleasant situations! They may differ for each country! Be careful with this point.
I booked a guided tour of the falls because I wanted to learn more about the history of both countries and how the falls were formed. The entrance ticket is valid only once, so if you want to return the next day, you'll have to pay for another ticket. 🎟️
Zambezi River Cruise 🚢
In the evening, I took a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River, where I spotted crocodiles, hippos, and rare birds. A small dinner and drinks were included in the cruise price.
Botswana Safari, Day 2 🐘
The next day, I went on a Botswana safari to Chobe National Park. The border is about 70 km from Victoria Falls. A day trip there is ideal. An amazing fact: this country is home to the world's largest elephant population—over 135,000. Did you know? In one day, I went on two safaris: a land safari and a river safari, and I encountered a huge number of animals: giraffes, antelope, buffalo, a family of wild boars, and lionesses dining on a dead elephant.
BOMA Dinner🔥🪘
That same evening, I went to the African BOMA dinner. But I wasn't impressed at all. It's a buffet dinner, with few African dishes, and no one will tell you about them. But I did enjoy the drum show and dancing! 💃🏼
Angel's Pool 🫣
On the final day, I was choosing between a helicopter ride and another crazy activity. I'd already flown in Cape Town, and I wanted something special. I went to the Zambian side to swim in Angel's Pool at the very edge of Victoria Falls. A unique experience and a true natural attraction. It was scary, but I don't regret it at all. It's similar to the famous Devil's Pool and is located a couple hundred meters away. The heights change depending on the season and the water level at the falls.
💸Zimbabwe currently doesn't have its own currency, and prices here are in dollars. The place (Victoria Falls) is aimed at very wealthy tourists. And the prices here are quite high, it must be said. The average price for breakfast is $10, dinner is $20 and up, and a taxi from the airport is at least $15 (if you bargain). However, the distances there are very short.
How much did I spend in three days? 💵💸🤑
· Flight from South Africa to Zimbabwe — 28,000 ₽
· 4 nights at the Victoria Falls Hotel — 27,000 ₽
· Airport visa, border fees, and national park entrance fees — ~10,000 ₽
Guided tour — 7,500 ₽ (but as a blogger, it was free for me)
· Zambezi River cruise 5,500 ₽
· Angel's pool — 15,500 ₽ (includes transfer, park entrance, and activities)
· African Boma dinner — 5,000 ₽
· Botswana safari — 13,000 ₽
· Other expenses for souvenirs, taxis, and food — 13,000 ₽
💸 TOTAL ~ 120,000 ₽, or just under $1,500. Do you think that's a lot or a little?
#victoriafalls #zambia #botswana #africa #safari