Kazungula, Botswana

Kazungula is a small border settlement in northern Botswana located on the south bank of the Zambezi River, serving as a key crossing point to neighbouring Zambia and lying within the Chobe administrative area.

The site functions mainly as a transport and customs hub used by overland travellers and commercial traffic; the crossing itself includes a bridge and associated checkpoints. Nearby riverfront areas host boat operators offering Chobe River wildlife excursions that showcase hippos, elephants and birds.

Kazungula developed as a ferry and customs point for regional trade and travel; more recent infrastructure replaced the ferry crossing with a permanent bridge to improve traffic flow between Botswana and Zambia. The crossing has long been important for regional transport and tourism access to nearby protected areas.

The settlement sits at the Zambezi riverbank close to the meeting area of Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe, adjacent to the Chobe River and near the western edge of Chobe National Park.

• Border traffic: Customs and immigration operations at the crossing can be busy and subject to delays, especially during holiday periods and at peak tourist season.
• Best time for river wildlife viewing: Boat safaris on the nearby Chobe River commonly depart in the early morning and late afternoon when wildlife activity is highest.

What to See #

• Kazungula Bridge: A modern road-and-rail crossing spanning the Zambezi that carries traffic between Botswana and Zambia and replaced an earlier vehicle ferry at the same point.
• Border crossing and ferry ramps: The international border post and ferry approaches on the Botswana bank that handle customs and immigration for road traffic between the two countries.