Equipped vehicles for the Zambian side of the falls, Chobe and Zambia's great parks
Compare the 8 campervan and motorhome rental companies in Livingstone to find the best price, and book at the price shown, mandatory fees included.
Airport branches: Bobo Campers
Hiring a campervan in Livingstone, Zambia, means setting off from the north bank of the Zambezi, about ten kilometres from Victoria Falls and Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. The former capital of Northern Rhodesia opens two directions: to the south-west, the Kazungula Bridge to Kasane and Chobe in Botswana, then Namibia's Caprivi Strip; to the north-east, the long road to Lusaka, the Lower Zambezi and South Luangwa. 6 partner companies hand over their vehicles here: Asco, Avis Safari Rental, Bobo Campers, Britz, Bushlore Africa and Caprivi.
Five have a depot in town; Bobo Campers, which has no depot, meets you at the airport.
Public ratings collected on October 28, 2026 from independent review sites.
Public ratings collected on October 28, 2026 from independent review sites.
Public ratings collected on October 28, 2026 from independent review sites.
Public ratings collected on October 28, 2026 from independent review sites.
Before leaving town, Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park combines the Zambian side of the falls with a small savannah section that is home to giraffes, zebras and a few protected white rhinos. You then follow the Zambezi west to the Kazungula Bridge, where four countries meet. Across the river, Kasane is the base for the Chobe riverfront track and its herds of elephants.
The road to Lusaka, about 480 km via Choma and Mazabuka, leads to the heart of the country. After the capital, you head down to Chirundu and Lower Zambezi National Park, opposite Mana Pools on the Zimbabwean bank, then back up to Lusaka to follow the Great East Road to Chipata and Mfuwe, gateway to South Luangwa, famous for its leopards. A three-week trip, with long days on the road.
Heading west, the Sesheke road reaches the Katima Mulilo bridge and the Caprivi Strip in Namibia: the Nkasa Rupara wetlands, Bwabwata National Park and Popa Falls near Divundu. On the way back, a detour via Sioma, on the Zambian side, leads to Ngonye Falls, wide Zambezi cascades that still see few visitors. Only one border each way, but sandy tracks in the Namibian parks.
The most comfortable time to leave from Livingstone: the rain stops in May, the tracks of Chobe and the Caprivi dry out and the days stay mild. In June and July, nights drop to around 11 °C: a warm sleeping bag is a must in the rooftop tent. The Lower Zambezi and South Luangwa become accessible as the season goes on.
Peak safari season: wildlife gathers along the Zambezi, the Chobe and the Luangwa, and park campsites are fully booked. October is the hottest month, with highs around 36 °C: drive early in the morning and carry plenty of water. The first storms return in November.
Most of the rain falls from December to February, up to 206 mm in January, in sometimes violent storms. Tarmac roads remain passable, but the tracks of the Lower Zambezi, South Luangwa and the Caprivi wetlands become difficult, and many bush campsites close. A green and quiet season, better suited to short stages around Livingstone and Chobe.
Most pleasant months: March to August.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29 °C | 20 °C | 206 mm | 10 h/day |
| Feb | 29 °C | 20 °C | 169 mm | 10 h/day |
| Mar | 29 °C | 19 °C | 80 mm | 11 h/day |
| Apr | 29 °C | 17 °C | 29 mm | 11 h/day |
| May | 27 °C | 13 °C | 0 mm | 11 h/day |
| Jun | 25 °C | 11 °C | 0 mm | 11 h/day |
| Jul | 25 °C | 11 °C | 0 mm | 11 h/day |
| Aug | 30 °C | 13 °C | 0 mm | 11 h/day |
| Sep | 34 °C | 17 °C | 0 mm | 12 h/day |
| Oct | 36 °C | 20 °C | 5 mm | 12 h/day |
| Nov | 34 °C | 21 °C | 62 mm | 11 h/day |
| Dec | 31 °C | 21 °C | 159 mm | 11 h/day |
Averages 2016–2025 computed from Open-Meteo data (ERA5 reanalysis).
Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport is a few kilometres north-west of the centre: a taxi reaches the town depots in about a quarter of an hour. Landing on the Zambian side avoids crossing a border before you even get behind the wheel, which is not the case when arriving via Victoria Falls airport in Zimbabwe. Give the company your arrival time to arrange the handover.
Never drive at night in Zambia: the Lusaka road carries many lorries, pedestrians, livestock and vehicles without lights, and elephants regularly cross the roads around Livingstone and towards Kazungula. Plan each stage to reach the campsite in the late afternoon, with time to set up the tent before dark.
Fill up in Livingstone before setting off, then in every town you pass through: on the Lusaka road and on the Great East Road to Chipata, filling stations are far apart and sometimes out of diesel, and there are none in the parks. Also keep a good supply of drinking water for the bush campsites of the Lower Zambezi and the Caprivi.
Zambia drives on the left, like its neighbours: on the Lusaka road, often without a hard shoulder, overtaking lorries takes patience. Police checkpoints are frequent: keep your licence, vehicle papers and the company's authorisation to hand, respect speed limits and check at handover that the warning triangles are on board. A fine is paid against an official receipt.
The price depends on the season, the end of the dry season being the most in demand, the type of vehicle, the length of hire and the countries you cross, as cross-border authorisations may be charged. Run a search with your dates: you get the real prices of our partner companies in Livingstone, mandatory fees included, bookable straight away.
It all depends on the route. The tarmac roads to Lusaka, Kazungula or Sesheke are easy to drive, but the Chobe riverfront track, the Caprivi wetlands and the Lower Zambezi and South Luangwa parks require a 4x4 with high ground clearance. For sleeping, the rooftop tent remains the most common option in southern Africa.
Only with the company's written consent, to be requested when booking: it provides the letter of authorisation and the vehicle documents required at the borders. Since 2021, the Kazungula Bridge and its one-stop border post have replaced the ferry to Botswana; Namibia is reached via Katima Mulilo, Zimbabwe via the Victoria Falls Bridge. Allow for road taxes and insurance payable on the spot.
The flow peaks from March to May: the curtain of water and the spray then drench the Knife-Edge Bridge, and a raincoat is essential. From September, the Zambian side gradually dries up, until the rock is almost bare at the end of the year, but this is the season for guided swims at Devil's Pool, from Livingstone Island. Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park can be visited all year round.
First rental of this type of vehicle in a professional context where the rental must take place from France to Canada. Many questions and Cooldrive (Marlène) has been a valuable support in guiding my choices. Efficiency and responsiveness beforehand, and on-site a vehicle and service that met our expectations. No complaints. Great!
Too rigid computer system
Very good customer experience with Cooldrive. I highly recommend it! Thanks to the team who were attentive and available for organizing my trip to Canada.
A valid national licence is in principle enough for a tourist stay, but an international driving permit is strongly recommended, and essential if your licence is not written in English. It may also be requested at the Botswana and Namibia borders. Each rental company also sets a minimum age and a minimum number of years of driving, shown in the offer conditions.
Zambia exempts citizens of many countries from visas for tourist stays; others obtain one online or on arrival. The rules change often and differ in Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe, which your routes may cross: check the entry requirements of each country, according to your nationality, before you leave.
The most popular campsites are strung out upstream of the falls, along the Zambian bank of the Zambezi, often attached to lodges with water, showers and electricity. In the parks, you sleep in official or concession campsites, to be booked. Wild camping is not advised: animals roam freely, right into the outskirts of Livingstone.
For the high season, from July to October, book several months ahead: camping-equipped vehicles go fast, as do pitches on the Chobe riverfront or in South Luangwa. During the rainy season, from December to March, the choice remains wide a few weeks before departure, with more flexible dates.
The Zambian currency is the kwacha, which you withdraw from cash machines in Livingstone, Choma or Lusaka; bank cards are accepted in supermarkets and most lodges. Toll plazas line Zambia's main roads, and park entry fees are often paid in US dollars: bring a few recent notes, in small denominations, for the borders.
The main tarmac roads, from Livingstone to Lusaka, Kazungula and Sesheke, then the Great East Road to Chipata, can be driven without a 4x4, with damaged sections where potholes force you to slow down. The access roads to the Lower Zambezi and the tracks inside the parks are dirt or sand, slippery after rain. Average speeds remain modest.
Livingstone is the Zambian gateway to Victoria Falls and one of the crossroads of road trips in southern Africa: within an hour's drive, the Kazungula Bridge leads to Botswana and Chobe; within a day, you reach Namibia's Caprivi Strip or Lusaka. Few departure cities offer such a range, from riverside safaris to the remote great parks of eastern Zambia, the Lower Zambezi and South Luangwa.
Our six partner companies, Asco, Avis Safari Rental, Bobo Campers, Britz, Bushlore Africa and Caprivi, hand over their vehicles in town or at the airport. The town itself, with its museum, its facades from the Northern Rhodesia era and its campsites on the banks of the Zambezi, deserves one or two nights before departure. From March to August, the climate offers the most pleasant conditions, before the intense heat of October.
