4x4 campers for the falls, Hwange, Chobe and the Caprivi Strip
Compare the 6 campervan and motorhome rental companies in Victoria Falls to find the best price, and book at the price shown, mandatory fees included.
Hiring a campervan in Victoria Falls usually means taking the wheel of a 4x4 equipped for camping, with a rooftop tent, on the banks of the Zambezi and a stone's throw from the falls. From this small town in north-western Zimbabwe, Hwange National Park lies to the south-east, Chobe and Botswana to the west via Kasane, the Namibian Caprivi Strip a little further on, and Livingstone, in Zambia, just across the bridge. Our 4 partner companies, Asco, Britz, Bushlore Africa and Caprivi, each have a depot in town.
The models on offer are mostly four-wheel-drive Toyota Hilux and Land Cruiser vehicles, built for the sandy tracks of the parks.
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.
| Vehicle | Winter July | Spring October | Summer January | Autumn April |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campervan | from €257/day median €308/day | from €245/day median €286/day | from €215/day median €240/day | from €223/day median €250/day |
| Car and SUV | from €246/day median €289/day | from €237/day median €270/day | from €209/day median €231/day | from €216/day median €243/day |
Daily prices observed on October 21, 2026 for a 15-day rental: CoolDrive selling price, mandatory fees included, 1 rental companies compared. 100% of offers with unlimited mileage.
The Bulawayo road first leads to Hwange National Park, the largest in Zimbabwe, famous for its herds of elephants around the waterholes; its campsites at Main Camp and Sinamatella must be booked in advance. Further south, beyond Bulawayo, the granite Matobo Hills, a World Heritage Site, are home to rhinos and rock paintings. Return by the same road, with no border crossing.
Across the Kazungula border, Kasane stretches along the Chobe River, where elephants come to drink by the hundreds at the end of the dry season. Deep sand tracks then cross Savuti and Khwai to Maun, gateway to the Okavango Delta, before a return on tarmac via Nata and the edge of the Makgadikgadi Pans. The great self-drive safari loop, for drivers comfortable in sand.
From Kasane, the Ngoma border post opens the Caprivi Strip: Katima Mulilo on the Zambezi, the wetlands of Nkasa Rupara and Mudumu, then Bwabwata National Park and the Popa rapids near Divundu. On the way back, the Katima Mulilo bridge leads into Zambia, via Sesheke, to Livingstone and the Victoria Falls Bridge. Four countries in one loop, and as many formalities at each border.
The best time to set off from Victoria Falls: sunny days without rain, dry tracks and wildlife gradually gathering around the waterholes of Hwange and along the Chobe. Nights are cool in June and July: in the rooftop tent, bring a warm sleeping bag and a fleece. In May, the falls are still powerful.
The hottest period, and the most sought-after for wildlife viewing, with animals gathered around the last waterholes. October is the hottest month of the year and the first storms break in November. The flow of the falls is then at its lowest: the Zambian side can be almost dry, while the Zimbabwean side keeps some water.
Frequent storms from December to February, green landscapes and antelope births: some tracks, towards Savuti or in the Caprivi Strip, become difficult or even impassable. In March and April the rain eases and the falls approach their peak flow, with a cloud of spray visible for miles.
Most pleasant months: March to August.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29 °C | 20 °C | 198 mm | 10 h/day |
| Feb | 29 °C | 20 °C | 144 mm | 10 h/day |
| Mar | 29 °C | 19 °C | 68 mm | 11 h/day |
| Apr | 29 °C | 17 °C | 24 mm | 11 h/day |
| May | 27 °C | 14 °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 | 29 °C | 13 °C | 0 mm | 11 h/day |
| Sep | 33 °C | 17 °C | 0 mm | 12 h/day |
| Oct | 35 °C | 20 °C | 4 mm | 12 h/day |
| Nov | 34 °C | 21 °C | 54 mm | 11 h/day |
| Dec | 31 °C | 20 °C | 138 mm | 11 h/day |
Averages 2016–2025 computed from Open-Meteo data (ERA5 reanalysis).
A 4x4 camper does not drive like a rental car: a rooftop tent to unfold, a fridge on an auxiliary battery, tyre pressures to adjust for sand, spare wheels, a water supply. Have everything shown to you at the depot and plan a short first stage, to a campsite in or near Victoria Falls.
Filling stations are far apart in Zimbabwe and sometimes run out of fuel, and there are none inside the parks. Fill up in Victoria Falls, Hwange, Kasane or Maun before each stretch of track, where consumption rises in the sand. An extra tank or jerrycans, if your vehicle has them, give a valuable margin.
Elephants, buffalo, donkeys and cattle cross the roads, especially on the Hwange road and towards Kazungula, which run alongside unfenced wildlife areas. At night, add pedestrians and vehicles without lights. Plan each stage to arrive before sunset, between 5.30 pm and 7 pm depending on the season.
Police roadblocks are frequent in Zimbabwe. Keep strictly to the speed limits, keep your licence, vehicle papers and the rental company's authorisation within reach, and check at pick-up that the inspected equipment is on board, such as warning triangles, a fire extinguisher and reflective strips. Any fine is paid against an official receipt.
Four partner companies have a depot in Victoria Falls: Asco, Britz, Bushlore Africa and Caprivi. Britz and Bushlore Africa offer both 4x4s equipped for camping and vehicles without camping equipment. The exact address and appointment time are in your booking confirmation.
The price depends mainly on the season, the late dry season being the most in demand, on the 4x4 model, the length of hire and the countries you plan to cross. Run a search with your dates: you get the real prices of the Victoria Falls rental companies, mandatory fees included, bookable straight away.
For Hwange, Chobe or the Okavango, a 4x4 is essential: the deep sand of the parks is unforgiving. Among the models on offer, the Toyota Hilux 4x4 Camping sleeps four for a family, while the Landcruiser 4x4 SC Camping and the Bushcamper sleep two for a couple. Most have automatic transmission, a real help in sand.
Yes, provided you ask the rental company when booking: it provides a letter of authorisation and the vehicle documents required at the Kazungula, Victoria Falls Bridge or Ngoma border posts. Without these papers, the vehicle cannot leave Zimbabwe. Also allow for the road taxes and third-party insurance payable at each border.
Allow three to four days for the falls, Livingstone and a trip into Chobe, a week to add Hwange, and at least two weeks for a loop through Botswana or the Caprivi Strip. Stages on tracks are slow, and park campsites require you to arrive before the gates close, in the late afternoon.
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 driving licence, together with an international driving permit, is recommended in Zimbabwe as in neighbouring countries, especially if your licence is not written in English. Roads are often narrow, without a hard shoulder. Each rental company also sets a minimum age and a minimum number of years of driving, shown in the offer conditions.
Depending on your nationality, a visa may be required in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana or Namibia. The KAZA Univisa, shared by Zimbabwe and Zambia, allows return trips between Victoria Falls and Livingstone and a day trip to Botswana via Kazungula. Check its availability and the entry conditions before you leave.
At campsites: in town, near the falls, then in the national parks, where pitches in Hwange, Chobe or Khwai are booked through the park authorities or concession holders. Wild camping is forbidden in the parks and inadvisable elsewhere, as there are no fences between camps and wildlife. Arrive in daylight to set up the tent.
For the dry season, from July to October, book the vehicle several months ahead, together with the campsites in Botswana, which are in high demand at Savuti and Khwai. The end-of-year holidays also attract many travellers. During the rainy season, the choice remains wider a few weeks before departure.
Victoria Falls International Airport is about twenty kilometres south of town, on the Hwange road. A transfer or taxi reaches the depots in about half an hour. Tell the rental company your arrival time to arrange the handover; Livingstone airport, on the Zambian side, means crossing a border.
The US dollar is widely used in Zimbabwe alongside the local currency: take small notes for tolls, border taxes and some campsites. You pay in pula in Botswana, in Namibian dollars in Namibia and in kwacha in Zambia; cash machines can be found in Kasane, Maun, Katima Mulilo and Livingstone.
Victoria Falls is one of the best starting points for a self-drive road trip in southern Africa: within a day's drive you reach Hwange, Kasane or Livingstone, and around Kazungula, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana and Namibia almost touch. The falls themselves, one of the great natural wonders of the continent, open or close the journey, with the bridge over the Zambezi and the Batoka Gorge.
The vehicles are made for the terrain: our four partner companies, Asco, Britz, Bushlore Africa and Caprivi, offer Toyota 4x4s equipped for sleeping in a tent, from couples to groups of four. The dry season, from May to October, offers the best conditions, from cool nights in June to scorching days in October. The Okavango Delta, Bulawayo and the Matobo Hills round off a trip that can stretch over several weeks.
