BlaakLane.com provides chauffeur service in Victoria Falls for pickups at Victoria Falls International Airport (VFA) in Zimbabwe and Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International in Livingstone, Zambia, transfers to lodges on both sides of the Zambezi, and planned border crossings and Chobe day trips. You see a fixed fare before confirming. A vetted local affiliate drives; the confirmation names the operator and chauffeur.
One waterfall, two countries, two airports
The Victoria Falls sit on the Zambezi River, the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. On the Zimbabwe side is the town of Victoria Falls; on the Zambia side, about 10 km away, is Livingstone. Each has its own international airport, and the Victoria Falls Bridge, completed in 1905, links them across the gorge with a border post at each end. Many itineraries fly into one country and stay in the other, so tell us both the airport and the lodge when you book. The engine prices the route, and the confirmation states whether the car crosses the border or whether the trip uses a handover at the bridge.
Victoria Falls International Airport (VFA), Zimbabwe
VFA is about 18 to 20 km south of Victoria Falls town, typically 20 to 25 minutes by road to the hotels near the Falls entrance. It has one modern terminal. After immigration and baggage, step out to the arrivals forecourt, where pre-booked cars wait at the designated pickup area; the chauffeur messages you with details. A name-board meet and greet inside the arrivals hall is an add-on; add-ons are only available in selected locations.
Livingstone airport (LVI), Zambia
Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport is about 5 km from Livingstone town, 10 to 15 minutes to the centre and about 15 to 20 minutes to the riverside lodges and hotels near the Falls, such as The Royal Livingstone. The pickup process is the same: curbside at the designated area after arrivals formalities.
Both airports get flight tracking. International arrivals include 60 minutes of waiting after the actual landing, which matters because visa queues are handled at the desk and payment is often in US dollars cash; domestic flights include 30 minutes, other pickups 15 minutes, then 15-minute blocks. See airport transfers.
Crossing the Zambia-Zimbabwe border
| Trip | Typical distance | Typical time (with border formalities) |
|---|---|---|
| Victoria Falls town to Livingstone town | about 10 km | 45-90 min |
| VFA to Livingstone riverside lodges | about 30 km | 1-1.5 hr |
| LVI to Victoria Falls town hotels | about 15 km | 45-90 min |
| Victoria Falls town to Kasane, Botswana (Kazungula) | about 70-80 km | 1.5-2 hr |
| Livingstone to Kazungula Bridge | about 65 km | 1-1.5 hr |
The time at the border depends on queues at the Zimbabwe post in Victoria Falls town and the Zambia post on the Livingstone side; the bridge between them is a short drive or walk with the gorge below. Vehicles need cross-border permits and insurance to go through, and not every local car holds them. Where the assigned vehicle cannot cross, the trip is planned as a handover: one chauffeur takes you through one post, and a second meets you after the other. You carry your own passport through both. Either way it is stated on your confirmation.
The KAZA UniVisa and other entry rules for 2026
The KAZA UniVisa is a joint tourist visa for Zambia and Zimbabwe, valid for 30 days with multiple crossings between the two countries, and it also covers day trips into Botswana through Kazungula. Around 65 nationalities qualify, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia and most EU countries. It can be bought on arrival at VFA, Livingstone airport and the Victoria Falls and Kazungula land borders, or applied for online through Zambia's e-visa system. Availability has been interrupted in the past when stocks ran out, so carry US dollars in cash in case you need a single-country visa instead. Details are on the Zambia Department of Immigration site. Some nationalities enter Zambia visa-free, and passports should be valid for six months with blank pages for stamps.
Booking, fares and what is included
Book here or at /book/ with your flight number or lodge name. The price shown includes the chauffeur, fuel and included waiting, fixed before you confirm. Border fees, visas and national park entry fees are paid by the traveller, because they are government charges. Multi-lodge itineraries, wedding parties at the Falls and group moves are planned by a coordinator and confirmed in writing.
Where people stay
- Victoria Falls town, Zimbabwe: The Victoria Falls Hotel, which opened in 1904 with a view of the bridge; Ilala Lodge, close to the rainforest entrance; the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge on the edge of the Zambezi National Park.
- Upstream lodges, Zimbabwe: riverside camps along the Zambezi above the Falls, reached by tarred and gravel roads.
- Livingstone, Zambia: The Royal Livingstone and other riverside resorts inside the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park area, and lodges along the Zambezi upstream of town.
Some riverside lodges are down sandy tracks; an executive SUV handles these where a sedan cannot.
Wildlife on the roads
This is one of few towns where elephants, buffalo and warthogs cross the streets, especially at dusk and after dark. Chauffeurs drive slowly on the airport road and the Kazungula road at night, and guests should never walk between hotels after dark. It is a real local driving condition, not a novelty.
Seasons: high water and low water
The Zambezi's flow peaks roughly from March to May, when spray can hide the Falls and soak visitors on the Zimbabwe side. Low water, around October and November, exposes the rock face on the Zambian side and allows the Devil's Pool swim. The main dry-season safari months run from about June to October, and Christmas and Easter are busy. Book cars early for those periods.
Which vehicle for Victoria Falls?
An executive SUV is the default: gravel access roads, luggage, and camera gear for a safari trip. A Standard Sedan suits town transfers. A Standard Black SUV or Sprinter Van carries a family or a small group, and minicoaches suit wedding guests and incentive groups. Every vehicle is four model years old or younger, with Rolls-Royce, Maybach and Bentley allowed up to seven. See the fleet and rates.
Day trips: Chobe, Hwange and beyond
- Chobe National Park, Botswana: via Kazungula to Kasane, about 1.5 to 2 hours each way from Victoria Falls town. Your chauffeur hands over to the licensed safari operator for the game drive or river cruise, which BlaakLane.com does not run.
- Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe: the main camp is about 2.5 to 3 hours away; lodge transfers are handed to the camp's own vehicles at the park gate where required.
- Bulawayo: about 440 km, typically 5 to 6 hours.
Book these as intercity transfers or day trips.
Driving and practical safety
Zimbabwe and Zambia both drive on the left. Roads between the airports and towns are tarred and generally in fair condition, with occasional potholes and police checkpoints. Victoria Falls and Livingstone are tourist towns with low violent crime, but keep cash, passports and cameras secure, and be wary of street money changers. Check the UK foreign travel advice for both countries. Rail fans can note that the Victoria Falls station, beside the Victoria Falls Hotel, receives the overnight train from Bulawayo and occasional luxury train tours.
Cancellation and extras
Child seats are free on request. Cancellation is free more than 72 hours before pickup, 10% at 72 hours or less, 50% at 48 hours or less, and 100% at 24 hours or less or for a no-show. Background on the Falls is on UNESCO and on the airport at Wikipedia. See also Zimbabwe, Johannesburg and Cape Town.
