The border between Botswana and Zambia is one of the shortest in the world, a mere 150 meters long. It exists at a unique geographical point, the confluence of the Zambezi and Chobe rivers, where four countries—Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Namibia—meet in close proximity. Your crossing here is over a brand-new bridge that has revolutionized regional travel and stands as a powerful symbol of modern African cooperation and development.
For decades, the only way to cross was via a slow and often unreliable pontoon ferry. This created a massive bottleneck for one of southern Africa’s most important trade routes, with trucks waiting for days to cross the river. In 2021, this was replaced by the magnificent Kazungula Bridge, a gracefully curving structure that arches over the river, deliberately bending to avoid the nearby territory of Zimbabwe and Namibia. The bridge is more than just a transportation link; it is a state-of-the-art One-Stop Border Post. You will complete all immigration and customs formalities for both Botswana and Zambia in a single, modern building on the Botswana side. This has dramatically reduced crossing times from days to just a few hours, a game-changer for regional commerce.
This border is a powerful symbol of modern African cooperation and development. The new bridge has eliminated one of the biggest obstacles to trade in the region, facilitating the flow of goods from the port of Durban in South Africa all the way to the Copperbelt. It is a seamless, impressive crossing at a truly remarkable location.