Kasane–Livingstone Rail Plans Boost Victoria Falls Access

Fresh progress on the long-discussed rail link between Kasane in Botswana and Livingstone in Zambia is reshaping expectations for how travelers will soon reach Victoria Falls, one of Southern Africa’s marquee destinations.

Strategic Rail Corridor Gains Momentum From Kasane Meetings

Recent cross-border meetings in Kasane have moved the Mosetse–Kazungula–Livingstone (MKL) rail project from concept toward implementation, with both Botswana and Zambia reiterating their commitment to a 430 kilometer corridor connecting their existing national rail networks. Publicly available information describes the line as running from Mosetse in central Botswana through Kasane and Kazungula to Livingstone, creating a continuous route into the heart of Zambia’s tourism capital.

A Joint Steering Committee session held in Kasane on 1 April 2026 focused on firming up governance structures, technical work plans and timelines for remaining studies that are needed before construction can begin in earnest. Reports indicate that the two governments are treating the MKL line as a flagship regional integration project, building on the road and rail capabilities already embedded in the Kazungula Bridge over the Zambezi River.

Earlier joint ministerial meetings in 2025 set the tone by endorsing a bankable feasibility study and a sponsorship framework for the project, while a 2024 bilateral agreement laid the legal foundation for the cross-border rail link. The steady sequence of agreements and technical sessions suggests a maturing project pipeline rather than a speculative vision, with Kasane emerging as a recurring venue for aligning the two sides.

Regional transport analysts note that the MKL corridor fills a long-recognised gap between Botswana’s north–south rail spine and Zambia’s historic Livingstone line, which currently relies largely on road traffic and air links for access to Victoria Falls. The new line is expected to work in tandem with ongoing plans to rehabilitate Zambia’s internal rail network, including the main line that runs north from Livingstone.

Kazungula Bridge Rail Deck Positioned as Missing Link

The Kazungula Bridge already carries a built-in rail deck alongside its busy road lanes, but this section of track remains isolated from both the Zambian and Botswanan rail grids. The MKL project is designed specifically to connect that dormant asset, turning the bridge from a road-dominated river crossing into a fully multimodal gateway for freight and passengers.

Technical descriptions of the scheme indicate that on the Botswana side the line is planned to follow the existing highway corridor from Mosetse through Nata and then along the A33 toward Kasane and Kazungula. On the Zambian side, a shorter segment of roughly 65 kilometers would link the bridge to the established rail hub at Livingstone, where onward connections to Lusaka and the Copperbelt already exist.

The launch of the Kazungula Bridge Authority in February 2026 has added a new institutional layer for coordinating traffic management and long-term investment around the crossing. The authority’s remit includes oversight of rail operations once the MKL link is built, a development that observers see as central to unlocking the full value of the bridge’s design.

For now, trucks and road coaches dominate the bridge, but policy documents and transport master plans from both countries have consistently flagged rail as the next phase of development. The MKL corridor is regarded as a cornerstone of that shift, offering a lower-cost and more climate-friendly alternative to long-haul road transport across the Zambezi.

Implications for Victoria Falls Tourism and Cross-Border Travel

Travel operators serving Victoria Falls currently route most visitors through road transfers between Kasane, Kazungula and Livingstone or via short regional flights. Travel forums and destination guides describe a patchwork of minibus taxis and shuttle services connecting safaris in Botswana’s Chobe region with the Falls, a system that works but is fragmented and subject to road congestion and border delays.

By contrast, the proposed rail link would create a direct, high-capacity spine from Botswana’s interior to Livingstone, simplifying itineraries for travelers who want to combine Chobe safaris with a visit to Victoria Falls. Industry-focused coverage portrays the MKL line as a potential “tourism corridor,” positioning Kasane and Livingstone as twin gateways linked by a dedicated rail service that could handle both tourists and local commuters.

National tourism master plans in both countries highlight Kasane and Kazungula as strategic nodes within a wider Victoria Falls catchment, given their proximity to the Falls and to the borders of Namibia and Zimbabwe. Improved rail connectivity is expected to support planned hotel developments, lodge investments and cross-border tour products, while also making it easier for regional travelers to access the area without relying solely on air travel.

Travel market observers caution that the full tourism impact will depend on service design, pricing and integration with existing road and air options. However, even a modest schedule of passenger trains between Kasane and Livingstone could ease pressure on road crossings at peak periods and give visitors a more predictable, pre-bookable way to move between the two hubs.

Timelines, Studies and Funding Still in Focus

Despite the renewed momentum, the MKL rail link remains in a pre-construction phase. Joint communiqués and industry reports emphasise that key technical, environmental and financial studies must be completed before works can start along the corridor. Current guidance from regional transport coverage points to the end of 2026 as a target for finalising the remaining feasibility and design tasks.

The overall capital cost has been widely cited at around 1.5 billion US dollars for the full Mosetse–Kazungula–Livingstone route, including track, signaling and associated infrastructure. Officials have described a blended financing model that is likely to combine public resources, development finance and private investment, although detailed funding arrangements are still being shaped.

Parallel efforts are under way in Zambia to upgrade existing railway lines that will interface with the MKL project once it is built. Plans to rehabilitate the route from Livingstone northwards are framed as part of a broader strategy to restore rail’s share of national freight, an approach that would make the new cross-border link more effective from day one.

Observers note that the Kasane and Livingstone meetings are taking place against a wider backdrop of renewed interest in rail across Southern Africa, including separate initiatives to upgrade lines in Zambia, Zimbabwe and other neighboring states. The MKL project is seen as one of several corridors that, taken together, could reshape how goods and travelers move to and from the Victoria Falls region.

Regional Connectivity and Trade Benefits Beyond Tourism

While the headline appeal of the MKL rail link lies in its potential to transform access to Victoria Falls, transport planners also stress its importance for trade and logistics. The line would offer landlocked Botswana an additional outlet into regional and global markets through Zambia’s inland networks and northern corridors, reducing dependence on longer routes via South Africa.

For Zambia, the connection through Kasane and the Kazungula Bridge promises a more direct rail path to Botswana’s mining and agricultural regions, as well as a complementary gateway to markets in Namibia and the rest of the Southern African Development Community. Trade-focused studies have highlighted the prospects for shifting bulk commodities, fuel and containerised cargo off congested highways and onto rail once the link is operational.

Livingstone’s role as a logistics and tourism hub is likely to grow alongside these changes. Urban development plans already portray the city as a key interface between Zambia’s interior and the cross-border tourism cluster around Victoria Falls. A functioning rail bridge at Kazungula, integrated with the MKL line, would reinforce that role by anchoring new investment in warehousing, distribution and tourism services.

Across the region, policymakers and investors are watching how quickly the project can move from agreements and studies to ground-breaking. For travelers planning future journeys between Kasane and Livingstone, the pace of progress now suggests that rail could become a realistic option within the next decade, reshaping the way visitors experience both Chobe’s wildlife and the spectacle of Victoria Falls.