Comparison · Cape Town vs Victoria Falls · South Africa / Zimbabwe
Cape Town vs Victoria Falls
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Choose Cape Town for Table Mountain, Robben Island, lower day-to-day costs and beaches; choose Victoria Falls for Mosi-oa-Tunya waterfall, Victoria Falls Bridge, a milder winter and a short break. Cape Town is generally less expensive, and the two are about 1,925 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 1,925 km
- Less expensive
- Cape Town
- Best time for Cape Town
- February–April and November
- Best time for Victoria Falls
- May–August
Side by side
| Cape Town | Victoria Falls | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | South Africa | Zimbabwe |
| Known for | Table Mountain, Robben Island and African penguins | Mosi-oa-Tunya waterfall, Victoria Falls Bridge and White-water rafting |
| Best time to visit | February–April and November | May–August |
| Ideal stay | 7 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $100–$200 | $180–$350 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | February, 27°C (81°F) | October, 34°C (93°F) |
| Coldest month | June, 18°C (64°F) | June, 25°C (77°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 8 | 2 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 3 |
| Beaches | Clifton 4th Beach | — |
| Airports | CPT | VFA, LVI |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Cape Town for…
Table Mountain, Robben Island, lower day-to-day costs and beaches. Cape Town wraps around the base of Table Mountain, with the City Bowl and V&A Waterfront facing Table Bay, the Atlantic beaches of Sea Point, Clifton and Camps Bay to the west, and the warmer False Bay shore of Muizenberg and Kalk Bay to the south. Most…
Choose Victoria Falls for…
Mosi-oa-Tunya waterfall, Victoria Falls Bridge, a milder winter and a short break. The small Zimbabwean town of Victoria Falls sits a 10-minute walk from one of the world's largest waterfalls, where the Zambezi River drops about 108 metres into a gorge along a front some 1.7 km wide. Known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya, 'the smoke that…
Top sights compared
| # | Cape Town | Victoria Falls |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Table Mountain and the Aerial Cableway | Victoria Falls rainforest (Zimbabwe side) |
| 2 | Robben Island | Victoria Falls Bridge |
| 3 | Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden | Zambezi sunset cruise |
| 4 | V&A Waterfront | Helicopter 'Flight of Angels' |
| 5 | Bo-Kaap | White-water rafting in the Batoka Gorge |
Food compared
| Cape Town | Victoria Falls |
|---|---|
| Bobotie | Sadza with relish |
| Cape Malay curry | Kapenta |
| Gatsby | Zambezi bream |
| Hake and chips | Mopane worms |
Which is cheaper?
Cape Town is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $100–$200 per person there, against $180–$350 in Victoria Falls (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Cape Town on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 1,925 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 12 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Cape Town or Victoria Falls cheaper?
Cape Town is usually less expensive: about $100–$200 a day mid-range against $180–$350 (estimates).
+Is Cape Town or Victoria Falls better for a first trip?
Pick Cape Town for Table Mountain, Robben Island, lower day-to-day costs and beaches, or Victoria Falls for Mosi-oa-Tunya waterfall, Victoria Falls Bridge, a milder winter and a short break.
+How far is Cape Town from Victoria Falls?
About 1,925 km in a straight line.