Comparison · Nairobi vs Victoria Falls · Kenya / Zimbabwe
Nairobi 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
Photo: Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Choose Nairobi for Nairobi National Park, Elephant orphanage, lower day-to-day costs and nightlife; choose Victoria Falls for Mosi-oa-Tunya waterfall and Victoria Falls Bridge. Nairobi is generally less expensive, and the two are about 2,206 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 2,206 km
- Less expensive
- Nairobi
- Best time for Nairobi
- January–February and June–September
- Best time for Victoria Falls
- May–August
Side by side
| Nairobi | Victoria Falls | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Kenya | Zimbabwe |
| Known for | Nairobi National Park, Elephant orphanage and Giraffe Centre | Mosi-oa-Tunya waterfall, Victoria Falls Bridge and White-water rafting |
| Best time to visit | January–February and June–September | May–August |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $120–$250 | $180–$350 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | February, 26°C (79°F) | October, 34°C (93°F) |
| Coldest month | June, 21°C (70°F) | June, 25°C (77°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 3 | 2 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 3 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | NBO, WIL | VFA, LVI |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Nairobi for…
Nairobi National Park, Elephant orphanage, lower day-to-day costs and nightlife. Nairobi sits at about 1,795 metres on the edge of the Great Rift Valley, and its biggest surprise is Nairobi National Park, where lions, black rhinos and giraffes roam grassland about 7 km south of the city centre. Most visitors spend one to three days…
Choose Victoria Falls for…
Mosi-oa-Tunya waterfall and Victoria Falls Bridge. 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
| # | Nairobi | Victoria Falls |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nairobi National Park | Victoria Falls rainforest (Zimbabwe side) |
| 2 | Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant orphanage | Victoria Falls Bridge |
| 3 | Giraffe Centre | Zambezi sunset cruise |
| 4 | Karen Blixen Museum | Helicopter 'Flight of Angels' |
| 5 | Nairobi National Museum | White-water rafting in the Batoka Gorge |
Food compared
| Nairobi | Victoria Falls |
|---|---|
| Nyama choma | Sadza with relish |
| Ugali | Kapenta |
| Sukuma wiki | Zambezi bream |
| Kachumbari | Mopane worms |
Which is cheaper?
Nairobi is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $120–$250 per person there, against $180–$350 in Victoria Falls (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Nairobi on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 2,206 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 8 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Nairobi or Victoria Falls cheaper?
Nairobi is usually less expensive: about $120–$250 a day mid-range against $180–$350 (estimates).
+Is Nairobi or Victoria Falls better for a first trip?
Pick Nairobi for Nairobi National Park, Elephant orphanage, lower day-to-day costs and nightlife, or Victoria Falls for Mosi-oa-Tunya waterfall and Victoria Falls Bridge.
+How far is Nairobi from Victoria Falls?
About 2,206 km in a straight line.