Travel guide · Zimbabwe
Victoria Falls travel guide
The Smoke That Thunders, Zambezi cruises and adventure in the Batoka Gorge
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
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 thunders', the falls throw up a spray cloud visible from kilometres away at high water. The Zimbabwean side gives the most complete views from a rainforest path of viewpoints, while the Zambian town of Livingstone, about 10 km away across the 1905 Victoria Falls Bridge, has Devil's Pool and the Knife-Edge Bridge. Sunset cruises, white-water rafting, helicopter flights and game drives fill the days, and Chobe National Park in Botswana is a day trip away. Plan 4 days for a first visit; the best months are May–August.
Key facts
- Country
- Zimbabwe
- Best time to visit
- May–August
- Ideal stay
- 4 days
- Main airports
- VFA, LVI
- Mid-range daily budget
- $180–$350 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Mosi-oa-Tunya waterfall, Victoria Falls Bridge, White-water rafting and Bungee jumping
Why visit Victoria Falls
- The rainforest path on the Zimbabwean side runs past about 16 viewpoints facing the main curtain of the falls.
- The Victoria Falls Bridge, completed in 1905, hosts a bungee jump of about 111 metres, a gorge swing and a zipline over the Batoka Gorge.
- Rafting the rapids of the Batoka Gorge below the falls is regarded as one of the world's great white-water trips at low water.
- Zambezi sunset cruises regularly pass hippos, crocodiles and elephants on the riverbanks upstream of the falls.
- Chobe National Park in Botswana, known for large elephant herds, is about an hour and a quarter away by road.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 14 things to do.
Nature · Victoria Falls Hotel and the bridge
Victoria Falls rainforest (Zimbabwe side)
Inside Victoria Falls National Park, a path runs along the edge of the gorge through a rainforest kept green by the spray, past about 16 viewpoints from Devil's Cataract and the statue of David Livingstone to Main Falls, Horseshoe Falls and Danger Point.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Nature
- Views
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Landmark · Victoria Falls Hotel and the bridge
Victoria Falls Bridge
Completed in 1905 as part of Cecil Rhodes's planned Cape-to-Cairo railway, the steel arch bridge spans the Batoka Gorge between Zimbabwe and Zambia, about 128 metres above the river.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Views
- Active
- Architecture
Experience · Upper Zambezi riverfront
Zambezi sunset cruise
Boats sail the calm upper Zambezi above the falls in the late afternoon, passing islands where hippos, crocodiles, elephants and many birds are often seen, with drinks and snacks on board as the sun sets over the river.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Couples
- Kids
- Nature
- Photo spot
Experience · Victoria Falls town centre
Helicopter 'Flight of Angels'
Short helicopter flights of about 12–15 minutes circle the falls and the zigzag gorges below, showing the full width of the waterfall and the spray cloud in a way no ground viewpoint can.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours including transfers
- Cost
- Expensive
- Views
- Photo spot
- Couples
- Iconic
Experience · Batoka Gorge
White-water rafting in the Batoka Gorge
Rafting trips run the rapids of the Batoka Gorge below the falls, with a steep hike down into the gorge and back out at the end.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Active
- Outdoors
- Iconic
Experience · Livingstone riverfront (Zambia)
Devil's Pool and Livingstone Island
On the Zambian side, guided boat trips go to Livingstone Island on the lip of the falls, where David Livingstone first saw them in 1855.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Active
- Iconic
- Views
- Photo spot
Where to stay
Victoria Falls town centre is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 6 areas.
$$ · Best for first-timers, budget, solo travellers and shopping
Victoria Falls town centre
Compact grid of lodges, activity offices and craft shops along Livingstone Way
$$$$ · Best for luxury, couples and first-timers
Victoria Falls Hotel and the bridge
Edwardian grandeur on the edge of the gorge, steps from the bridge
$$$ · Best for couples, quiet stays, luxury and families
Upper Zambezi riverfront
Riverside lodges among trees upstream of the falls along Zambezi Drive
$$$ · Best for families, couples and quiet stays
Victoria Falls Safari Lodge area
Lodges on a ridge overlooking a busy waterhole on the edge of the national park
What to eat
Full Victoria Falls food guide.
- Sadza with relish — Zimbabwe's staple: a stiff white maize porridge, eaten by hand and dipped into stews of beef, chicken or greens (muriwo).
- Kapenta — Tiny sardine-like fish from Lake Kariba, dried and then fried with tomato and onion, usually served with sadza.
- Zambezi bream — Freshwater bream (tilapia) from the Zambezi and its region, grilled or pan-fried whole and served with chips or sadza.
- Mopane worms — The dried caterpillars of the emperor moth, which feed on mopane trees, fried crisp with onion and tomato; a traditional protein-rich snack.
- Game meat — Grilled cuts and stews of game such as kudu, impala, eland, warthog and crocodile, depending on season and supply.
- Braai and boerewors — Southern African barbecue of grilled meat and boerewors, a coiled spiced beef-and-pork sausage, often served with sadza or pap.
When to go
For the falls at their most powerful, visit from about March to June, accepting heavy spray. For clearer views, good wildlife viewing and comfortable temperatures, June to August is ideal. Rafting and Devil's Pool are best at low water, roughly August to December, though October and November are very hot and the Zambian side can be nearly dry.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn (high water) | March–May | The rains end and the falls reach peak flow, with dramatic spray and soaked viewpoints; rafting is restricted. |
| Winter (dry) | June–August | Cool, dry and sunny, with strong flow, clearer views and good game viewing; the busiest and highest-priced season. |
| Spring (low water) | September–November | Hot and dry with low water, the best rafting and Devil's Pool, and thinner falls, especially on the Zambian side. |
| Summer (rains) | December–February | Hot with afternoon storms, green landscapes and rising water; lower prices and fewer visitors. |
Getting there and around
Victoria Falls International Airport is about 20 km south of town, roughly 20–25 minutes by taxi or lodge transfer. On the Zambian side, Livingstone's Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport is about 5 km from Livingstone town and about 30 minutes from Victoria Falls town, plus the border crossing.
Victoria Falls town is small: the centre, the rainforest entrance, the Victoria Falls Hotel and the bridge are all within about 2 km. Activity operators collect guests from lodges, and taxis cover the rest. Crossing to Livingstone means passing both countries' border posts at the bridge.
Plan your days
Two days covers the rainforest walk, a sunset cruise and one big activity such as rafting or a helicopter flight. Four days adds the Zambian side, a game drive in Zambezi National Park and a day trip to Chobe in Botswana.
Practical information
- Currency
- USD
- Language
- English, Ndebele and Shona
- Plugs
- Type D and G sockets in Zimbabwe, 220 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Most visitors drink bottled or filtered water; lodges usually provide it.
- Emergency number
- 999 (Zimbabwe emergency services)
- Tipping
- Tipping in US dollars is customary: about 10% in restaurants, and tips for activity guides, rafting crews, drivers and lodge staff at the end of a stay, often through a shared staff tip box.
Check your own government's travel advice before travel. Wild animals, including elephants and buffalo, move through town, so avoid walking after dark and keep a respectful distance. Paths in the rainforest are slippery at high water, and street curio sellers and money changers can be persistent. Seek medical advice on malaria prevention.
Flights to Victoria Falls
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Victoria Falls?
Two days covers the rainforest walk, a sunset cruise and one big activity such as rafting or a helicopter flight. Four days adds the Zambian side, a game drive in Zambezi National Park and a day trip to Chobe in Botswana. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Victoria Falls?
For the falls at their most powerful, visit from about March to June, accepting heavy spray. For clearer views, good wildlife viewing and comfortable temperatures, June to August is ideal. Rafting and Devil's Pool are best at low water, roughly August to December, though October and November are very hot and the Zambian side can be nearly dry.
+What is Victoria Falls known for?
Mosi-oa-Tunya waterfall, Victoria Falls Bridge, White-water rafting, Bungee jumping, Zambezi sunset cruises, Devil's Pool and Lunar rainbows. The rainforest path on the Zimbabwean side runs past about 16 viewpoints facing the main curtain of the falls.
+Is Victoria Falls expensive?
Victoria Falls is moderately priced for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $180–$350 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Victoria Falls?
No. Transfers are usually included with activities and lodges, and the town is walkable by day. A car only helps for self-drive trips to Hwange, and arranging tours is usually simpler.