With kids · Victoria Falls · Zimbabwe
Victoria Falls with kids
Family-tested sights, a calm base and the practical details that make travelling with children easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Victoria Falls works well for families with school-age children: the rainforest walk, river cruises, game drives and The Boma are all family-friendly, although many adventure activities have minimum ages. Wildlife in town and malaria precautions need planning. Top picks: Victoria Falls rainforest (Zimbabwe side), Zambezi sunset cruise and Zambezi National Park. Families usually base themselves in Victoria Falls Safari Lodge area.
Key facts
- Family picks
- 5
- Best area for families
- Victoria Falls Safari Lodge area
- Rainy-day options
- 0
- Busiest months
- July–August
Best things to do with kids
Nature · Victoria Falls Hotel and the bridge
1.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. The Zimbabwean side faces most of the falls' length, giving the fullest views in every season.
At high water from about February to May you will be soaked by spray: wear quick-dry clothes and protect cameras; in the low-water months the views are clearer but the falls are thinner.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Nature
- Views
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Experience · Upper Zambezi riverfront
2.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.
Choose a smaller boat for better wildlife viewing and a quieter experience than the large party cruises.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Couples
- Kids
- Nature
- Photo spot
.jpg){kind=link}
Nature · Upper Zambezi riverfront
3.Zambezi National Park
Starting just upstream of town, this national park runs along the Zambezi and inland into mopane woodland. Game drives here regularly see elephants, buffalo, giraffe, sable antelope and plenty of birds, and lions and leopards are sometimes seen.
Book an early-morning drive, when animals are most active and the light is soft.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Nature
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Experience · Victoria Falls Safari Lodge area
4.The Boma dinner and drum show
A long-running buffet dinner in an open-sided thatched boma, serving grilled game meats, traditional dishes and a chance to try mopane worms, with drumming, dancing and storytelling during the meal. Guests are invited to join a drumming session.
Book for your first or second night; it is a lively introduction to local food and music.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Book ahead
- Reservations are needed, especially in peak season.
- Food
- After dark
- Kids
Nature · Upper Zambezi riverfront
5.The Big Tree
A giant, centuries-old baobab stands beside Zambezi Drive a few kilometres upstream of town, once a meeting point for early traders and settlers crossing the river.
Stop on the way to a sunset cruise jetty; keep alert for elephants and buffalo nearby.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Photo spot
- Kids
Where families should stay
$$$ · Best for families, couples and quiet stays
Victoria Falls Safari Lodge area
A few kilometres south-west of the centre, a group of lodges on high ground overlooks a floodlit waterhole on the boundary of Zambezi National Park, where elephants, buffalo and antelope come to drink. It is home to The Boma restaurant and its drum show, and shuttles run into town.
- Good
- Wildlife viewing from the lodge; Calm, bush setting; Shuttles to town
- Watch out
- Not walkable to the falls; Fewer independent restaurants
- Nearby
- The Boma, Zambezi National Park, Victoria Falls town centre
Family travel tips
- Check minimum ages before booking rafting, bungee, Devil's Pool and canoeing.
- Seek medical advice on malaria prevention, and use repellent at dawn and dusk.
- Bring waterproof jackets and a change of clothes for the rainforest walk at high water.
- Keep children close on the rainforest paths, where some viewpoints have low railings or none.
- Choose a lodge with a pool and a waterhole view for downtime between activities.
Day trips for families
- Chobe National Park (Botswana) (About 1 hour 15 minutes by road, plus border formalities) — Chobe is famous for its large elephant herds.
- Hwange National Park (About 2.5–3 hours by road) — Zimbabwe's largest national park is known for big elephant numbers, lions, wild dogs and dozens of waterholes that concentrate wildlife in the dry season.
When to go with children
The best months overall are May–August. July–August are the busiest, so book the big sights early. Weather by month.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Victoria Falls good for kids?
Victoria Falls works well for families with school-age children: the rainforest walk, river cruises, game drives and The Boma are all family-friendly, although many adventure activities have minimum ages. Wildlife in town and malaria precautions need planning.
+What can kids do in Victoria Falls?
Victoria Falls rainforest (Zimbabwe side), Zambezi sunset cruise, Zambezi National Park, The Boma dinner and drum show and The Big Tree.
+Where should families stay in Victoria Falls?
Victoria Falls Safari Lodge area: Lodges on a ridge overlooking a busy waterhole on the edge of the national park.