Our guide to Victoria Falls will help answer any question you have about planning a visit. Including… “what is the best way to see Victoria Falls?” And… “Is it better to see Victoria Falls from Zimbabwe or Zambia?” We had all these questions and more before we went. In this guide to Victoria Falls, we share everything we learned to make your planning easier!
Five Facts About Victoria Falls
- Over 2x taller than Niagara Falls
- Widest spanning waterfall on the planet at 1,700 meters
- On the list of World Heritage Sites
- One of the seven natural wonders of the world
- People have continuously lived around the falls for about two million years
Victoria Falls is one of the grandest water features on earth and without a doubt, the most famous waterfall in Africa. From February to May, the banks of the Zambezi River between Zimbabwe and Zambia are swollen; carrying away the moisture brought by the seasonal rains. When the water eventually reaches Victoria Falls, it forms the widest continuous sheet of falling water on the planet. The heat of the day, moisture from the spray and the deafening thunderous roar of water crashing combine for a sensory overload. Standing before the falls, it’s evident why the locals named them Mosi-Oa-Tunya – which translates to the smoke that thunders.
Guide to Victoria Falls Location
The falls are located in the southern portion of Africa, above the Tropic of Capricorn and in the central part of Africa’s landmass at around -18 degrees latitude. Part of the Zambezi River, which also forms the boundary between Zimbabwe and Zambia, the falls are a natural wonder shared by 2 countries. Zambia and the city of Livingstone are on the north side. While Zimbabwe, and the town of Victoria Falls, are across the river to the south.
Best Times to Visit Victoria Falls
When to visit depends on how you want to see or experience the falls. The intensity of the falls varies seasonally, and this change in intensity with impact your experience.
Option 1: Falls at peak flow [February – May]
During this time, you will witness the awesome power and totality of the falls. You’ll experience the misty spray thrown hundreds of feet into the air that almost shrouds the falls in a fog. However, this will limit some of the activities that you can do and make it challenging to get a good photo of the falls without water droplets on the camera lens.
Option 2: After peak flow, but before the dry season low flows. [late August – early January]
This is really the sweet spot time to visit, in my opinion. Within this time frame, visitors will still get to see a significant sheet of water falling across the width of the falls and be able to appreciate it unobstructed by the enormous misty spray generated during the peak flow season. Visitors are also able to take in the impressive vertical scale of these falls more easily during this time. Seeing some exposed rock edges at the top and tracking your eyes down to the river below is a sight not for the faint of heart. During this time there are also a great deal more actives available for visitors to take part in. These include rafting, a visit to Livingstone Island, and a swim in the famous Devil’s Pool – located right at the edge of the falls!
During June – early August the falls are at their lowest flow rate for the year. This is generally considered the least desirable time to visit.
What’s the best way to see Victoria Falls?
Given the way Victoria Falls is situated between two countries, it raises the question of which country or side is the best to see it from. I remember being so confused and trying to find some guidance on the matter. After going and seeing the falls as we did the easy answer is – see it from both sides!
Start in Zimbabwe
Specifically, the city of Victoria Falls is your destination. Just outside the city is a brand new airport; accessible from most any of the other major airports in Africa. There is also a train station right in town for those who choose to travel by rail.
The city of Victoria Falls will surprise you when you get there. Everything around is all relatively new and if not new then well maintained. There are many great restaurants in the city and a fair amount of shopping as well. We even found a spot where you can cage dive with a crocodile… if that’s your thing.
Where to stay in Zimbabwe?
There is a wide range of accommodations available to travelers in Victoria Falls. Two notable places to consider are:
This spot you’ll find is an excellent value for a lovely bungalow style accommodation. The property has a pool and a delicious restaurant. We found their staff most helpful with booking activities and providing recommendations when we asked.
This hotel is one of the most historical landmarks in the area and one of the oldest hotels in all of Africa. Originally constructed to house the designers, engineers, and workers during construction of the Victoria Falls bridge. Later, the hotel became a place for distinguished visitors and nobility to stay when they came to visit Victoria Falls. The Victoria Falls Hotel is a reminder of the distinguished and elegant era to which it was born and has earned its status as the epitome of grand luxury travel.
Seeing the Falls from Zimbabwe
No matter where you stay in Victoria Falls, you will find going to view the falls is no more than a short walk away.
The first and best introduction to the falls is to visit the Victoria Falls National Park . Situated on the opposite side of chasm (downstream end) the park provides visitors with a full frontal view of the falls, in all their grandeur. There is an elegantly laid out walking trail that runs the length of the falls, beginning at the western limit, with the Devil’s Cataract, and ending just over a mile later, at the Victoria Falls Bridge.
This vantage point, from the park in Zimbabwe, is really the best way to see the falls from ground level. Here you will actually see the last moments of water high in the Zambezi rivers before it plunges over 300 feet down. Along the trail, there are several marked viewing points, and if you’re lucky, you will be treated to a lovely rainbow.
Plan to get a little wet too. All it takes is a subtle breeze to encourage the mist to settle over the park; creating an inescapable shower. This consistent spraying mist has given rise to a micro rainforest environment on this downstream end of the falls. It’s quite an oasis.
From the park, you can take a walk over to the Victoria Falls Bridge. From there, if the mist isn’t too thick, you will be able to see the falls through the canyon. Looking down from the bridge also provides a proper perspective of just how tall the falls are. It’s a long way down there!
Additional Activities in Zimbabwe
- Take a helicopter ride to see the falls from above!
- Go on a sunset cruise upstream of the falls on the Zambezi River.
- Arrange a game drive through the Zambezi National Park – home to all the big five animals and more.
- Go rafting down the Zambezi and spot some wildlife along the way.
- Test your courage and jump off the Victoria Falls Bridge! Both bungee or swing are available. We did!
Cross into Zambia
Getting from Zimbabwe to Zambia is a simple as crossing the Victoria Falls Bridge.
Don’t do it like we did though! I convinced Jessica we should cross on foot – carrying all our luggage with us. I thought it would be a quick walk to the customs and immigration office on the Zambian side. I was wrong. Our way ended up being a hot and sweaty one that tried Jessica’s patience. I would recommend getting one of the many cabs available to drive you across – much easier.
(Just FYI: Your cab in Zimbabwe can only take you, across the bridge, to the border. At the border, you will have to get another taxi to continue on into Zambia.)
The city nearest to Victoria Falls, in Zambia, is Livingstone. Its location is several miles away from the falls and is quite a large city. Still a tourism center for Victoria Falls, but also supports a local population of nearly 140,000 people.
Just outside the city is the Harry Mwanga Nkumbla International Airport, and more centrally located is the Livingstone Railway Station. Travel in and out of Zambia is every bit as easy and convenient as Zimbabwe.
Where to stay in Zambia?
On the Zambia side, there are many more accommodation options available. These range from within the city of Livingstone itself to luxury riverside properties on the Zambezi River. If you are traveling on a budget, the more affordable options are within the town of Livingstone. However, if you are on your once in a lifetime African experience, you will find staying closer to the river to be more appealing.
Some notable luxury riverfront accommodations to consider are:
Situated, on the river bank, just upstream of the falls, on the Zambia side, this is practically as close as you can get to the falls. The spacious resort grounds is mostly covered with grass, large shady trees, and plenty of cozy outdoor sitting areas. When staying here, guests are directly across from Livingstone Island, and it is from here that groups leave to visit Devil’s Pool.
This romantic hideaway is set back a reasonable distance from the falls, but still on the banks of the Zambezi River. The location is private and entirely surrounded by the wild. Guests choose to stay in private houses or dreamy little cottages that open up to the river. The Tongabezi is luxury at its finest.
Seeing the Falls from Zambia
The Zambia side of the falls has a nature trail on the downstream side of the falls, across the chasm, similar to the one on the Zimbabwe side. However, the views from this trail are limited when compared to Victoria Falls Park on the other side, and it is also a good deal smaller. The area is located at the eastern limit of the falls, and the way the river turns, downstream of the falls, it leaves a canyon wall obstructing the entirety of the falls when looking toward the west. One of the highlights though is the Knife Edge Bridge. You can get to the trail from the Victoria Falls World Heritage Site just passed Zambia’s immigration building.
The most unique way, by far to experience, Victoria Fall though is from the Devil’s Pool. Located right on the edge of the falls this a small pool is relatively safe for visitors to swim in for only a few months out of the year. The Devil’s Pool is usually open from late August until early January.
A trip to the Devil’s Pool begins at the Royal Livingstone Hotel. From there, you board a small, hard bottom yet powerful boat that shoots the rapids across the river to get to Livingstone Island. The small island sits at the falls edge and appears to be in an eternal battle with the rushing water to not be pushed off the edge. From the island, you wade across the river with the water curling over the lip in clear view. Eventually you reach a small pool where the water is a bit calmer. If you have the stomach for it, you can swim right up to the edge and look down at the river some 300 feet below. It is a rush!
From there you can also look across and see Victoria Falls Park, on the Zimbabwe side, busy with visitors walking along the trail and surprisingly looking as small as ants. Another opportunity to put into perspective the immensity of the falls.
Additional Activities in Zambia
- Take a helicopter ride to see the falls from above!
- Go on a sunset cruise upstream of the falls on the Zambezi River
- Arrange a game drive through Mosi-Oa-Tunya and Sioma Nwezi National Parks
- Go rafting in the Zambezi River
- Take a tour of Livingstone Island
What about Visas?
If you’re interested in spending some time in both Zimbabwe and Zambia, there is something called the Kaza UniVisa. This Visa costs $50 (USD) cash and can be purchased upon arrival at either airport. The Kaza UniVisa is valid for up to thirty days and allows visitors to cross between Zambia and Zimbabwe as many times as they wish. An additional bonus with the Kaza UniVisa, it grants three days of access into Botswana for those planning a safari/game drive that will cross the border.
To read more, have a look at this LINK to Zambia’s Department of Immigration.
A Brief Reflection on the State of Zimbabwe
As I sit now writing this post, the news coming out of Zimbabwe is dire.
The people of Zimbabwe have endured many struggles throughout history. In the early days, it was fighting from guerrilla warfare to win independence from the white minority rule of then Rhodesia. Then in 1980, the authoritarian ruler, Robert Mugabe, seized power and is responsible for widespread human rights violations. During his rule, the countries economy fell into a downward spiral.
The country may now have a newly ‘elected’ president but still has a long way to go to get it’s economy back on track. Inflation is still out of control, and the local currency is non-existent. The U.S. Dollar is now serving as the countries official currency. This situation had led to a run on currency and shortage of cash in the country. When we visited, I tried to withdraw some money from a couple different ATMs, and none of them worked.
Today, there is even more troubling news from Zimbabwe. Following the recent devastation caused by Cyclone Idai, the country is now up against severe droughts that have decimated food harvests and led to shortages of clean drinking water. The nation is struggling to survive on ever-dwindling food supply. As it sits now, according to the World Food Program, more than two million people are facing starvation. …that’s unfathomable!
At moments like this, It seems so trivial to be writing about how to see Victoria Falls…
But, as travelers, we choose to experience the world beyond our own doorstep. Therefore it really falls on us to spread this news of what is going on out there and do what we can to help.
If you are interested in helping or willing to make a donation The World Food Program U.S.A. is an excellent place to start. You can donate to their efforts and see their ongoing work HERE.
