Victoria Falls is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and the largest waterfall on the planet. And it’s even more beautiful than I’d ever imagined! You need to see the Falls from Zimbabwe and Zambia via air, land, and water, so I’ve created the ultimate Victoria Falls travel guide.
I HIGHLY recommend spending at least three nights in the Victoria Falls area to thoroughly explore the Falls and the surrounding Zambezi National Park.
April – July are the best months to visit Victoria Falls because its water flow will be at peak levels. April and May have the most water flow at the Falls, and these are shoulder months to visit Zimbabwe and Zambia when safari costs and crowds will be less.
June – September are the peak travel season because these are the driest months of the year. The Falls’ water level will still be great, and if you’re going on a safari, wildlife is easy to find around water holes.
These months have the highest prices and crowds, so book your lodge and tours as far in advance as possible.
November – March are the rainy and off-season months. It will be wet and humid, visibility will be poorer, and the falls’ water level will be low. These are also not good months to go on safari in Zimbabwe or Zambia when wildlife will be hard to find because they won’t need to gather at watering holes.
You can score some great accommodation deals during these months, though, and it can feel like you have Victoria Falls to yourself!
One of the best parts about visiting Victoria Falls is that you can see it from Zimbabwe and Zambia in one day! Start in either country, and you can just walk across the border bridge to the other side of the Falls.
Both countries have lots of accommodations near the Falls, and it’s easy to cross the border, so it doesn’t matter which side of Victoria Falls you stay on!
From Zimbabwe: The quickest and most common way to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe is to fly from Johannesburg, South Africa (JNB), to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe (VFA). The flight takes about two hours, and you’ll land as close to the Falls as possible.
From Zambia: Livingstone Town is the main entry point to the Falls in Zambia. You can fly from Zambia’s capital, Lusaka, or Johannesburg to Livingstone Airport, also known as Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport (LVI). Once in Livingstone, it’s just six miles to Victoria Falls.
U.S. citizens must get a visa on arrival at the airport or land borders in Zimbabwe or Zambia. You’ll want to purchase the KAZA UniVisa visa, which allows you to cross both borders and move between both sides of the Falls.
If you purchase this visa, you’ll save some money, and you won’t have to wait in line to cross over to the other side of the Falls.
The KAZA UniVisa costs $50, and you can cross the border as often as you want as long as you stay within Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Visa prices and requirements vary for other nationalities (and are always subject to change), so do your homework. You can check out the Zimbabwe and Zambia travel sites before you go to confirm what you’ll need.
If you can’t get the KAZA UniVisa on arrival, there are immigration offices conveniently located near the entrances to the falls so you can purchase a visa to the other country/side.
I recommend buying your visa and Victoria Falls entry ticket ($30) with cash for ease and speed.
Victoria Falls is WAY MORE than just a photo op. Plan on spending most of a day walking the trail along the Falls. This path takes you along the entire length of the Falls on the Zimbabwe and Zambia sides.
Plan on stopping at all the viewpoints, especially the Knife Edge Bridge and Livingstone Island!
To cross the border, you’ll walk across the Victoria Falls Bridge (where you can bungee jump or do a canyon swing). Make sure you keep your visa and stamped entry ticket safe and dry because you’ll need them to cross back into your starting country.
I highly recommend booking a guided tour of Victoria Falls, which any safari lodge or hotel can arrange.
You MUST see Victoria Falls from above! Most people take a helicopter tour, which leaves from the Zimbabwe and Zambia sides of the Falls.
I opted for an open-air microlight flight that allows you to fly lower over the Falls. These only leave from the Zambia side of Victoria Falls. I felt very safe during my entire tour, but a microlight flight is not for the faint of heart!
On the Zimbabwe side of Victoria Falls, you can go whitewater rafting below the Falls. You can also hang off the edge of the Falls at the breathtaking Devils Pool.
Safari lodges on the Zambia and Zimbabwe side of Victoria Falls offer river safaris. Not only will this let you see some incredible wildlife, but you’ll also be able to see the spray from Victoria Falls during your ride!
I cannot emphasize enough how wet you’ll get visiting Victoria Falls. I was drenched after my day walking along the edge of the Falls. So don’t bring anything with you that can’t get wet!
Here’s what you should bring to Victoria Falls:
-Waterproof case for your phone or a GoPro. I left my DSLR camera at my safari lodge because I knew I couldn’t keep it dry.
-Waterproof pouch for your visa, ticket, cash, or credit card.
-Quick-dry clothes. I wore a swimsuit and shorts.
-A change of clothes for the drive back to your accommodation. I brought these with me and left them locked in the vehicle. I was very cold by the end of my hike along Victoria Falls, so I’m REALLY glad I had dry clothes to change into.
-Rainjacket to repel as much water as possible.
-Water shoes that attach securely to your entire foot. I left my tennis shoes at my safari lodge because I knew it would take too long for them to dry. But the Falls’ hike is slippery, so you don’t want flip-flops or sandals.
-Sunglasses and a hat for sun protection and to keep the water spray out of your eyes.
This Victoria Falls travel guide is not a sponsored post, and, as always, the thoughts and opinions expressed in this Victoria Falls travel guide are entirely my own. Some of the links in this Victoria Falls travel guide are affiliate links, and, at no cost to you, I may earn a small commission from this Victoria Falls travel guide.
December 26, 2022
Destinations
Packing
Travel Tips
Photography
Points & Miles
Credit Cards
