How To Visit The World Wonder Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe
Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe is a world wonder for a reason – this beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Sight is something on many peoples bucket list! This blog outlines how to visit Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe including where it’s located, how to visit the falls, and even our personal experience.
Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls is actually located in between the borders of Zimbabwe and Zambia. The easiest way to visit the falls is from the Zimbabwe side, but we have heard this comes with some more touristy prices and activities and Zambia can be a cheaper option for some. However, this blog post mainly focuses on how to see it from the Zimbabwe side (arriving at Victoria Falls airport or staying in the town of Victoria Falls). Victoria Falls is also one of the seven natural world wonders which makes it a huge bucket list item for many people. Even if you don’t have a bucket list, the falls are worth a trip – many combine their trip with an African Safari which in our opinion is the best way to do it.
The town of Victoria Falls is quite a bit smaller than expected. However, there are many hotels, lodges, and even hostels to accommodate all sorts of budgets and most hotels have their own restaurants with a handful of restaurant options in town too. Most of the activities in the town of Victoria Falls revolve around either Victoria Falls, Zambezi River, and Safari options (up to Botswana, Zambia, and in Zimbabwe). There is also TONS of souvenir shopping to do in the area (in all sorts of price ranges again), so if you are planning to stop by Victoria Falls on your trip, make sure you have some room for souvenirs if that’s your thing!
How To Visit Victoria Falls
There are SO many ways to see Victoria Falls for all different kinds of audiences and price ranges. From walking the park, flying above it, or partaking in some other adrenaline activities, there are tons of different vantage points for experiencing and seeing the falls.
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Walking the National Park
This is probably the best and most common way to see the falls as you get up close and personal with them! Close to the cliffs edge, feeling the mist (which DRENCHES you) from the waterfalls, and seeing the amazing views makes this a surreal experience. The entrance fee is 50$ USD which gets you access to the park with 16 viewpoints along the way! Make sure to read our experience (below) to get a feel for the park.
Helicopter Ride
This is a super popular option which of course gives you a SUPER unique view. Something that is omitted from along of Victoria Falls guides is the fact that the helicopters are going almost ALL DAY which makes the town a little less relaxing as you will be at your hotel pool and hear them endlessly. However, for those that are interested, this is an awesome experience! There are tons of options for helicopter rides (ranging from different times and prices), and linked here is a great option.
Activities Around Victoria Falls
There are also tons of activities in the area of Victoria Falls that do not include the waterfalls. Check out these options for some very different experiences!
- Safari Options: Safari’s in Zimbabwe are not talked about enough – this countries landscapes and wildlife is NOT to be missed. Below there are options for safari’s that can be done in a day trip (in Zimbabwe and also in Botswana) to make your trip to Victoria Falls even more special.
- Zambezi River: This river has so much to offer – beautiful views and unique wildlife opportunities. If you’re not seeing the river during the rest of your trip, definitely make time for it whilst you’re in Victoria Falls. There are tons of options, but a favourite is the sunset cruise where you can enjoy a beverage and even a meal whilst admiring the views.
- Adrenaline Activities (In & Around The Falls): These activities are listed to boost your adrenaline and give you such a unique experience whilst you visit the area. Some of these are famous for a reason!
When To Visit Victoria Falls
There are different times to visit Victoria Falls which all depend on what you’re looking for. The best time to see the falls itself is February – May timeframe (when the falls are FLOWING at the highest amount due to it being the rainy season!). However, in the summer heat (August – December timeframe) when the falls are a bit lighter, it allows for activities on the falls (such as Devil Pools) to happen. Definitely do your research BEFORE your trip to make sure you are coming to the see the falls at the time that makes the most sense for you (for the rest of your trip, assuming your combining other things with Victoria Falls, and for what you want to experience at Victoria Falls itself).
Our Experience in Victoria Falls
We visited Victoria Falls right at the beginning on June, so almost right after rainy season. We decided to only walk the park and opted out of the other activities, as for us seeing the falls from the many viewpoints was enough and we were bound to get some more river-viewing / wildlife activities in along the rest of our trip anyways (we were doing some safari’s at camps that took us to the Zambezi river).
We walked from our hotel (we were staying at the Ilala Lodge right in Victoria Falls) and walked right along the path in town towards the Victoria Falls entrance (google maps location here). The walk was super easy and took about 10 minutes, however there are some locals that will follow you for a very short period of time with some souvenirs – but they are very nice and will get the message you’re not interested after a couple times. There are also parking / taxi options available and this could be organized through the hotel / lodge you are staying at as well. The entrance fee for us was 50$ USD per person for entry, but be sure to check the official website for update prices and information for planning your trip. We did this mid-day, but I have heard right in the morning or in the late afternoon are great for photographers with great lighting / missing the crowds / potential rainbow sightings (in the afternoon). But for us, there wasn’t too many crowds anyways so we were happy with our decision.
There are a total of 16 viewpoints on the Zimbabwe side, and you should definitely do them in order (from 1 – 16) as they get more impressive the further you get along. We walked along the viewpoints watching the water flow over the edge and getting drenched at each stop. Once you get closer to the end of the view points, it definitely gets soaking wet (at least during rainy season / end of rainy season timeframe) so make sure you bring protective gear for any items you have (i.e. camera), wear clothes you don’t mind getting wet, and smart footwear to help you avoid slipping as the rocks at some of the viewpoints (mainly #15) get a bit slippery so be careful!
Once you’ve completed the viewpoints you head back to the beginning and you can choose to walk the viewpoints again backwards or just hop back to the entrance where you will find a cafe with meal and drink options and even an art gallery on your way back. In total it took us about 1.5 hours to walk around, taking in the view and lots of photos along the way. Overall it was definitely worth the somewhat steep entry fee and with this experience we didn’t feel the need to take part in any of the other tours around Victoria Falls. The waterfalls and the many run-off’s of water over the cliffs edge were seriously such a stunning view!
Want To Know More About Victoria Falls?
If you’re looking for more, consider checking out our other blog posts and even our mini-guide over on our thatch page where we outline places to eat, where to stay, activities, and more. Victoria Falls is an awe-inspiring sight and definitely a must-visit (especially if you’re heading off on a Safari afterwards!).