# Victoria Falls: map, what to do and when to go

The Zambezi's drop seen head-on from Zimbabwe and from the edge in Zambia, with the river, the gorges and Chobe's elephants nearby

Canonical: https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/cataratas-vitoria/
Language: en. Extended author commentary and itinerary notes may remain in Portuguese. Dates below belong to individual sources; this is not live availability.

## Direct answer
- **Victoria Falls: how do you get from the airport to town?** Victoria Falls International Airport (VFA) is 18 km south of town, with flights to Johannesburg, Cape Town, Addis Ababa, Nairobi, Windhoek, Gaborone, Kasane and destinations within Zimbabwe.
- **Victoria Falls: how do the entrances on the two sides work?** Each country charges its own entrance, and one isn't valid for the other: on the Zimbabwe side, US$58 for foreigners at the main gate (February 2026 schedule); on the Zambia side, published sources disagree on the current price, so check at the ticket office.
- **Victoria Falls: do I need a visa to see both sides?** The rule depends on the passport: many nationalities enter Zambia, Zimbabwe or both without a visa.

## The Zimbabwe side and the river above the falls
Get to the entrance of Victoria Falls National Park right at opening, early in the morning, on foot from the center, before the heat and the groups; in flood season, bring a rain cover and a sealed bag for your phone.
- Victoria Falls National Park
- Victoria Falls Bridge

## Across the bridge: Zambia and Livingstone
Cross the border over the Victoria Falls Bridge early, on foot or by taxi, with Zambia's entry rule and the rule for returning to Zimbabwe checked for your passport (exemption, visa or KAZA).
- Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park
- Livingstone Island
- Livingstone Museum

## Batoka Gorge or a safari on the Zambezi
For those who want adventure: a full day of rafting in Batoka Gorge, leaving early from town with lunch included by the operator; confirm when you book which stretch of the river is open.
- Zambezi River
- Batoka Gorge
- Zambezi National Park
- Victoria Falls Hotel

## Victoria Falls National Park
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/cataratas-vitoria/#g-lugar-victoria-falls-national-park
Hwange · One to two hours
The rainforest trail on the Zimbabwe side is the main visit: about two kilometers of path with viewpoints facing Devil's Cataract, Main Falls and Rainbow Falls, and the statue of David Livingstone, with the motto he championed engraved on it. The Zimbabwe tourism authority says 70% of the head-on view of the falls is had from this side. The international ticket at the main gate rose to US$58 in February 2026, and each entry is valid once; the gate is next to the border post, a walk from the center. In flood season the mist soaks the path and sometimes hides the falls themselves; at low water, the basalt wall shows. On full-moon nights there are visits to see the lunar rainbow, with a separate ticket.
Check access

## Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/cataratas-vitoria/#g-lugar-mosi-oa-tunya-national-park
Província do Sul · One to two hours
The Zambian entrance to the falls, about 10 km from the center of Livingstone and next to the border post, leads along a short trail to the Knife-Edge Bridge, the footbridge over the gorge facing Eastern Cataract and Rainbow Falls, and along a steep path to the Boiling Pot, the whirlpool where the river turns into the second gorge. Another path goes to the riverbank above the falls. The entrance fee is charged separately from the Zimbabwean one; published sources disagree on the current price for foreigners, so check at the ticket office. On this side the falls are closer and wetter in flood season, and can dry up in large part between September and December.
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## Victoria Falls Bridge
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/cataratas-vitoria/#g-lugar-victoria-falls-bridge
Livingstone · Up to half an hour
The 198-meter steel bridge, opened in 1905, crosses the second gorge 128 meters above the low-water river and links the two borders, with road, rail and a pedestrian walkway. From the middle you see the falls through the slit of the gorge. To walk out there without entering Zambia, ask at the Zimbabwe border post for a bridge pass, with your passport. On the bridge there is a 111-meter bungee jump, a swing and a zip line, and guided visits to the structure under the deck; on the Zambian side, a small museum about the construction has free admission.
Check access

## Livingstone Island
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/cataratas-vitoria/#g-lugar-livingstone-island
Livingstone · One to two hours
The island at the top of the falls, from which David Livingstone saw the falls in 1855, can only be visited with the authorized operator, in groups of up to 32 people, on a boat of about 10 minutes that leaves from the Zambian bank. Between the end of August and the end of December, depending on the river level, guides take those who want to swim to the Devil's Pool, a natural pool on the lip of the falls; from January to the end of August, with the river high, the pool used is Angel's Pool, when it is open. Book ahead, because sessions have limited places; getting to the island on your own is not allowed.
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## Zambezi River
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/cataratas-vitoria/#g-lugar-zambezi-river
One to two hours
Above the falls, the Zambezi runs wide and full of islands, with hippos and crocodiles on the banks and elephants crossing in the dry season. The most common way to see it is the sunset cruise, of about two hours, which leaves from both sides of the border; there are also morning departures and birdwatching trips. The boats vary a lot in size and atmosphere on board, from small and calm to large and noisy, so it's worth asking before you book.
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## Batoka Gorge
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/cataratas-vitoria/#g-lugar-batoka-gorge
Half a day or more
The gorge below the falls, where the river runs through rapids between basalt walls, is where the falls' whitewater rafting takes place, with full-day descents that end in a steep climb or a cable-car ride. The water level in the gorges varies by up to 20 meters between flood and drought, so the navigable stretch changes through the year; ask the operator which route is open. The same walls shelter birds of prey such as the taita falcon and Verreaux's eagle.
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## Zambezi National Park
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/cataratas-vitoria/#g-lugar-zambezi-national-park
Matabelelândia Norte · Half a day or more
The national park that begins just upstream from Victoria Falls, with 56,000 hectares, separated from the falls park in 1979. The road along the Zambezi and the 25 km Chamabondo trail, which starts 5 km from town, let you see elephants, buffalo, giraffes, zebras and antelopes such as the sable antelope, plus more than 400 bird species. It is the closest safari to town, done in an operator's vehicle.
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## Victoria Falls Hotel
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/cataratas-vitoria/#g-lugar-victoria-falls-hotel
Up to half an hour
The hotel opened in 1904 for railway passengers presents itself as the oldest luxury hotel in Zimbabwe, and its lounges and corridors hold period maps and photographs. Stanley's Terrace, on the lawn facing the bridge and the mist of the falls, serves afternoon tea every day from 3 to 5 p.m.; those who aren't staying there should book ahead. The 1949 conference that discussed creating the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland met here, as did the 1963 one that led to its end.
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## Livingstone Museum
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/cataratas-vitoria/#g-lugar-livingstone-museum
Livingstone · One to two hours
Zambia's largest and oldest museum, founded in 1934, occupies a 1951 building on Mosi-oa-Tunya Road in the center of Livingstone. The archaeology, ethnography, history and art galleries run from the Stone Age to independence, and the room dedicated to David Livingstone holds letters, diaries and objects donated by his family. Admission for foreigners costs US$5.
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## Mosi-oa-Tunya Game Park
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/cataratas-vitoria/#g-lugar-mosi-oa-tunya-game-park
One to two hours
The wildlife section of the Zambian park, northwest of the falls, is small and fenced, with giraffes, zebras, buffalo, antelopes and a group of white rhinos (ten in 2022) guarded day and night by rangers. The guided walks to see the rhinos are the main draw. Inside it lies the Old Drift cemetery, where the first settlers are buried.
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## The Big Tree
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/cataratas-vitoria/#g-lugar-the-big-tree
Up to half an hour
An ancient baobab just outside the town of Victoria Falls, with an estimated age of about 2,000 years. Since the surrounding woodland has wild animals, it's best to go by taxi or with a tour, not on foot.
Check access

**Victoria Falls: how do you get from the airport to town?**
Victoria Falls International Airport (VFA) is 18 km south of town, with flights to Johannesburg, Cape Town, Addis Ababa, Nairobi, Windhoek, Gaborone, Kasane and destinations within Zimbabwe. It operates 24 hours; the way into town is along the A8 road, and at the airport there are transfers to hotels and other points in town, tour operators and car rental companies. On the Zambian side, Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport (LVI) is near Livingstone; a taxi into town should not cost more than US$10, and the Yango app works, paying in cash.

**Victoria Falls: how do the entrances on the two sides work?**
Each country charges its own entrance, and one isn't valid for the other: on the Zimbabwe side, US$58 for foreigners at the main gate (February 2026 schedule); on the Zambia side, published sources disagree on the current price, so check at the ticket office. If you can only visit one side, I'd choose Zimbabwe, which has the head-on view of most of the falls; the Zambian side is worth more in flood season, for the closeness, and at low water, for Livingstone Island. Each entry to the Zimbabwean park is valid only once.

**Victoria Falls: do I need a visa to see both sides?**
The rule depends on the passport: many nationalities enter Zambia, Zimbabwe or both without a visa. For those who need a visa for both countries, the KAZA costs US$50, is valid for 30 days for Zimbabwe and Zambia with unlimited entries between the two and covers day trips to Botswana; it is issued at the Victoria Falls and Livingstone airports, at the bridge border and at Kazungula, or online. Anyone who needs a visa and buys a single-entry one can't come back. In Zambia, since January 1, 2026, the single-entry visa costs US$50 and the double- or multiple-entry visa US$80, for those who need a visa. Anyone who only wants to go to the middle of the Victoria Falls Bridge, for the view or the bungee, asks for a bridge pass at the Zimbabwe post with their passport and returns without entering Zambia.

**Victoria Falls: how do you cross into Zambia?**
Crossing into Zambia means crossing the bridge. The border posts are at both ends: on the Zimbabwe side, next to the park entrance; on the Zambia side, next to the Zambian entrance to the falls. You can make the trip on foot or by taxi, and from the Zambian post blue taxis charge about US$10 to Livingstone. If you only want to reach the middle of the bridge, ask for a bridge pass at the Zimbabwe post, with no need for a Zambian visa.

**Victoria Falls: how many days should I stay?**
I'd stay three days at Victoria Falls, sleeping in Victoria Falls, on the Zimbabwe side, which has the park a walk from the center. The first day is on the Zimbabwean side: the rainforest trail first thing, the middle of the bridge with the pass and, in the late afternoon, the cruise on the Zambezi above the falls. The second crosses the bridge into Zambia, with the Knife-Edge Bridge, Livingstone Island when the river is low and the Livingstone museum in the afternoon. The third goes to Chobe National Park, in Botswana, on a day trip with a boat in the morning and a game drive in the afternoon. With a fourth day, I'd go rafting down Batoka Gorge or take a safari in Zambezi National Park. Anyone with only one day should take the Zimbabwe side in the morning and the river in the afternoon.

**Victoria Falls: when is the best time to go?**
June to August; from February to May the flood sends up so much mist that it hides part of the falls and soaks the trails, and from September to December the Zambian side can be almost dry, which is Devil's Pool season.

**Victoria Falls: how do you visit Livingstone Island and the Devil's Pool?**
The island at the top of the falls, from which David Livingstone saw the falls in 1855, can only be visited with the authorized operator, in groups of up to 32 people, on a boat of about 10 minutes that leaves from the Zambian bank. Between the end of August and the end of December, depending on the river level, guides take those who want to swim to the Devil's Pool, a natural pool on the lip of the falls; from January to the end of August, with the river high, the pool used is Angel's Pool, when it is open. Book ahead, because sessions have limited places; getting to the island on your own is not allowed.

**Victoria Falls: how do you do the day trip to Chobe?**
The Kazungula border is about 70 km from Victoria Falls, and the town of Kasane, the park's gateway, lies just beyond. Day tours leave town early in the morning, cross the border, take a cruise on the Chobe River until about 12:30, stop for lunch and continue to a game drive in the afternoon, returning at the end of the day (about seven hours of program, according to a local operator). The stretch of river by Kasane is probably the most visited part of the park, because of its proximity to the falls, and in the dry season, from May to October, it gathers large herds of elephants on the bank; the park's elephant population is estimated at about 50,000. The KAZA visa covers day trips to Botswana, and many nationalities enter without a visa; check whether park fees are included in the price and, with children, bring the full birth certificate and, if one parent isn't traveling, the declaration signed by that parent.

**Victoria Falls: what money should I bring?**
On the Zimbabwe side, the US dollar is used for most payments, and the Zimbabwe gold (ZiG), the official currency since April 2024, shows up more in residents' everyday shopping. Bring dollars in small bills: the British government recommends this even for paying the visa, and many businesses accept only cash. Visa and Mastercard cards work in hotels, at tour operators and in the larger supermarkets in town, but the network sometimes goes down. Exchange money only at authorized places: changing money on the street is illegal in Zimbabwe. On the Zambia side, the currency is the kwacha; ATMs in Livingstone dispense only kwacha, and activities are usually charged in dollars and in cash. Change any leftover kwacha before going back, because they can't be exchanged in Zimbabwe.

**Victoria Falls: is it safe?**
On the Zimbabwe side there are tourist police, in yellow vests, around the park and the center of Victoria Falls. In both towns, the most common risks for visitors are insistent vendors and money changers near the border and the craft markets, who are best dismissed firmly, and opportunistic theft from people who flash cash. At night, take a car: the British government recommends not walking after dark in Zambia, and the trail linking the falls to the Victoria Falls Hotel is not safe in the dark. Wild animals roam the town and the roads out of it; elephants, buffalo and hippos are dangerous and should not be approached. On the river and in adventure activities there have been serious accidents, including deaths: follow the guides' instructions and check that your insurance covers bungee and rafting. The region has malaria, and anyone visiting the parks should take precautions; use repellent at dusk and see a doctor before the trip. Zimbabwe and Zambia criminalize same-sex relations, and public displays of affection can draw unwanted attention. In Zimbabwe, long power cuts and water rationing happen; ask your hotel how it gets its supply.


## In the Nilo app
- Plan these 3 days on the map: https://nilopelomundo.com/en/app/guide/cataratas-vitoria/?utm_source=llm&utm_medium=markdown&utm_content=door-itinerary
- Mark your hotel on the map: https://nilopelomundo.com/en/app/map/cataratas-vitoria/?utm_source=llm&utm_medium=markdown&utm_content=door-stay

## Full editorial guide (Portuguese)
https://nilopelomundo.com/llm/cataratas-vitoria.md