Victoria Falls

When David Livingstone became the first European to see Victoria Falls in November 1855, he wrote: “scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight.” He named the falls after Queen Victoria. The Kololo people who lived nearby had a better name: Mosi-oa-Tunya — The Smoke That Thunders. You can hear the thunder 40 km away. The smoke — the spray column — is visible from 50 km.

At peak flow, the Zambezi River sends approximately 500 million litres of water per minute over a 1,708-metre wide basalt lip into the gorge below — making Victoria Falls the world’s largest waterfall by combined width and volume. Nothing else on Earth does what this does at this scale.

Zimbabwe side vs Zambia side: which to choose

The falls straddle the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, and both sides offer legitimate and different experiences. Most visitors stay on one side; serious visitors visit both.

Zimbabwe side: The most complete views of the full falls curtain, from the Rain Forest Path viewpoints. Better infrastructure, the historic Victoria Falls Hotel and the Victoria Falls town. The Boiling Pot walk descends to the first Zambezi bend below the falls. The bungee jump is accessible from both sides of the bridge.

Zambia side (Livingstone): The Knife Edge Bridge and Boiling Point viewpoints give different perspectives, particularly at low water. Devil’s Pool is exclusively Zambia-side. Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park has white rhino — the only Zambian national park with rhino. The Zambian town of Livingstone is more relaxed and less tourist-oriented than Victoria Falls town.

Devil’s Pool

Between September and December when the Zambezi flow drops sufficiently, a natural rock barrier at the falls lip creates a pool directly above the 108-metre drop. The Devil’s Pool is reached by swimming from Livingstone Island on the Zambian side — a short but fast-moving river swim that requires a guide and good swimming ability. In the pool, you can swim to the edge and peer directly over the rim of the falls. It is one of the world’s most viscerally intense swim experiences. Minimum age 12; the pool is closed when the river runs too high (January–August approximately).

White-water rafting

Below the falls, the Zambezi cascades through a series of narrow basalt gorges producing 23 named rapids including the notorious Commercial Suicide (Grade 5). The full-day rafting route covers 24 km of the gorge — widely considered the world’s finest single-day commercial rafting experience. The route is closed from February through June when the gorge floods at peak flow; July to January is the operating season.

The bungee jump

At 111 metres above the Zambezi gorge, the Victoria Falls Bridge bungee is one of the highest and most dramatic bungee jumps in the world. The bridge was completed in 1905 and connects Zimbabwe to Zambia. Jumps are managed by African Extreme and can be arranged from both the Zimbabwe and Zambia entry points.

The helicopter flight

The “Flight of Angels” — a 12–15 minute helicopter circuit over the falls — is the only way to see the full width of the curtain at peak flow, when spray obscures the ground viewpoints. At any time of year it provides a scale perspective on the falls that ground level cannot match. The gorge zigzag pattern (seven successive right-angle turns carved over millions of years as the basalt cracks progressively) is visible from the air in a way that makes the geological story suddenly clear.

Combine Victoria Falls with…

• Hwange National Park — Zimbabwe’s Big Five park, 2 hours east.
• Botswana’s Chobe National Park — 1.5 hours from Kasane; elephant boat safaris.
• Caprivi Strip (Namibia) — the Zambezi Region connects the falls to Namibia’s river safari circuit.
• Mana Pools — Zimbabwe’s finest walking safari park, accessible by light aircraft.

Frequently asked questions about Victoria Falls

Zimbabwe or Zambia: which is better for visiting?

Zimbabwe for the classic falls views and established tourism infrastructure. Zambia for Devil’s Pool, a more relaxed town atmosphere and Mosi-oa-Tunya rhino. Most serious visitors cross both borders on the same day (the bridge crossing is simple with the right visas).

Do you need a visa for both Zimbabwe and Zambia?

A KAZA Univisa (USD 50) covers both countries for 30 days and is the best option for travellers crossing the bridge. Buy online or on arrival at Victoria Falls Airport or Livingstone Airport.

Is it safe to visit Victoria Falls?

The Victoria Falls area (both Zimbabwe and Zambia sides) is considered safe by regional standards. The Zimbabwe side has seen significantly improved security and visitor confidence since 2020. Exercise standard precautions with valuables.