ZW
Victoria Falls & Zimbabwe
The smoke that thunders, and beyond
The smoke that thunders, and beyond
The Zimbabwean side offers the classic panoramic views — a rainforest walk along the gorge rim facing the full mile-wide curtain of falling water and its perpetual rainbows and spray.
💡 Bring a raincoat — the spray soaks viewpoints when the river is high.
The iconic bridge spanning the Zambezi gorge between Zimbabwe and Zambia — a marvel of engineering, and the launchpad for bungee jumping, zip-lining and the gorge swing.
💡 Walk out onto the bridge for gorge views, or take the plunge if you dare.
Zimbabwe’s largest national park, Hwange, is famous for its enormous elephant herds — among the biggest in Africa — alongside lions, buffalo, giraffe and abundant plains game.
💡 Dry-season game viewing at Hwange’s waterholes is superb.
The atmospheric Matobo Hills, with their balancing granite boulders and ancient rock art, offer some of Africa’s best rhino tracking on foot, plus leopards and eagles.
💡 Track white and black rhino on foot with expert guides in Matobo.
Beyond the falls, the Zambezi and its parks teem with giraffe, zebra, hippo and antelope — best savoured on a sunset river cruise with a drink in hand.
💡 A sunset Zambezi cruise, with hippos and birdlife, is a Vic Falls classic.
Zimbabwean cuisine centres on sadza — a thick maize-meal porridge — served with stews of beef, chicken or vegetables, greens (muriwo) and relish. In Victoria Falls town and the safari lodges you’ll find everything from hearty local fare to international menus and refined bush dining, often featuring game meats like kudu, impala and crocodile for the adventurous. Fresh Zambezi bream (tilapia) is a treat. The town has a good range of restaurants, cafes and bars, some with live music and marimba bands, plus the grand old Victoria Falls Hotel for high tea with a view of the bridge. Wash it down with a cold Zambezi lager or a gin and tonic at sunset. Lodges cater well to dietary needs, and bottled water is widely available.
Victoria Falls has its own international airport, with regional flights and easy connections, and the town is compact and walkable, with the falls entrance a short stroll or taxi from the centre. Many hotels offer shuttles, and taxis are readily available. You can cross to the Zambian side (Livingstone) via the border at the bridge — bring your passport and check visa requirements. To reach the national parks, most visitors travel by 4×4 safari transfer or short domestic flight, usually as part of an organised trip; Hwange is a couple of hours away by road. Zimbabwe drives on the left. For the parks, a guided safari is by far the easiest and most rewarding way to travel.
Walk the rainforest viewpoints, the bridge, and a sunset Zambezi cruise.
Rafting and adrenaline sports, or transfer to Hwange for a game drive.
A full day’s safari for elephants and big game, or track rhino in Matobo.
High water (Apr-Jul) means maximum thunder and spray; low water reveals more rock.
Zimbabwe uses the US dollar widely — carry small, clean bills in cash.
A day-trip to Zambia’s Livingstone gives a different angle on the falls.
Take antimalarials and use repellent, especially in the parks and wet season.
Quick answers to the questions travellers most often ask before visiting Victoria Falls and Zimbabwe.
It’s one of the seven natural wonders of the world — the largest sheet of falling water on earth, where the Zambezi River plunges over a mile-wide cliff in a thunderous cloud of spray, known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya. It straddles Zimbabwe and Zambia, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Both have their merits. The Zimbabwean side offers the classic, panoramic frontal views of the full width of the falls, and is generally considered the more spectacular vantage overall. The Zambian side (Livingstone) lets you get closer to the edge, including Devil’s Pool. Many visitors see both.
For the fullest, most thunderous falls, visit from around April to July after the rains. For wildlife and safaris in Hwange and beyond, the dry months of August to October are best, though the falls are lower then. It’s a trade-off between peak water and peak game viewing.
The main tourist areas — Victoria Falls, Hwange and the safari lodges — are well set up for visitors and generally considered safe, with a welcoming reputation. As anywhere, take normal precautions, use reputable operators, and check current travel advice before you go.