The town of Victoria Falls is located in Zimbabwe, to the north of Bulawayo and right at the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. The languages spoken here are English, Shona, Ndebele. The town is home to the famous Victoria Falls and sits on the Zambezi River banks—where herds of different animals live and graze. We loved the feeling of walking around knowing any minute we would encounter wild animals—such a feeling beyond price.
We arrived in Victoria Falls fully prepared after learning through our research about monetary issues—however, what we thought was enough cash ran out quickly, we had to cross the border to Livingstone, Zambia, to get money from cashpoints/ATM’s there (cash points in Zimbabwe had no money). Equally frustrating, not all card payment terminals worked in shops and restaurants due to offline networks thus card purchases were not always possible. Having enough cash on you—in US dollars—is imperative. The few hiccups and problems we faced can easily be fixed by proper preparations, therefore, these would not deter us from returning to Victoria Falls.
We did not feel the need to hire a car—everything is in close proximity; you can walk to and from most places. That said, travelers are advised to book airport transfers before the day of travel. May to August are winter months, average high temperatures are between 77°F and 81°F (25°C and 27°C); the average low temperatures are between 45°F and 50°F (7°C and 10°C). September to April are summer months, high temperatures reach 90-93°F (32-34°C). Low temperatures range from 59°F and 66°F (15°C and 19°C).
Victoria Falls National Park harbors what is considered to be the largest waterfall in the world—Victoria Falls. Victoria Falls is not the widest or tallest Falls in the world (the tallest is Angel Falls in Venezuela), but when dimensions and flow power are considered, it is credited to be the largest in the world. The impressive gorge that is covered with water is one mile long and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Trains and trams enthusiasts go to Victoria Falls Railway Station. Here you will admire the beauty of Zimbabwe trains and also take tram tours over the Victoria Bridge from here. You can also see trains and trams in the town center—as you are walking or driving down to Victoria Falls or Elephant’s Walk Shopping and Artist Village, you will pass a rail line that crosses Livingstone Way/Mosi-Oa-Tunya/A8 (the main road). There are a few trains parked here.
Zambezi River stands as the second major attraction in the town of Victoria Falls—the first being Victoria Falls. Zambezi River releases gallons of water that form Victoria Falls, it is where white rafting and all the other water activities take place, and the river attracts thousands of animals to its banks where game viewers flock to. Zambezi River is located inside the Zambezi National Park—the best way to see the river is to take a river cruise—the Zambezi River Sunset Cruise is very popular and has good reviews. But see our Sunset Zambezi River Cruise experience first before booking.
In-Da-Belly has become one of the best-known food spots in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Visitors to the restaurant praise the reasonably priced food and the menu that explores the deep culinary culture of Zimbabwe. Crocodile, Impala, warthog, and other game meats are on the menu with typical Zimbabwean delights such as sadza and rural vegetables. Those who are not keen on trying local cuisine can order more common food around the globe. Restaurant guests are allowed to swim here if they have a towel.
Elephant’s Walk Shopping and Artist Village is a stretch of local artisans’ shops selling a variety of sculptures, ornaments, vases, and many other artworks you may not have seen before. The skill and attention to detail that is showcased in the artwork are grand and of a mastery level. The shops are also studios where you will see artists at work. After shopping, relax in the gardens, have a Zimbabwean coffee, and experience a close encounter with crocodiles.
One of the best things to do in Victoria Falls Town is visiting Zambezi National Park—people flock to the park to see animals drinking water on the banks of the Zambezi River. Elephants are a hit with tourists, but many other big animals attract visitors too—lions, leopards, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, waterbucks, impalas, and many more. Different types of fish are also plenty in the Zambezi River, tigerfish being the most popular. There are a few good game drive tours to Zambezi National Park, one of the best ones being this game drive tour.
Victoria Falls Bridge, on Livingstone Way in Zimbabwe, is one of the best spots to view the Victoria Falls. From here you can also see the Falls on the Zambia side. Many guided tours take people to the bridge and are very informative on the history of the construction of the bridge. When you cross over to the Zambia side, you will find a railway museum. Victoria Falls Bridge is also popular for bungee jumping and zip-lining. This is one activity that adrenaline seekers must do.
As much as Victoria Falls and Livingstone in Zambia are places where wildlife is plentiful, the safari experience at Chobe National Park in Botswana is on another level. Animals are plenty, wild and the encounters very close. It’s best to take a day trip tour for the visit and don’t forget your passport. If you have rented a 4×4 car you can drive there yourself, however, a day trip tour to Chobe is better as it demands less effort and you avoid dealing with the road police.
Your Victoria Falls visit won’t be complete without crossing over the border to see different attractions in Livingstone, Zambia—of course, the main attraction there is Victoria Falls on the Zambia side and the most popular activity is swimming in the Devil’s Pool. Livingstone also offers Zambian cultural activities, including visiting the local markets, tasting local Zambian food, and visiting a village to better understand the Zambian culture. There are good cultural tours available.
One of the best things to do in Victoria Falls Town is visiting Victoria Falls Crocodile Park located in Hwange—a 5-minute drive from Victoria Falls Town Center. Get close to the magnificent crocodiles and understand their behavior, the park’s guides are knowledgeable and the sessions informative. Here you will also find snakes and lions in enclosures.
Siduli Hide is located at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge—there is a water hole there where wild animals gather to drink water. Different types of birds are in abundance here, bird watchers are particularly overjoyed by the spectacle. A lot of tourists look forward to exciting encounters with elephants. Other animals coming to the hole are warthogs, crocodiles, and kudus. The best time to see big animals like elephants is during the dry season when they find their way to the water hole as water is scarce.
Zip Lining at Batoka Gorge at a crazy speed of 106 km per hour.
Take a giant swing above the water, tied to the gorge.
Canoeing in the Zambezi River.
Bungee Jumping at Victoria Falls Bridge.
Take a Helicopter & Microlight Flight Tour over the Zambezi River and Victoria Falls.
White Water Rafting in the Zambezi River crossing fast rapids and gorges.
Tiger fishing in the Zambezi River.
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