VICTORIA FALLS

The smoke that thunders

HIGHLIGHTS

FAMOUS FOR

Victoria Falls: The world’s greatest sheet of falling water

Devil’s Pool: Seasonal swimming on the edge of the precipice!

Zambezi River: Heart-stopping adrenalin on the Falls’ life source

WHEN TO VISIT

Dry Season⊕: October to December

Green Season⊕: May to July

Shoulder Season⊕: August to September

TRAVEL ADVICE

We’ve put together all the information you need to prepare for your trip to Victoria Falls

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WHY VISIT VICTORIA FALLS

For generations, members of the Kololo tribe lived around a massive waterfall, giving it the evocative name ‘Mosi-Oa-Tunya’ or ‘the smoke that thunders’. The intensity of five hundred million cubic metres of water during the rainy season crashing a hundred metres down into Batoka Gorge creates a fine white mist that reaches high into the air, accompanied by a deafening roar. ‘Thundering smoke’ is an apt description indeed! Ironically, when David Livingstone came along in November 1855, the Falls were probably quite low after the mid-year dry season. Today, we can time your visit so you see their full splendour: too early in the year and there’s so much water you literally can’t see anything; too late and you could be staring at bare rock… A trip to the Falls is on every African travel bucket list because it is a unique and truly dazzling phenomenon.

In addition to the spectacle of lunar rainbows (when the moon is full and the spray high), there are so many other things to see and do here that you need at least two or three full days. Take a microlight to see them as only as eagles, hawks and vultures do. Be awed by the gorge during some of the planet’s most exciting whitewater rafting. Step back in time by taking high tea on a stately lawn overlooking the Falls. There is truly something for everyone at Mosi-Oa-Tunya.

MEET OUR VICTORIA FALLS EXPERTS

Vera: Victoria Falls is undeniably one of the most incredible places I’ve ever visited. It’s not just about the iconic and breathtaking Falls; the wildlife, landscapes and abundance of activities make it truly unforgettable. Every time I visit Victoria Falls, I feel like I’m visiting for the first time.

Joanne: Living in Botswana for seven years meant easy and frequent trips over the border to see Vic Falls and the amazing island lodges in the Zambezi River. Not matter how many times you go, there’s always something new to see or do. It’s such a fun place to get moving again after a few days on a game-drive vehicle.

OUR FAVOURITE ACCOMMODATION

Here are our favourite Victoria Falls accommodation options to inspire you. We can help you plan your visit to the Victoria Falls, whether as a single destination holiday or part of a larger itinerary.

UNDERSTANDING ACCESS TO THE VICTORIA FALLS

This map illustrates the accessibility of Victoria Falls from both Zambia (Livingstone) and Zimbabwe (Victoria Falls Town), highlighting the multitude of attractions on each side. Visitors can easily explore the falls from either country, enjoying various activities such as helicopter flights, canoeing, bungee jumping, and cultural village tours. Whether you start your adventure from Livingstone or Victoria Falls Town, let us help you to create an enjoyable experience at one of the world’s most magnificent natural wonders.

Some of our favourite attractions are set out below.

OUR FAVOURITE VICTORIA FALLS DESTINATIONS

THE VICTORIA FALLS

It goes without saying that the colossal waterfall on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe is our favourite place to visit in the area. No matter how many times you see them, the Falls’ mood changes as the months pass. As rain over the Angolan Highlands from early in the year rushes down the Zambezi River, it accumulates into a peak flood around March and April. As the flow slackens, the Falls actually get easier to see – time your visit correctly and you’ll get a stunning experience without having to wear a raincoat or have a waterproof camera!

DEVIL’S POOL

Daredevil enough to swim on the edge of the world’s greatest waterfall? It’s actually safer than it looks but no less thrilling. When the strength of the current starts dropping around mid-year, it becomes possible – with the help of a trained local guide only – to make your way to A sizable rock pool on the literal edge of the precipice and wallow in the refreshing water… while it plummets down to the bottom of Batoka Gorge below you. This is the photo that everyone wants so booking in advance is essential. Let us help you get the once-in-a-lifetime shot.

VICTORIA FALLS TOWN

This is the town that has sprung up around Victoria Falls National Park on the Zimbabwean side (it’s counterpart is Livingstone on the Zambian side). It hums with activity as virtually every visitor who comes TO the Falls passes through. Browse craft markets, get refreshed at the quaint bars and restaurants, and enjoy Zimbabweans’ cheerful patter and almost universally bright smiles. Slightly further afield you can learn more at elephant, wildlife and raptor sanctuaries or even play a round of golf or two. Accommodation here ranges from funky boutique hotels to old-school grand dames that have seen every celebrity come and go.

THE ZAMBEZI RIVER

Without the Zambezi, there are obviously no Falls. But there also wouldn’t be early morning cruises to watch the sunrise, lazy days at the water’s edge spotting herons, jacanas and fish eagles, or some of the most romantic island and riverside lodges in the world. If you want to get out of the hustle and bustle of Victoria Falls Town, go upstream to gorgeous encampments where your bed, balcony and even bathtub could have a view of this powerful river. Its old bridge and cliffs also host bungee jumping, abseiling and other sports to get your blood pumping.

LIVINGSTONE

Livingstone’s slightly sleepy atmosphere belies that fact that it was once the capital of the former Northern Rhodesia. Founded in 1905, it was an important administrative town and still has many historic buildings that remind visitors of its bustling past. Today it hums with Zambians going about their business and it a centre point for the many lodges, camps and hotels that line the Zambian side of the Zambezi River. It is only 11kilometres / seven miles from the Victoria Falls, making it a sought-after option for those travellers who to add history and culture to their safaris. Livingstone is sometimes considered ‘more authentic’ than Victoria Falls Town.

EXPLORE VICTORIA FALLS

WHY BOOK WITH BIGGESTLEAF TRAVEL

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