Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business 
Victoria Falls is where the Zambezi River plunges into a deep, narrow basalt gorge on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Locally it is known as Mosi-oa-Tunya, often translated as the Smoke That Thunders, a name that makes sense when the spray rises high above the gorge during peak flow. The falls are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, shared by the Zambian town of Livingstone and the Zimbabwean town of Victoria Falls.
On the Zambian side, the Knife-Edge Bridge crosses to a point facing the Eastern Cataract, a walk that can be drenching when the river is high. The Boiling Pot trail descends steeply to the river below the falls, where the water swirls before entering the gorges. The Victoria Falls Bridge links the two countries and offers views downstream. In the drier months, guided trips to Livingstone Island can include a swim at the edge of the falls in Devil's Pool. Upstream, sunset cruises drift along the calm Zambezi past hippos and birdlife, while the Batoka Gorge downstream is known for white-water rafting.
Many visitors see both sides, since each offers different viewpoints. Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park in Zambia offers guided rhino walks, and the Livingstone Museum and Mukuni Village add history and culture. The falls look very different through the year, so timing shapes the experience.
WiserMap travel guideVictoria Falls Zambia Devils Pool and Knife-Edge BridgePlan Victoria Falls from Livingstone: the Knife-Edge Bridge, Boiling Pot, Devil's Pool, Zambezi cruises and rhino walks, plus seasons and border tips.Read the guide
A footbridge on the Zambian side that crosses a narrow chasm to Knife-Edge Point, facing the Eastern Cataract and the Boiling Pot far below. In high water from about February to May the spray falls like heavy rain. Rent a poncho at the entrance and put your camera and phone in a waterproof bag.
The section of the falls closest to the Zambian entrance, where the Zambezi drops more than 100 meters into the gorge. Paths along the cliff edge give close views of the water. In the late dry season around October and November it can shrink to bare rock, so visit earlier in the year for full flow.
Victoria Falls National Park on the Zimbabwe side has a path through spray-fed rainforest with numbered viewpoints facing the Main Falls, Devil's Cataract and Danger Point, plus a Livingstone statue. It gives the widest views of the falls. Bring rain gear in high water and allow two hours for the full walk.
A steep path from the Zambian visitor area down through rainforest to the Boiling Pot, the swirling pool where the river turns into the gorges below the falls. From the bottom you look up at the Victoria Falls Bridge. Allow about an hour round trip, wear good shoes and bring water for the climb back up.
An Edwardian steel arch bridge completed in 1905 that spans the gorge between Zambia and Zimbabwe, carrying road, rail and foot traffic. It is the base for a famous bungee jump, a zipline, a swing and a historical bridge tour. Bring your passport, since you pass through border posts to walk to the middle.
Livingstone Island sits on the lip of the falls where David Livingstone first saw them in 1855. In low water, roughly mid-August to January, guided boat tours from Zambia take visitors to swim in Devil's Pool, a rock pool right at the edge of the drop. Tours are small and sell out, so book ahead.
The Zambezi below the falls runs through the deep Batoka Gorge with big, powerful rapids that make it one of the best known rafting rivers in the world. Full-day trips run in the low-water months from about August to December. Expect a steep hike in and out of the gorge, and follow your guide's safety briefing.
Relaxed boat trips on the wide, calm stretch of the Zambezi above the falls, leaving from lodges and jetties on both sides. Hippos, crocodiles, elephants and many birds are often seen along the islands and banks. Most cruises include drinks and snacks, and the light is best in the last hour before sunset.
Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park on the Zambian side is small but protects white rhinos, which you can track on foot with armed wildlife scouts. Game drives also find giraffe, zebra, buffalo, antelope and elephants near the river. Book a rhino walk through a Livingstone operator, and wear neutral-colored clothes.
Chobe in Botswana is famous for huge elephant herds along the Chobe River and is a popular day trip from Victoria Falls and Livingstone. Tours usually combine a morning game drive with a river boat cruise and lunch. You cross the border at Kazungula, so carry your passport and check visa rules in advance.
Zambia's oldest and largest museum, located in the town of Livingstone, about ten kilometers from the falls. Galleries cover archaeology, local cultures, natural history and the life of David Livingstone, including his letters, maps and personal items. Allow about two hours and visit in the morning when it is cooler.
A traditional village of the Leya people near Livingstone, led by the hereditary Chief Mukuni. Local guides show visitors homes, the chief's compound and daily life, and explain customs and history. There is also a craft market. Go with a guide from the village, and ask before taking photos of people.
No reviews yet. Been to Victoria Falls? Be the first to share your experience.
Share what you loved, what to skip and tips for other travelers.
Log in to write a reviewBeen to Victoria Falls? Add your best shots to the gallery.
Log in to add photosPhoto: Diego Delso, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Dicklyon, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Azurfrog, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Martijn.Munneke from Netherlands, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Diego Delso, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Rudolph.A.furtado, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Matti Blume, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Florence Devouard, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Icem4k, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Ninaras, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: the ISS Expedition 7 crew, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Diego Delso, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Lalalinda d, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: lumoplank, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: lumoplank, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: lumoplank, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: lumoplank, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: lumoplank, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: lumoplank, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Diego Delso, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Hans Hillewaert, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Misaochan2, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Diego Delso, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Benjism89 assumed (based on copyright claim, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Icem4k, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Ninaras, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Unknown, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Unknown, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Icem4k, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Icem4k, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Matti Blume, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Ninara, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: cowbridgeguide.co.uk, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: cowbridgeguide.co.uk, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: cowbridgeguide.co.uk, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Ninaras, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Kounosu, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: SuSanA Secretariat, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
