Is Zambia or Zimbabwe Better When Visiting the Victoria Falls?
I frequently get asked what country is best to view the Victoria Falls from, Zambia or Zimbabwe? The answer really depends a little on the time of year, your budget, and what other activities you wish to do when visiting "Africa's Adventure Capital". With the recent introduction of a new UNIVISA which allows tourists easy access to both countries while paying for just one visa, it is quite simple to cross the Victoria Falls Bridge and enjoy the views and spray, from both Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Bring your passport, and just watch out for bungee jumpers, Bridge Tours and traffic along the way.
The Basics
The Victoria Falls are just over a mile wide (1.7 kilometers wide) and nearly 550 million litres of water cascade over the chasm every minute (during the rainy season). Victoria Falls is made of five different "falls". Four of these are in Zimbabwe: The Devil's Cataract, Main Falls, Rainbow Falls and Horseshoe Falls and The Eastern Cataract, is in Zambia.
On the Zimbabwe side, you get to see the Victoria Falls head on. They curve and wind their way around a bit, but basically you're seeing a full frontal view. In Zambia, you are standing more on the side of the Falls, viewing them from the east. You see the waterfall stretch out before you, because it curves and weaves, and you are closer to the actual water, but you miss the full glory of seeing the main Falls head on. However, on the Zambia side you can also meander down to the bottom of the Falls, although it's a steep climb!
More Victoria Falls facts ...
Time of Year
The Victoria Falls are awesome year round, there is never a bad time to see them and you will always be impressed. Having said that, the water flow is at its highest during the main rainy season and just after -- usually February through June. During a good year of rains, the curtain of water will indeed be a good solid mile long. Your viewing from either Zambia or Zimbabwe will be excellent, but when it's at its fullest, the spray is really intense and might keep you from seeing them very clearly.
Once the dry season starts up in earnest from August - January, there are some empty spaces along the Falls, so the views are not as good from the Zambian side, as you'll see patches of bare rock. If you're visiting in October/November I would definitely recommend you either stay or visit from the Zimbabwe side. The main Falls that you face from Zimbabwe don't dry out and are very impressive year round. BUT during the drier months, you do have the advantage of being able to walk across the top of the gorge on the Zambian side, and take the most magnificent plunge into Devil's Pool. You can take a boat tour to Livingstone Island (in the middle of the Falls) and head to Devil's Pool from there.
Accessibility to the Falls - Victoria Falls Town or Livingstone?
It's a little cheaper to visit the Falls from the Zambian side ($20 per person), but the closest town is Livingstone which is 10 kilometers away from the park entrance. A lot of the Zambian accommodation is located relatively far from the Falls, the best access is from the luxury Royal Livingstone Hotel. Here you can see the spray while enjoying your cold Zambezi beer at the bar. You can also walk to the Falls directly from the hotel when you are staying there.
In Zimbabwe the park entrance to the Falls is right in Victoria Falls Town and there are quite a few hotels to choose from where you can walk down to view the Falls, for example: The Ilala Lodge and The Victoria Falls Hotel. The entrance fee is more expensive than in Zambia ($30 per person) but the views are better year round. Most hotels on the Zimbabwe side of the Falls offer a free shuttle service to and from the park and town.
Activities Exclusive to Zambia or Zimbabwe
- The Zambian side of the Falls are the only side you can enjoy: Microlight flights, a steam-train ride and dinner, as well as the jump into Devil's Pool from Livingstone Island.
- The Zimbabwe side offers fascinating Historic Bridge Tour, gorge swing, cable-slide, zip-lines and canopy tours. See Wild Horizons site for details.
On the Victoria Falls Bridge (the border) between the two countries you can bungee jump, and from both Zambia and Zimbabwe you can enjoy game drives, elephant-back safaris, walk with lions, boat cruises, tiger-fishing, white-water rafting, and much more!