Victoria Falls is on the Zambezi River in southern Africa, exactly on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. The falls sit between two towns that face each other across the gorge: Livingstone on the Zambian side and Victoria Falls town on the Zimbabwean side. Each has its own international airport less than 30 minutes from the falls, and Kasane in Botswana is about 80 km away by road.
Known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya, "the smoke that thunders", the falls are about 1,708 metres wide and up to 108 metres high, the largest single curtain of falling water on earth. This guide pins down where the falls are, which side to choose, every practical way to get there by air, road and rail, and when to go for the view you want.
Victoria Falls location facts at a glance
- Location: Zambezi River, on the Zambia and Zimbabwe border
- Size: about 1,708 m wide, up to 108 m high
- Airports: Victoria Falls (VFA), Zimbabwe; Livingstone (LVI), Zambia
- Main hub: Johannesburg, with several daily connections
- Most water: February to May
- Devil's Pool: mid-August to early January (low water)
- Visas: depend on passport; KAZA UniVisa covers both countries
- Days needed: 2 to 3 for both sides and one activity
Where is Victoria Falls on the map of Africa
Victoria Falls lies on the middle Zambezi, where the river forms the border between Zambia to the north and Zimbabwe to the south. It is roughly 1,000 km north of Johannesburg and close to the point where four countries nearly meet.
The falls are a single basalt ledge about 1.7 km long, over which the whole river drops into a narrow chasm. Below the falls the water squeezes into a zig-zag series of gorges, the Batoka Gorge system, which you only really appreciate from the air. The Victoria Falls Bridge, completed in 1905, spans the second gorge and doubles as the border crossing for road, rail and pedestrians.
The two towns grew up on opposite sides. Victoria Falls town in Zimbabwe is compact and walkable, with the rainforest entrance a short stroll from the main hotels. Livingstone in Zambia is a larger, older town about 10 km from the falls, with most lodges strung along the riverbank upstream. Upriver, Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Namibia meet within a few kilometres of each other at Kazungula, which is why so many trips combine the falls with Chobe National Park in Botswana.
Zimbabwe side or Zambia side: which side of Victoria Falls to visit
The Zimbabwe side gives the wider, face-on panorama of most of the falls. The Zambia side gets you closer to the edge, and in low water it is the only way to reach Devil's Pool. Most visitors with two days see both.
Victoria Falls National Park, Zimbabwe: the classic panorama
A rainforest path runs along the opposite lip of the chasm, with around 16 numbered viewpoints looking straight at the falls. You walk from Devil's Cataract at the western end past the Main Falls and Horseshoe Falls to Rainbow Falls, the highest section, and finally Danger Point, which looks down into the Boiling Pot and across to the bridge. The constant spray keeps a strip of green forest alive here even in the dry season.
Most of the falls' length faces this side, so if you have only one morning and want the postcard view, choose Zimbabwe. The walk takes one and a half to two hours at an unhurried pace. In high water you will be soaked, so rent a raincoat at the gate and bag your phone.
- Time needed: 1.5 to 2 hours
- Access: walk from Victoria Falls town
- Best months: June to December for clear views
- Choose it for: a first visit and the wide view
Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, Zambia: up close at the edge
The Zambian trails sit on the eastern end of the falls. The highlight is the Knife-Edge Bridge, a footbridge across a deep cleft that leads to a viewpoint facing the Eastern Cataract. In peak flow the spray is so dense you see almost nothing and get drenched in seconds, which is an experience in itself. A steep path also drops to the Boiling Pot, the whirlpool at the foot of the falls, when the water is low enough.
Only about a quarter of the falls can be seen from the Zambian side, and from October to early December much of the Zambian section can dry back to bare rock while the Zimbabwe side still flows. That same low water is what opens Livingstone Island and Devil's Pool, a natural rock pool on the lip of the drop, visited on guided trips from roughly mid-August to early January.
- Time needed: about 2 hours; 3 with the Boiling Pot
- Access: about 10 km from Livingstone
- Best months: March to July for full flow
- Come here for: spray, close-ups and Devil's Pool
Zimbabwe side vs Zambia side, head to head
| Zimbabwe | Zambia | |
|---|---|---|
| Nearest town | Victoria Falls town, walking distance | Livingstone, about 10 km |
| View | Face-on, most of the falls | Close, about a quarter of the falls |
| Low water (Oct to Dec) | Still flowing | Can shrink to bare rock |
| Signature experience | Rainforest walk, Danger Point | Knife-Edge Bridge, Devil's Pool |
| Lodging style | Hotels in a compact town | Riverside lodges upstream |
Victoria Falls entry fees and visit costs on each side
Each side of the falls is a separate national park with its own gate and its own fee, paid per entry, so seeing both means paying twice. Fees are set in US dollars; carry clean, recent US dollar notes in case card payment is not working at the gate. Figures below are as of October 2026.
Zimbabwe vs Zambia: what a visit costs
| Item | Zimbabwe (Victoria Falls National Park) | Zambia (Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park) |
|---|---|---|
| Day entry, international visitor | US$58, raised in February 2026 when VAT was added to tourism services | About US$20 to 30; sources differ, so check at the gate |
| Lunar rainbow night visit | US$116 at the rainforest gate, on the nights around the full moon | Lower fee on the Zambian side; tours run on full-moon nights |
| Devil's Pool or Livingstone Island | Not available from this side | Guided trips from roughly US$100 to 180, low water only |
| Rain jacket hire | Available at the gate in high water | Available near the entrance in high water |
| Visa cost if crossing | KAZA UniVisa US$50 covers both countries | Same UniVisa; otherwise separate visas |
The Zimbabwe side is the more expensive single ticket, but it is also where most of the face-on views are, so if you only pay once, pay there. Add Zambia if you want to stand near the lip on the Knife-Edge Bridge, or for Devil's Pool in low water. Each entry ticket covers one visit, so time your walk for the light you want, because you can't come back later on the same ticket.
Budget separately for activities, which make up most of the cost of a Victoria Falls trip: helicopter flights, rafting, bungee and sunset cruises are all priced per person in US dollars and vary by operator and season, so compare two or three quotes before booking.
Visas for Victoria Falls: KAZA UniVisa and crossing between the two sides
Visa rules depend on your passport. Many nationalities can get a visa on arrival or an e-visa for Zambia and Zimbabwe, and eligible travellers can buy the KAZA UniVisa, which covers both countries on one visa.
The KAZA UniVisa was priced at US$50 in October 2026, is valid for up to 30 days while you stay within Zambia and Zimbabwe, and allows multiple crossings between the two. It also covers day trips into Botswana through the Kazungula border, which is how most people visit Chobe. Stay overnight in Botswana, though, and you will need a new visa to re-enter. Supplies of the visa sticker have run out at times in the past, so have a plan B. Check the official Zambian and Zimbabwean immigration websites for the current fee and eligible nationalities before you travel, or ask our visa service.
Crossing between the two sides is simple. You clear exit formalities at one border post, walk or drive across the Victoria Falls Bridge, and clear entry at the other. The posts are a few kilometres apart, so taxis wait on both sides. Mid-bridge, you can stop to watch the bungee jumpers without entering the second country, as long as you tell the officials when you exit.
How to get to Victoria Falls by air
The simplest way to reach Victoria Falls is to fly into Victoria Falls International Airport (VFA) in Zimbabwe or Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport (LVI) in Livingstone, Zambia. Both are within about 30 minutes of the falls by road.
Johannesburg is the main gateway, with several daily flights to both airports. Addis Ababa and Nairobi offer one-stop connections from Europe, the Middle East and Asia. From North America, the usual routing is via Johannesburg or a European hub. Travellers from the Gulf and South Asia typically connect through Dubai, Doha or Addis Ababa. Compare connections on our flights page, and pick the airport on the side where you plan to sleep: a border crossing adds time and, without a UniVisa, an extra visa fee.
Hotels and lodges on both sides usually arrange airport transfers. Taxis wait outside both terminals; agree the fare before you set off.
On the Zambian side, Livingstone's airport also has domestic flights from Lusaka and regional links to Johannesburg, Cape Town, Mbombela (for the Kruger area) and Nairobi, which makes it handy if you are combining the falls with a South African safari.
How to get to Victoria Falls by road from Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe
By road, the main approaches to Victoria Falls are from Kasane in Botswana (about 80 km), Lusaka in Zambia (about 480 km) and Bulawayo in Zimbabwe (about 440 km). Kasane is the shortest, about one and a half hours of driving plus border time via Kazungula, and pairs well with game drives in Chobe; long-distance coaches cover the Lusaka route.
From Kasane and Chobe, Botswana
Shuttle companies run daily transfers between Kasane and both Victoria Falls town and Livingstone, crossing the Zambezi at Kazungula. Since 10 May 2021 the Zambian route uses the Kazungula Bridge, a 923-metre road bridge with one-stop border facilities on each bank, plus footways for pedestrians and two traffic lanes; the road to Victoria Falls town crosses into Zimbabwe at the separate Kazungula road border. Allow about one and a half hours of driving plus border time. This route makes it easy to pair a few nights of game drives and river cruises in Chobe with the falls.
From Lusaka, Zambia
The road from Lusaka to Livingstone covers about 480 km. Long-distance coaches run several times a day and take around seven hours; driving yourself takes six to seven. Buy coach tickets at the Lusaka intercity bus terminal a day ahead in busy periods, and carry Zambian kwacha. The route follows the T1 highway through Choma and Kalomo, the two main towns for fuel and food stops. If a full day on the road does not appeal, domestic flights link Lusaka with Livingstone, and the airport sits within about 30 minutes of the falls by road.
From Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
Buses and private transfers follow the A8 for about 440 km from Bulawayo. The road passes the turn-off to Hwange National Park, a major game reserve, which makes a good overnight stop for a game drive before you reach the falls. Hwange covers about 14,600 square kilometres, the largest protected area in Zimbabwe, with over 100 mammal species; Main Camp, the park headquarters, is reached through Mpofu Gate near Dete.
Self-driving in a rental vehicle is possible, but each border needs cross-border permission from the rental company, third-party insurance and road fees. Ask your rental firm in advance which documents it provides for each country.
Getting to Victoria Falls by train
Two very different trains reach Victoria Falls: a basic overnight sleeper from Bulawayo, and the luxury Rovos Rail journey from Pretoria. The Bulawayo service resumed in October 2025 as a weekly, cheap and often delayed sleeper, while Rovos Rail covers about 1,400 km over three or four nights. There is no passenger train from Botswana.
Zimbabwe's passenger service between Bulawayo and Victoria Falls was suspended for several years and resumed in October 2025 as a weekly overnight sleeper. It is cheap, slow and prone to delays of several hours, so treat it as an experience and keep your onward plans flexible. Confirm the current running days with National Railways of Zimbabwe before you plan around it.
At the other end of the scale, Rovos Rail runs multi-day journeys from Pretoria to Victoria Falls with stops for game viewing. The Rovos Rail Victoria Falls Journey covers about 1,400 km over three or four nights and runs in both directions. There is no passenger train from Botswana: the Kazungula Bridge carries a single rail track, but it is not yet connected to either country's network. Both trains arrive at the historic Victoria Falls station in the middle of town, a short walk from the hotels and the rainforest gate.
Best time to visit Victoria Falls
Visit from February to May for the most water and the biggest spray, June and July for a balance of strong flow and clear views, and August to December for Devil's Pool, rafting and a clear look at the rock face.
Victoria Falls through the year
| Months | Water level | What it is like |
|---|---|---|
| February to May | High, peaking around March and April | Thunderous flow, heavy spray, views often hidden |
| June to July | Strong but falling | Cool, dry weather and the best all-round views |
| August to September | Medium to low | Devil's Pool opens, rafting season in full swing |
| October to January | Lowest, rising again from December | Hot; Zambian side may be dry, Zimbabwe still flows |
One extra: around full moon, guided lunar rainbow tours run on the night before, the night of and the night after the full moon, when spray and moonlight produce a faint moonbow. They are best in high water and can be cancelled in bad weather.
Where to stay near Victoria Falls
Stay in Victoria Falls town if you want to walk to the falls and restaurants; stay along the river near Livingstone for lodges, sunset views and a quieter pace.
Victoria Falls town
On the Zimbabwe side, you can walk from your room to the rainforest gate. Beds range from grand colonial hotels to backpacker lodges, and most activity operators are based in town.
Livingstone riverfront
Zambia's riverfront lodges sit on the upper Zambezi, with easy access to Devil's Pool trips. It is quieter than Victoria Falls town, though you will need transfers to the falls.
Kasane
About 80 km away in Botswana, Kasane is the gateway to Chobe National Park. Base yourself here to combine a safari with the falls, reached on day trips by shuttle.
The best-known address is the Victoria Falls Hotel, opened in 1904 to serve passengers on the new railway. Its terrace looks over the Second Gorge and the Victoria Falls Bridge, a classic spot for a sundowner drink. Livingstone, about 10 km from the falls, has the bigger supermarkets and banks, so it suits longer self-catering stays.
Compare options on our hotels page, and book early for July, August and the December holidays.
Things to do at Victoria Falls once you arrive
Victoria Falls is one of Africa’s main adventure hubs as well as a sightseeing stop. The experiences that need planning are the 12 to 13 minute Flight of Angels over the gorges, the 111-metre bungee from the Victoria Falls Bridge, Batoka Gorge rafting from about August to December, and an Upper Zambezi sunset cruise from either side.
- Flight of Angels. Helicopter and microlight flights show the full zig-zag of the gorges, which no ground viewpoint can. The classic Flight of Angels lasts about 12 to 13 minutes; longer flights add the gorges and the national park.
- Bridge bungee. The bungee from the Victoria Falls Bridge drops 111 metres towards the Zambezi. Gorge swings and a zipline run from the same spot.
- Rafting the Batoka Gorge. Big-water rafting below the falls runs best at low water, from about August to December. Expect a steep climb out at the end of the day.
- Upper Zambezi sunset cruise. Calm water above the falls, with hippos, crocodiles and often elephants on the islands. Cruises leave from both sides in the late afternoon.
Our tour packages can combine the falls, a cruise and a Chobe day trip into one itinerary, and the South Africa guide helps if you are routing through Johannesburg.
Planning a trip to Victoria Falls? Read our Zimbabwe travel guide and Zambia travel guide, or search flights.
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