The majestic Victoria Falls in southern Africa are among the most impressive and largest waterfalls on earth. Our blogger Melanie went on a journey to see them.
With loud thunder, the mighty Zambezi River falls from a height of up to 107 meters into a narrow gorge. The spray created by these forces of nature often rises up to 300 meters into the air and can even be seen from 30 kilometers away. Crazy, right?
The Victoria Falls are right on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. You can visit the falls from either country. My tips and experiences relate to the Zimbabwe side.
Entry and Security
Current information on entry requirements and the security situation.
To the Foreign Office
Best time to visit Victoria Falls
The local Kololo tribe also call the Victoria Falls “Mosi-oa-Tunya”, which means “thundering smoke”. However, you can only understand this name if you visit the waterfalls at the end or shortly after the rainy season: In the months of February to April, more than 10,000 cubic meters of water per second fall over the steep abyss of the gorge and land thunderously in the foaming depths.
Be prepared that you (and your camera) will get really dripping wet. Visiting Victoria Falls at this time of the year is, without exaggeration, akin to a proper shower!
A guided tour is highly recommended
If you not only want to take a look at the Victoria Falls, but also want to get some interesting information about the formation and the surroundings of the falls, then a guided tour is just the right thing for you. The trained guides have a lot to tell – not only about the waterfalls themselves, but also about Zimbabwe and Zambia as well as the rain forest, which was created by constant spray mist and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Practical: In most hotels you can simply book a tour together with your entrance ticket for the falls.
Only from the air do you realize the impressive size of the falls
Of course, the Victoria Falls are also exciting if you just walk along the various viewpoints. Nevertheless, I recommend a helicopter flight, because only from the air you can really see how incredibly wide and huge the Zambezi actually is before it plunges over the entire width of 1,708 meters. In addition, there are no droplets of spray fog blocking your view. Goose bumps guaranteed!
Tip: You can book helicopter flights from various providers at your hotel. I can recommend BonisAir to you . The standard flight for 15 minutes will cost you 150 USD per person here.
More activities and thrills at Victoria Falls
Got some free time in Victoria Falls? Then there are many different activities, all with different levels of thrills. How about a bungee jump from the historic Victoria Falls Bridge? You can also take a thrilling dip in the famous Devil’s Pool between September and December, when it’s not quite as dangerous due to the lower water levels. Do you dare?
More like this: You can find lots of cool ideas for tours and activities at Wild Horizons, for example .
Find a lodge just outside of Victoria Falls Town
There are countless accommodations in all price ranges in the noisy and always busy center of Victoria Falls Town, but unfortunately none of them really convinced me. That’s why I advise you to look for an attractive lodge just outside of “downtown”. The beautiful Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, for example, feels right in the bush and in beautiful nature. From your balcony you have a fantastic view over the treetops and a waterhole with zebras, antelopes and many other African wild animals. For me the perfect place to relax a bit after visiting the waterfalls…
*This trip was supported by Africa Albida Tourism, Wild Horizons and Bonisair.
Still have questions about the Victoria Falls? When are you ready to travel to Africa? I am really looking forward to your comment!
By the way, a combination of the Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe/Zambia with the Chobe National Park in Botswana is also perfect!
