Planning Your Trip to Victoria Falls
When planning your trip to Victoria Falls, you have to first consider how much of the surrounding area you'd like to see. If you only want to see the falls, then two days are enough to check that off your bucket list. This allows you time to take a tour around the falls and go on seasonal adventures in the area, such as whitewater rafting or an exciting helicopter tour. There will also be time to explore some of the natural surroundings and enjoy wildlife sightings.
Five days or more is the best amount of time if you want to explore Victoria Falls together with other nearby areas. In this case, you can visit both the falls in Zimbabwe and Zambia, go ziplining, and go on a safari. You will also have time to explore other areas, notably wildlife havens like Chobe National Park in neighboring Botswana.
Take a two-week trip through Southern Africa to have a vacation combining Victoria Falls with multiple safaris, other natural wonders, and varied activities. In two weeks, you can split your visit across the region. Spend a couple of days in Victoria Falls, a few more in Hwange National Park, and the rest of your trip in South Africa, visiting Cape Town and Kruger National Park.
This 5-day itinerary will take you through some of the highlights of Victoria Falls and the surrounding area.
Victoria Falls in 2-4 Days
You can explore Victoria Falls in as little as two days. If this is your plan, you'll want to get as much as possible out of each hour of your visit. You can do that by booking your accommodation close to the falls and going on at least one or two tours.
Depending on the season of your trip, which you can read more about in this article, there are a lot of different activities available around the falls. Aim to arrive as early as possible if you only have two days. If you arrive later in the day, head straight to the falls to get your first glimpse and attend a Boma dinner after settling into your hotel. It is an exciting event with a traditional dinner combined with drums and live music.
The next day, you can book a tour around the falls and visit all the main highlights. A guided tour will let you dive deeper into the history without much planning on your part. You also have the option to go and explore the area by yourself, and there are many hiking trails available. Other adventurous options include taking a canoe trip early in the morning or bungee jumping.
If you stay three or four days, take a day trip to Chobe National Park in Botswana. It is an excellent way to explore the wildlife in the area, including an abundant elephant population. On your fourth day, visit Livingstone Island and swim in the Devil's Pool. Another lesser-known but equally exciting option is the Angel's Pool.
Don't leave without taking a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River. A sunset cruise usually lasts three hours and offers extensive animal viewing, including hippos, elephants, crocodiles, and abundant bird species. You'll usually find entertainment aboard, with music and dancing, making the whole experience fun. If you go on a cruise that includes a meal, ask if it is only snacks or a full dinner so you can be well prepared to enjoy.
If you want to catch a beautiful Victoria Falls rainbow, be at the falls around 2-3 pm. If you're hungry while there, head to the Lookout Café, where you can have a nice lunch while enjoying stunning views. Don't forget to catch a sunset by the falls!
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Victoria Falls in 5-6 Days
With more time, you can go beyond the Victoria Falls area. It will be possible to enjoy a diverse combination of guided tours, adventurous activities, hikes, and safaris. Refer to the 2-4 day itinerary detailed above for outstanding activities in addition to those below.
The Flying Fox ziplining adventure, 410 feet (125 m) above the valley floor, is an adrenaline-packed activity. You'll glide along a cable across the gorge, clipped into a harness attached to a pulley. To increase the adventure quotient, try the Foofie Slide, ziplining downhill at 62 miles (100 km) per hour. If you're looking for a more relaxing alternative, scheduling a helicopter ride with amazing aerial views is one of the best ways to experience the full majesty of Victoria Falls.
Additionally, visit local markets for souvenirs. The most famous market is the Mukuni Park Curio Market in Livingstone, but there are superb markets in Lusaka as well—both are located on the Zambia side of the falls. While the market in Livingstone is well-known among tourists, the ones in Lusaka are more local. You'll find some unique handicrafts here and get authentic souvenirs to bring home.
To break a sweat, hike to the Boiling Pot at the base of Victoria Falls to get one of the best views of the falls and the surroundings. You can get a great view of the Victoria Bridge here as well. The hike takes about 45 minutes and includes plenty of stairs, so it might not be ideal for small children. Avoid slipping on the slick rock and follow the trail signs.
Victoria Falls in 10 Days
In 10 days, you'll have even more time to go on safari in the surrounding areas. Some of the best and closest safari options can be found in Hwange National Park. Start by exploring the falls for the first couple of days, as detailed in the shorter itineraries above, and then take the rest of your visit to go on an exciting safari adventure.
Hwange National Park is the largest in Zimbabwe. We recommend spending at least 2-3 days here. The park has an impressive abundance of over 100 mammals and 400 bird species. Some animals you'll encounter include leopards, cheetahs, and hyenas. The park holds Africa's largest concentration of African wild dogs, and is known for its large elephant population.
Hwange National Park offers one of the best walking safaris in the country, providing some of the best photography opportunities. Of course, you'll also be able to enjoy multiple game drives and exciting night safaris.
Victoria Falls in 2 Weeks
With two weeks to spare, you'll experience the entire Victoria Falls area, plus other highlights of Southern Africa. After taking your pick of days detailed in the above itineraries, we recommend visiting Chobe National Park in Botswana. The park has some of the best game viewing in the world, with an abundance of wild animals.
Specifically, Chobe is one of the best places in the world to spot wild elephants, given the density of their population along the Chobe River. You can also expect to see zebras, cheetahs, wildebeests, hippos, and giraffes. You can participate in a mobile safari, go on daily game drives from a lodge, or even take a multi-day houseboat safari.
Alternatively, with this length of time, Victoria Falls can be combined with Cape Town, Johannesburg, Greater Kruger in South Africa, and Botswana's Okavango Delta. For your two-week adventure, consider this exciting itinerary that combines Victoria Falls with a deeper exploration of Southern Africa.