Top 5 Things to Do At Victoria Falls

1. Visiting the falls

Of course no trip to Victoria Falls is complete without actually visiting the falls themselves. It’s possible to visit them independently or as part of an organised tour. As the falls straddle both Zimbabwe and Zambia you can visit the falls from both countries, however if you were to only pick one then the Zimbabwean side would be the winner. A walk around the marked trails takes around two hours with a number of strategic lookout points (if the water level of the river is high then it’s recommended to take a poncho or waterproof as you will get very wet from the spray at various points!). It is also worth visiting the Victoria Falls bridge joining Zimbabwe and Zambia to get another impressive view of the falls.

Best time to visit

Victoria Falls can be visited all year round, although depending on when you visit, the water levels can be quite dramatically different. The summer months (December to March) are hot with increasing water levels, with the levels typically peaking between April and June. Winter (July to August) is still hot by UK standards. Between September and November the water level of the falls is at its lowest, and it is not uncommon for the Zambia side to be completely dry. 

2. Taking a cruise on the Zambezi

Taking a river cruise on the upper Zambezi River is a great way to spend the evening. Here you can relax and enjoy a few sundowners and snacks while watching the world drift by. There are also plenty of wildlife viewing opportunities – during my cruise we saw elephants chilling out in the middle of the river, pods of hippos, crocodiles lazing on the bank and plenty of different types of birds. Llama Travel has sunset cruises on the Ra-Ikane boat. 

3. A daytrip to Chobe National Park in Botswana

Possibly the best day trip you can do from Victoria Falls is visiting the nearby Chobe National Park. This full-day excursion takes you from the town of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe to the town of Kasane in neighbouring Botswana. From here you first take a morning boat ride on the Chobe River, and after lunch you take an afternoon game drive through the national park. The Chobe National Park is famous for its large herds of elephants, with up to 85,000 congregating in the region during the dry season.

4. Adventure activities

If you are the adventurous type then Victoria Falls has it all, from bungee jumping from the Victoria Falls bridge, zip-lining or having a go at the infamous white-water rafting down the lower Zambezi. While we don’t arrange any adventure activities, these can easily be arranged once you are there.

5. Helicopter ride over the falls

Due to the nature of the falls, and depending on when you visit, there can be a large amount of spray obstructing them, meaning the best way to appreciate them is from above, by taking a helicopter flight. One thing you will notice when you visit Victoria Falls is that there is a near constant buzz of helicopters, with people looking to get that different perspective. Again, we don’t arrange these flights but they are easy enough to sort out independently or while you are there.

It is possible to include a visit to Victoria Falls from South Africa or Namibia and it is part of the itinerary on all of our Botswana holidays.

Contact us to speak to an Africa expert.

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