Victoria Falls, one of the most amazing waterfalls in the world and the biggest in Africa, is on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. It's a must-see! This post is a travel guide with helpful tips on how to visit Victoria Falls and what you should know before you go.
When is the best time to visit the Victoria Falls?
You can visit Victoria Falls any time of the year. However, there are big differences depending on whether you go during the dry season or the rainy season:
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Rainy season or dry season?
The rainy season begins in December and extends into March.
Pros: The amount of water flowing through the Zambezi River, which feeds Victoria Falls, increases dramatically during the rainy season. Especially at the end of this season, when the water levels are at their peak, the falls are a breathtaking sight, revealing their full size. In the dry season, this is harder to imagine. The highest water levels are in April and May, right after the rainy season ends. Temperatures are also much cooler in winter (which is summer in the northern hemisphere) and can even drop below 10°C at night.
Cons: The enormous masses of water also mean an enormous spray by the waterfall, which can hardly be put into words. Especially on the Zimbabwe side, you will get drenched when visiting the Victoria Falls National Park during the rainy season. This is the case even during the dry season at some viewpoints, but when the water masses have reached their maximum, you can already feel the spray on the road leading into the national park – a few minutes’ walk from the first viewpoint.
In Zambia, the Devil's Pool cannot be visited during the rainy season for safety reasons.
The dry season begins in May and extends into September.
Significantly lower water volumes also mean significantly lower water levels. But even at only a tenth of their maximum strength, the Victoria Falls are still impressive. We ourselves were there at the end of November, when the water level is at its lowest, and were still speechless.
There is a huge advantage for all adventure lovers who want to swim in the legendary Devil’s Pool, which is located at the source of the waterfall in Zambia. It can only be visited when the Zambezi River has a low water level and therefore less power. You can find out more about the Devil’s Pool later in this post under “Activities”.
Temperatures are significantly higher during the dry season. However, even at over 30 degrees Celsius during our visit in November, it never felt oppressive, but pleasant, as it was not humid.
You can therefore choose the ideal travel time for Victoria Falls according to your personal preferences from this naturally recurring change in water and weather.
How many days should you plan for the visit of the Victoria Falls?
One day is not enough to experience the Victoria Falls. Especially if you also want to explore the surrounding area and relax a little in a great hotel, I recommend five days.
You can visit the Victoria Falls from both Zambia and Zimbabwe and do different activities from each. The Mosi Oa Tunya National Park in Zambia is also great for safaris!
Which side is more beautiful to see the Victoria Falls? Zambia or Zimbabwe?
Again, both options offer different advantages. However, due to their close proximity, they are easy to combine:
The Zambezi River, which is the source of the Victoria Falls, flows through Zambia and plunges into a deep gorge that forms the border with Zimbabwe. Therefore, you have the best view of the falls themselves from the Zimbabwean side at the Victoria Falls National Park.
Nevertheless, we opted to stay at a very special hotel in Zambia and only took a day trip to Zimbabwe. And this was the best decision, because the location of the hotel on the Zambezi River in Zambia, just a few meters from the start of the Victoria Falls, was unique! You can find out more about this under “Hotel recommendation for the Victoria Falls”. Another benefit of Zambia is, that the Devils Pool is also located on that side!
How to reach the Victoria Falls?
No matter which side you choose, your journey will be by plane. The closest airport is Livingstone (LVI) in Zambia, but Victoria Falls Airport (VFA) is, as the name suggests, also a very close airport in Zimbabwe.
We ourselves first flew to Johannesburg (JNB) in South Africa and then on to Livingstone with the airline Safair. And it’s hard to believe, but there are even direct flights with Eurowings Discover from Frankfurt to Livingstone!
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Visiting the Victoria Falls is an incredible experience that I definitely want to do again! It was an unforgettable tour, which has been one of my favorite travel moments ever – especially in combination with a stay at the Royal Livingstone Hotel in Zambia!
I hope this post helps you plan your own travels to Victoria Falls and I was able to give you some important tips for your trip! If you have any further questions about visiting the Victoria Falls, feel free to write a comment or message me on Instagram!