By Roxanne Reid
Victoria Falls is the place to be if you love adventure, nature, food, culture, or just relaxing in a romantic spot. Whether you’re looking for thrills or just to chill out, there’s something for everyone in this gorgeous spot in northwest Zimbabwe. Check out my pick of the top 20 things to do at Victoria Falls – from adrenaline-packed activities and wildlife to cultural and community experiences.
The Victoria Falls, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
, sits along the Zambezi River that divides Zimbabwe from Zambia. These amazing Falls have been forming for millions of years, with water slowly wearing down volcanic rock, using cracks in the stone and the rough power of sand to create a series of epic waterfalls.The Main Falls are the highest, widest sheet of continually falling water in the world – twice as high as Niagara Falls and about 500 metres wider. David Livingstone was the first white man to set eyes on the Falls in 1855 and Livingstone Island on the lip of the Falls is named after him. Although the Falls were known as Mosi-oa-Tunya (the smoke that thunders) by the local Makololo people, Livingstone – with typical Victorian arrogance – renamed them after Queen Victoria.
The Victoria Falls are an amazing spectacle, something you need to see at least once in your lifetime. They’re accessible either from Victoria Falls town in Zimbabwe or from Livingstone across the river in Zambia. Victoria Falls is a bustling little town with lots of accommodation, restaurants, markets and shops. It’s also the hub for loads of adventures and activities. Here, in random order, is my pick of what to do in Victoria Falls.
Note: I’m a writer not a tourism operator or booking agent. If you want to know more about any of these activities or accommodations, the best thing is to follow the relevant website link in the copy for details and prices. Also see the section towards the end entitled ‘Activity operators and Victoria Falls packages’ for links to the websites of five operators at Vic Falls who offer a wide range of activities.
1. Walk along the cliff path to see the Falls
The Number One thing to do on the Zimbabwean side is to walk into the rainforest and along the path that takes you past all the Falls. If you visit during the wet season (February to May), get ready to be drenched by the spray and blown away by the power of the water rushing down a 100m drop. The dry season is still magnificent and definitely better for your camera since there’s less spray.
Walk along the cliff path to see the Victoria Falls up close to appreciate the five separate waterfalls. First, just beyond a statue of Livingstone, is the Devil’s Cataract, a roiling cauldron where some 1100 cubic metres of water come thundering over the edge of the Falls every second. The entire annual consumption of New York City goes over the Falls in just three-and-a-half days during peak flood season (April/May). From the Devil’s Cataract, the path flows on past the Main Falls, Horseshoe Falls, Rainbow Falls and Angel’s Armchair Falls.
If it’s your first time at Victoria Falls, take a guided tour of the various Falls and the surrounding rainforest – home to bushbuck, warthog and birds like the trumpeter hornbill. Your guide (see ‘Activity operators and Victoria Falls packages’ towards the end of this post) will also tell you about the fascinating geological formation of the Falls.
2. Enjoy a Zambezi River cruise at sunset
Enjoy a sunset cruise along the Zambezi River a few kilometres above the Falls, where the river is broad and slow. You’ll almost certainly spot some crocs and hippos, and if you go in the dry season maybe even a few elephants or other wild animals coming to drink at the river. If you don’t, there’s usually a bar on board, so you can drown your sorrows in gin and tonic.
3. Fly over the Falls in a helicopter
Jump into a helicopter to fly over the Falls for a different perspective. The Victoria Falls helicopter ride is called the ‘flight of angels’, after David Livingstone’s comment that ‘scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight’. Don’t stress about which side of the chopper you’re sitting on; it makes a few passes so everyone gets to see the Falls and take photos. Be prepared to be weighed before you hop into the helicopter, for safety reasons.
4. Go bungee jumping at Victoria Falls
Get your adrenalin pumping by hurling yourself on the end of a bungee rope off the historical bridge that connects Zimbabwe to Zambia across the Zambezi River. It’s a 111m drop towards the river and a wild ride against a spectacularly scenic backdrop. If you’re staying on the Zimbabwean side, take your passport with you because the walk to the starting point along the bridge takes you to the Zambian side. No children under 14 or people who weigh less than 40kg or more than 140kg.
5. Ride a tram on the bridge over the Falls
Take the Bamba Tram for a 90min ride along the bridge at sunrise or sunset for glorious views over the Falls and the Batoka Gorge. As you travel through the Zambezi National Park, your guide will share snippets of the area’s intriguing history. Stop on the bridge to enjoy light refreshments, and visit the rail and bridge museum on the Zambian side of the Falls. Remember to bring your passport. You can arrange a transfer to and from your hotel to the bridge.
6. Go swinging or ziplining
If a 111m freefall with a bungee cord tied to your ankles (see point 4) doesn’t appeal to you, try the bridge swing for a 360-degree view of the river and gorge, the flying fox or gorge swing over Batoka Gorge. There’s also a zipline 120m above the water. For a restful nature experience that’s still a thrill, try the treetop canopy tour where you zipline between nine platforms in the riverine forest. This is the activity to choose for views of the bridge, rapids and spray from the Falls, and to see forest birds like purple-crested turaco.
7. See the lunar rainbow or ‘moonbow’
During the wet months of March to May you can see the ghostly lunar rainbow at Victoria Falls in the evening. This is when there’s enough spray to create the Victoria Falls moonbow effect during full moon. Like a normal rainbow, a moonbow happens when water particles (spray) in the air refract light. The Falls open for three nights during full moon, including the day before and the day after. Your best chance of seeing a moonbow is in the first hour or two after the moon rises. For safety, this activity is available only as a tour with qualified guides (see ‘Activity operators and Victoria Falls packages’ towards the end of this post).
8. Experience African food and culture
Don’t miss The Boma Experience at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge for an evening of lively dancing and drumming. You’ll be entertained by the music and traditional dancers, get a four-course meal as well as a chance to sample some local delicacies like kapente fish and mopani worms. There’s also a sangoma telling stories about culture and heritage. Best of all is a chance to join a drumming session that’s huge fun and a highlight of the evening.
9. Enjoy dinner on the banks of the Zambezi
Have dinner under the stars on the banks of the Zambezi River at The Eatery at the Pure Africa Waterfront
. First, gather around the fire pit to listen to the grunting of hippos and distant thundering of the Falls, and to meet fellow diners. Then enjoy a delicious three-course meal. Pure Africa
also offers a number of other Victoria Falls activities like river cruises, riverside picnics and an interactive potjie cooking experience.10. Go white-water rafting
If a wild ride and rushing adrenalin are your thing, visit when the Falls are not in full flood. While the currents aren’t too strong for safety, embark on an exciting Victoria Falls white-water rafting trip below the Falls. The best time to take on the thrills and spills of some of the biggest rapids in the world is from August to early January. Choose from a half-day or full-day outing with experienced guides.
11. Go canoeing above the Falls
If white-water rafting seems too scary, take to the Zambezi in a canoe above the Falls to feel the beauty and serenity of the river. Along the way, you can expect to see wildlife like elephant, hippo, croc and birds without having to worry about the roiling rapids below the Falls, though there are a few small rapids. Unlike white-water rafting (see point 10), canoeing is available all year round.
12. Enjoy high tea at the Victoria Falls Hotel
A grand old lady built in 1904, the Victoria Falls Hotel serves an elegant high tea on the terrace overlooking the bridge that crosses the Falls. Enjoy sweet and savoury treats, watch the spray that rises from the Falls like smoke, and feel part of more than a century of history. Sunset cocktails here are also good.
13. Meet the locals on a township tour
A large percentage of Victoria Falls’ people live in the Chinotimba township, which is a good place to meet and greet the locals. Together with your guide, you’ll get insight into township life, visit a local tavern, market or church. During term-time, a visit to the local primary school to meet the children is a highlight, and they…
