Is Victoria Falls worth visiting?

Is Victoria Falls worth visiting?

Victoria Falls is one of the world’s most awe-inspiring natural wonders, located on the Zambezi River between Zambia and Zimbabwe. With its thundering waters and misty rainbows, the falls have drawn travelers from around the globe for centuries.

Victoria Falls has so much to offer and there are so many activities you can do on both Zambia and Zimbabwe sides, whether you are interested in nature, animals, or adrenalin attractions. Let us not forget about Victoria Falls itself, which is one of the seven wonders of the world.

Are you asking whether Victoria Falls is with the visit? My answer to this question is definitely yes. In fact, not only worth it but for us it was the best holiday of our lives.

In this blog post, I will provide you with information on what can you do and see in Victoria Falls based on our experience to help you make a decision about whether Victoria Falls is the right destination for your next trip.

As the owner of this website, I’ve included some recommendations for your trips. When you use the links to make a purchase, I may get a small commission. You will not get charged extra. Full disclosure.

 

 

Is Victoria Falls Worth Visiting?

Before you start planning your trip to see Victoria Falls, there are a few things you should know about Victoria Falls and both countries Zambia and Zimbabwe, where Victoria Falls is located. Read this information in my article here.

We spent one week in Zambia working as volunteers with children, then we explored Victoria Falls on both Zambia and Zimbabwe sides.

 

How to go from Zambia to Zimbabwe

To go from Zambia to Zimbabwe you can take a taxi from your hotel to the Zambia border. Zambian taxis are not allowed to go through the bridge to Zimbabwe, so you can either walk, which we chose or you can take another taxi. In case you decide to take another taxi, don’t forget to negotiate the price as it is a very short distance.

We really enjoyed a pleasant walk along the Victoria Falls bridge spanning the Zambezi River. The bridge afforded us breathtaking views, including the sight of people with rafts on the river, one of the popular activities available in the area. Another adrenaline-inducing activity is bungee jumping from the bridge.

Once you arrive at the Zimbabwe border you have to show your visa in case you bought it before or to buy it there as you are entering a different country.

From there we took a taxi to our hotel. A lot of taxis are available there offering the service. Our hotel was just a 1-minute drive, so we could easily walk there. We stayed in the N1 Hotel, which had a great location close to Victoria Falls and the shopping market. You can read my review of the hotel here.

We didn’t waste our time and after check-in, we went to see the Victoria Falls.

📍Book your stay in N1 Hotel in Zimbabwe HERE

Victoria Falls is natural wonder of the world

From our hotel to the national park Mosi-Oa-Tunya, (smoke that thunders) to see Victoria Falls was just a short walk during which we saw baboons roaming around.

In order to gain entry into the park, you are required to pay an entrance fee. Once inside, you can enjoy a delightful stroll through nature, taking in views of the Mr. Livingstone statue and the falls from various angles.

Despite visiting during the dry season in October, we were still amazed by the incredible power of the water at Victoria Falls, getting a little bit wet in some areas. During the rainy season, raincoats are a must to avoid getting completely soaked.

Witnessing this natural wonder firsthand was an unforgettable experience, as we walked through the forest and thought about Mr. Livingstone’s discovery of this beauty, which he named Victoria Falls in honor of Queen Victoria.

We marveled at the contrast between the strong currents and the dry sections, where we could stand and observe the valley below. Spending three-quarters of a day there, we captured countless photos and reluctantly left, feeling peaceful in such a magnificent setting.

From the park, we went to eat our lunch at a restaurant called Three Monkeys, which was close to our hotel. The restaurant offers a pleasant outdoor seating area and serves delicious cuisine.

I decided to try a mini crocodile burger together with mini beef burgers, but the crocodile burger, unfortunately, didn’t quite appeal to my taste buds. The beef burgers and my husband’s pizza were delicious.

What to do in the evening on the Zimbabwe side

In the late afternoon, we embarked on a Zambezi River cruise, enjoying refreshments while peacefully observing the surrounding natural scenery.

Along the way, we spotted numerous hippos in the water, as well as crocodiles and even elephants crossing the river. I had never witnessed swimming elephants before. As the sun began to set, the experience became all the more breathtaking.

➡️Book a Sunset Cruise on the Zambezi River HERE

Despite returning to the hotel late, we were pleasantly surprised to find that the adjacent Snake Park was still open. My husband was eager to visit and view the black mamba.

The Snake Park attendant was friendly and honored my husband with tales about snakes, even allowing him to hold a harmless one. After such an eventful day, we retired to bed, looking forward to more adventures the next day would bring.

 

Safari game drive in Zimbabwe

We set out early in the morning for a full-day safari, but unfortunately, it was a letdown for me after having experienced a much more fruitful safari in Kenya. Despite our guide’s best efforts to locate wildlife, we rode for hours seeing very few animals.

I couldn’t help but feel sorry for our guide, who must have been exhausted from constantly scanning the surroundings for animals. The dry and hot season had caused many animals to retreat into the bush, making them difficult to spot.

Therefore avoid taking this game drive during the dry hot season. Nevertheless, the day in nature was still enjoyable.

Early in the day, our car broke down, but our guide quickly notified his colleague who brought us a new vehicle. In the meantime, he set up a table with coffee and biscuits in the back of the truck, allowing us to enjoy breakfast while waiting.

The highlight of the day was undoubtedly our lunch break by the river, where our guide set up chairs and a table and served us a nice meal in the midst of the wildlife. We joked that perhaps some hippos, crocodiles, or even lions might come to join us.

➡️Book your Game Drive in Zambezi National Park HERE

 

During our volunteering program in Zambia, we had the opportunity to witness rhinos up close, and it was an incredible experience with a touch of adrenaline.

Upon arriving at the park, we were escorted by guides armed with guns to see the rhinos from a very short distance. They cautioned us to watch our step and stay in line to avoid black mambas.

We were amazed by how closely we were able to observe the rhinos interacting in their natural habitat. At one point, we witnessed two of them getting into a fight.

 

Back to Zambia to meet lions and cheetahs

The next day in the morning after we bought some souvenirs from the market, we went back to Zambia. We had lunch in Cafe Zambezi, located in Livingstone town. The staff is so nice and the food is delicious there. Lots of choices and huge portions. We had to ask for a takeaway as we couldn’t eat it all.

We stayed in the Maramba River Lodge, located in Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park overlooking the Maramba River.  There is a nice terrace where we could sit and watch some elephants on the other side of the river. There is also a pool which we used to relax on our last day. You can read my review of Maramba River Lodge here.

One cautionary piece of advice we received was not to venture out of our lodges at night due to the possibility of wandering hippos, which we learned firsthand.

One night, we heard a strange sound near our lodge. I asked my husband if he heard it too, and he confirmed that he did.

Convinced it was a hippo, I looked through the window, which had green covers and grids, and saw a massive hippo munching on the grass just beside our lodge, before strolling away. It was yet another incredible experience to behold.

📍Book your stay at Maramba River Lodge HERE

We were thrilled for another adventure-filled day that involved walking with lions and cheetahs. Upon arrival, we were briefed on how to conduct ourselves around these majestic animals.

First on our itinerary were the lions, a male and a female not yet fully grown. We took turns to pose for pictures with them.

I don’t know why, but I felt no fear in their presence. Being an animal lover, I found it easy to make friends with them.

As I petted and spoke to the lion, he became so relaxed that he closed his eyes, yawned, and even enjoyed my massage. After taking photos, we set out for a walk with the lions.

Our next encounter was with two female cheetahs, who are one of the most stunning and adorable cats in the world. After taking pictures and petting them, we went for a walk. It was an experience of a lifetime, and we didn’t want it to end.

Later, we found out that the facility also offers volunteering programs with these animals, which we would love to do one day. The idea of waking up to the sound of lions roaring was thrilling.

On our way back, we encountered a group of giraffes in the middle of the road, peacefully eating from the trees. We stopped the car and waited for them to finish their meal, as we were in their home after all.

 

Last day – Inside Devil’s Pool

It was our last day and we planned to go to Devil’s Pool. Devil’s Pool is located on the Zambian side of the falls and you can get there from Livingstone Island.

“The Devil’s Pool itself is a deep natural pool that has been created by thousands of years of erosion, but what is unique about it is that there is a rock ledge on the lip of the Falls, where the water is only a few centimeters deep. This natural barrier is what allows you to jump into the deep pool but not get swept over the edge.” (Victoria Falls guide)

We were picked up and taken to the most luxurious 5* hotel Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls, from where we went by boat on the Zambezi River to Livingstone Island.

First, we took some pictures of Victoria Falls on the Zambian side and a spectacular rainbow. Then we put our swimming costumes on, and with professional guides, we entered the Zambezi River and walked to the Devil’s pool.

Wow, wow, wow, this was such an adventure. We were a group of people sitting on the side and one by one, couples, or friends were going inside the pool with one of the guides while the other one stood on the edge taking pictures and videos of us with our camera.

It is hard to put into words how incredible it was to lie at the top of Victoria Falls, one of the world’s seven natural wonders. From that vantage point, you can see the powerful cascading water and the brilliant rainbow it creates.

After the experience, we swam back to a central point that felt like a jacuzzi, snapped some selfies, and rejoined the rest of the group. The entire excursion was very well-organized and we felt completely safe. Once we emerged from the river, we were greeted with a table of tea and cakes.

➡️Book your Devil’s Pool lifetime experience HERE

On the way back from the hotel there were some zebras and antelopes on the side of the road, so we stopped and went out of the car to take some photos.

After this adventure, we returned to our lodge and took it easy by the pool, absorbing all the amazing experiences we had.

The following morning, as we prepared to depart, we caught sight of a group of elephants behind the fence near our lodge, bidding us farewell.

 

What other activities can you do in Victoria Falls?

There are still many activities you can do in Victoria Falls, for example, Boma dinner which I wanted to do, but didn’t have enough time. It is a dinner consisting of traditional food and entertainment. Dancers and singers are performing traditional dance and there are also drummers. Guests can join and have fun.

More things you can do here are a helicopter flight or microlite flight over the falls, a historical bridge tour, a steam train tour, swimming with crocodiles, a lunar rainbow tour, and upper Zambezi canoeing. From the adrenaline ones, there is a zip line, bridge slide, flying fox, George swing, water rafting, and more.

➡️Book a Helicopter flight HERE

➡️Book the Water rafting activity HERE

 

Conclusion: Is Victoria Falls worth visiting?

Victoria Falls is definitely worth visiting. It offers a unique and unforgettable experience, as you get to witness the beauty of one of the seven natural wonders of the world.

From wildlife safaris, interacting with lions and cheetahs, adrenaline and water activities to local culture and cuisine there are plenty of activities to keep you entertained during your stay.

My husband didn’t want to go to Africa and at the end of our trip, he told me it was his best experience ever and asked me where shall we go next. Everything we did, saw and tasted formed unbelievable memories of a lifetime.

So if you’re looking for an adventure of your life, visiting Victoria Falls should definitely be on your bucket list.