Victoria Falls Guided Tour from Zimbabwe and Zambia Sides

The Zimbabwe side: rainforest trail and viewpoints

The Zimbabwe side of Victoria Falls lies inside Victoria Falls National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1989 together with Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park in Zambia. A path runs through a small rainforest kept green all year by the spray, with a series of numbered viewpoints facing the falls across the chasm.

Walking from west to east you see the Devil's Cataract, the Main Falls, the widest section, Horseshoe Falls, Rainbow Falls, the highest point of the falls, and finally Danger Point, which looks down into the gorge. Most of the length of the falls is visible from this side, which is why your guide spends about three hours here. It is the classic Victoria Falls rainforest walk, and the place where rainbows appear most often in the mist.

The Victoria Falls Bridge

Completed in 1905, the Victoria Falls Bridge is a steel arch that spans the second gorge of the Zambezi and links Zimbabwe and Zambia. Its deck stands about 128 metres above the river at low water, and it still carries road, rail and pedestrian traffic between the two countries.

Crossing the bridge is part of the border procedure between the two countries, so keep your passport ready. From the middle you look back at the spray rising over the falls and down into the gorge below, one of the best photo spots of the whole tour. Your guide explains how the bridge was built and why it became a symbol of the region.

The Zambia side: Mosi-oa-Tunya and the Knife-Edge Bridge

On the Zambian side the falls are protected by Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, named after the local name for the falls, the smoke that thunders. Here you get close to the Eastern Cataract and cross the narrow Knife-Edge Bridge, a footbridge that leads through the spray to a point facing the falls and the Boiling Pot below.

The views are more intimate than in Zimbabwe, with the water falling directly beside you. In the high-water season from March to May you will be soaked, which is why raincoats are provided. Your Zambian guide spends about two hours with you on this side, explaining the geology of the gorges and the culture of the communities around Livingstone.

Local craft market

Before returning to your hotel, the tour stops at a local market where artisans sell wood and stone carvings, baskets, beadwork, printed fabrics and paintings. It is a good chance to pick up a memento and to meet the craftspeople of the region.

Prices are usually negotiable and cash is preferred, so bring small notes. Your guide can suggest what is made locally and how to tell handcrafted pieces apart. Popular souvenirs include carved wild animals in hardwood, soapstone sculptures, woven bowls and colourful chitenge fabrics, all light enough to pack in your bag. Spending time here also supports the local families who make a living from these traditional crafts.

Best time to visit Victoria Falls

The falls change completely through the year. From February to May the Zambezi is at its peak and the spray rises hundreds of metres, sometimes hiding the falls behind a white cloud; the experience is powerful and very wet. From June to August the flow is still strong but the views are clearer, which many people consider the best time to visit Victoria Falls.

From September to December the water drops, and parts of the Zambian side can run almost dry, while the Zimbabwe side keeps flowing. Seeing both sides on the same day lets you appreciate the falls in any season, which is what makes this Victoria Falls both sides tour so useful.