Skip to Content

Top 10 AMAZING Things To Do in Victoria Falls (Zim & Zam!)

The mighty Victoria Falls dissects the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia and has become a playground for all those who want to push themselves to their physical limits. Across the two tiny towns of Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) and Livingston (Zambia) there are more adrenaline charged adventure activities than anywhere else in Africa. Perfect for if you have ever wanted to Bungee Jump, White Water Raft or take a helicopter ride. And that’s not all. Join me as I run down the top things to do in Victoria Falls! 

Things to do In Victoria Falls
Disclaimer: Almost all posts on this site contain Affiliate links, and this one is no different. This means that if you click on any of the links in this post (and make a purchase) I may receive a small commission at absolutely no cost to you. Each post is carefully crafted to (hopefully!) answer all your questions and recommendations are made where we believe they will improve your trip and help with your planning. As such we thank you in advance should you decide to click & buy. Read my full Disclosure here.

 

Incredible Things To Do in Victoria Falls

WELCOME TO VICTORIA FALLS! – AFRICA’S (SOMEWHAT UNLIKELY!) ADVENTURE CAPITAL

Victoria Falls – or Mosi-ao-Tunya (the smoke that thunders) – is the name of the waterfall which lies on the Zimbabwe/Zambia border in the heart of Southern Africa. It’s natural beauty has been the catalyst to propelling the very small towns of Victoria Falls (Zim) and Livingston (Zam) into two of the biggest tourist hubs in Africa. With the powerful water, deep canyon and limitless skies providing the perfect backdrop for some of the most amazing adrenaline activities that have ever been thought up!

Most are based on the Zimbabwe side – but can easily accessed from Zambia (and vice-versa), with the tour companies offering picks up from accommodation on both sides of the historic bridge which connects the two countries.

RELATED: Can’t decide which town to stay in? Check out my post: Where is the best place to Stay to visit Victoria Falls – Zimbabwe or Zambia?

White Water Rafting

Top Adventure Activities In Victoria Falls

Operators: Various – depending which side of the falls you are on.
Cost: Approx $120 USD

Let’s start with a biggie – and one not for the physically unfit or faint of heart. Whitewater rafting starts with a 100m walk down into the Bakota Gorge where (dependent on the season and water level) you set off on a journey through up to 24 Grade 3-5 rapids on the mighty Zambezi River.

Physically demanding, you’ll be running on adrenaline all day – but remember to keep some in the tank for the 200m climb back OUT of the gorge. That’s right folks, the canyon gets deeper the further you go!

*TIP: if you do this from the Zambia side – they have a lift to get you back out of the canyon – or if you are feeling rich, you can get a helicopter to come collect you…)*

.

Batoka Gorge Swing

Top Adventure Activities In Victoria Falls

Operators: Wild Horizons
Cost: Approx $120 USD (but when purchased as a combo adventure pass with the white water rafting the two activities are only approx $120)

Everyone loves a swing right?! Well this takes it to the next level. You stand on a platform 120m above the flowing Zambezi river below, attach yourself to a harness and simply, step off. (Or can can run, jump, dive – the possibilities are only limited by your ‘bravery/stupidity’!)

After leaving the safety of the platform you then drop 70m straight down in free fall through the Zambezi Gorges before the rope tightens and swings in a 95 degree arc. Pure adrenaline pumping awesomeness!

**There are more high wire adventures on offer at Wild Horizons and these include both the Flying Fox & Ziplining Canopy Tours**

RELATED: The photo above is from a post I affectionately call ‘My Africa Outtakes‘ – all about when my experiences on this amazing continent did not go according to plan! Have a read if you need a little giggle today!

.

Bungee Jump

Top Adventure Activities In Victoria Falls

Operators:  Shearwater
Cost: Approx $160 USD

Still after some free fall action? Why not try the 111m Bungee Jump from the center of the Victoria Falls bridge? Consistently voted one of the Top 5 Bungee’s in the world – you get a whole 4 seconds to take in one of the 7 natural wonders of the world as you hurtle towards the flowing river below! It’s definitely one of the most adrenaline pumping things to do in Victoria Falls!

RELATED: Is Vic Falls the first stop on your overland Safari? Check out our Safari Packing List to make sure you have everything you need!

.

Devils pool (Zambia side)

Activities In Victoria Falls

Operators: Various – Book here
Cost: Approx $100 USD

Also known as Livingstone Island, the Devil’s Pool has long been a spot adrenaline hunters seek out when visiting Victoria Falls. It’s the spot where you can literally hang over the edge of the falls and peer into the 103m abyss below.

Because of the danger of hanging off the edge of a waterfall, access is limited to certain months of the year (when it is deemed safe with low water levels) and daily visitors as restricted to 12 at each time, with a maximum of 80 people per day.

As it is located in Zambia, it will require you to take a day trips across the border to visit if you are staying in Zimbabwe.

If you don’t happen to be visiting when the Devil’s pool is open – never fear adrenaline seekers – the Angel’s Armchair offers practically the same experience in a different pool, in the same area above the falls.

Related: All tours run from the Royal Livingstone Hotel – which is absolutely beautiful and has a very reasonably priced lunch menu. Read more about it and other great places to eat in Victoria Falls here.

 

 

Microlight Flight Over the Falls (Zambia Side)

Top Adventure Activities In Victoria Falls

Operator: Batoka sky
Cost: Approx $155 USD

Once you’ve had enough on throwing yourself at, in and around Victoria Falls, why not take a flight above it – in an open air propeller powered giant kite?! It actually feels like you are flying. The wind is real, the height is real – the view is incredible. If you have already flown in a helicopter – this is the closest you can get to flying without putting on a wing suit! And if you haven’t flown in a helicopter…

RELATED – If you love adventure – you’ll LOVE our post about the Best Adventure Quotes on the Planet!

.

Helicopter Flight Above the Falls

Top Adventure Activities In Victoria Falls

(c) www.shearwatervictoriafalls.com

Operator: Shearwater Flight of Angels (Zimbabwe Side) or Batoka Sky (Zambia Side)
Cost: Approx $150 – $165 USD

The “Flight of the Angels” is one of Victoria Falls most loved attractions. For 15 minutes you glide above the 1700m curtain of water that is the Mosi-ao-Tunya, taking in the very different views from both the Zimbabwe and Zambian sides on this not to be missed Victoria Falls helicopter ride.

RELATED: This is the first stop on my Ultimate Budget Overland Southern African Safari. click the link to find out the rest of the route!

.R

Sunset Cruise

Top Adventure Activities In Victoria Falls

Operator: Zambezi explorer (Zimbabwe)
Cost: Approx $55 USD

The absolute best way to round out any day in Victoria Falls – or in Africa for that reason – is on a sunset cruise on the Zambezi, in a national park, with sundowners. Whilst all activity operators offer a Zambezi river cruise option (often as an add-on), the Zambezi Explorer is just in a class above the rest. The top two decks are restricted in customers to ensure everyone has a riverside seat.

Waiters serve unlimited drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and a variety of canapes (it’s practically a dinner cruise!) are served throughout the 3 hour round trip. From the boat you see hippos and crocodiles – and if you’re lucky – elephants and giraffes too! This is hand’s down one of my favorite experiences in the whole of Africa and one of the best spots for viewing a Zambezi river sunsets.

.

Victoria Falls National Park

Top Adventure Activities in Victoria Falls

Operator: Zimbabwe Parks (Zimbabwe)
Cost: Approx $30-80 dependent on nationality

Visiting the Park is the best way to get up close and personal with Vic Falls. From several viewpoints you get the full force of the spray as you take in the 1.7km long waterfall. There is no doubt – you will get wet if you want to get close! It’s easy to spend a couple of hours here walking the trails and taking in one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World. And for an additional entrance fee you can spend the twilight hours in the park and catch what is always an incredible sunset.

*TIP: Just after you have crossed the bridge into Zambia from Zimbabwe, there are walking trails on the right near Victoria Falls which are free to enter – and give you a view of the falls from a different angle. Some even say these views are better than in the National Park!*

.

Lion encounter

Top Adventure Activities In Victoria Falls

Operator: Lion Encounter (Zimbabwe)
Cost: Approx $160 USD

Zimbabwe’s Lion Encounter offer a unique opportunity to walk with Lion cubs up to the age of 18 months old. These are captive bred lion cubs who are ‘trained’ only to the point that it is safe to walk with them. They are not pets and they will not sit on command! These walks help them become familiar with their surroundings (as they would in the wild) and become familiar with the other game that live in the park.

The cubs are part of an ongoing conservation effort to preserve the species (there has been a 90% decline in the species in the past 20-30 years). Their program runs over 4 stages, with two release prides currently being monitored in Antelope Park and Livingstone. Lion Encounter are proud to be the first organization to reintroduce the cubs of captive-bred lions into the wild.

**Please read this text to find out more about the program, the work they do, conservation stages and release prides**

Related: For more about the conservation of Africa’s magnificent animals, click here to read about Hwange National Park and their work to ensure the survival of Africa’s Painted Dogs.

.

Go on Safari in the Zambezi National park

Upper Zambezi CanoeingIf you fancy taking a day trip from Victoria Falls, the Lower Zambezi National Park is easy to reach from the Zambia side of the falls and is where you can chose to take a half day or full day game drives, canoe safaris or walking safaris.

Alternatively, on the Zimbabwe side you can reach the Upper Zambezi National Park (who also offer full day and half day game drive) but are more famous for their Canoe Safaris. This is where you are driven up river into the park and can paddle (or simply float – the currents are often enough for you to glide along!) back down keeping your eyes peeled for the wildlife on the riverbanks.

.

A Trip To Chobe National Park in Botswana

Chobe Day Trip - Elephants on the banks of the Chobe River

Herd of elephants ion the Banks of the Chobe River (and a couple of Giraffe in the background!)

Tick two epic experiences off your list by combining Victoria Falls and Chobe National Park on your visit to southern Africa. Most tour operators offer Chobe day trips from Victoria Falls, however, if time permits, I would always recommend a multi-day/overnight trip to the park to maximise your chance of seeing all the animals. Doing so will also allow you to do a sunset river cruise on the Chobe River – and who doesn’t love a river sunset cruise?!

 

I hope you enjoyed my run down of Victoria Falls activities and have made your choice of the best things to do in Victoria Falls from our list!

Top Adventure Activities in Victoria Falls

READY MORE AFRICA TRAVEL INSPIRATION? YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN THESE TRAVEL TIPS, TRAVEL ARTICLES, DESTINATION GUIDES AND RELATED POSTS:

Hi There! Thanks for reading my post about The Best Things to do in Victoria Falls I just wanted to let you know that this post contains affiliate links, which means if you purchase something after clicking a link, I may get a small commission – which is at absolutely no cost to you. If you enjoyed this article and are going to be searching for some of the things I mention anyway, I would love it if you could click through from the links above & thank you in advance! Read my full Disclosure here.

Staben Porovha

Wednesday 3rd of March 2021

The post is so valuable! It is a full fledge guide for a beginner and will let them get a brief about the ins & outs of the Victoria Fall backpacking tour.

Great work & vision, Vicki!

Lindsey

Saturday 13th of January 2018

Thank you for your quick response! He’s a photographer so it might be hard to convince him, but the microlight seems so neat! Do you know anything about the canopy tours? Also, I’m super nervous about the mosquitoes and malaria (I have the pills). I’m sure most hotels are okay, what about just being out and about? We are also going to Chobe! I can’t believe I’ll get to see this part of the world!

Vicki

Saturday 13th of January 2018

No worries - re the canopy tour, it's a tree top rope/activity course similar with a couple of small zip lines thrown in. It looked like fun, but we had done a few before in Switzerland and Thailand and so decided to give preference to the activities we hadn't done before.

We took doxycyline whilst we were there, but to be honest we were not really bothered by the mosquitoes on a day to day basis (I get bitten more in Australia!) but that's not to say I wasn't just lucky. If you're concerned, take the prophylaxis and be vigilant/liberal with the bug spray around sunrise and sunset when the mosquitoes tend to be most active. And if you are taking the prophylaxis be mindful that it makes your skin more sensitive to the sun so be sure to regularly apply sunscreen to avoid being burnt.

And yay for Chobe! Its a fantastic national park - if you can, be sure to do a regular land safari and a river cruise safari as they offer different and unique viewpoints of the landscape and animals :-)

Lindsey

Saturday 13th of January 2018

We are going in two week, end of January! We love adrenaline so might try gorge swing. Would you suggest helicopter or that other flight (husband will have fancy camera). Also, planning to do sunset cruise. Can you tell me your thoughts on the cheetahs? And does anyone have canoeing upper river?

Vicki

Saturday 13th of January 2018

Hi Lindsey - I'm so excited that you're going to Vic Falls - it's an incredible place, and perfect if you like the adventure stuff.

As for the flight - I highly recommend the Microlight - it's totally unique (you can go in a helicopter anywhere!) but it will mean that your husband will not be able to use his camera. For the Microlight there is a GoPro (owned by the company) which is set to record stills every minute, or can be set to video. Due to the nature of the activity, they don't allow people to take their own camera for risk of things being dropped or damaged by the spray from the Falls if it's high. If he's dead set on photographing the Falls himself, a helicopter might be the better option.

And the sunset cruise is a must - and I can't recommend the Zambezi Explorer highly enough. Everything was perfect.

As for the Cheetahs, if I'm honest I don't know anything about them. As we were visiting a Cheetah Sanctuary in Nambia later on in our trip, I didn't look into the Cheetah walk on the Zambia side, and so wouldn't like to comment without knowing where the Cheetahs come from, if they are part of a release program, if there is a breeding program, where they live, if they hunt etc.

I hope this answers your questions, but let me know if you'd like more info!

Elisa

Tuesday 11th of April 2017

Interesting to know there are so many activities to do around the falls. I would like to visit both sides plus the rafting thing, I think! Thanks for the info

Claire

Thursday 27th of October 2016

You weren't kidding about them being adventure activities! I'd be tempted to try the Gorge Swing but that's easy to say right now! haha

Vicki

Thursday 27th of October 2016

I thought that too Claire - then I stood on the platform and nearly didn't go through with it! Totally worth it though!

Comments are closed.