Top 20 Victoria Falls activities: adrenalin, culture and wildlife – Roxanne Reid

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.
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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 may even sing for you. Zimbabweans are some of the warmest, friendliest people in Africa but do try to respect those who live here; remember that this is their home and they’re not just a tourist attraction. Ask first before taking photographs.

14. Have lunch at the Lookout Café 

After a morning full of action, you’ll want a break before you continue the fun in the afternoon. A great way to do this is to have lunch at the Lookout Café. It has good food from burgers, wraps and kebabs to curries and salads. Best of all is the spectacular view out over Batoka Gorge and the river below. The café is understandably busy so book ahead to avoid disappointment. It’s conveniently right next to the Wild Horizons activity centre for the gorge swing, flying fox, zipline and Victoria Falls canopy tour (see point 5).

15. Swim in Devil’s Pool 

Do a tour of Livingstone Island in the middle of the Zambezi River for a chance to show how brave you are by swimming in Devil’s Pool on the edge of the Falls. This is the ultimate infinity pool, where you can peep over the rim of the massive curtain of water as it tumbles into the gorge below. This activity is only available in the dry months (usually about mid-August to mid-January) when water levels are low enough to make it safe. You must have a guide with you (see the link at the beginning of this point for who to contact), and no children under 12 may swim in the pool. This tour operates from the Zambian side of the Falls in Livingstone.

16. Join a bike tour ​

Hop into the saddle to explore Victoria Falls by bike with a guide. Cycle across the Victoria Falls bridge (take your passport), along the Zambezi River, enjoy views of the Batoka Gorge and see an ancient giant babobab. It’s a chance to get out into the fresh air and see the town and surrounds far more quickly than you could do on foot. 

17.Go for a game drive in Zambezi National Park 

If seeing wildlife revs your engines take an early morning or late afternoon game drive into the 57 000ha Zambezi National Park, just five minutes from Victoria Falls town. Your guide will tell you about the wildlife and the bush, as well as some of the triumphs and challenges here. In a three- to four-hour drive, you’re almost certain to see crocodile and hippo, with a chance to spot zebra, buffalo, elephant or lion as well as antelope like kudu, impala and waterbuck.

18. Spend time at Siduli Hide 

Siduli Hide is disguised as a termite mound on the edge of a waterhole at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge. Siduli is a local word that means termite mound. It’s especially rewarding in the early morning or late afternoon. Meet your guide at the lodge and take a five minute walk together to the hide. You’ll sit quietly for about two hours, during which time you might see basking crocs and wading birds, some antelope, warthogs, baboons or elephants coming to drink. You’re really close to the wild animals, which is both exciting and great for photos. As with any wildlife experiences, there are no guarantees about what you’ll see.

19. Paint with elephants 

Visit the Wild Horizons Elephant Sanctuary for an art safari. First, tour the sanctuary and learn about the herd structure and the challenges that elephants face in Africa today, then sit at an easel under a mopani tree overlooking a waterhole and prepare to paint the view and elephants that come to drink. An art tutor is at hand to help you capture the scene. The morning ends with a two-course buffet lunch.

20. Engage with rural communities

Join Pure Africa, in association with Greenline Africa, for an immersive Rural Community Experience. Spend a morning seeing how Greenline Africa supports local schools and environmental initiatives. Plant a tree at a community nursery or engage with children at an Early Childhood Development school. Visit a rural homestead to understand day-to-day life by trying hands-on activities like collecting water and cooking. Learn how the huts are kept, meet some of the sewing, knitting and crocheting women. Wind up your immersive experience by enjoying lunch (optional extra) along the Zambezi River. Bring a hat, sunscreen, water, camera and cash to support the communities by buying crafts or trees to be planted. This is a new experience for Pure Africa so it’s not on their website yet. Contact [email protected] and they can email you a brochure with all the details.

If you’d like to spend longer working with and supporting rural community initiatives in and around Victoria Falls, then volunteer to work with Greenline Africa and Conservation Travel Africa for one to four weeks or more. The opportunities include working with communities on livelihoods/business, health, education, and biodiversity projects at grassroots level. See the bottom of this web page for a full list of activities. There’s also a list of skills that are especially helpful in volunteers, although unskilled volunteers willing to work hard are also welcome.​

​Further afield
1. Take a day-trip to Chobe National Park 

Chobe National Park in neighbouring Botswana is just 80km away so it’s an excellent add-on to your Victoria Falls experience. It’s best to plan your visit for the dry winter months, when wildlife needs to come to the Chobe River to drink, increasing your chances of spotting animals like elephants, buffalo, antelope and lion.

2. Visit Hwange National Park

Zimbabwe’s flagship game reserve, the Hwange National Park, is about 150km away from Victoria Falls so it makes a wonderful add-on to your Victoria Falls trip. Although it’s best known for its high density of elephants, there are more than 100 species of mammals, including lion, leopard, buffalo, cheetah, wild dog, zebra, wildebeest and antelope like eland, kudu and sable. Birders will love the almost 400 bird species, including the colourful carmine bee eater in summer.

Obviously, there are lots of other things to do in Victoria Falls, from horse riding and walking safaris to tiger fishing and shopping. Browse the websites of some of the operators – see below – to see all the activities they offer. (By the way, when you’re shopping note that deforestation and poaching of wood occurs for some vendors at the curio markets, with unsustainable take-out of African ebony, African teak, pod mahogany, mukwa/kiaat and leadwood. If environmental sustainability of these hardwoods is important to you, be careful what curios you buy.)​

Activity operators and Victoria Falls packages
A number of operators offer activities in Victoria Falls. One of the major ones is Wild Horizons, which has corporate social responsibility and ethical tourism underpinnings. If ethics, conservation and community outreach are important to you, another good choice for your Victoria Falls activities is Pure Africa, which offers a range of river cruises and food experiences. Three other activity operators worth considering are Discover Victoria Falls, Shearwater Adventures and Visit Victoria Falls.

Hot tip: Some of the activities can work out pretty expensive if you pay for them individually. When you book, check with your chosen operator about Victoria Falls packages/combos that offer three to five activities at a discounted price.

Best time to visit Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls – and Zimbabwe in general – is an all-year-round destination and you’ll have fun whenever you choose to visit. But if you have your heart set on a specific Victoria Falls activity, read on because some of them are only available at certain times of year.

• January to April/May – during March and April, the Falls will thunder at full volume into the gorge below. You’ll get very wet on the cliff walk to see the Falls, so make sure you protect your camera/phone. March to May is a good time to see the lunar rainbow or ‘moonbow’ at night. These months aren’t the best time for wildlife viewing, while white-water rafting and swimming in Devil’s Pool are closed because water levels are too high. Note that it’s very hot and humid in January and February.
• June to August – this is peak season at Victoria Falls and perhaps a better time to get photos of the Falls when they’re less obliterated by spray. You can sometimes still see the lunar rainbow in June and July. Livingstone Island and the white-water rafting season are open from about mid-July (depending on water levels). These dry winter months are great for seeing wildlife around waterholes or at the river at Zambezi National Park, Chobe National Park or Hwange National Park. If you dislike crowds in peak season, May is an option or September if you’re keen to go white-water rafting.
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• September to November/December – the Falls are at their lowest, especially in November and early December. This is high season for white-water rafting adventures, a chance to visit Livingstone Island in the middle of the Zambezi River and to swim in Devil’s Pool since these are the months when low water levels make this activity safe. Note that it’s very hot and humid from October to December.

With all these things to do in Victoria Falls, you’ll be looking to stay over for a few days. Here are some of the super places we’ve been to at Victoria Falls, in alphabetical order.
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• Elephant Hills Resort – a huge hotel set on a hill overlooking the Zambezi River, with a chance to play golf where wildlife walks the course
• Ilala Lodge – for the most romantic candlelight dinner in town, to see spray rising from the Falls, and to be just an eight-minute walk from the Falls
• Mpala Jena – if you’re flush with cash, visit this lovely lodge inside the Zambezi National Park for supreme luxury at a premium price
• Old Drift Lodge – another lodge inside the Zambezi National Park, with tented suites overlooking the river and a superbly romantic outdoor bath
• Shearwater’s Explorer’s Village – for budget stays, from camping to serviced dome tents and affordable rooms; there’s a constant buzz of helicopters overhead during the day but you’ll most likely be out enjoying all the activities anyway
• Victoria Falls Hotel – for a touch of early 20th century elegance; don’t miss high tea on the terrace with a great view of the spray and the bridge over the Falls
• Victoria Falls Safari Lodge – great sunsets and a waterhole that lures animals like elephant and buffalo; don’t miss the African food and drumming experience at The Boma restaurant.

You may also enjoy
Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust: behind the scenes of your Victoria Falls safari
Greenline Africa Trust: a better life in Victoria Falls
Mpala Jena for a Victoria Falls safari

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