Victoria Falls Travel - How to get there...

We will update this site with the latest Zimbabwe travel information

 3rd November 2009

There are several options for travelling to Victoria Falls. We have detailed them below into Air, Rail and Road. Please also read our information page on the foreign visa requirements for Zimbabwe.

Victoria Falls Travel by ** Air **

There are several flights per day into Victoria Falls these are:-

Flights from Johannesburg every day

British Airways direct flight daily - arrives at 1300hrs departs at 1400hrs

South Africa Airways direct flight daily - arrives at 1120 hrs departs at 1200hrs

Flights from Harare

Air Zimbabwe also offers a flight daily to the Falls - arriving in the morning. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays this flight goes via Bulawayo for those wanting to connect there.

From Windhoek and Maun

Air Namibia flies to Victoria Falls on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. These flights all goes via Maun in Botswana for passengers wanting to connect from there.

Prices are continually changing so it is pointless us displaying the prices. Please just click on the blue links for each airline and their website will open in a new window.

Flights are quite expensive so it is worth trying to get a package deal with your accommodation included.

Transfers from the airport into town which is 22kms away can be pre booked through us at a cost of about US$12 per person, alternatively there are buses at the airport for every flight arrival you can pay for these with cash on arrival at about the same cost.

Taxi's are also always available and these rates can be negotiated normally starting at $30 per taxi which can take about 4 people, this being the cheapest option if you are travelling together.

Victoria Falls Travel by ** Rail **

Regular train services no longer run between South Africa and Victoria falls no matter what you might read in some Guide books.

There is however a luxury train service that travels directly to Victoria Falls from South Africa which is the Luxury Rovos Rail. This is not a regular shuttle service but rather a holiday in itself. Cape town to Victoria falls takes about 6 days and I must say sounds absolutely out of this world. Cost are not for the faint a hearted though.

Botswana Rail services links Gaborone with Victoria Falls via Bulawayo, they have regular trains that run between Francistown and Bulawayo.

There is an overnight train from Bulawayo to Victoria Falls, this is an option but it is certainly not luxurious. The trains are a bit run down and I have even heard reports on some of the carriages not having lights – but it is a unique African experience if you are up for it!

You will be able to buy your ticket to Victoria Falls from the office at the station. You should be able to get one for the day you want to travel. This ticket to Victoria Falls is fairly cheap with a first class costing approximately £5.

The train station in Victoria Falls is right next to Victoria falls Hotel and the Kingdom Hotel and less than a kilometre from the town centre.

There are three classes on this train – 1st, 2nd and economy class. 1st and 2nd class have bench seats that convert into bunks. The only difference between 1st and 2nd class is there is three and six beds in 2nd instead of two and four in 1st.

Travellers together will normally be put into a two bed berth but if you are travelling on your own you may be put in with other travellers – normally of the same sex. With the tickets being so cheap my advice to you would be to buy two tickets and have a berth to yourself.

There is no bedding provided so a sleeping bag or some sort of blanket is a good idea. Economy does not have benches that convert into beds and is your normal train seating arrangement.

This site also gives useful info in train services to Victoria Falls 

 

Victoria Falls travel by ** Road **

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Travelling to Victoria Falls by road is also an option. although the availability of fuel cannot not be relied upon. Some weeks there is plenty then the next there is none. It is a lot more expensive than South Africa or Botswana and the price does fluctuate considerably. You can expect to pay anything up to US$1.50 per litre. Don't forget to take cash with you as ATM machines don't exist and neither will they accept cards.

***Update*** Prices for fuel have now come down and although slightly more expensive than Bots or SA the difference is not huge. Some banks now do have ATM machines which give US dollars. See our currency page for more info.

In Victoria falls if there is no fuel at the stations get hold of ZX Fuels email: zxvf@microlink.zm  tel:+263 (0)13 41912 they will almost certainly have. If you contact us we can probably give you the current price.

If you are entering Zimbabwe through either South Africa or Botswana, my recommendation is still to fill up all tanks and any jerry cans that you have - its a lot cheaper plus you don't have to carry the foreign currency cash with you.

Botswana fuel stations accept all major credit and debit cards. In South Africa I don't know of any fuel stations that accept credit cards and only a select few will accept local debit cards but not foreign ones, but of course most stations have ATM machines where you can withdraw cash.

The roads in Zimbabwe are all still in very good condition and are probably some of the best in Africa and they are beautifully quiet to travel on.

Bus Services

The Greyhound bus company operates a very good regular bus service between Johannesburg and Harare and Johannesburg and Bulawayo.

Click here to read about City link who have just started a bus service between Harare, Bulawayo and Vic Falls. It gives you all the prices etc

The border post options available

Beitbridge Border Post - Between Zimbabwe and South Africa.. Very Busy but efficient…Worth avoiding if you can.
Plumtree Border Post – Between Botswana and Zimbabwe ..Mostly quiet and efficient, although still best to arrive early morning or late afternoon.. My choice of preference, as long as fuel is available as you still have a long way to go to get to the Falls.
Pandamatenga Border Post- Between Botswana and Zimbabwe.. Very quiet but efficient…once when we came through here at about 3 o’clock in the afternoon we were the only vehicle that had been through that day and we had to wake up the customs officials. The road on the Zimbabwe side for about 80 kilometres is dirt and is quite tough going, on the map it looks like a short cut but in reality it is not.
Kazangula Border Post – Between Botswana and Zimbabwe.. Moderately busy but efficient. This is only 70 Kilometres for the Falls to ideal place to refuel and shop for supplies.
Victoria Falls Bridge – Between Zambia and Zimbabwe… Busy and moderately efficient. Essential for getting into Zambia to do activities on that side or visa versa. Ideal for refuelling when required.


Try this useful Distance Calculator to help plan your trip

Please read these Victoria Falls Travel Reviews from other travellers who have just been there.