Driving to Victoria Falls: Essential Road Conditions & Route Guide for 2026

by Rob
(Bulawayo)

Driving South from Victoria Falls? What You Need to Know About the Bulawayo Route

If you are planning on getting to Victoria Falls by road from the south, or mapping out your journey driving south from Victoria Falls, we have some critical updates for your itinerary.

The main road artery linking Victoria Falls to Bulawayo, Beitbridge, and onward to South Africa has unfortunately suffered from severe neglect and delayed maintenance over recent years. While a massive reconstruction project was launched in June 2025—with eight contractors tackling different sections of the 440 km (275-mile) stretch—progress has been slow. As of mid-2026, only about 15% of the newly resurfaced road is complete and open to traffic.

Because of this, we currently do not recommend taking the direct Bulawayo to Victoria Falls route if you can avoid it. This is especially true if you are driving a small, low-clearance passenger car. Between the broken tar, bone-jarring potholes, and poorly maintained gravel detours, you’ll find yourself dropping down into second or even first gear just to navigate the worst patches.

Current Hazards and Travel Times on the Victoria Falls to Bulawayo Road

• Craters and Potholes: The sections between Lupane, Gwayi, and Hwange are particularly brutal. Expect massive potholes, uneven surfaces, and washed-out edges that force both heavy trucks and light vehicles to weave unpredictably across lanes.

• Severe Delays: Because of the ongoing roadworks and detours, travel times have skyrocketed. Some motorists are reporting it takes up to 11 hours to complete the full stretch. When you compare that to a quick, one-hour commercial flight between Bulawayo and Victoria Falls, flying becomes a highly attractive alternative.
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Alternative Routes for Getting to Victoria Falls by Road

If you love a road trip but want to save your suspension (and your sanity), there are two alternative routes worth considering depending on your final destination.

The Botswana Detour (Via Kasane and Francistown)

If you are driving south from Victoria Falls toward South Africa, a brilliant alternative is to route through Botswana via Kasane and Francistown.

• The Logistics: At around 500 km (310 miles), this route isn’t shorter, but the road conditions are vastly superior.

• The Vibe: While there are still occasional roadworks on this path, the driving difficulty is significantly lower, making for a much smoother, safer, and less stressful journey.

The Nkayi Route (For Harare to Victoria Falls Travelers>

For those traveling between Harare and Victoria Falls, you can bypass Bulawayo entirely by taking the Nkayi route.

• The Logistics: This shortcut connects Lupane, Nkayi, and Kwekwe. It sits at about 240 km (150 miles), saving you a massive chunk of distance compared to the 400 km (250-mile) traditional route through Bulawayo—and it spares you the worst of the degraded Bulawayo-to-Lupane stretch.

• The Vibe: This road is also undergoing an upgrade from gravel to sealed tar. However, recent travelers report it is already preferable to the main highway. The heavy truck traffic is minimal, meaning your main obstacle will be standard corrugations and some lumpy and rough sections on the remaining gravel rather than truck-sized craters.
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Why is the Bulawayo to Victoria Falls Road in This Condition?

It helps to understand that this trunk road is a major regional economic artery. It directly connects the Hwange Coalfields and the Zambian Copperbelt mining hub with the ports of South Africa.

While the central government continually prioritizes this highway for resource allocation, the sheer volume of relentless, heavy-vehicle traffic makes it incredibly difficult for standard maintenance to hold up. Until the full reconstruction is complete, taking an alternative route or booking a regional flight is your best bet for a seamless Victoria Falls holiday.