Best Things to Do in Victoria Falls - Tours, Adventures and Prices
Victoria Falls is famous for its magnificent waterfall, but there's a great deal more to see and do while you're here. From white-water rafting, bungee jumping and helicopter flights to Zambezi sunset cruises, wildlife safaris and cultural experiences, the choice of activities is quite remarkable.
We've put together this comprehensive guide to Victoria Falls activities, with descriptions, prices and links to more detailed information. Browse the categories below to explore the best things to do in Victoria Falls and find the experiences that suit your interests, time and budget.
Not sure which activities to choose, how much time to allow or whether you need to book in advance? We can help you work it all out, recommend the experiences best suited to your plans and arrange your bookings.
You pay the same prices as booking directly with the operators, and our local advice costs you nothing. We can also put together activity packages that often work out cheaper than booking everything individually.
We have put together some activity packages suited for all visitors, from adrenaline packed combos to romantic ones, family adventures to wildlife and photography packages. All these have been discounted to save you a bit of money while you're in Victoria Falls. Have a look!
Our journey with Victoria Falls began in 1985, and we've been permanently based here since 2012. Over the years, we've built strong relationships with local operators and gained first-hand knowledge of the activities they offer.
As a local booking agency, we can help you choose the right experiences and arrange your activities, accommodation and transfers. Our advice is free, our standard activity prices are the same as booking directly, and our packages can often save you money.
Best of all, we're right here in Victoria Falls if you need assistance or your plans change.
Frequently Asked Questions About Victoria Falls Activities
1. What are the best things to do in Victoria Falls?
The most popular activities include a guided tour of Victoria Falls, a sunset or dinner cruise on the Zambezi River, a helicopter flight over the Falls, a Boma dinner and a wildlife safari. For the more adventurous, white-water rafting, swimming in Devil's Pool and bungee jumping are hard to beat.
Of course, everyone's idea of a great experience is different. Much depends on your interests, budget and how much time you have. We've put together our Must Do Activities in Victoria Falls to help you decide where to start.
2. How much do Victoria Falls activities cost?
Prices vary enormously, from relatively inexpensive sightseeing and cultural experiences to helicopter flights, white-water rafting and full-day safaris.
We've included prices alongside the activities listed above, making it easy to compare your options. Just bear in mind that some activities attract additional national park or conservation fees, which aren't always included in the advertised price.
3. How many days do I need for activities in Victoria Falls?
It really depends on what you'd like to do. You could visit the Falls, take a helicopter flight, enjoy lunch at the Lookout Cafe and finish with a sunset cruise, all in one full day. But you'd be rushing from one experience to the next without really getting a feel for the destination.
If you're planning a day trip to Chobe National Park, white-water rafting or other longer excursions, you'll need to allow additional time.
We generally recommend two to three full days, although there's easily enough to keep you busy for longer. One of the comments we hear most often from visitors is, "I wish we'd had more time here."
You've travelled all this way, so why not allow yourself a little time to enjoy everything Victoria Falls has to offer?
4. Do I need to book Victoria Falls activities in advance?
We certainly recommend booking your must-do activities before you arrive, particularly during the busier travel months. Popular experiences such as helicopter flights and Devil's Pool have limited availability, and your preferred time slot may already be taken.
Planning ahead also means you can organise everything at your leisure, rather than spending valuable holiday time deciding what to do and making bookings.
And don't assume activities will be cheaper once you arrive. Generally, they won't be.
We'd also advise caution when booking through street vendors. Knowing who actually operates your activity is important. Not all sunset cruises or game drives offer the same experience, and the cheapest option isn't necessarily the best.
5. What activities are suitable for families with children?
There are plenty of family-friendly activities in Victoria Falls, including guided tours of the Falls, sunset cruises, wildlife experiences, cultural tours and other sightseeing excursions.
Some adventure activities have minimum age, height or weight requirements, so it's important to check these before booking.
Let us know your children's ages and interests, and we'll happily help you choose activities the whole family can enjoy.
6. What activities are suitable for older visitors or people who prefer something less adventurous?
Victoria Falls certainly isn't all about adrenaline! Sunset cruises, scenic helicopter flights, guided sightseeing tours, cultural experiences and comfortable wildlife excursions are all excellent choices.
Some activities involve walking, steps or uneven ground, so if mobility is a consideration, let us know. We can advise you on the most suitable options and help arrange activities at a pace you're comfortable with.
For a particularly relaxing experience, have a look at our Classic Day Out, which combines several of the highlights of Victoria Falls.
7. Are Victoria Falls activities available throughout the year?
Most Victoria Falls activities operate throughout the year, although some depend on the season, weather conditions and water levels.
White-water rafting, for example, is affected by the level of the Zambezi River, while the appearance of the Falls changes dramatically between the high-water and low-water seasons.
Certain activities, such as Devil's Pool, are only available when conditions allow.
If you're unsure what will be operating during your visit, ask us. We can advise you on the best options for the time of year you're travelling.
8. Do I have to pay park entrance fees in addition to activity prices?
Sometimes, yes. Certain activities attract additional national park or conservation fees, and these aren't always included in the advertised activity price.
The entrance fee to the Victoria Falls Rainforest is also separate from other activities, so don't assume it's included when booking a helicopter flight, sunset cruise or other excursion.
We've explained the different charges in our detailed guide to Victoria Falls National Park Fees, including which fees apply and when you need to pay them.
9. Why are there so many different companies advertising the same Victoria Falls activities?
It's a question we're often asked, and we can understand the confusion.
Although you'll find dozens of websites and companies advertising Victoria Falls activities, many are booking agents rather than the businesses actually operating the experiences.
In reality, quite a few of the major activities are run by a relatively small number of established operators, alongside smaller companies offering more specialised experiences.
There's nothing wrong with booking through an agent – that's exactly what we do. What's important is knowing who will actually be operating your activity, what you're paying for and what's included.
Not all operators offer the same standard of experience, even when the activity sounds identical.
10. Is it better to book activities directly with the operator or through a local booking agent?
Both options can work perfectly well. If you know exactly what you want and are only booking one activity, going directly to the operator is straightforward.
However, when you're arranging several activities, transfers and perhaps accommodation, having one knowledgeable local contact can make life considerably easier.
And here's something we think is particularly important: Who do you contact when something goes wrong?
Flights get delayed, plans change and the weather doesn't always cooperate. When that happens, you want someone you can contact easily who knows your arrangements and can help reorganise things.
With some of the large international booking platforms, finding the right person to speak to isn't always straightforward.
At Victoria Falls Guide, we're based here, we know the operators and we're available to help if your plans change. Our advice costs you nothing, and our standard activity prices are the same as booking directly. We can also put together packages that may save you money.
But if none of those quite suits your plans, we're equally happy to put together something specifically for you.
We can arrange anything from a couple of activities over a weekend to a complete Victoria Falls holiday, including accommodation, transfers and safaris.
12. Can I enjoy activities on both the Zimbabwe and Zambia sides of Victoria Falls?
Yes, absolutely. There are excellent activities on both sides, but it's worth planning carefully because crossing the border takes time and may involve additional visa costs.
Some activities, including sunset cruises, helicopter flights, white-water rafting and dinner trains, are available on either side. Others are specific to one country.
For example, microlight flights and Devil's Pool are only available on the Zambian side, while some of the best wildlife game drives and the famous Boma Dinner experience are accessed from Zimbabwe.
Something that never ceases to amaze us is how often visitors book accommodation on one side of the Falls and then discover that most of their activities are on the other.
That can mean unnecessary border crossings, additional costs and a surprising amount of time wasted travelling back and forth.
Our advice is to work out which activities you'd most like to do before deciding where to stay.
Have a look at our Zimbabwe vs Zambia guide for a better understanding of the differences, or simply contact us. We can help you plan your activities and accommodation so everything fits together sensibly.
Brilliant service and so helpful by Sally (Blisworth, U.K.)
I stumbled across Victoria Fall Guide by accident, but I am so glad I did. Tony and Boo were so helpful, advising us on the best activities for us as I have mobility issues, and arranging our itinerary and booking everything.
I had no worries about using them, or sending a very large payment to someone I didn’t know. Everything they booked for us was so well organised, pick ups on time, knowledgeable and friendly guides, clean transport. We did the walking tour of the falls, the sunset dinner cruise, full day at Chobe, the team, lion encounter and the helicopter and every single one was faultless.
We were also due to do the lunar rainbow but unfortunately it was cancelled, however boo arranged the refund immediately. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone. We are so grateful to them for making our special holiday even more so.