Where is Victoria Falls?

One of the 7 natural wonders of the world, the Victoria Falls is a sight to behold. But where is this wonder located?

The mighty Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River

The Victoria Falls – or Mosi-oa-Tunya meaning the "Smoke that Thunders" in the native language - is a magnificent waterfall located on the 4th largest river in Africa - the Zambezi River. The Zambezi river is the border between the two countries of Zimbabwe and Zambia, so the Victoria Falls is therefore shared by both countries. Two-thirds of the viewing of the Victoria Falls in on the Zimbabwean side, and the other third in on the Zambian side. The waterfall is considered to be the largest waterfall in the world.

Where is Victoria Falls?

Zimbabwe is shaped like a teapot – So if you are wondering exactly where is Victoria Falls, look at a map of Africa, find the teapot shaped country in Southern Africa and look for the spout, this is where you will find this incredible natural world wonder. We like to think that the spout of the teapot is where the waterfall flows from the Zambezi River into the deep basalt gorges giving life to a whole ecosystem that exists along the lower Zambezi River and its tributaries.

Zimbabwe is the green teapot, and Victoria Falls is the red star by the spout.

Visiting the Zimbabwean Side of Victoria Falls

When choosing to visit this waterfall we do highly recommend staying on the Zimbabwean side – the town is smaller, more compact, and easier to get around on foot. The town on the Zimbabwe side is named after the waterfall and most accommodation is a 10-30 minute walk from the entrance to the rainforest. Anything further will offer a shuttle service, or you can hire a taxi. For more information, please visit our Victoria Falls accommodation page.

More information on the differences between the two countries can be seen here Zimbabwe vs Zambia

The town of Victoria Falls. You can see the spray of the waterfall in the near distance.

Visiting the Zambian Side of Victoria Falls

If you wanted to visit the Zambian side on the same day, this can all be done in one morning and on foot. The town on the Zambian side is called Livingstone, named after the great explorer David Livingstone who was the first European to document the discovery of the waterfall, which he named after Queen Victoria. Livingstone town is approximately 10 km away from the rainforest. There are 2 hotels close to the waterfall but the town itself, about 5 times bigger than Victoria Falls town, is more spread out and requires the use of taxis or transfers to get around.

The closest hotel to the Falls on the Zambia side

Should You Visit Both Sides of Victoria Falls?

If you have the time and the resources, it is a great idea to visit both the Zimbabwean and Zambian side of the falls. Both have a different and unique views of the waterfall and give an all-round fuller experience. The Zimbabwe side of the falls will take approx. 2.5 to 3 hours to explore. The Zambian side will take about an hour to explore. If you wanted to do both sides on the same day, give yourself at least another hour for border crossings.

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