Victoria Falls from Australia: Zambia & Zimbabwe

The Smoke That Thunders

1.7 km wide · 108 m drop · Two countries, two perspectives

Victoria Falls is one of the great sheets of falling water on earth, about 1.7 kilometres wide and up to 108 metres high. In full flow the spray rises hundreds of metres and can be seen from a long way off. Local people called it Mosi-oa-Tunya, "the smoke that thunders", and when you walk the rainforest path at high water and the mist soaks through your jacket, you understand why. The falls sit on the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia, and each side gives a different view: Zimbabwe faces most of the width, Zambia puts you closer, and the Victoria Falls Bridge links the two, so you can see both on one trip.

The Victoria Falls Bridge above the Batoka Gorge, with a rainbow in the spray below it — The Victoria Falls Bridge over the Batoka Gorge, with a rainbow in the spray.

Victoria Falls at a glance

Best monthsJune to AugustStrong flow with clearer views; the window we suggest most
Typical trip3 nightsBoth sides, a helicopter flight, a cruise and a Chobe day
Flying time14 to 15 hoursSydney to Johannesburg non-stop, then under two hours to the falls
Time difference8 hours behind BrisbaneUTC+2 all year, no daylight saving
Highlights
- Both sides of the falls
- Helicopter flight
- Zambezi sunset cruise
- Devil's Pool in low water
- Chobe day trip

Who you're dealing with

We're an Australian company on the Gold Coast. We plan the whole trip, book it and look after you from first call to flight home, on one contract and one invoice from Kingse Safaris Pty Ltd (ABN 37 698 821 886). Cruises, flights and transfers on the ground are run by the lodges and local operators we book for you.

How booking works →

Victoria Falls, Two Sides and Beyond

Tour the Falls

Scroll, and the map follows you from the Zimbabwe side across to Zambia, up the river and west to Chobe.

The falls and the gorge from the air, with the Victoria Falls Bridge crossing the gorge

The main falls from the rainforest path at sunset

Water pouring over the cliff beside the footpath and viewing point

The panoramic side · First stop

The Falls, Zimbabwe Side

The Zimbabwe side faces most of the falls' width, so a path along the rim gives you the long curtain from across the gorge, with viewpoints such as Devil's Cataract, Main Falls and Rainbow Falls. Victoria Falls town sits on this side with the wider choice of lodges, and for most Australian travellers it's the base.

Panoramic view
Victoria Falls town
Wider lodge choice
The Victoria Falls Hotel

Best monthsJune to August for the balance of flow and clear viewsFrom JohannesburgUnder two hours by air to Victoria Falls Airport

Where to stay on the Zimbabwe side

The Zambian bank of the Zambezi at dusk, with the spray of the falls rising behind the Anantara Royal Livingstone

The Boiling Pot and the gorge below the Victoria Falls Bridge, on the Zambian side

The Victoria Falls Bridge above the Batoka Gorge, with a rainbow in the spray

The close-up side · Second stop

Livingstone & the Zambia Side

The Zambia side puts you closer to the water. When the river is high, the Knife Edge Bridge walk takes you into a wall of spray. When the water drops, the Zambian end of the falls can thin to a trickle, but that's when Devil's Pool opens. Livingstone is smaller and quieter, a working town about 10 kilometres from the falls, with riverside lodges along the Zambezi.

Devil's Pool, low water
Knife Edge Bridge
Livingstone
Riverside lodges

Best monthsHigh water for the spray; late August or September to December for Devil's PoolFrom the Zimbabwe sideAcross the Victoria Falls Bridge, with a border crossing each way

Where to stay on the Zambia side

A cruise boat on the Zambezi above the falls as the sun sets

Sunset cruise boats on the Zambezi, with the sun on the water

The river above the falls · Third stop

The Zambezi Upstream

Above the falls the Zambezi is wide and calm, and this is where the sunset cruises run and where the quiet riverside lodges sit. Hippo, crocodile and fish eagles line the banks, with elephants down to drink on a good evening, and the day's last hour of light on the water is the one almost every visitor remembers.

Sunset cruises
Hippo and crocodile
Riverside lodges
Fish eagles

Best monthsAny month; the river runs all yearFrom the fallsA short drive upstream from either side

The quiet lodges upstream

An elephant herd at the Chobe riverfront, late afternoon

Big game next door · Fourth stop

Chobe Day Trip or Stay

Chobe National Park is about 90 minutes by road from Victoria Falls town, plus the time to cross the border into Botswana. Botswana has the biggest elephant population of any country, and in the dry season tens of thousands gather along the Chobe River, with herds of a hundred or more drinking together by August and September.

Elephant herds
Riverfront game drive
Afternoon boat cruise
Day trip or 2 to 3 nights

Best monthsMay to October, when the herds gather at the riverFrom Victoria FallsAbout 90 minutes by road, plus the border

The Chobe page

Map tiles: Esri, National Geographic. Locations are indicative.

How to Experience It

Falls, Flights and the Zambezi

Most of what people come for sits within a few kilometres of the falls.

The main falls from the Zimbabwe rainforest path, with the viewing path in the foreground

Walk the falls on both sides

Walk the rainforest path on the Zimbabwe side, then cross the Victoria Falls Bridge to see the Zambian side. Allow a half day for each, and check the entry rules for both countries before you travel.

A helicopter flying over Victoria Falls, with the bridge and gorge below

Helicopter flight

The one way to take in the full 1.7 kilometres and the zig-zag gorges below. Flights are short, usually about 12 to 15 minutes, and they show the falls clearly even when high-water spray hides the ground-level views.

A Zambezi cruise boat on the river at sunset

Sunset cruise on the Zambezi

Drift along the calm river above the falls at golden hour, watching hippo, crocodile, fish eagles and, with luck, elephants on the banks. It is the one activity almost every visitor does.

A river boat with guests watching elephants on the bank of the Chobe River

Chobe by day trip

Cross into Botswana for a morning game drive and an afternoon river cruise among Chobe's elephants. It's about 90 minutes each way by road, plus the border, so it makes a long day.

Elephants at a waterhole below the tented suites at The Elephant Camp

Wildlife close to town

Game drives in the national parks beside the falls give you wildlife between waterfall walks, and a few lodges have waterholes you can watch from the deck. Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe's largest, is a longer addition by road or light aircraft.

How a Victoria Falls Trip Comes Together

Trip Shapes

Three nights is the sweet spot for the falls on their own. Add Chobe and the Okavango Delta and the trip grows to five or ten nights, or the falls become the finish to a Tanzania safari. Every trip is private and priced to your dates, so these are starting points.

3 nights

Victoria Falls Stand-Alone

Both sides of the falls

Both sides of the falls, a helicopter flight, a sunset cruise on the Zambezi and, if you like, a Chobe day trip. A classic add-on to a Cape Town or Tanzania trip.

From our 2027 quotes, per personA$1,350 to A$1,950Three nights at a lodge, per person for two, in 19 of our 2027 quotes. The grand hotels start around A$3,000. Flights from Australia extra

Day 1 · Land at Victoria FallsDay 4 · Fly home

Victoria Falls3 nightsBoth sides, a flight, a cruise
By light aircraft or a scheduled flight.
Victoria FallsFly home

5 nights · Sweet spot

Victoria Falls + Chobe

2 falls + 3 Chobe

Two nights at the falls covers both sides and a helicopter flight, then three Chobe riverfront nights settle you into the elephant rhythm. A good balance of falls and wildlife.

PricingQuoted to your datesTwo nights at an all-inclusive Chobe river camp came to A$2,000 to A$2,900 per person in four of our 2027 quotes

Day 1 · Land at Victoria FallsDay 6 · Fly home from Kasane

Victoria Falls2 nightsBoth sides and a flight
By road, with a transfer we book.
Chobe riverfront3 nightsElephants by boat and by road
By light aircraft or a scheduled flight.
KasaneFly home

10 nights

Falls + Chobe + the Delta

Victoria Falls · Chobe · Okavango

Three nights at the falls, three at Chobe and four in the Okavango Delta, with Johannesburg as the hub. Water, wildlife and the falls in one trip.

PricingQuoted to your datesDelta camps vary a lot by camp and month, so we price them to your dates

Day 1 · Land at Victoria FallsDay 11 · Fly home from Maun

Victoria Falls3 nightsBoth sides, a flight, a cruise
By road, with a transfer we book.
Chobe3 nightsThe riverfront herds
By light aircraft or a scheduled flight.
Okavango Delta4 nightsWater and wildlife
By light aircraft or a scheduled flight.
MaunFly home

3 to 4 nights

After a Tanzania Safari

The falls as a finish

A few nights at the falls make a natural finish after a Tanzania safari. From Tanzania the flight usually goes through Addis Ababa or Nairobi.

The flight from Tanzania, per personAbout A$1,200 to A$1,500Falls stay extra, from our 2027 quotes

Day 1 · Land at KilimanjaroLast day · Fly home

Tanzania safari7 to 10 nightsThe northern circuit
By light aircraft or a scheduled flight.
Victoria Falls3 to 4 nightsVia Addis Ababa or Nairobi
By light aircraft or a scheduled flight.
HomeFly out

By road, with a transfer we book
Light aircraft or a scheduled flight

The Victoria Falls and Chobe figures come from our 2027 quotes for two or more adults travelling privately, excluding flights from Australia. Everything else is quoted to your dates, with no list prices. See our guide to what an African safari costs and real trips with the real prices. Nights shift with the river, the season and the lodges you choose, so treat these routes as typical shapes rather than fixed packages.

See Our Set Safaris by Budget

Where You Could Stay

Lodges We Work With, Side by Side

The 16 lodges and hotels we recommend around Victoria Falls, grouped by where they sit: the Zimbabwe side, the small camps near the falls, Livingstone on the Zambia side and the quiet river upstream. The final selection flexes around your dates, group size, the season and availability. More on our Stays page.

Victoria Falls town and its edges

The Zimbabwe side has the wider choice. The town hotels put the falls within a walk, and the Safari Lodge estate on the edge of Zambezi National Park adds a waterhole and sunsets.

8 lodges and campsZimbabwe side

Victoria Falls town
Ilala Lodge Hotel
About an eight-minute walk to the falls gate
Luxury
Victoria Falls town
The Victoria Falls Hotel
Edwardian grandeur above the gorge
Luxury
Victoria Falls town
Batonka Guest Lodge
A boutique lodge in leafy gardens
Premium
Victoria Falls town
Pioneers Victoria Falls
A modern fifty-room lodge in gardens
PremiumFamily suite
On the edge of Zambezi National Park
Victoria Falls Safari Lodge
An open-air deck over a busy waterhole
LuxuryFamily suite
On the edge of Zambezi National Park
Victoria Falls Safari Club
The calm, adult wing with bush views
LuxuryNo children under 10
Near Victoria Falls town
Victoria Falls Safari Suites
Six split-level suites with room for families
LuxuryFamily suite
Near Victoria Falls town
Lokuthula Lodges
Self-catering lodges for families
PremiumFamily cottage

Small camps near the falls

Two tented camps a short drive from town, one on the river inside the national park and one above the gorge on a private concession.

2 lodges and campsOn the river and in the bush

Zambezi National Park
Old Drift Lodge
Canvas suites on the river with plunge pools
Ultra LuxuryChildren 7 and over
Private concession
The Elephant Camp
Tented suites over the spray and the gorge
Ultra LuxuryChildren 7 and over

Livingstone and the river

Base here for Devil's Pool in low water, a quieter town and the riverside estate with its own path to the falls.

4 lodges and campsZambia side

Livingstone, Zambia
Anantara Royal Livingstone
On the river, with its own path to the falls
LuxuryInterconnecting
Livingstone, Zambia
Avani Victoria Falls Resort
Relaxed and family-friendly, with its own gate to the falls
PremiumFamily suite
Livingstone, Zambia
Radisson Blu Mosi-oa-Tunya, Livingstone Resort
A new, polished resort inside the national park
LuxuryFamily suite
Upstream of the falls
The David Livingstone Safari Lodge & Spa
River-facing rooms and its own cruise boat
PremiumInterconnecting

Quiet, romantic hideaways

Well upstream on the Zambian bank, where the river is wide and slow and the falls are an easy day trip when you want them.

2 lodges and campsUpstream on the Zambezi

Upstream on the Zambezi
Tongabezi
Romantic river cottages, each with its own valet
Ultra LuxuryFamily villa
Well upstream on the Zambezi
Royal Chundu
Two quiet lodges on a wide bend of the river
Ultra LuxuryFamily suite

Classic
Premium
Luxury
Ultra Luxury

16 lodges and hotels across four areas, with the same comfort levels as our Stays page. Lodge names open each lodge's own website.

Plan Your Visit

When to Visit Victoria Falls

The Zambezi rises and falls through the year, and it changes what you see. High water gives the most spray, low water gives the most access, and the months between give a balance. Dates shift with the river from year to year, so we check them for your trip. Our Zambia or Zimbabwe guide covers how the water level changes each side.

The river this month

January

Low water

The rains have begun upstream and the river is rising again after the low-water months, with warm, humid days.

Rainy season, with afternoon storms
Flow building towards the February to May peak

The river follows the rains upstream, so the dates move from year to year. We never promise a water level, and we check Devil's Pool dates for your trip.

High water, February to May
Balanced, June to August
Low water, September to December

Victoria Falls from the air, with heavy spray rising over the full width of the falls

High water

February to May

Maximum spray · Heavy mist · Lush rainforest

The Zambezi is in full flood and the falls are at their most powerful, with spray rising hundreds of metres. It's the most dramatic time, and the trade-off is real: the spray can be so heavy that it hides the falls from some angles, you'll be soaked on the rim path, and Devil's Pool is closed. A helicopter flight shows the falls clearly when the ground views are lost in mist.

February to March: the heaviest flow and the wettest weather
April to May: still very strong, with the rains easing
Pack: waterproofs and a dry bag for the camera

Best for the thunder, the spray and the helicopter flight

The main falls from the Zimbabwe rainforest path, with a clear view of the curtain

Balanced

June to August

Strong flow · Clearer views · Cooler, drier days

The flow is still strong but the spray settles enough to see the full curtain, and the days are clear and mornings cool. It's the window we suggest most often for adding the falls to a safari, because it lines up with Southern Africa's peak safari season and pairs well with Chobe.

June: strong flow, clear days and cool mornings
July to August: dry and clear, with Chobe at its best
Devil's Pool: not yet open, though it can begin late in August in some years

Best for adding the falls to a safari

The Batoka Gorge below the falls, with the Victoria Falls Bridge and a rainbow in the spray

Low water

September to December

Less spray · Exposed gorge · Devil's Pool open

The river is at its lowest, the gorge walls are exposed and Devil's Pool opens. It also means less water: the Zambian end of the falls can thin to a trickle or run nearly dry in the driest weeks, usually October to December, while the Zimbabwe side keeps more water in view. If swimming at the edge matters more than sheer volume this is your window, but if the thunder is the point, choose February to August.

September: spray falls away and Devil's Pool opens, depending on the river
October to November: the hottest, driest weeks, with the Zambian side at its thinnest
December: first rains, and the river starts to rise again

Best for Devil's Pool and the gorge

From Australia

Getting to Victoria Falls

Johannesburg is the hub. Qantas flies there non-stop from Sydney and Perth, and from there it's a short flight on to Victoria Falls on the Zimbabwe side or Livingstone on the Zambia side.

Step one

Your Australian city

There's no non-stop flight from Australia to the falls, so every route connects through a hub. You fly out of your own city and we build the connections around it.
- Sydney
- Melbourne
- Brisbane
- Perth
- Adelaide
Step two

Johannesburg

Qantas flies non-stop from Sydney and Perth to Johannesburg, roughly 14 to 15 hours from Sydney and about 11 from Perth. From other cities you connect, including one-stop options through Singapore.
- Johannesburg
- Singapore
14 to 15 hours, Sydney to Johannesburg
Step three

Victoria Falls (VFA) or Livingstone (LVI)

Under two hours by air from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls Airport on the Zimbabwe side, or a short flight to Livingstone on the Zambia side. The transfer we've booked meets you at the door.
Under two hours from Johannesburg
First night

At the falls

Your first night is at your lodge by the falls or on the river, with nothing planned beyond dinner and, if the timing works, a sunset cruise. The falls are a short drive or a walk the next morning.
UTC+2 all year · 8 hours behind Brisbane

The hubs we use
Via	Airline	Note
Johannesburg	Qantas, then a short flight to Victoria Falls or Livingstone	Non-stop from Sydney and Perth. The usual route.
Singapore	One-stop options	From other Australian cities, connecting onwards.
Addis Ababa or Nairobi	Ethiopian or Kenya Airways	The usual link after a Tanzania safari.
Kasane	Scheduled flights from Johannesburg	For Chobe, or about 90 minutes by road from the falls plus the border.

Victoria Falls Airport: Zimbabwe side, under two hours by air from Johannesburg
Livingstone Airport: Zambia side, also a short flight from Johannesburg
Kasane, for Chobe: scheduled flights from Johannesburg, or about 90 minutes by road from the falls plus the border
After a safari: from Tanzania, usually through Addis Ababa or Nairobi

The Victoria Falls Bridge links the Zimbabwe and Zambia sides.

14 to 15 hoursSydney to Johannesburg non-stop with Qantas; about 11 from Perth

Under two hoursFrom Johannesburg to Victoria Falls Airport

UTC+2Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana time all year, with no daylight saving

Tell us your dates first

We lock the lodges, then the flights. The best lodges by the falls and the Chobe river camps book out first in the June to October season, and the border crossings and the Chobe transfer are built into your itinerary, so you never work out the logistics on the day. Once your deposit is in, we place your lodges, flights and activities together, and that's the time to take out your travel insurance.

Flights

Qantas flies non-stop from Sydney and Perth to Johannesburg, and from there it's a short flight on to Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) or Livingstone (Zambia). From other cities you connect, and we usually route via Singapore, Johannesburg or Addis Ababa. Schedules change, so we check them when we build your trip, and we price flights from Australia when you're ready to book because fares move.

The time difference

Zimbabwe and Zambia both run on UTC+2 all year, with no daylight saving, and so does Botswana. Perth is six hours ahead. Brisbane and the Gold Coast are eight hours ahead all year, and Sydney is eight hours ahead in winter and nine during daylight saving time.

The Practical Bits

Safety, Which Side, Children and Packing

The short version of what to sort before you fly. For visas and anything medical we point you to the official sources, starting with Smartraveller.

Visas and entry

Entry rules change, and they're yours to confirm. Start with Smartraveller for Zimbabwe and Zambia, check both if you plan to cross the bridge between the two sides, and check Botswana too if you add Chobe. Allow time to sort anything that needs applying for in advance.

Health and malaria

Vaccinations and malaria are medical questions for your doctor. Smartraveller says malaria is a risk throughout Zimbabwe outside Harare and Bulawayo and a high risk throughout the year across Zambia. On yellow fever, we generally tell people the vaccine is worth having, as one shot lasts a lifetime, but your doctor always has the last say. See a travel doctor before you book and take your full itinerary.

Is it safe?

At our last check (17 October 2026), Smartraveller's level for Zimbabwe was exercise a high degree of caution, because of the threat of crime and the risk of civil unrest, while Zambia and Botswana were exercise normal safety precautions. For Zimbabwe it notes that protests can turn violent, that electricity and communications can be unreliable and that you shouldn't walk outside at night. It also says not to swim in rivers or lakes. You can base on the Zambia side if you prefer. Read the latest at smartraveller.gov.au and smartraveller.gov.au.

Which side to base on

Most Australians base on the Zimbabwe side for the panorama and the town, and cross for the Zambian side. Base on Zambia if you want Devil's Pool in low water, a quieter riverside lodge or the Knife Edge Bridge in high water. Our Zambia or Zimbabwe guide compares them.

Children and age rules

Minimum ages are set lodge by lodge. Some lodges welcome children of any age, while others set minimums such as 7 or 10, and walks and some activities carry their own limits. Tell us the ages in your group and we'll check. Our family safari guide covers ages by activity.

What to pack

Waterproofs and a dry bag for the camera in high water, grippy shoes for the wet rim path, a hat and sunscreen, and layers for cool mornings from June to August. Our packing list has the rest.

Go Further

Pair Victoria Falls With

The falls are one of the easier places to add to a trip. These are the three pairings we build most.

90 minutes by road

Chobe

Botswana's elephant river is a day trip from the falls, or two to three nights inside the park with Savuti or Linyanti added. Two nights at an all-inclusive Chobe river camp came to A$2,000 to A$2,900 per person in four of our 2027 quotes.

Chobe page →

By light aircraft

The Okavango Delta

From Chobe the Delta follows by light aircraft, for mokoro channels, water and wildlife, so a loop of the falls, Chobe and the Delta works over about ten nights.

Botswana page → Best time to visit Botswana →

Wildebeest leaping into the river during a Great Migration crossing

The falls as a finish

Tanzania

A few nights at the falls make a natural finish after a Tanzania safari, with the flight usually through Addis Ababa or Nairobi. A comfortable 13-night trip, the Serengeti then Victoria Falls, came to A$11,400 per person in our 2027 quotes.

Tanzania page →

The Practical Questions

FAQ

The questions Australians ask us most about Victoria Falls, grouped by topic.

Search the questions

Can't see your question? Ask us directly and a real person will answer.

Planning and cost

Which side of Victoria Falls is better, Zimbabwe or Zambia?

They show you different faces of the same falls. Zimbabwe faces most of the falls' width, so it gives the panorama, and Victoria Falls town has the wider choice of lodges and restaurants. Zambia gets you closer to the water, with the Knife Edge Bridge in high water and Devil's Pool in low water, and Livingstone is quieter. Most travellers base on the Zimbabwe side and cross for the Zambian side. Our Zambia or Zimbabwe guide goes into detail.

How many days do we need at Victoria Falls?

Three nights is the sweet spot: both sides of the falls, a helicopter flight, a sunset cruise and, if you like, a Chobe day trip. Two nights covers the falls and a flight, but anything shorter makes the journey from Australia hard to justify. Add Chobe or the Okavango Delta and you're at five to ten nights.

How much does a Victoria Falls trip cost from Australia?

Three nights at a lodge came to A$1,350 to A$1,950 per person in 19 of our 2027 quotes, and the grand hotels, such as The Victoria Falls Hotel, start around A$3,000 for three nights. Flights from Australia are extra, and optional activities such as a helicopter flight sit on top. Two nights at an all-inclusive Chobe river camp came to A$2,000 to A$2,900 per person in four quotes. See what an African safari costs and real trips with the real prices.

Can we combine Victoria Falls with a safari in Tanzania, Botswana or South Africa?

Yes, and it's one of the easier add-ons. Chobe is a short transfer away and the Okavango Delta follows by light aircraft, Johannesburg connects the falls with Cape Town and the Kruger region, and from a Tanzania safari the flight usually goes through Addis Ababa or Nairobi. See our Botswana, South Africa and Namibia pages.

Is Victoria Falls good for families or a honeymoon?

Both. For families, lodges such as Pioneers, Avani and Lokuthula have space and family-friendly rooms, and minimum ages are set lodge by lodge, with some camps starting at 7 or 10. For couples, Tongabezi and Royal Chundu are quiet riverside hideaways on the Zambian side, and The Victoria Falls Hotel offers old-world grandeur above the gorge. Tell us who's travelling and we'll match the lodge.

When to go

When is the best time to visit Victoria Falls?

It depends on what you want. The falls are at full power from February to May, with the heaviest spray, and clearest and most balanced from June to August. From September to December the river is at its lowest, which is when Devil's Pool opens, but the Zambian end of the falls can thin to a trickle in the driest weeks. June to August is the window we suggest most often for adding the falls to a safari.

When is Devil's Pool open?

Only in the low-water season, roughly late August or September to December, depending on how quickly the river drops. It's on the Zambian side and run as a guided trip from Livingstone Island, and operators close it when conditions aren't safe. Dates shift from year to year, so we check them for your trip, and Smartraveller advises checking that your travel insurance covers adventure activities.

Getting there

How do we get to Victoria Falls from Australia?

Qantas flies non-stop from Sydney and Perth to Johannesburg, roughly 14 to 15 hours from Sydney and 11 from Perth, and from there it's a short flight on to Victoria Falls on the Zimbabwe side or Livingstone on the Zambia side. From other cities you connect, including one-stop options through Singapore, and from a Tanzania safari the flight usually goes through Addis Ababa or Nairobi. Schedules change, so we check them when we build your trip, and we price flights from Australia when you're ready to book because fares move.

Can we visit Chobe from Victoria Falls in a day?

Yes. Chobe is about 90 minutes by road from Victoria Falls town plus the border crossing, so a day trip means an early start, a morning game drive on the riverfront, lunch at a lodge, an afternoon boat cruise and the drive back. It's a good taste, but two or three nights inside the park let you slow down and add Savuti or Linyanti. Our Chobe page has the detail.

Health, visas and safety

Is Victoria Falls safe for tourists?

When we last checked, on 17 October 2026, Smartraveller's level for Zimbabwe was exercise a high degree of caution because of the threat of crime and the risk of civil unrest, and for Zambia it was exercise normal safety precautions overall. It says protests in Zimbabwe can turn violent, that electricity and communications can be unreliable and not to walk outside at night, and in both countries not to swim in rivers or lakes. You can base on the Zambia side if you prefer. Read the latest at smartraveller.gov.au and smartraveller.gov.au.

Do Australians need a visa for Zimbabwe or Zambia?

Visa and passport rules change, and checking them is your job. Start with smartraveller.gov.au for Zimbabwe and smartraveller.gov.au for Zambia, and check both if you plan to cross the bridge between the two sides, or the Botswana page if you add Chobe. Allow time to sort anything that needs applying for in advance.

Do we need vaccinations, and is malaria a risk at Victoria Falls?

Both are medical questions for your doctor. Smartraveller says malaria is a risk throughout Zimbabwe outside Harare and Bulawayo and a high risk throughout the year across Zambia. On yellow fever, we generally tell people the vaccine is worth having, as one shot lasts a lifetime, but your doctor always has the last say. Raise your whole itinerary with a travel doctor before you book, and check smartraveller.gov.au and smartraveller.gov.au for current entry rules.

Go Deeper

Trip Planning Guides

Long-form guides that help you decide before you commit. Real numbers, real photos, no fluff.

Browse all guides in the journal →

From the Journal

Victoria Falls Field Guides

PlanningVictoria Falls: Zambia or Zimbabwe Side?

PlanningBest Time to Visit Botswana

CostsWhat an African Safari Costs

PlanningBest Safari for First-Timers

All articles →

Planning your budget

Straight numbers help you decide before you commit. See what an African safari costs from Australia, real trips with the real prices and how booking works.

Keep Exploring

More Destinations

The same way of travelling, in other corners of Africa.

Elephants · Savuti · River

Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls at a glance

Tour the Falls

The Falls, Zimbabwe Side

Livingstone & the Zambia Side

The Zambezi Upstream

Chobe Day Trip or Stay

Falls, Flights and the Zambezi

Walk the falls on both sides

Helicopter flight

Sunset cruise on the Zambezi

Chobe by day trip

Wildlife close to town

Trip Shapes

Victoria Falls Stand-Alone

Victoria Falls + Chobe

Falls + Chobe + the Delta

After a Tanzania Safari

Lodges We Work With, Side by Side

Victoria Falls town and its edges

Small camps near the falls

Livingstone and the river

Quiet, romantic hideaways

When to Visit Victoria Falls

January

February to May

June to August

September to December

Getting to Victoria Falls

Your Australian city

Johannesburg

Victoria Falls (VFA) or Livingstone (LVI)

At the falls

Tell us your dates first

Flights

The time difference

Safety, Which Side, Children and Packing

Visas and entry

Health and malaria

Is it safe?

Which side to base on

Children and age rules

What to pack

Pair Victoria Falls With

Chobe

The Okavango Delta

Tanzania

FAQ

Planning and cost

When to go

Getting there

Health, visas and safety

Trip Planning Guides

Victoria Falls Field Guides

Planning your budget

More Destinations

Chobe

Botswana

Namibia

South Africa

Tanzania

Kenya

Plan Your Victoria Falls Trip

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