Victoria Falls

I was there in early June 2022. I visited the Zimbabwean side both walking and helicopter.

First thing to know is that the falls vary dramatically depending on the rain. June was right after the end of the rainy season and there was a LOT of water in the falls. There are about 15 view points, numbered from the east (farthest from Zambia) and only the first 4 or 5 were usable to see the magnificent falls. The others were a mix of fog & rain where you can't see much. From the pictures at the entrance of the park, there are much less water in September / October. 

I also took a 15 minutes helicopter tour ($150+10% tax) which focused on the falls, longer tours seem to also fly above the game park to see wildlife. Views from above were surprisingly nice an clear. All the fog is actually on the side opposite of the falls where people walk but not much fog on the side of the falls. The pilot goes around twice: right & left side of the helicopter so all the passengers would enjoy the view.

Victoria Falls is an easy add-on to a Botswana trip because of its proximity to Kasane, the starting point or endpoint of most safari tours throughout the country. From Kasane, I was swiftly delivered in about an hour to Victoria Falls town in Zimbabwe. I saw the smoke and heard the thunder already the day before I visited the Falls itself – at the Ilalla Lodge where I was staying there is a constant noise as if there was an airport nearby. But it is that huge waterfall making itself heard 24x7. 

My 'official' visit to the Falls started on the Zimbabwean side. I walked there in less than 10 minutes, that is how close they are to the town of Victoria Falls. Here you walk down a path with 19 vantage points. You hike for a bit, then make a small detour to a lookout point and then you continue on the original path. Due to a large amount of water falling down and the spray that creates, it was especially hard to see anything in the central part of the Falls. The best photos can be taken from the side, at viewpoint #2 for example. At viewpoint #12, it gets really wet.

On the following day, I did a 'breakfast cruise' on the Zambezi river. There has been little rain this year and the Zambezi - although still very wide - is not exactly a roaring river. We navigated to approximately 2 km from the Falls. …

We visited Victoria Falls on a day trip, organized transfer, from Kasane Botswana. There is a transfer time of 1,5 hour including borderpassing and that gave us only five hours to do the full experience (which you should do according to Solivagents review). We startet out with a helicopter tour, 13-14 minutes over the falls. Fantastic! Worth every dollar (150 per person). Then shuttle to the park entrance. The entrance is 30$ for single entry (still).

It’s late april and average amount of water for the season they say. But never the less, we got soaked at some of the view points. A raincoat might be a good idea, but in 30 degrees you dry up quickly in the sun. The views of the falls are magnificent, some places it was all misty and foggy others were clear. The falls are truly stunning. We haven’t been to Iguazu falls yet, but this is far the greatest waterfalls we have seen. 
To get to the Zambian side, there is a two km walk through the border zone. The view from the boarder bridge is also great. We were tempted to do the bungy jump from the bridge. No lines there, but no time (luckily ☺️).

The Zambian Park is smaller but still worth seeing. The views are different. We had finally dried up when we passed the Knife Edge bridge, but then we got totally soaked again. They are renting out raincoates along the pathway, but were are norwegians! …

I just did the Falls in September and love it. I actually found that although the best views are on the Zimbabwe side, the Zambia side has some spectacular views as well. Plus the hike is more intense and much better.

Seeing the Falls from the bottom and spotting Devil's Pool from the Zimbabwe side is also good to see.

It is a bit surprising to discover that, as of May 2005, Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls have still not been reviewed – so I will “put that right”!

One reason possibly is that the site is self evidently “world class” and needs no introduction or explanation. I still debate with myself whether or not it surpasses Iguassu and generally conclude that the latter offers a fuller “visiting experience” with generally more to see over a longer time with more “surprises” and with more associated interest of flora and fauna. But as a “waterfall” per se Victoria Falls is “right up there” as a full-on experience however much the Zimbawean government makes life difficult for tourists.

Both of our visits took place before the recent collapse of the Zimbabwian economy, currency and socio-political framework and some of our experiences may not now be achievable or relevant (we visited in 1988 & 97 - the 'copter flight during the first visit). We travelled around Zimbabwe “self drive” with petrol easy to obtain. We stopped off in Hwange park on the way from Bulawayo (excellent road at that time) and already found that to be a disappointment in comparison with other African wildlife parks. Time and poaching are not likely to have improved matters!

The town of Victoria Falls was totally atypical of others in Zimbabwe – a tourist ghetto offering all sorts of “non African” thrills and experiences – bungee jumping, white water rafting etc etc. It is what I term …