Victoria Falls Bucket List: Things to Do in Victoria Falls

As a matter of fact, the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia is formed by the magnificent Victoria Falls and the powerful Zambezi River. A Victoria Falls vacation offers a wide variety of activities, regardless of whether you opt to stay on the Zimbabwean or Zambian side of the falls.

Tours, sights, and activities abound in Zimbabwe, from thrilling white-water rafting, bungee jumping, and ziplining to breathtaking wildlife drives through Hwange National Park and sunset boat rides down the Zambezi River.

Remember that seeing Victoria Falls at different times of year can greatly alter your waterfall experience; planning your trip around certain activities requires careful consideration of the best time of year to go.

For instance, river activities on the Zambezi are best enjoyed when water levels are low since otherwise the current is too powerful, whereas land or air activities offer the most spectacular vistas when water levels are high.

Must-Do Activities in Victoria Falls

1. Walk along the footpaths of Victoria Falls National Park

Both the Zimbabwean Victoria Falls National Park and the Zambian Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park are located on the banks of the cascade. Although the two parks provide access to the rumbling waterfalls, the experience is vastly different depending on which side you visit.

One of the greatest places to see Victoria Falls is at Victoria Falls National Park, which is in Zimbabwe and is a verdant rainforest reserve. Here you may see four out of the five portions of the falls—The Devil’s Cataract, Main Falls, Rainbow Falls, and Horseshoe Falls—as you stroll along the park’s walkways that wind through the jungle and lead to vantage points.

The Victoria Falls Bridge makes it easy to get into Zambia from Zimbabwe; but, before you go on any excursions, remember to have your passport, as it is required for border crossings.

3. Visit Livingstone Island and take a dip in the Devil’s Pool

In the midst of the Zambezi River, on the brink of Victoria Falls, lies Livingstone Island, so called because it was named after the 19th-century European explorer David Livingstone. After an exciting brief boat ride through the Zambezi’s channels, visitors visiting Livingstone Island can take in a guided tour of the island.

At first, your tour guide will take you to the island’s westernmost point, where you can see Main Falls in all its glory. From the jungle trail on the opposite side of the gorge, you can see Victoria Falls, but this breathtaking vantage point gives you a whole new perspective.

While taking in breathtaking views of the Zambezi River and the crashing waters of Victoria Falls into the valley below, you may gain insight into the island’s past and the river’s development during your tour. There is a place on the island where David Livingstone first stood in November 1855, and your guide will also take you there.

Typically, the best time to do the Livingstone Island tour is between the months of June and March, when the Zambezi River is at a safe level for navigation. The island becomes totally inaccessible when the Zambezi River rises to a certain point.

Swim to the edge of Devil’s Pool:
You will have the chance to swim in Devil’s Pool after the island tour. If you’re not a great swimmer, don’t worry—there’s a safety line to help you swim the short distance upstream to the pool. From there, you’ll climb out on a rocky outcrop near the falls and Devil’s Pool.

Deep and formed by erosion over thousands of years, the Devil’s Pool is a naturally occurring pool. One thing that makes this waterfall special is a rock ledge at the edge of the cliff; the water below is just a few centimeters deep, creating a natural barrier that lets you leap into the deep pool without worrying about falling over the edge.

But you can only swim at Devil’s Pool when the Zambezi River is at low water, which is typically around the middle of August until the middle of January.

Kabira Safaris Top Tip:
Lying on the edge of Devil’s Pool at Victoria Falls, gazing into the 103-meter chasm, with massive torrents of water gushing meters away, is one of the most thrilling experiences.

5. Take a helicopter flight over Victoria Falls

Helicopter rides over Victoria Falls are the best way to take in the sheer magnitude of the falls. The cascades will be your vantage point as you soar above the towering mist wall that gives the site its local name, Mosi-oa-Tunya, or “The Smoke That Thunders.” The 12-13 flight will transport you there.

Take in the breathtaking vistas of Batoka Gorge and keep an eye out for wildlife as you soar over the Zambezi River. After you’ve soared beyond Kalunda Island, your pilot will make a left turn to get you ready to land.

You can see more of the Batoka Gorge and fly over Zambezi National Park on a lengthier 25-minute flight.

Victoria Falls Helicopter Ride, The Flight of Angels

7. Enjoy a safari in Hwange National Park

Hwange National Park is the biggest national park in Zimbabwe, spanning 15,000 square kilometers. Famous for its enormous buffalo and elephant herds, Hwange is the second-largest elephant park in the world, after Botswana’s Chobe National Park, with an estimated population of 30,000.

Hwange is a vital breeding site for endangered African wild dogs, black rhinos, roan and sable antelopes, and the Big Five—lions, elephants, rhinos, buffalo, and leopards—during your game drives.

For those looking to incorporate a safari experience into their Victoria Falls itinerary, Hwange is a great day trip option. It is only 104 kilometres away, which is about two hours of driving.

9. Learn about the history of the Victoria Falls bridge

Notable among the Victoria Falls landmarks is the Victoria Falls Bridge, which spans the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. It took fourteen months to build and was finished in 1905; its original name was the Zambezi Bridge.

A wonderful part of the Historic Bridge Tour is listening to a talk about the interesting past of this well-known bridge.

Alternatively, you can don a safety harness and make your way beneath the bridge to survey the breathtaking panoramas and marvel at the depths of Batoka Gorge. Depending on your luck, the spray can even create a double or full-circle rainbow.

11. Experience the Zambezi zipline and Flying Fox

Exciting aerial views of the Batoka Gorge can be had from 75 meters above the Zambezi River on a 135-meter zipline that winds its way through the gorge. With speeds reaching 90 to 100 kilometres per hour in a matter of seconds, this is the pinnacle of adrenaline rushes.

An alternative called the “flying fox” allows you to dash into Batoka Gorge and then glide horizontally across it, all the while the powerful Zambezi River is below you. The sense of flying will be yours when you are clipped into a harness that is attached to a pulley. The harness will glide along a rope over Batoka Gorge.

13. Explore the historical town of Livingstone in Zambia

Livingstone serves as the entry point to numerous sites within Victoria Falls and Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park; it is situated ten kilometers from the Zambian side of the Victoria Falls Bridge.

In 1905, the settlement of Constitution Hill was relocated from its original location at the Old Drift to avoid malaria outbreaks. Wide, tree-lined streets and houses, high ceilings, and verandas screened with mosquito nets were all meticulously planned features of the new site.

While Livingstone still has a small-town African vibe, it has kept a lot of its colonial architecture. You may learn a lot about the local culture and history by just spending a morning taking a leisurely walk around the colonial streets, stopping for coffee at a sidewalk café, and perusing the vibrant local markets.

The Livingstone Museum, which chronicles the town’s history as well as that of the Scottish adventurer David Livingstone—after whom the town was named—is another must-see.