Sharing a border with Zimbabwe and Zambia, Victoria Falls attracts visitors from both sides. But after five dark years that saw many visitors choosing to stay on the Zambian side of the falls in Livingstone, these days travelers are returning to the area’s original tourist hub, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
The view of the falls from the Zimbabwe side is better than the Zambian side, although on the Zambian side you can get closer to the top and bottom of the falls. Still for the panoramic picture-book images you need to be in Zimbabwe.
If you can time your visit with a full moon, all the better. This is a truly special time to view the falls. During full moon nights the park stays open after dark and if you are lucky you can see a lunar rainbow across the falls.
Give yourself a good half a day to explore Victoria Falls Rainforest Park. One of the seven natural wonders of the world, “the smoke that thunders” is worth every penny of the $30 admission charged to international visitors.
Upon entering the national park you’ll be treated to a history lesson displayed in colored placards by the gate. You’ll learn some local trivia, such as the fact that only David Livingstone’s heart is buried in Zambia, where he died. The rest of his body was laid to rest in the U.K.
Have dinner one night at the Boma Restaurant on the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge grounds about a mile from town. The fixed-price entry fee includes an all-you-can-eat buffet featuring traditional Zimbabwean dishes and all sorts of game meat. You’ll also get a cultural experience with dance performances, fortune telling between courses and lessons in traditional drumming.
At night it is dangerous to walk around Victoria Falls because wild animals — including elephants and even the odd hungry lion — are known to prowl the streets after dark.
Victoria Falls is a great place to stock up on the handicrafts Zimbabwe is famous for. Head to the Elephant Walk Shopping & Artist Village, created as a collective by artisans interested in promoting local art. Here you’ll find numerous boutiques and galleries selling some of the best variety of quality Zimbabwean and African handicrafts around.
If you only have time (or cash) for one adrenaline rush, go with the full-day rafting trip on the Zambezi just below the falls. This is one of the world’s most gnarly stretches of commercially run rapids. From put-in to take-out, the trip down Batoka Gorge provides an almost non-stop rip down 19 named Class IV and V rapids during low water (January to March) and nine during high water (April to December). The Zambezi River’s flow is totally dependent on rainfall. During high water, companies must skip the first 10 rapids as they are just not safe to navigate.
Other adrenaline activities include bungee jumping or swinging off the 330-foot bridge straddling the Zambezi River. Although it is not the highest bridge bungee jump in the world — that title belongs to a bridge in South Africa — it is arguably the world’s most scenic. For something slightly less intense, ride the zipline across the gorge.
