Victoria Falls Guide: Everything You Need to Know

Hosting a world wonder, I know Victoria Falls been on my list for some time and finally I spent Christmas there.

Here is how I spent seven days in Livingstone and Victoria Falls, with highlights, food recommendations, and what I learned along the way.

Day 1. Chobe National Park Safari in Botswana

One of the biggest advantages of staying in Livingstone is how easy it is to visit Chobe National Park in Botswana. I booked a full day safari tour that included transport, a river cruise, and a game drive. In Chobe, you can see lions, elephants, hippos, buffalo, and massive herds of wildlife. Rhinos are not found here, but the elephant population alone is worth the trip.

The day is long and intense, but it feels unreal to watch animals move freely in their natural environment. If you want a classic African safari experience while based in Zambia, this is the best day trip to take from Livingstone.

Day 2. Recovery, Culture, and Local Food

After the safari, I needed a slower day. Livingstone has a calm, small town energy that makes resting feel natural. I visited the Livingstone Museum, which gives a great overview of Zambia’s history, culture, and colonial past.

Food in Livingstone is very affordable, especially at local restaurants. I tried nshima, which is Zambia’s national staple made from maize. It is usually served with vegetables, beans, or meat. The flavors are simple, but it is an important part of daily life here.

Livingstone is not a flashy food destination, but the meals are filling, honest, and budget friendly.

Day 3. Helicopter Flight and Zambezi River

Day three was all about seeing the Zambezi River from different perspectives.

At 1 PM, I took took a helicopter flight over Victoria Falls. Seeing the river from the air and then again from the water helped connect the scale of everything. My tour guide charge us $175/PP, but once at the helicopter place, I learned it would have been $135 if I booked directly with them.

In the afternoon, I took a sunset cruise along the Zambezi River, which forms the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe and eventually flows through several countries before reaching the Indian Ocean.

The cruise was calm and scenic, with hippos surfacing nearby and elephants sometimes visible along the banks. The Zambezi is the fourth longest river in Africa, and seeing it at golden hour shows how central it is to life in this region.

Day 4. Victoria Falls and the Boiling Pot Hike

I've seen Niagra Falls, lived up to every expectation. I made sure to see the falls from both the Zambian and Zimbabwean sides, since each offers a completely different perspective.

The Zimbabwe side gives wide, dramatic views of the full curtain of water. The Zambian side lets you get much closer to the edge.

One of the highlights was hiking down to the Boiling Pot. The trail takes you deep into the Batoka Gorge and brings you right to the base of the falls, where the Zambezi crashes into the canyon before calming downstream. The hike is steep and sweaty, but absolutely worth it.

Day 5. Restaurants in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Livingstone makes it easy to cross into Zimbabwe for the day. I started with breakfast at The Lookout Café, which sits above the Batoka Gorge and offers a stunning view of the bridge connecting Zambia and Zimbabwe.

That bridge was originally built as part of Cecil Rhodes’ vision to connect Egypt to South Africa by train. The plan never fully happened, but the history adds something special to the view.

For dinner, I went to Victoria Falls Safari Lounge for sunset. The food reviews are mixed, and I agree that the meal is not the main attraction. The setting, wildlife views, and sunset atmosphere make it a memorable experience, especially considering how affordable it is.

Day 6. Markets, Town Life, and Relaxation

After several intense activity days, I spent time exploring Livingstone at a slower pace. Local markets, small shops, and neighborhood walks helped me see daily life outside the tourist bubble.

Livingstone feels more residential than Victoria Falls town. People live here year round, not just for tourism, which gives the city a grounded, relaxed energy.

Day 7. Final Views and Departure

I was sick of spending money so I was honestly ready to go.

Where to Stay. Livingstone vs. Victoria Falls

Zambia vs. Zimbabwe

One of the biggest questions people have when planning a trip to Victoria Falls is where to stay. Livingstone, Zambia or Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

In short -

Livingstone has far more resort style accommodations than Victoria Falls town. If you are looking for luxury, relaxation, and amenities like spas, riverfront views, and on site dining, Livingstone is hard to beat.

Most of Livingstone’s best restaurants, activities, and experiences are within the resorts themselves, which makes it ideal if you want a more contained, all in one stay.

It is also incredibly easy to access:Zambezi River cruisesHelicopter flights over Victoria FallsSafari style excursions

All of these activities are available from either side of the border, so you are not missing out by staying in Zambia.

Staying in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Victoria Falls town offers something Livingstone does not. It has closer proximity and better views of the actual falls. If waking up near one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World matters to you, this is a huge plus.

Victoria Falls also has a few standout restaurants and cafes outside of resorts, giving it more of a walkable town feel compared to Livingstone’s resort focused layout.

Visiting Both Sides of Victoria Falls

No matter where you stay, I strongly recommend visiting both sides of the falls.

Entry fee for the Zimbabwe side is about 50 US dollars.Entry fee for the Zambia side is about 20 US dollars.

The Zambia side is smaller, but both offer completely different perspectives. Seeing Victoria Falls from both angles gives you a fuller appreciation of how massive and powerful it really is.

Some activities, like Devil’s Pool, require border crossings anyway, so being open to visiting both sides will enhance your experience.

What I did - I Split Your Stay

I chose to split my trip, just to fully experience both sides. I stayed the first 4 nights in Livingstone, Zambia and 3 nights in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

This allowed me to enjoy luxury resorts in Livingstone, iconic views in Victoria Falls, and easier access to activities on both sides of the border.

If You Only Stay in One Place

If you do not want to switch hotels or cross borders multiple times, my recommendation is to stay in Livingstone, Zambia and plan 1 or 2 days to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Some people do it every day multiple times, but to me - crossing the border is very annoying better to do it only 1x or 2x. People push, it's hot, you have to get out of the car, walk, wait. Often, your driver can't take you to the other side, so you're switching cars and switching drivers.

You will get the comfort and luxury of Zambia’s resorts while still experiencing the most impressive views of the falls.