3 Days in Victoria Falls: Game Drives, River Cruises, Waterfalls and More!
Known as one of the World’s Seven Natural Wonders, Victoria Falls is a bucket-list destination for many travellers. The Falls follow the Zambezi River and span across two countries, Zimbabwe and Zambia. I was lucky enough to spend a week exploring the area around the falls but I know most people don’t usually have that much time. So, for those who want to visit, here’s how I suggest you spend 3 days in Victoria Falls.
Important Note: My Victoria Falls itinerary will use Zimbabwe as your base and include a crossing to the Zambia side. If you follow this itinerary, you will need to make sure you get multiple-entry visa when you enter Zimbabwe, or else you will pay the full visa amount twice! Also, if you get a visa on arrival make sure to bring USD and small bills. When I visited they were very reluctant to let people use credit cards and often didn’t give back any change, claiming not to have enough.
Is Victoria Falls Safe?
The funniest conversation I had during my five weeks in Eastern and Southern Africa was regarding the safety of Victoria Falls. The driver who picked me up at the airport told me all about the town and how it was a tourist town and very safe during the day for visitors and I could walk around freely with no problems. Having just come from Kenya, where that wasn’t the case, and Zanzibar, where I was very uncomfortable as a female traveller, this was great news. However, nighttime, was different.
“After dark is not safe.” He told me. I nodded along but did a double take when he told me it wasn’t safe because of the wildlife. Turns out that in Zimbabwe, they don’t fence in their national parks which means it’s common for all types of wildlife to roam through the town at night. In fact, right before I came, an elephant broke down a hotel gate to get to a tree with branches it wanted to eat. I’ve been warned many times as a female traveller to stay inside at night, but this was the first time I was warned about it because of wildlife.
Overall, I felt safe walking through Victoria Falls town. There are lots of people, mostly men, who will try to sell you figurines and souvenirs in the street. They can be a bit pushy but it is annoying more than anything else. Do make sure to keep an eye on your belongings, as always, and don’t leave anything just hanging off your bags. One friend did have her carabiner stolen. Not a huge deal, but unfortunate because she was planning on using it during our trip.
How to Get to Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls has its own airport which makes it easy to arrive from abroad. However, you can also cross by land through Botswana and Zambia. Zambia is just on the other side of the river, Botswana is only a couple of hours by driving so it depends on your itinerary. If you do arrive by plane, it’s about an hour from the airport to the Victoria Falls town. Please note the tips I listed above about getting a visa on arrival.
If you need an airport transfer to your hotel, you can book one here.
Getting Around Victoria Falls
Victoria Smalls is relatively small but relatively easy to walk around if your accommodation is close to the town centre. Some hotels are further out, if this is the case see if the property offers a shuttle to Victoria Falls town and the Falls themselves. Otherwise, you will need to use a taxi which can be costly.
Take a look at accommodation options in Victoria Falls here.
How to Spend 3 Days in Victoria Falls: An Itinerary
Day 1: Victoria Falls Town
Welcome to Victoria Falls! I’m assuming you will have at least half a day to explore so I will suggest that today you explore the town itself. As mentioned earlier, Victoria Falls Town is a tourist town, so there are plenty of shops, cafes, restaurants, and a craft market to explore. If you plan on shopping bring cash, especially smaller bills so you don’t have to worry about getting the correct change. Sometimes credit card is accepted but you will be charged an additional fee to cover those costs. Remember, haggling is common here so when there are no prices be sure to barter!
While in town, check out:
- Elephant Walk Shopping and Artist’s Village
- Traitbeik Trading Ltd
- Tami Walker Fine Art Gallery
After exploring the town, I suggest joining a sunset tour on the Zambezi River. Not only is it nice to relax and watch the sunset from the water, but it’s also a great way to spot some of the local wildlife. We saw plenty of elephants and hippos and another group saw a mother lion and her cubs down by the water. There are two options:
- Regular sunset cruise (includes snacks and beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic)
- Sunset dinner cruise (dinner and beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic)
The sunset cruises will also provide pick up and drop off to most hotels in the area.
If you’d rather get dinner in town after your sunset cruise try:
- Victoria Falls Distilling Company (gin)
- The River Brewing Company
- Marula Café (great breakfast/brunch spot!)
- The Three Monkeys Restaurant
- BOMA: This is a dinner show/drum. To be honest, I didn’t love it but many people do. You will also need reservations and can book tickets here if you want to go.
Day 2: Victoria Falls from Above and Below
Day two of my Victoria Falls itinerary is all about the falls themselves. I suggest you get an early start at Victoria Falls to do the tour before it gets too hot in the day OR later in the afternoon. There are some shaded parts, but there is also a good chunk in full sun and if you visit during dry season, like I did, it can be pretty hot! We did a guided tour and I really appreciated our guide’s stories and insights as a local, so I would recommend doing an actual tour. You can book one here.
For the afternoon, I have a few options for you depending on how you want to explore.
The first, and what I did, is Devil’s Pool. You’ve likely seen photos of it online; people swimming and sitting in a pool on the edge of the water. It’s just as crazy as it sounds but I absolutely loved it. Did I feel safe? Yes. But would that ever fly in North America? Definitely not. Keep in mind, the Devil’s Pool is only open during certain times of the year. Otherwise, you can do the Angels Pool. It’s also on the Zambia side so remember to get multiple entry visa if this is on your to-do list. Swimming in Devil’s Pool is one of the most popular things to do in Victoria Falls and it does book up quickly so if you know you want to do it, book in advance.
If swimming on the edge of a waterfall isn’t really your thing, don’t worry. I have two more ideas for you.
The first is to take a helicopter ride. You’ll hear them going non-stop while in Victoria Falls and those that do it, love it. Book your ride here.
Alternatively, you can get on the water and go white water rafting. Book your spot here.
Day 3: Victoria Falls Game Drives
For the last day of your 3 day itinerary in Victoria Falls, I suggest joining one or two game drives. Game drives are best in the morning or the evening. I went with a few various companies while in Victoria Falls and they also all provided a snack stop (which was more of a meal!) with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Water was also provided which was nice.
There are a few options for national parks to visit. If you are moving on to Botswana for part of your trip, then stick to the Victoria Falls area. You can go to Zambezi National Park or Osi-Oa Tunya National Park. However, if you don’t plan on spending time in Botswana I would suggest doing the longer full-day trip down to Chobe National Park. Again, make sure you have the multi-entry visa, but Chobe was absolutely fantastic for game drives. Take a look at this option.
Final Tips for Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe uses the USD right now, so do not be tricked by anyone in the street trying to sell you local bills. They are only good for souvenirs- which you may or may not want. Cash is king if you are shopping at the market. It’s also suggested you have cash for tips- as extra left on credit cards go to the business owners, not the individuals who served you.
For some reason, cellphone service does not seem to work in Victoria Falls. Myself and my group all had different e-sims but no luck getting them to work. We had to rely on wifi so come prepared expecting to do that and understand that, depending on where you are staying, the wifi may not be very reliable as well.
You will note a lot of different types of animal tourism around Victoria Falls including activities such as walking with lions or other big cats. This is incredibly unethical animal tourism. Please do not participate in activities like these.
Lastly, one of the big adventures in Victoria Falls is bungee jumping over the Zambezi River. I’m not going to tell you what to do but I will link to this horrifying story of a woman whose line snapped and you can give that a read and decide for yourself.
As I said, I spent a week in Victoria Falls. Part of that was relaxing by the pool at my hotel and I did a lot of game drives. After all, my main reason for coming to this part of Africa was the wildlife. I do think 3 days in Victoria Falls is enough to do the main things and I hope you find my itinerary helpful!
Ready to Book Your Trip?
Don’t forget travel insurance!
Please do not travel without travel insurance! I’ve had to use it multiple times throughout my travels and it has saved me thousands of dollars. You can learn more about travel insurance here. If you are looking for a provider I love and recommend SafetyWing. For Canadian readers, take a look at SoNomad.
Book your accommodation
I love and recommend booking.com for accommodation. They have a range of hostels, guesthouses, hotels, and resorts. Plus, the platform has a great loyalty program that means the more you book, the more you can save.
Book your tours
My go-to tour provider that I love to recommend is GetYourGuide. They have options all over the world and partner with local companies for everything from day trips to food experiences and even airport transfers.
Get connected
If you want to have data while travelling for online maps or any other needs, an esim is one of the easiest solutions. I have used esims around the world from Brazil to Uzbekistan, Greece to the USA- they are super easy and you don’t risk losing your home sim! There are two brands I have used and recommend so I suggest comparing both.
Airalo: download the app, pick what country you want an esim for, and after you purchase it follow the installation instructions. You can use promo code HANNAH3326 to save $3USD on your next esim purchase.
Truely: This one is easier in that it’s a one-time download instead of downloading an esim for each country. It also allows you to hotspot and tether- which not all esims do. Check out options here.
Not sure what to pack?
I have destination-specific guides for some countries but you can also check my travel essentials and camera gear if you are looking for some ideas.
Looking for a travel buddy?
Check out my group trips!