Some exciting news: Earthstompers can now help you plan your Victoria Falls travels! We have been getting many enquiries from existing clients to offer something in the Victoria Falls area, so Hendrik and I visited the area personally. We investigated the range of offerings for accommodation, transfers, and activities, so that we can give our clients the best advice. Here are our impressions and recommendations for the area.
Planning
Depending on how many activities you would like to do, we would recommend a 2-3 night stay in the Victoria Falls area. You have the option of staying on the Zimbabwe or Zambia side (more about that below). You can also fly in to either country to access this area: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe or Livingstone, Zambia.
Activities while in the Victoria Falls area
Obviously, mission #1 is to see the falls themselves! The view is better from the Zimbabwe side, but it is definitely worth seeing from both countries. If you are staying in Zambia, it is easy to arrange a guided day trip to see the falls from the Zimbabwe side, and costs about $70 (excluding visas). If you are staying on the Zimbabwe side, you can walk to the falls, or take a taxi. If you stay on the Zambia side, hotels offer shuttles to the falls several times per day; otherwise, taxis are available.
Seeing Victoria Falls by helicopter is the only way you can get a sense of the scale of this natural wonder. A bit pricey, but worthwhile.
Many operators and lodges offer a Zambezi River cruise, which is a great way to watch an African sunset. We saw hippo & crocodile, and even a herd of elephant crossing the iconic Zambezi, all while sipping our gin & tonics. This was fun!
For the more adventurous, try swimming in Devil’s Pool, a natural pool right on the edge of the Falls. You can book this through your hotel, or we can help you arrange this activity.
I always enjoy the cultural experiences when I’m visiting a foreign country, and I would recommend doing a village visit while in Zambia or Zimbabwe. The one I did included a visit to a local market, and cooking lunch with a local family in the village, which was an unforgettable glimpse into local life.
There are many more activities on offer, such as white water rafting, bungee jumping, or Chobe day trips. Please chat to us about options.
Accommodation while in the Victoria Falls area
The Zambia Side
The David Livingstone Safari Lodge & Spa. An easy 15 minute drive from Livingstone airport, and situated right on the Zambezi River, we really enjoyed our stay here. The food at the restaurant was excellent, service was so warm and friendly, activities were easy to book, and the room was clean and comfortable. Oh yeah, and all of this overlooking the Zambezi. What’s not to like?!
Pro tip: The mosquitoes come out as the sun goes down. Bring a good mosquito repellent with you.
The Zimbabwe side
Three recommendations here, depending on your budget and priorities. We choose these three based on budget, location, and their unique offerings. There are of course hundreds of accommodation options in the area, so please do chat to us about what you are looking for.
Ilila Lodge is walking distance to the Falls and to the town of Victoria Falls, which is convenient. This property is a good choice for a family with children.
We stayed at Shongwe Lookout, which was such a great experience. It is very stylishly decorated, and brand new (only open for about a month when we visited). The service was top notch. We had the best conversations and interactions with the staff here at Shongwe (shout out to Jamie and Aubrey. Keep up the good work!)
We also visited the Stanley & Livingstone Boutique Hotel. Wow! This is a stunning property, located about a 20 minute drive from Victoria Falls, and would be a top-notch way to spend a few nights of your Southern African holiday.
Pro tip: With the currency situation in flux, the best solution for now is to make sure you have plenty of US Dollars, in small denominations.
How to book:
Contact Hendrik or Chrissy for help with booking your Victoria Falls Adventure. 🙂
Chobe add-on:
Reaching the Chobe National Park area of Botswana only takes about 1-2 hours from Victoria Falls, and is an awesome river safari destination. Please see further info here.
