Which Side of Victoria Falls is Better? Zimbabwe vs Zambia: Honest Review

Which side of Victoria Falls is better: Zimbabwe or Zambia? It is the question we asked before arriving and the one that is genuinely worth thinking about before you book anything. I did a lot of research even though we always planned to see it all in the two countries.

I did both sides and this is my honest review. Not a polished brochure version. The real experience, including the entrance fees I actually paid, what surprised me, what nobody mentions online, and which side I would choose if I could only do one.

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The Basics: What You Are Choosing Between

Victoria Falls sits on the Zambezi River, which forms the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. The falls can be visited from either country, from Victoria Falls town in Zimbabwe or from Livingstone in Zambia. They are different experiences, not just different viewpoints of the same thing. The landscape, the trails, the atmosphere and the activities available on each side vary considerably, which is why the question of which side to visit is worth thinking about before you arrive rather than after.

The short answer is that if you can do both, do both. If you have to choose one, read on.

Zimbabwe Side: The Classic View

The Zimbabwe side is where the falls announce themselves most dramatically. You walk through a rainforest trail, the sound builds gradually, the spray starts to hit you, and then the full scale of the falls appears in front of you. It is one of those moments that stops you mid-step.

The views here are wider, more frontal and more classically spectacular than anything on the Zambian side. If you have seen photographs of Victoria Falls and imagined yourself standing in front of them, this is where that image comes from.

We got a bit wet despite having raincoats. The spray from the falls creates its own permanent rainfall along the trail and no amount of wishful thinking changes that. And on top of that, it rains on you from down up, too.

A raincoat is not optional here. It is the difference between an extraordinary experience and a miserable one. We thought that we could manage without the raincoats, especially that we thought of ourselves as waterfall experts after visiting Iguazu Falls twice. How ignorant of us. Only the very last minute, a local tourists (who was there multiple times already), told us that it is like walking into a shower. We listened, thankfully.

Practical Information for Zimbabwe

Entrance fee: I paid USD 58. Note that this is inconsistent with figures currently listed on official websites and various online sources, which quote USD 50. Entrance fees at Victoria Falls change frequently and are not always updated promptly online. Verify the current fee at the gate or with your accommodation before you visit and carry cash as a backup as card machines can be unreliable.

Raincoat: Essential. You can rent one from the market directly in front of the entrance gate for around USD 3. It is worth every cent. You can also bring your own, of course.

Shoes and clothes: Wear shoes and clothes you do not mind getting completely wet. Sandals are not ideal on the slippery paths. Something that dries quickly is strongly advisable. I wore my safari boots that don’t get wet easily, however, I ended up with paddles inside.

Time needed: Two hours is enough to cover the main trail and viewpoints comfortably without rushing.

Viewpoints: You’ll have up to 16 viewpoints along the rim of the gorge, giving you wide frontal views of the main falls, Devil’s Cataract, Horseshoe Falls and Rainbow Falls.

Re-entry: You cannot re-enter once you leave the Zimbabwe side on the same ticket, so plan your visit accordingly and do not leave until you are ready.

Zambia Side: The Adventure Experience

The Zambian side is a different kind of experience.

Despite being smaller, you can get close to the river, feel the energy of the water before it goes over the edge, and earn the views through a more physically demanding walk. It feels wilder and less manicured than Zimbabwe, which is either a positive or a negative depending on what you are looking for.

The walk upstream along the Zambezi before it drops into the gorge is genuinely beautiful and gives you a perspective on the falls that Zimbabwe simply cannot offer.

You see the river building towards its moment, which adds a completely different dimension to the experience.

The hike down to the Boiling Pot is the most physically demanding part of the Zambian side. It is a steep descent into the gorge where the water churns and folds back on itself in extraordinary fashion. Your legs will know about it on the way back up. It is worth doing.

Practical Information for zambia

Entrance fee: USD 25. Again, verify current pricing before your visit as fees are subject to change and online figures do not always reflect what is charged at the gate. As we stayed in a hotel inside the park, we didn’t have to pay to enter the falls.

Raincoat: Available to hire for around USD 1 near the entrance. Considerably cheaper than the Zimbabwe side though you will need it less here as the spray is not as overwhelming. We still got wet, but only because we didn’t wear the coats.

Time needed: Allow at least two to three hours if you want to do the upstream walk and the Boiling Pot hike. The Boiling Pot descent alone adds significant time and energy to the visit. It is 15 minutes to go down and 25 minutes to climb up. You’ll also want to stay down for a few minutes to watch the water, as this is exactly what you’re going for.

Re-entry: The Zambian side allows same-day re-entry on the same ticket, which is useful if you want to visit in the morning and return for sunset.

Activities on Both Sides

Victoria Falls is not just about standing at the edge and looking. Both sides offer an extraordinary range of activities that make the area worth more than a single day visit.

Devil’s Pool — on the Zambian side, this natural rock pool sits right at the lip of the falls and allows you to swim in it during low water season between roughly August and January. We went in May and it was already open deside a large amount of water. It is one of the most extraordinary things you can do anywhere in the world and the experience of looking over the edge from the water is genuinely not something you forget. Well…if you are adventurous, that is. I didn’t dare. Access is through a guided tour from Livingstone Island.

White water rafting — the Zambezi below the falls offers some of the best white water rafting in the world. The rapids are serious and the scenery is extraordinary. Accessible from both sides, but it is not always possible as it hugely depends on the water flow.

Sunset cruise — a far gentler option, watching the sun go down over the Zambezi from a boat with a drink in hand. A perfect way to end a day at the falls. We loved it so much, that we went twice. I’d suggest that you do it while you are in Zimbabwe as there are better options. There are options with a dinner or with light bites.

Bungee jumping — from the Victoria Falls Bridge connecting Zimbabwe and Zambia, one of the most iconic bungee jumps in the world. The bridge itself is worth walking across for the views of the gorge below.

Helicopter flight — seeing Victoria Falls from the air changes your understanding of the scale of it completely. Known locally as the Flight of Angels, it is expensive but genuinely worth considering if it fits your budget. This one you better book in advance as it is one of the most popular activities in Victoria Falls.

Boma dinner and drum show-if you only do one evening activity in Victoria Falls, make it the Boma. A four-course meal of local Zimbabwean or Zambian dishes, non-stop entertainment and an interactive drumming show that pulls the entire room in. You can attend this kind of dinner in both countries. The food leans into the local and the adventurous: game meats, traditional stews, and if you are feeling brave, mopane worms. The dancing and drumming performances are genuinely spectacular. It is quite impressive to see how many different traditional clothing and shows there are. I think I saw at least 4.

Which Side Should You Visit First

If you are doing both, start with Zimbabwe. The dramatic frontal views of the main falls set the scene and give you the classic experience before the Zambian side adds a different dimension to it. Going in this order means you build the experience rather than diminish it.

If you are only doing one, it depends on what you are looking for. Zimbabwe gives you the iconic, visually spectacular experience, the one you have seen in photographs your entire life. Zambia gives you more adventure, more physical engagement with the landscape, and considerably more value for money.

If you are anything like most people reading this, you have limited annual leave and you do not want to spend it doing things by halves. Two days at Victoria Falls, one on each side, is not excessive. It is the minimum that does the place justice. You have come this far. Do not rush it.

Practical Tips for Visiting Victoria Falls

Carry cash — USD cash is essential on both sides. Card machines exist but are unreliable enough that arriving without cash is a genuine risk. In Zambia, you can also use local currency.

Best time to visit — the falls are most powerful and most spectacular between February and May when water levels are highest. Between June and August the spray is less overwhelming and visibility of the actual rock face improves. Between August and January water levels drop significantly on the Zambian side but this is when Devil’s Pool opens. I think May is an excellent time, as it is end of rain season, which means blue sky and no mosquitoes while the falls are still powerful.

Accommodation — Victoria Falls town on the Zimbabwe side has a wider range of accommodation options. Livingstone on the Zambian side is smaller but perfectly comfortable as a base.

Getting between the two sides — crossing the bridge between Zimbabwe and Zambia is straightforward. You will need your passport and any applicable visas. Taxis are available on both sides and the crossing itself takes around 20 to 30 minutes including border formalities. We got KAZA visa that allowed us multiple entries to Zimbabwe and a one day trip to Botswana. With UE passport we didn’t need a visa to Zambia.

What to wear — on the Zimbabwe side wear clothes and shoes you genuinely do not mind getting completely soaked. Quick-dry fabrics make the experience considerably more comfortable. On the Zambian side, wear comfortable walking shoes if you plan to do the Boiling Pot hike as the descent and ascent are steep and can be slippery.

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