Victoria Falls had been on my travel list for a long time, but what made this trip even better was realizing I didn’t have to experience just one country.
In five days, I visited Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana, saw Victoria Falls from different perspectives, flew over the falls in a helicopter, swam at Devil’s Pool, watched elephants cross the water in Botswana, took a sunset dinner cruise on the Zambezi River and had one of my favorite dining experiences aboard a luxury train.
And yes, I did this trip solo.
If you’re planning a trip to Victoria Falls and wondering which side to stay on, how many days you need, whether you can add Botswana, what activities are actually worth paying for and how much everything costs, I’m breaking down my entire trip.
Getting to Victoria Falls
I traveled from New York and flew:
New York (JFK) → London (LHR) → Johannesburg (JNB) → Victoria Falls (VFA)
My long-haul flights were with British Airways, and I connected from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls with Airlink.
One planning decision I’m really happy I made was flying into Victoria Falls Airport in Zimbabwe and flying home from Livingstone Airport in Zambia.
Because I split my stay between Zimbabwe and Zambia, this meant I didn’t have to cross the border again just to catch my flight home.
If you’re planning a similar trip, search for a multi-city or open-jaw flight instead of automatically booking a round-trip ticket from the same airport.
My international and regional flights cost approximately $1,715.87.
Zimbabwe, Zambia or Both?
My answer after doing this trip? Both.
Zimbabwe and Zambia give you different experiences of Victoria Falls, and crossing between the two is relatively easy.
I started on the Zimbabwe side and then moved to Zambia for the second half of my trip.
I also used this trip to visit Botswana for the day, which meant I experienced three countries during one vacation.
The KAZA UniVisa
One of the most useful things for this trip was the KAZA UniVisa.
I paid $50, and it allowed me to travel between Zimbabwe and Zambia while also taking my day trip into Botswana without having to keep purchasing separate visas every time I crossed the border.
Always check the latest entry and visa requirements before your trip because immigration policies and eligibility can change.
My 5-Day Victoria Falls Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Zimbabwe + Sunset Dinner Cruise
I landed at Victoria Falls Airport in Zimbabwe and took a transfer to my first hotel, Shongwe Lookout.
My airport transfer was around $40.
Where I Stayed: Shongwe Lookout
I spent two nights at Shongwe Lookout and paid approximately $440.
It was a great base for the Zimbabwe portion of my trip, and I especially loved having the lookout tower right at the property.
After checking in and settling down, it was time for one of the best ways to start a Victoria Falls trip: the Zambezi River.
Pure Africa Dinner Cruise
That evening, I did the Pure Africa Dinner Cruise.
Imagine slowly cruising along the Zambezi River as the sun goes down, drink in hand, before sitting down for dinner on the water.
It was such a peaceful introduction to Victoria Falls after a long journey.
The experience cost approximately $122 including the river fee.
If you arrive early enough on your first day, I definitely recommend keeping the evening fairly relaxed and doing a sunset cruise instead of trying to squeeze in several activities.
Day 2: Victoria Falls + Lookout Café + Dinner Train
This was my big Victoria Falls day.
I visited Victoria Falls National Park on the Zimbabwe side and walked through the different viewpoints.
And prepare to get wet!
Depending on the season and water levels, the spray from the falls can feel like you’re standing in heavy rain. Protect your camera and phone and wear something you don’t mind getting wet.
Seeing Victoria Falls in person is completely different from seeing it in photos.
You hear it before you fully see it.
Then you start walking from viewpoint to viewpoint and realize just how enormous it actually is.
Lunch/Drinks at Lookout Café
After exploring the falls, I stopped at Lookout Café.
If you’re someone who loves restaurants with a view, add this one to your list.
The location overlooking the gorge makes it worth visiting, especially around sunset.
Royal Livingstone Express
That evening came one of my favorite experiences from the entire trip: the Royal Livingstone Express.
The experience cost approximately $220, and it ended up being my favorite meal of the trip.
This isn’t just dinner.
It’s an experience.
You step aboard a beautiful vintage-style train, have drinks and dinner, and get to enjoy a completely different side of the Victoria Falls area.
If you’re celebrating a birthday, anniversary, honeymoon or just want one special luxury experience during your trip, this is one I would put high on the list.
Day 3: Botswana Day Trip + Move to Zambia
Yes, you can visit Botswana while staying at Victoria Falls.
And I absolutely think you should.
I took a day trip to Chobe National Park in Botswana, which cost approximately $200.
The trip included a game drive, buffet lunch and river cruise.
This was one of the experiences I was most excited about because Chobe is famous for its elephants.
And then I got to see something even better than I expected:
elephants swimming across the water.
Watching them move through the river in their natural environment was one of those travel moments I won’t forget.
Doing both the land safari and river cruise was also worth it because they give you completely different perspectives.
After Botswana, I continued the trip on the Zambia side.
My transfer from Zimbabwe to my hotel in Zambia was approximately $40.
Where I Stayed in Zambia: Avani Victoria Falls Resort
For the second part of my trip, I stayed two nights at Avani Victoria Falls Resort.
My stay cost approximately $743.96.
One of the biggest advantages of staying here is the location. You’re incredibly close to Victoria Falls, which makes exploring the Zambia side very convenient.
Splitting my hotels between Zimbabwe and Zambia also meant I got to experience both destinations instead of constantly traveling back and forth across the border.
Day 4: Victoria Falls From Above + Devil’s Pool
If seeing Victoria Falls from the ground isn’t enough, wait until you see it from the sky.
Helicopter Flight Over Victoria Falls
I booked a helicopter flight over Victoria Falls for approximately $172.
This is one of those activities where the view explains why people do it.
From the air, you finally understand the actual scale of the falls, the gorge and the Zambezi River.
If you’re creating photos or videos, this is also one of the best opportunities to capture the landscape from a completely different perspective.
Devil’s Pool
Then came one of the most unforgettable experiences of my trip:
swimming at Devil’s Pool.
Devil’s Pool is a natural rock pool near the edge of Victoria Falls on the Zambia side. Access is seasonal and depends on water levels, so this is something you need to check when planning your trip.
I did the experience with High Tea, which made the whole afternoon feel even more special.
And a random travel detail nobody tells you until you get there: I paid about $2 to rent water shoes.
Swimming that close to the falls definitely gets your adrenaline going, but it was one of those experiences I knew I wanted to do while I was there.
Day 5: Slow Morning + Royal Livingstone + Departure
After several packed days, I wanted my final day to be slower.
One place worth visiting even if you aren’t staying there is the Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Zambia Hotel by Anantara.
I stopped by for sunset drinks, and the setting was beautiful.
It’s the kind of place where you can sit down, order a drink and actually process everything you’ve done over the past few days.
Eventually, it was time to head to Livingstone Airport (LVI) for my flight home.
My transfer from the Zambia hotel area to Livingstone Airport was approximately $30.
And because I flew out of Zambia instead of going all the way back to Victoria Falls Airport in Zimbabwe, my departure was much easier.
How Much Did My Victoria Falls Trip Cost?
Here’s a breakdown of some of my major expenses so you can get an idea of what to budget.
Flights: $1,715.87
Shongwe Lookout – 2 nights: $440
Avani Victoria Falls – 2 nights: $743.96
Pure Africa Dinner Cruise: $122
Royal Livingstone Express: $220
Chobe National Park day trip: $200
Helicopter flight: $172
KAZA UniVisa: $50
Victoria Falls Airport → hotel transfer: $40
Zimbabwe → Zambia hotel transfer: $40
Zambia hotel → Livingstone Airport: $30
Dinner + drinks: approximately $40
Water shoe rental: approximately $2
Based on these expenses, I spent more than $3,800 on the major parts of this trip.
Your total can obviously be much lower or higher depending on your flights, hotels, activities, meals and travel style.
For me, I prefer spending more for convenience and experiences, especially when I’m traveling solo.
Things I Would Recommend Booking in Advance
Victoria Falls isn’t necessarily a destination where I would arrive and figure everything out later.
Some experiences have limited availability, and activities like Devil’s Pool are also dependent on the season.
I would book your hotels, Devil’s Pool experience, Royal Livingstone Express, helicopter flight and Chobe day trip before arriving, especially if you’re traveling during a popular period.
You can leave some restaurant time and smaller activities open so the trip doesn’t feel too scheduled.
Victoria Falls Travel Tips I Wish I Knew Before Going
1. Fly into one country and out of the other
If you’re staying in both Zimbabwe and Zambia, look at flying into VFA and departing from LVI, or vice versa.
It can save you an unnecessary border crossing.
2. Don’t choose between Zimbabwe and Zambia if you have enough time
I loved being able to experience both.
Instead of making one side a quick day trip, I actually stayed in both countries.
3. Add Botswana
If you’ve already traveled all the way to Victoria Falls, a Chobe day trip is such an easy way to add another completely different experience.
You can see Victoria Falls one day and be watching elephants in Botswana the next.
4. Bring waterproof protection
Victoria Falls is called The Smoke That Thunders for a reason.
The spray can be intense.
Bring something waterproof for your phone and camera, and don’t plan your nicest outfit for the actual falls walk.
5. Bring more than one pair of shoes
You’ll want comfortable walking shoes for Victoria Falls, but water-friendly shoes are useful for activities like Devil’s Pool.
6. Carry some cash
Even if you mostly use cards, having small amounts of cash is useful for things like tips, small purchases and rentals.
7. Check the season before booking
Your Victoria Falls experience can look very different depending on when you visit.
Water levels affect how the falls look and which activities are available. Devil’s Pool, in particular, isn’t accessible year-round.
Is 5 Days Enough for Victoria Falls?
For me, five days worked really well.
It gave me enough time to experience Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana without turning the entire trip into a race.
If Victoria Falls is your main destination, I would plan approximately 4–5 days.
That gives you enough time for the falls, a Zambezi River experience, a Botswana safari, a helicopter flight and some downtime.
If you’re someone who prefers slower travel, adding another day would make the itinerary even more relaxed.
Is Victoria Falls Good for a Solo Trip?
I traveled here solo, and one thing I loved about this itinerary is that most of my major activities were organized experiences.
The dinner cruise, train, safari, helicopter flight and Devil’s Pool experience didn’t require me to have someone traveling with me.
For solo travelers, I would prioritize convenience when choosing your hotel and arrange your airport and border transfers ahead of time.
I always say that when I travel solo, luxury isn’t only about staying somewhere expensive. Luxury is feeling safe, comfortable and making things easier for myself.
And that’s exactly how I approached this trip.
Would I Go Back to Victoria Falls?
Absolutely.
But what surprised me most about this trip was that Victoria Falls wasn’t the only highlight.
I went because I wanted to see one of the world’s most famous waterfalls, but I came home thinking about the elephants swimming in Botswana, dinner aboard the Royal Livingstone Express, sunset over the Zambezi and that helicopter view just as much as the falls themselves.
If you’re planning Victoria Falls, don’t make the mistake of treating it as somewhere you fly into, see the waterfall and leave.
Give yourself a few days.
Stay on both sides if you can.
Add Botswana.
And experience Victoria Falls from the ground, the water and the sky.
It turned one bucket-list destination into a three-country African adventure I won’t forget.