Zimbabwe gives the wider, front-on view of Victoria Falls, and Zambia puts you closer to the water, especially at the eastern end. You can also see both, since the Victoria Falls Bridge links the two countries. The falls sit on the Zambezi River on the border between the two countries, and at 1,708 metres wide and 108 metres high they form the largest sheet of falling water in the world, according to the Victoria Falls entry on Wikipedia. UNESCO listed the site in 1989.
Table Of Content
The right choice depends on the month you travel, the town you stay in, and what you want to see. This guide covers each in turn.
How the Views Differ
The Zimbabwe side looks across the gorge at the falls, while the Zambia side lets you walk right up to the edge and into the spray. Africa Geographic describes Zimbabwe’s path as a line of viewpoints with “sweeping vistas” of the Main Falls and Devil’s Cataract, and Zambia’s as the side for close-up detail.
Zimbabwe side
The rainforest walk on the Zimbabwe side is a series of viewpoints facing the falls. Africa Geographic picks out the Main Falls and Devil’s Cataract here, and the side’s “well-developed infrastructure”. It suits a first look at the scale of the place and wide photographs.
Zambia side
The Zambian paths cross the Knife-Edge Bridge, where Africa Geographic warns you may be “drenched in spray” in high water. Zambia also has the footpath down to the Boiling Pot, the pool of churning water at the foot of the falls. Devil’s Pool, a natural pool on Livingstone Island at the edge of the falls, can be swum in roughly from September to December, when water levels permit, according to Wikipedia.
Seasons and Water Levels
The falls are at their fullest from February to May, peaking in April, and at their lowest around November. In November the flow is on average about a tenth of the April peak, according to both Wikipedia and the operator Wild Horizons. The look of the falls changes completely between the two.
| Months | Water level | What you see |
|---|---|---|
| February to May | High, peaking in April | Water across the full width; heavy spray can hide the view and soak you |
| June to October | Falling | Between the April peak and the November low; Devil’s Pool usually opens from September |
| November to early December | Lowest, about a tenth of April | Water concentrated towards the Zimbabwe side; the rock structure shows |
| Late December to January | Starting to rise | Flow builds again towards the next flood |
Wild Horizons notes that in low water “the water of the Falls is concentrated mainly towards the Zimbabwean side”, and that “the underlying structure can be seen and visibility is far better”. So late in the dry season, Zimbabwe is the side to choose if you want to see falling water rather than bare rock.
Spray in high water can rise more than 400 metres, according to Wikipedia. Bring a raincoat and a waterproof cover for your phone and camera.
Livingstone or Victoria Falls Town?
Victoria Falls town in Zimbabwe is right beside the falls, while Livingstone in Zambia is a larger town a short drive away. Both work as a base, and the bridge between them means you can see both sides from either one.
Victoria Falls town (Zimbabwe)
The town “lies on the southern bank of the Zambezi River at the western end of Victoria Falls themselves”, according to its Wikipedia entry, so the falls are on the edge of town. It is small: the 2022 census counted about 35,000 people. Victoria Falls Airport is about 18 km south of the town centre.
Livingstone (Zambia)
Livingstone lies 10 km north of the Zambezi and had about 177,000 people in the 2022 census. It is served by Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport serving domestic flights from Lusaka and international routes that include Johannesburg, Cape Town and Nairobi.
Compare flights into both airports before you choose a base.
Entry Fees
On the Zimbabwe side, international day visitors pay US$58 at the main rainforest gate. Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) raised the fee in February 2026 after VAT was added to tourism services, Tourism Update reported on 12 February 2026. The same rates were listed by Zambia Tourism on 16 February 2026.
| Zimbabwe side, international day visitor | Fee (February 2026) |
|---|---|
| Rainforest main gate | US$58 |
| VIP gate | US$174 |
| Moonlight viewing | US$116 |
The Zambian side charges its own fee. A current figure was not confirmed on an official page for this article, so ask at the gate or your lodge. Fees on both sides change, so check the official site before you book.
Crossing Between the Two Sides
You can walk or drive across the Victoria Falls Bridge, which opened in April 1905, but you pass through immigration on both sides, so the visa you hold matters. The KAZA UNIVISA was set up for this kind of trip.
Zambia’s Department of Immigration says “The KAZA UNIVISA costs USD 50” and is “valid up to 30 days in any given period of 12 months, as long as the holder remains within Zambia and Zimbabwe”. It also covers day trips into Botswana through the Kazungula border. The department lists the Victoria Falls border and Kazungula among the entry points where it is issued, along with the airports at Lusaka and Livingstone.
Not every nationality is eligible, and some passport holders need no visa for Zambia at all. The UK government’s Zambia entry requirements page, for example, says British passport holders do not need a visa to enter Zambia. Visa rules change, so check the official immigration sites of both countries for your passport before you travel.
Which Side Should You Choose?
If you only have time for one side, pick Zimbabwe late in the dry season, around October to December, and either side for the rest of the year. Choose Zambia if you want the Knife-Edge Bridge, the Boiling Pot path or a Devil’s Pool trip in season. With two days, seeing both sides is the best way to understand the falls, and the bridge makes it a short trip.
Sources
- Victoria Falls (Wikipedia)
- Victoria Falls: the natural variation of a natural wonder (Wild Horizons)
- Victoria Falls: Zambia vs Zimbabwe, which side is best? (Africa Geographic)
- Livingstone, Zambia (Wikipedia)
- Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe (Wikipedia)
- ZimParks increases fees (Tourism Update, 12 February 2026)
- Updated Victoria Falls entry fees for Zim side (Zambia Tourism, 16 February 2026)
- KAZA UNIVISA (Zambia Department of Immigration)
- Zambia travel advice: entry requirements (GOV.UK)
