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For the classic views of the main falls, the Zimbabwe side is better: most of the curtain of water faces the Zimbabwean viewpoints, and it holds its flow through the dry months. The Zambia side gets you closer to the edge, with the Knife-Edge Bridge, Livingstone Island and, in low water, Devil's Pool, and its riverside lodges are some of the most peaceful places to stay in the region.
The border is a short drive across the Victoria Falls Bridge, so many people see both sides. The bigger decision is usually where to sleep, and that depends on the rest of your trip.
Victoria Falls is about 1.7 kilometers wide, and the Zambezi drops into a narrow gorge that runs along its full length. You view it from the opposite side of the gorge, which is why the two countries see different parts of it.
The Zimbabwe side runs along the rainforest opposite most of the falls. A path through Victoria Falls National Park leads to a series of viewpoints, starting at the Devil's Cataract and passing Main Falls, the highest volume section, before reaching Danger Point. Most visitors spend one to two hours here. In high water you will get soaked, and in low water you get the clearest views of the main falls of either side. Our page on Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe has more detail.
The Zambia side, in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, covers the Eastern Cataract. You can walk across the Knife-Edge Bridge into the spray, take a steep path down to the Boiling Pot at the bottom of the gorge, and, with a guided tour, visit Livingstone Island on the lip of the falls. In low water, roughly late August to early January, that tour can include a swim in Devil's Pool, depending on water levels.
The catch is that the Eastern Cataract is one of the first sections to dry up. Late in the dry season, around October and November, the Zambian face can be mostly bare rock. That is when the Zimbabwe side matters most.
The falls are at their fullest from about March to May, when the spray can make the view almost white. From about August to December the flow drops, the rock face appears, and Devil's Pool opens. Our guide to high water vs low water covers the full year. As a rule:
On the Zimbabwe side, the town of Victoria Falls sits right next to the falls, so you can walk to the park entrance and to restaurants. The Victoria Falls Hotel, which opened in 1904, looks across the gorge to the bridge and is a short walk from the falls. Anantara Stanley & Livingstone is in a private game reserve a short drive outside town, which suits people who want more space and quiet.
On the Zambia side, the best places to stay are spread along the Zambezi upstream of the falls, outside the town of Livingstone. They feel more like safari lodges than hotels, with sunset boat trips and the river right in front of you. Tongabezi has open-fronted rooms on the riverbank and runs the Livingstone Island tours. Royal Chundu is further upstream and quieter. Thorntree River Lodge sits inside Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. Most are 15 to 40 minutes from the falls by road.
Both sides have an international airport: Victoria Falls Airport in Zimbabwe and Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International in Livingstone, Zambia. Both have direct flights from Johannesburg, and the Zimbabwe airport has more routes. Kasane in Botswana is about an hour and a half by road, which makes the falls an easy add-on to a Chobe stay.
Crossing from one side to the other takes about 20 to 40 minutes, depending on the border. Visa rules for both countries change from time to time, so we confirm the right option for your passport when we book.
This is often what decides it.
Many activities are shared or run from both sides. Helicopter flights over the falls, sunset cruises on the upper Zambezi and white-water rafting in the gorges below are available from either country. Zambia adds microlight flights, the Livingstone Island tour and Devil's Pool. Zimbabwe has the easier walkable town, the classic afternoon tea on the hotel terrace and the most complete viewing trail.
With two nights, you can stay on one side and visit the other on a day trip. Our Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana itineraries show how the falls fit each route.
If you would like help deciding where to stay at Victoria Falls, tell us about your trip.
Every itinerary begins with a conversation. Tell us what you have in mind, and we’ll plan a trip around you.
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