A microlight flight over Victoria Falls is one pilot, one passenger and an open seat above the Zambezi. Flights leave from an airfield just outside Livingstone, on the Zambian side only. The short 15 minute flight circles the falls several times; the 30 minute flight adds the Batoka Gorge and the game park section of Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. At the time of writing they cost roughly US$190 and US$380 per person, with a weight limit of about 100 kg and no personal cameras allowed.
What a microlight is
A microlight is essentially a motorised hang-glider: a fabric wing above a small open frame (the "trike") with a seat for the pilot in front and one passenger behind, and the engine and propeller at the back. The pilot steers by shifting the wing. You wear a helmet with an intercom so you can talk to the pilot, and you sit with nothing between you and the view but your harness.
It feels slower and far more exposed than a helicopter. Because the aircraft is light and small, it flies lower over the falls than the helicopters, giving a closer view of the spray and the lip.
The routes
15 minute flight
A short run along the upper Zambezi, then several circuits over the falls. You see the full width of the curtain, the islands on the lip, the First Gorge and, in high water, the spray rising past you. This is the flight most people take.
30 minute flight
The same circuits over the falls, then downstream above the zigzag Batoka Gorges, and upstream along the river over the game park of Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. Hippo, crocodile, giraffe and elephant are often seen from the air on this longer flight. If you can afford it, the extra 15 minutes is where the flight changes from a quick look to something you remember in detail.
Prices (late 2026)
| Flight | Approx. price per person |
|---|---|
| 15 minutes | US$190 |
| 30 minutes | US$380 |
A small aviation authority fee, around US$6, is usually added. Transfers from Livingstone hotels may be included or charged separately depending on who you book with. Photographs from the wing camera cost extra. These figures come from 2026 rate lists and resellers and will move, so confirm the full price when booking.
Who can fly
- One passenger per flight. Couples and families fly one after the other, usually in separate aircraft at the same time if available.
- Weight: most sources give a limit of 100 kg per passenger; some operator material says 110 kg. Ask before booking if you are close.
- Age: age rules apply and vary; check with the operator if you are booking for a teenager.
- Fitness: you need to be able to climb into the seat and sit strapped in for the flight. No particular fitness is needed beyond that.
- Nerves: if you dislike heights or open spaces, the helicopter will suit you better.
The camera rule
You cannot take your own camera or phone. Anything that comes loose could go straight into the propeller behind you, so pockets are emptied and loose items left on the ground. Instead, a camera mounted on the wing is operated by the pilot, who frames you with the falls behind. You can buy the photographs after you land, and you can ask for particular shots beforehand.
Many people find this a relief. Fifteen minutes with nothing to do but look is a different experience from fifteen minutes behind a screen.
When to fly
Flights run in the morning and late afternoon, roughly 08:00 to 09:30 and 15:00 to 17:00, when the air is calmer. They do not usually fly in the middle of the day, when heat makes the air bumpy.
Through the year:
- February to June: heavy spray. Dramatic from close up, and you may fly through the edge of the plume. Views of the curtain can be partly hidden at peak flood.
- July to September: a good balance of water and visibility.
- October to December: the Zambian side runs low, the gorges are clear, and the game park animals gather near the river.
From December to March, storms and wind cause more postponements. Book early in your stay so there is room to reschedule. Our Victoria Falls weather by month guide shows rainfall and temperatures.
What to wear
- Closed shoes that will not come off.
- A warm layer from May to August. Early morning at altitude in an open seat is cold, often well under 15 °C.
- Sunscreen in the afternoon, applied before you go; you cannot hold anything once you are strapped in.
- Leave hats and loose scarves on the ground.
Microlight or helicopter?
Choose the microlight for the sensation of flying and the closest look at the falls, and if you are happy relying on the pilot's photographs. Choose the helicopter flight if you want to fly together, take your own photographs, or prefer an enclosed cabin. Some people do both, but if you only do one, think about who you are with and how you feel about sitting in the open high above a gorge.
Fitting it in
The airfield is a short drive from Livingstone. If you are staying upstream along the river, as at Zambezi Dusk on the Kazungula Road, ask about transfers when you book. An early flight leaves the rest of the morning free for the falls trails in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. Because only the Zambian side operates these flights, they are one of the points in favour of staying in Livingstone; our comparison of Zambia and Zimbabwe covers the others.
