A day trip to the Zimbabwe side of Victoria Falls from Livingstone means crossing the Victoria Falls Bridge, walking the rainforest trail in Victoria Falls National Park, and perhaps an hour or two in Victoria Falls town, then crossing back to Zambia the same day. You need a visa that allows re-entry to Zambia, usually the KAZA UniVisa (US$50 at the time of writing), and the Zimbabwean park entry was US$58 for international visitors in 2026.
Is it worth it?
Roughly two-thirds of the falls face the Zimbabwean side, so the view across the gorge takes in more of the curtain of water, especially the Main Falls. From about September to December, when parts of the Zambian side run dry, the Zimbabwean side is the better bet. In high water both sides are drenched in spray. Our comparison of the Zambian and Zimbabwean sides goes into the trade-offs.
If you have one day at the falls and are staying in Livingstone, the Zambian side alone is enough. If you have two or three days, it is worth crossing.
Visas
This is the part to get right.
- KAZA UniVisa: covers Zambia and Zimbabwe for up to 30 days with unlimited crossings, at US$50. Buy it when you first arrive in Zambia, at the airport or border, if your nationality is eligible. See our KAZA UniVisa guide.
- Separate visas: if the UniVisa is unavailable, you need a Zimbabwean visa at the border and a Zambian visa that allows you to come back, which may mean a double-entry visa. Check the rules for your nationality.
- Visa-exempt nationals: some nationalities do not need a visa for one or both countries. Check both.
Our page on the Zimbabwe visa for Victoria Falls has the detail. Take US dollars in cash for anything payable at the border, and your passport, obviously.
Crossing the border
- Zambian border post, next to the entrance to Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, about 10 km from Livingstone town. Get stamped out.
- The bridge: walk about 1 km down to and across the Victoria Falls Bridge, or take a taxi. Stop in the middle for the view.
- Zimbabwean border post, about 500 m beyond the bridge. Clear immigration.
- The park entrance is a short walk from the border, and Victoria Falls town is just beyond.
Allow 30 minutes to an hour each way for the formalities, more if a coach has just arrived. Border hours run from early morning to evening; check the closing time on the day and do not cut it fine.
The rainforest trail
The park on the Zimbabwean side has a single trail running along the edge of the gorge, opposite the falls, with numbered viewpoints. Highlights, from west to east:
- The Livingstone statue near the start, by the Devil's Cataract.
- Main Falls: the tallest, widest section, with the heaviest flow.
- Horseshoe Falls and Rainbow Falls, where the highest drop is.
- Danger Point, a fenceless rocky promontory looking down the First Gorge towards the bridge. Take care.
The walk is about 2 km one way and mostly flat. Allow two hours. In high water, from about February to June, you will be soaked: hire a raincoat at the entrance or bring your own. Waterproof bags for phones are a good idea.
Victoria Falls town
Victoria Falls town is a 10 to 15-minute walk from the park. It is compact, with craft markets, cafés and restaurants. Ideas:
- The craft market behind the main street, for soapstone, wood carvings and baskets. Bargain.
- Tea on the terrace of the old railway hotel, which looks across to the bridge.
- A restaurant on the gorge edge for lunch with a view.
US dollars are widely used in Zimbabwe; bring small notes. Cards work in many places but not all.
A sample day
| Time | Plan |
|---|---|
| 07:30 | Leave Livingstone; the border opens early |
| 08:30 | Cross the bridge, stop in the middle |
| 09:30 | Clear Zimbabwean immigration, enter the park |
| 09:30–12:00 | Rainforest trail |
| 12:30 | Lunch in town |
| 14:00 | Craft market, tea |
| 16:00 | Walk back over the bridge |
| 17:00 | Back in Zambia |
Costs at the time of writing
- KAZA UniVisa: US$50 (if you are not already holding one).
- Zimbabwean park entry: US$58.
- Taxi from Livingstone to the border: agree a price before you set off.
- Raincoat hire, lunch, tips: extra.
Fitting it in
Do the Zambian side, the Boiling Pot and the bridge on one day, and the Zimbabwean side on another. If you are staying upstream, Zambezi Dusk arranges Victoria Falls visits through partner operators; ask which side and what the visa position is when you plan. For other border crossings, see our guide to the Victoria Falls Bridge.
