There are four different rides people mean by "zipline at Victoria Falls": the bridge slide that runs beside the Victoria Falls Bridge; a long, fast line across the Batoka Gorge on the Zimbabwean side, usually given as about 425 m long and 120 m above the river; the flying fox, a short horizontal ride at the gorge-rim activity sites; and a canopy tour of short slides through trees above the gorge. At the time of writing prices run from about US$35 for a flying fox to around US$120 for the long gorge line.
The four options
Bridge slide
The bridge slide is run from the same base as the bungee jump on the Victoria Falls Bridge. You are clipped in sitting or lying face-down and slide out across the gorge with the falls upstream and the river far below. It is short, but the setting is the most dramatic of the four. You reach the bridge through the Zambian border post at the falls on a free gate pass, without being stamped out. Our Victoria Falls Bridge guide explains how that works.
Weight limits on the bridge slide are given as up to about 140 kg solo. It is usually sold alone or in a package with the bridge swing and bungee.
The long Batoka Gorge line
This is the one advertised as among the longest and fastest in the world: about 425 m across the gorge, with top speeds quoted at up to about 106 km/h. Those figures come from the operators and have not been independently measured, but it is quick. The ride lasts 40 to 50 seconds; with briefing and kitting up, allow about 30 minutes on site.
It starts on the Zimbabwean side, near Victoria Falls town, so from Livingstone you need to cross the border and have the right visa. Read our pages on the KAZA UniVisa and on choosing between the Zambian and Zimbabwean sides before you plan around it. Prices seen in late 2026 sit around US$115 to US$120, sometimes with a separate national park fee.
Flying fox
A flying fox is a horizontal cable you run off a platform and fly along, lying flat and face-down, over the gorge. It is slower and gentler than the zip lines, and the cheapest of the group: roughly US$35 to US$65 depending on the site and what is bundled in. Minimum ages can be as low as 6, which makes it the usual choice for families.
Canopy tour
On the Zimbabwean side a canopy tour links several short slides and platforms through the trees on the edge of the gorge, with views towards the bridge and the falls. It takes a couple of hours and is more of a scenic outing than a thrill.
Limits
| Typical figure (late 2026) | |
|---|---|
| Minimum weight | About 40 kg |
| Maximum weight | 120 to 140 kg solo, depending on line |
| Minimum age | About 6 for the flying fox; 10 to 12 for the gorge lines |
| Health | Not for pregnancy, recent surgery, or back and neck problems |
You will be weighed. Under-18s need a parent or guardian to sign the waiver.
Prices at the time of writing
- Flying fox: about US$35 to US$65.
- Bridge slide: sold alone or in a bridge package; combination tickets for bungee, swing and slide are common.
- Long gorge zip line: about US$115 to US$120, check whether park fees are included.
- Combination tickets at the gorge-rim sites (swing, zip line, abseil, flying fox) often work out cheaper than separate bookings.
Transfers from Livingstone are usually extra, typically around US$10 per person for the bridge. Prices change, and resellers add their own margins.
Safety and what to ask
Zip lines are generally the lowest-risk of the adrenaline activities here, but check:
- Is there a braking system at the far end, and is it automatic or manual?
- Are there two independent attachment points to the cable?
- How is a rider recovered if they stop short in the middle?
- When were the cable and trolleys last inspected, and by whom?
Wind can stop the long lines. If the crew says no, it is no.
Which to choose
If you want one quick thrill and the best view of the falls, do the bridge slide. If speed is the point and you are crossing to Zimbabwe anyway, do the long gorge line. If you have children with you or are not sure about heights, the flying fox is the place to start. Bigger thrills are the gorge swing and the bungee.
When to go
All year, weather permitting. From about February to June the spray drifts down the gorge and you may get wet. From September to November it is very hot in the middle of the day, and the basalt platforms radiate heat; book the first slot.
Getting there
From Livingstone the bridge is about 10 km. Staying upstream on the river, as at Zambezi Dusk on the Kazungula Road, puts you about 30 minutes from the falls by road; the lodge arranges falls visits, the bridge bungee and other activities through partners, listed on its experiences page. Zip lines are booked directly with the operators.
