One of the most exciting natural wonders in the world is Victoria Falls. This must-see site is the greatest curtain of falling water on Earth, created by the Zambezi River as it flows over the Zambia-Zimbabwe border.

In terms of statistics, Victoria Falls is twice as tall and more than twice as wide as Niagara Falls. It falls down a 108-meter (354-foot) precipice that is 1.7 kilometers (1.06 miles) long from east to west. As implied by the local name Mosi-oa-Tunya, which translates to “Smoke That Thunders,” it is also an absolutely deafening spectacle. Additionally, when it is in full flow, it sends a plume of rainbow-colored spray up to 1,640 feet or 500 meters into the air.

Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World, is a valuable addition to any southern African safari. In fact, the most important questions for many first-time tourists are not whether or not to visit Victoria Falls, nor is it the best time of year to do so. Rather, it concerns which of Zambia and Zimbabwe, the two gateway nations, they ought to select. Both have advantages and disadvantages, which we go over in depth below.

Which nation is home to Victoria Falls?

A portion of Victoria Falls is located in Zimbabwe and Zambia. It is situated above the Zambezi River, which runs northeast along the shared border with Zimbabwe to the southeast and Zambia to the northwest. The westerly Main Falls are in Zimbabwe, but the Eastern Cataract falls on the Zambian side of the border. This is confusing because the Zambezi curves southerly just upstream of Victoria Falls.

Top Views: Zambia vs. Zimbabwe Side

Zimbabwe’s little but well-positioned Victoria Falls National Park offers the most well-known and picturesque full-frontal view. Here, a short footpath through a rainforest sustained by year-round spray connects a series of viewpoints that show the westerly Main Falls and Devil’s Cataract to their finest advantage.

There are also some fine, and very different, viewpoints in Zambia. Indeed, when the water is high, nothing compares to Zambia’s spray-doused Knife Edge Bridge, which runs so close to the Eastern Cataract you feel like you’re engulfed in the roaring cascade. The only footpath to the Boiling Pot, a churning cauldron of white water located directly beneath the falls at the head of the Batoka Gorge, begins in Zambia.

In terms of views, it is worthwhile to dedicate a half-day to traversing to the opposite side of the falls, regardless of where you are based. The view from Victoria Falls Bridge, the sole direct border crossing point between the two sides, is breathtaking in and of itself, among other things!

The best time of year to watch Zambia vs. Zimbabwe

The best time to visit both sides is from April to September, when the Zambezi’s level is at its highest and the waterfall is at its most spectacularly spectacular. Zambia will not be as impressive as Zimbabwe at other times of the year. And during October and November, when the Zambezi is at its lowest and Zambia’s Eastern Cataract occasionally dries up nearly entirely, Zimbabwe is unquestionably the top option.

When it comes to visiting Victoria Falls, there are additional seasonal considerations. River conditions are ideal from August to January if canoeing and rafting are top priorities. The best time to see wildlife is usually from May to September/October if your trip to southern Africa is primarily for a safari and Victoria Falls is merely an add-on. From November to April, when migrants are present and many resident species display colorful breeding plumage, birdwatchers can observe the highest levels of avian activity. Although these variables don’t directly affect whether you go to Zambia or Zimbabwe, they may affect when you go, which may have an indirect impact on your decision.

Activities: Zambian side vs. Zimbabwe

Victoria Falls is more than just a place to see waterfalls. With a wide variety of exhilarating activities available, the gateway towns of Livingstone, Zambia, and Victoria Falls Township, Zimbabwe, are the adventure capitals of southern Africa. Popular attractions include bungee jumping from Victoria Falls Bridge, white-water rafting as the river roars through Batoka Gorge, and hippo-dodging canoe trips on the Zambezi upstream of the falls. Fortunately, access to these activities is essentially the same whether you stay in Zimbabwe or Zambia. Swimming in Devil’s Pool, a naturally occurring pool that is situated on the edge of the waterfall and is isolated from the falling water by the narrowest of rock lips, is a very popular activity that is unique to Zambia.

Accommodations: Zambian side against Zimbabwe

Regarding accommodations, there isn’t much that separates Zambia and Zimbabwe. Both sides of Victoria Falls offer a good selection of amenities, whether you’re looking for low-cost campgrounds, opulent boutique lodges, or anything in between.

Wildlife Viewing: Zimbabwe vs Zambia Side

There are good wildlife-viewing opportunities on both sides of Victoria Falls. Zambia’s Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park is home to plenty of elephant, buffalo, hippo and antelope, and it offers an opportunity to track white rhinos on foot, but no big cats are present. On the Zimbabwean side, elephants and buffaloes are often seen in the vicinity of the falls, and big cats are present in Zambezi National Park. However, assuming that you will be combining your visit to Victoria Falls with a dedicated safari elsewhere in southern Africa, this shouldn’t be a big consideration.

Costs: Zimbabwe vs Zambia Side

Traditionally, the Zambian side of Victoria Falls is regarded to be the cheaper of the two, but when you factor in flights and other transport costs, there’s unlikely to be much in it. Both sides have amenities catering to most tastes and budgets, so your choice of accommodation and other such amenities will influence costs more than which country they are in.

Safety: Zimbabwe vs Zambia Side

In recent years, Zambia has entrenched itself as one of the safest and most stable countries in sub-Saharan Africa, whereas Zimbabwe has become synonymous with tyrannical rule and economic mismanagement. Despite this, both sides of Victoria Falls are popular with tourists and as safe to visit as anywhere in the region.

Visiting Both Sides of Victoria Falls

Having weighed up the pros and cons of the two sides of Victoria Falls, our advice, if at all possible, is to visit them both. This is very easy to do, as you can literally walk between Zambia and Zimbabwe via Victoria Falls Bridge, which spans the Batoka Gorge a short distance downriver of the main event.

Paperwork is extremely basic, especially if you obtain a KAZA UNIVISA upon arrival in any nation. This multiple-entry visa costs US$50, is valid for 30 days from issue, allows you to cross freely between Zambia and Zimbabwe, and also covers day visits to Botswana’s Chobe National Park via the Kazungula border post.