[Trip Review] Waka Waka Africa: Victoria Falls Demystified

The Mosi-oa-Tunya ("the smoke that thunders") or more commonly known as Victoria Falls, is the world's greatest sheet of falling water. Located at the borders of Zambia and Zimbabwe, you will be able to spot the mist generated from this waterfall, and hear the gush of water from a distance away. With that said, is this a tourist trap? Read on to find out!

How to get there?

As mentioned earlier, Victoria Falls is situated at the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe. You can get there by flying to Victoria Falls airport (in Zimbabwe), or Livingstone airport (in Zambia).

No matter where you land, you can get to Victoria Falls via a taxi in around half an hour. I recommend arranging for a pick-up prior to arrival.

Livingstone

Now, you might wonder, why is this Zambian city named as Livingstone? David Livingstone, a British explorer was the first European to see the Mosi-oa-Tunya, which he named Victoria Falls after Queen Victoria. In fact, upon paying the entrance fee (20USD) to visit the Zambian side of Victoria Falls, this will be one of the first things you'll see; a statue of David Livingstone!

Please do not think that you will need a guide to explore Victoria Falls. Yes, the park is big, if you take a slow walk, and snap photos at the various viewpoints, you will easily spend 2 hours in the park. However, there are ample signages, and you will not have an issue navigating the park. Isn't Victoria Falls majestic?

Do take your time to explore the park; I explored the park during late afternoon, and I had a great time here. Do consider catching the sunset inside the park!

After a long day in Zambia, cross the border by walking to Zimbabwe. It is a short walk of around 15 minutes, so don't be deceived into getting a taxi just for crossing the border.

Victoria Falls Town

Victoria Falls Town (in Zimbabwe) is much more touristy compared to Zambia, and this is also where most tourists choose to stay.

The Zimbabwe side of Victoria Falls costs much more, and you will have to pay 50USD per entry. Do expect to spend more time when viewing the Zimbabwe side of Victoria Falls, maybe 3 hours?

So blessed to be able to see a double rainbow!

I'm repeating myself, but Victoria Falls is really long. Just watch the video below to get a sense of how long it is.

Please bring a poncho along when you visit Victoria Falls. You will get wet! There's no way to get around it.

Possible Day Tours?

Most people spend a couple of days in this region, so please take your time to immerse yourself here. A popular day tour from Victoria Falls, involves a day trip to Chobe National Park. I didn't went there, but instead, went on an arduous journey to Okavango Delta instead. If you are interested to know how to get to Okavango Delta from Victoria Falls, leave a message in the comments section below!

Conclusion

Victoria Falls is one of the highlights of my African trip.

Yes, it is not easy to get to, and it can be expensive getting there. If you are not a fan of flights or you have a limited budget, you can always take the overland route to Victoria Falls. If you are based in Johannesburg, you can take a bus from Johannesburg to Bulawayo, and from Bulawayo to Victoria Falls.

While you are here, I highly recommend visiting both sides of Victoria Falls; there's something truly special on each side. Victoria Falls may be touristy, but you shouldn't miss out on one of the best sights on the African continent.

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