11 Every visitor to Victoria Falls eventually confronts the same question. It sounds simple. Zimbabwe or Zambia? The honest answer is that it depends on three things: when you are going, what you want to do, and whether you are willing to spend $50 on a visa that removes the question entirely. Victoria Falls, known in the Lozi language as Mosi-oa-Tunya, which translates as The Smoke That Thunders, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1989. It measures 1,708 metres wide and drops 108 metres into the Batoka Gorge, making it the world’s largest sheet of falling water by surface area, confirmed by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. The Zambezi River, which forms the natural border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, flows over the entire width of the falls, which is divided into five named cataracts. Four of them, Devil’s Cataract, Main Falls, Rainbow Falls, and Horseshoe Falls, sit on the Zimbabwean side. The fifth, the Eastern Cataract, sits on the Zambian side. David Livingstone became the first recorded European to view the falls on 16 November 1855, from what is now called Livingstone Island on the Zambian shore. The falls are managed by two separate national parks on either side of the border: Victoria Falls National Park in Zimbabwe and Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park in Zambia. Both require separate entry fees. Both offer access to viewing paths, wildlife, and activities. Neither is a substitute for the other. The Zimbabwe Side: What You Get and What It Costs Photo: Discover Africa Safaris. Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls National Park provides the most comprehensive viewing experience of the falls. The main path runs approximately 1.7 kilometres parallel to the falls. It provides access to 16 numbered viewpoints, confirmed by multiple operator sources, spanning from Devil’s Cataract at the western end to Danger Point at the eastern end. Because approximately 75% of the falls’ total width lies within Zimbabwe, visitors standing on the Zimbabwean side face the Main Falls directly, producing the panoramic shots that appear on most postcards and in most travel media coverage of the destination. The rainforest microclimate created by the constant spray from the falls is unique to the Zimbabwe side. Even in low-water months, the moisture from the falls sustains a lush, green corridor of vegetation through which the viewing path passes. The spray is at its most intense during high-water season between February and May, when visitors should expect to be completely drenched without a waterproof jacket and bag. During peak flood, visibility of the Main Falls from some viewpoints is reduced to near zero due to the volume of mist. Zimbabwe’s gateway town is Victoria Falls Town, which offers the broadest range of accommodation, from hostels to five-star lodges, most of the area’s restaurant and bar infrastructure, and the most convenient access to organised activities, including helicopter flights over the falls. Entry to Victoria Falls National Park for international visitors costs $50 per person, confirmed by multiple operator sources for 2026. This fee is paid at the park gate and covers full-day access, including re-entry. The Zambia Side: What You Get and What It Costs Zambia’s Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park offers a distinct, more immersive experience. Approximately 5 to 6 viewpoints are accessible on the Zambian side, fewer than Zimbabwe’s 16, and the primary draw is proximity rather than panorama. The Knife-Edge Bridge, a narrow footbridge spanning a deep gorge, places visitors directly beside the Eastern Cataract with spray hitting from multiple directions simultaneously. During high-water season, this experience is physically intense and requires full waterproof gear. During low-water season, when water levels are low, the Knife-Edge Bridge offers views into the gorge from below that are unavailable from any other Zimbabwean viewpoint. The Zambia side’s most exclusive experience is Devil’s Pool, a naturally formed rock pool on the lip of the falls on Livingstone Island, which sits on the Zambian side immediately upstream of the falls. At low water, swimmers can position themselves at the very edge of the falls with the water flowing around and beneath them. Devil’s Pool is accessible by boat from the Zambian shore and is open approximately from September to December each year, when water levels drop sufficiently to make the experience safe. It is not available year-round and is not available from the Zimbabwe side. Zambia’s gateway town is Livingstone, named after David Livingstone. It is quieter and less tourist-oriented than Victoria Falls Town and is generally more affordable for accommodation and dining. Entry to Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park for international visitors costs approximately $20-$25 per person in 2026. This fee is lower than the fee on the Zimbabwe side, but it covers a smaller viewing area. The Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park also contains one of the few populations of white rhino in Zambia, accessible on short game drives within the park. CATEGORY ZIMBABWE ZAMBIA Viewpoints 16 viewpoints, 1.7km path 5 to 6 viewpoints Falls coverage Approx 75% of the total width Approx 25% (Eastern Cataract) Park entry fee $50 per person (2026) $20 to $25 per person (2026) Best season Year-round; best panoramas Feb-May Sept-Dec for Devil’s Pool access Signature experience Main Falls panorama, rainforest path Devil’s Pool, Knife-Edge Bridge Gateway town Victoria Falls Town Livingstone Single-entry visa $30 (Zimbabwe only) $50 (Zambia only) Infrastructure More developed, wider options Quieter, more affordable Safari connections Hwange, Chobe (Botswana), Zambezi NP South Luangwa, Lower Zambezi ALSO READ: How Much Does an African Safari Cost in 2026? A Realistic Budget Guide With Real Numbers Tanzania Visa on Arrival 2026: Entry Requirements, Cost, and the Airports Where It Works Morocco vs Egypt: Which North African Country Should You Visit First and Why The KAZA UniVisa: The Practical Answer to Both Sides The single most important piece of practical information for any Victoria Falls visitor is the KAZA UniVisa. According to the Zambia Department of Immigration’s official website, the KAZA UniVisa costs $50 per person and is valid for 30 days from the date of issue. It permits unlimited crossings between Zimbabwe and Zambia. Also, it covers day trips to Botswana via the Kazungula border, allowing a visit to Chobe National Park without a separate Botswana visa. It does not cover overnight stays in Botswana, for which a separate Botswana visa is required. The KAZA UniVisa can be obtained on arrival at Victoria Falls International Airport and Victoria Falls land border (Zimbabwe), Livingstone airport and border (Zambia), and Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka. Citizens of approximately 65 countries are eligible. The cost savings are significant: without the KAZA UniVisa, visiting both sides requires a Zimbabwe single-entry visa at $30 plus a Zambia single-entry visa at $50, totalling $80, versus $50 for the KAZA UniVisa, which covers both. Note on pricing: one source lists the KAZA UniVisa on arrival on the Zimbabwean side at $65. The official Zambia Department of Immigration lists the fee as $50, which is also confirmed by Zimbabwe-based lodge operators. Travellers should verify the current fee at their specific point of entry before travel, as pricing can vary by entry point or be subject to revision. When to Go: How Season Determines Which Side Matters More Photo: Geology In. The most important variable in the Zimbabwe vs Zambia decision is water level, which is determined entirely by the season. Understanding this relationship makes the choice straightforward. High water season (February to May). The Zambezi is in full flood, and the falls are at their most powerful. The entire width of Victoria Falls becomes a continuous curtain of water. On the Zimbabwe side, the spray is so intense that visibility of the Main Falls from close viewpoints is often reduced to near zero during peak flood. Bring a full waterproof jacket, a waterproof camera cover, and a waterproof bag. This season favours Zimbabwe for those who want the power and sound of the falls at full capacity, even if direct visibility is limited. The Zambia side is also extremely wet, and Devil’s Pool is closed during this period. Shoulder season (June to August). Water levels begin to drop from the peak flood. Zimbabwe’s path to viewing becomes progressively clearer. This is generally considered the best season for photography from the Zimbabwe side because the spray remains dramatic, and visibility improves to the point where the Main Falls can be seen clearly from multiple viewpoints. The Zambia Knife-Edge Bridge experience is still intense but manageable without full rain gear. Low water season (September to December). The Zambezi reaches its lowest levels, and in severe drought years, sections of the falls on the Zambian side can reduce to near zero. Zimbabwe’s four cataracts retain flow year-round even at low water, making Zimbabwe the more reliable viewing option during this period. The major advantage of low water is that Devil’s Pool opens on the Zambia side, typically from September to December, when water levels drop enough to make the rock pool at the falls’ edge safe to enter. The views from the Knife-Edge Bridge into the gorge below are particularly clear during this period. Activities: What Each Side Offers Beyond the Falls Themselves Both sides offer helicopter flights over the falls, described locally as the Flight of Angels, and white-water rafting in the Batoka Gorge below the falls. The rafting operation uses the gorge on the Zimbabwe side of the border and is most accessible from Victoria Falls Town, though operators on both sides can arrange it. The best white-water rafting conditions occur during the low-water dry season, when river levels drop, and rapids are fully exposed. Bungee jumping from the Victoria Falls Bridge, which spans 198 metres between the two countries with a main arch height of 128 metres, is one of the most well-known adrenaline activities at the falls. The jump is operated from the bridge itself, which sits precisely on the border. Access is from both sides via the bridge walkway. Sunset cruises on the upper Zambezi above the falls are available from both Victoria Falls Town and Livingstone. These cruises move upstream away from the falls and offer wildlife viewing, including elephants and hippos along the river, in the soft late-afternoon light. They are a standard inclusion on most Victoria Falls itineraries, regardless of which side visitors are based. Zimbabwe offers the strongest connection to wider safari circuits. Hwange National Park, one of Zimbabwe’s largest game reserves and home to large elephant herds, is approximately a 1.5-hour drive from Victoria Falls Town. Chobe National Park in Botswana, accessible via the Kazungula border crossing, is approximately an hour from Victoria Falls Town and is one of the highest-density elephant destinations in Africa. Zambia connects to South Luangwa and Lower Zambezi, both of which are fly-in destinations that require additional logistics but offer some of the finest walking safari experiences in Africa. The Practical Decision: Which Side to Base Yourself Choose Zimbabwe as your base if you are a first-time visitor; you are visiting during high or shoulder water season, panoramic photography is a priority, you want the widest range of activities and accommodation options, or you are planning to combine Victoria Falls with a Botswana Chobe or Zimbabwe Hwange safari. Victoria Falls Town has significantly more dining and accommodation infrastructure than Livingstone. Choose Zambia as your base if you are visiting during September to December and Devil’s Pool is an objective, you prefer a quieter and more affordable base town, you are combining Victoria Falls with a Zambia safari to South Luangwa or Lower Zambezi, or you are visiting for the second time and want a different perspective on the falls. Visit both with the KAZA UniVisa if you have at least two or three nights at the falls. The Victoria Falls Bridge walkway between the two countries takes approximately 20 minutes on foot. The KAZA UniVisa at $50 costs less than the combined single-entry visa fees for both countries separately. Spend your primary nights on the Zimbabwe side for logistics and views; cross to Zambia for the Knife-Edge Bridge experience; and book Devil’s Pool in advance if your visit falls within the September to December window. The RCA Argument Victoria Falls receives approximately 1.5 million visitors per year, according to Zimbabwe Tourism Authority data. The falls generate the primary foreign exchange revenue for both Zimbabwe’s western provinces and Zambia’s Livingstone district. What the Zimbabwe-versus-Zambia framing rarely addresses is where that revenue goes. The national park entry fees, $50 on the Zimbabwe side and $20 to $25 on the Zambia side, flow to the respective national park authorities and fund conservation, anti-poaching, and maintenance. But the majority of visitors, accommodation, activities, helicopter operators, and the supply chains that support them are owned by a mix of international hotel groups, regional safari operators, and a smaller proportion of locally owned businesses. Zimbabwe’s tourism recovery since the political and economic disruption of the early 2000s has been significant, but the structural question of who captures the economic value of 1.5 million annual visitors to a World Heritage Site is one that the Zimbabwe-versus-Zambia debate rarely addresses. The falls are exceptional. The destination deserves the visitors. The communities on both sides of the Zambezi deserve a proportionate share of the spending by those visitors. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 1. Is it better to view Victoria Falls from Zimbabwe or Zambia? Zimbabwe offers the most comprehensive panoramic experience, with 16 viewpoints covering approximately 75% of the falls’ width year-round. Zambia offers a more intimate, up-close experience, with the Knife-Edge Bridge and Devil’s Pool as its signature attractions. For first-time visitors, Zimbabwe is the recommended primary side. The KAZA UniVisa, at $50, allows unlimited crossings between the two countries for 30 days and is the recommended option for anyone spending two or more nights at the falls. 2. How much is the Victoria Falls entry fee in 2026? Entry to Victoria Falls National Park on the Zimbabwe side costs $50 per person for international visitors. Entry to Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park on the Zambian side costs approximately $20-$25 per person. These are park entry fees paid at the park gate and are separate from visa costs. 3. How much does the KAZA UniVisa cost, and what does it cover? The KAZA UniVisa costs $50 per person, as confirmed by the Zambia Department of Immigration’s official website. It is valid for 30 days and permits unlimited crossings between Zimbabwe and Zambia. It also covers day trips to Botswana through the Kazungula border, enabling a visit to Chobe National Park. Overnight stays in Botswana require a separate visa. Note: Verify the exact fee at your specific entry point before travel. 4. When is Devil’s Pool open at Victoria Falls? Devil’s Pool, the natural rock pool on the lip of the falls on Livingstone Island on the Zambia side, is typically open from approximately September to December each year, when water levels drop sufficiently to make entry safe. It is not available during high-water season from February to May. Access requires a boat transfer from the Zambian shore and booking through a licensed Livingstone operator. 5. What are the dimensions of Victoria Falls? Victoria Falls is 1,708 metres wide and drops 108 metres into the Batoka Gorge. Confirmed by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, it is the world’s largest sheet of falling water in terms of combined width and height. It is approximately twice the width of Niagara Falls and more than twice its depth. The peak flow during flood season reaches up to 500 million litres per minute. It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1989 under the name Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls. Plan your Victoria Falls visit with resources from the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority and the Zambia Tourism Agency. Explore more Southern Africa travel guides on Rex Clarke Adventures. adventure travel AfricaAfrican travel destinationsSouthern Africa travel guidetravel comparison Africa 0 comment 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTelegramEmail Rex Clarke I am a published author, writer, blogger, social commentator, and passionate environmentalist. My first book, "Malakhala-Taboo Has Run Naked," is a critical-poetic examination of human desire. It Discusses religion, dictatorship, political correctness, cultural norms, war, relationships, love, and climate change. I spent my early days in the music industry writing songs for recording artists in the 1990s; after that, I became more immersed in the art and then performed in stage plays. My love of writing led me to work as an independent producer for television stations in southern Nigeria. I am a lover of the conservation of wildlife and the environment.