Victoria Falls National Park entrance fee and other costs

Side by side: the Zimbabwe gate or the Zambian gate

Each side of the falls sells its own ticket, so what you pay depends on where you walk in. Victoria Falls lies at the western tip of Zimbabwe on the Zambezi River⁴, across the border from Livingstone, Zambia⁵.

For how the two sides fit together, see the about Victoria Falls page.

Costs: gate fees, visas and activities

The gate fee is the one cost you can’t avoid, and on the Zimbabwe side it depends on who you are and which ticket you buy. Here are the Rainforest tickets for international visitors, with the Zambian ticket and the visa for comparison.

For the trail and viewpoints behind the gate, see walking the Rainforest viewpoints.

What Zimbabwean visitors pay

Zimbabwean residents pay far less than international visitors at the Rainforest. The figures in news reports:

• Rainforest main gate, day visitor: US$7 in January 2026⁶
• Moonlight viewing: US$15, unchanged under the 2026 tariff⁶

Why the Rainforest fees went up

ZimParks raised the Victoria Falls Rainforest fees in February 2026, after VAT was introduced on tourism services⁷. What moved for international visitors:

• VIP gate: up from US$150¹.
• Moonlight viewing: up from US$100¹.

What does your lodge rate leave out?

At several lodges, park fees sit outside the room rate, so add them on top of your accommodation budget. Here’s what three places say about their own rates:

• Victoria Falls River Lodge: National Park entrance, conservation and heritage fees are not included⁹.
• Shearwater Explorers Village: national park fees are not included¹⁰.
• The Royal Livingstone, in Zambia: Expert Africa says guests pay the entry once for unlimited entry¹¹.

The cards below show room rates, including The Victoria Falls Hotel’s, next to two lodges that charge park fees separately.

Staying in town keeps the gate close: most places are no more than 3 km⁵ from the falls. Out-of-town stays such as Malachite House are a 5–10 minute drive from the Victoria Falls entrance¹², so count the transfer. The guide to getting to Victoria Falls town covers the layout.

Activity prices around the falls

Activities are paid for separately from the gate fee. Victoria Falls is a regional centre for adventure tourism, with jet boating, whitewater rafting, bungee jumping and mountain biking¹³ on offer. Each card shows its current from-price.

Thinking of rafting? Read the visitor guide to the gorge below Victoria Falls first, and find more on things to do on the hub page.

Do you need a visa to see both sides?

To cross between Zimbabwe and Zambia, the KAZA UniVisa covers both countries; its price is in the table above. It’s valid for up to 30 days in any 12-month period¹⁴. On the Zimbabwe side it’s issued at:

• Harare International Airport¹⁴
• Victoria Falls International Airport¹⁴
• Victoria Falls Border¹⁴
• Kazungula Border¹⁴

Which side suits whom

Pick the side by what you want to see and where you sleep. If you want both, budget for both gate fees plus the visa, or book a guided tour of the falls from both sides.

Choose the Zimbabwe side if:

• you want the main view: Victoria Falls National Park is the main viewing area for the falls on the Zimbabwean side⁵
• you’re staying in Victoria Falls town, which lies immediately next to the falls⁵
• you want a Rainforest moonlight viewing ticket
• you like an early start: the park opens 06:00 to 18:00⁵

Choose the Zambian side if:

• you’d rather pay the lower fee and come and go: the ticket is valid for multiple entries on the same day²
• you’re after swimming at Devil’s Pool, which sits on the Zambian side¹⁵
• you’re staying in Livingstone, about 10 km² from the falls, though that’s too far to walk, so add a shuttle or taxi
• you’re flying in on a budget: flying to the Zambian side usually costs less¹⁶

Questions people ask