Victoria Falls tours: day trips, packages and prices

Types of trip

Victoria Falls is a regional centre for adventure tourism⁴, so its tours fall into a few clear types. Pick the type first, then the operator.

• Guided walks of the falls: a guide takes you along the paths facing the falls on the Zimbabwe side, or over the border to see both sides.
• On the river: sunset and dinner cruises, since the town lies at the western tip of Zimbabwe, on the Zambezi River⁵.
• In the air: helicopter flights, the shortest being the 12–13 minute² Flight of Angels.
• In the Batoka Gorge: rafting with steep descents into and out of the Batoka Gorge⁶, a gorge swing and a zipline strung across the Batoka Gorge⁷.
• Safaris: a day trip to Chobe National Park in Botswana⁸ is the classic, or a shorter game drive in Zambezi National Park close to town.
• Packages: multi-night trips that bundle a hotel, transfers and a Chobe safari, some with flights.

The wider adventure menu covers jet boating, whitewater rafting, bungee jumping and mountain biking⁴. The table compares the trips where an operator or booking site publishes the details.

For the sights you can do without a guide, see the things to do on both sides of the falls.

Which tour fits you

Start with the falls themselves, then add one bigger trip that matches what you came for.

• First visit, short stay: a guided walk on the Zimbabwe side. Travel Butlers says 75%⁹ of the falls can be seen from there.
• Both sides: the town sits across the border from Livingstone, Zambia¹⁰, and the Zambian park charges US$20¹¹. The both-sides tour below handles the crossing; read up on where Victoria Falls sits between Zimbabwe and Zambia first.
• Adrenaline: Class IV-V white-water rafting from Victoria Falls is the full-day option; the half-day trip sets off from the Zambian side.
• Wildlife: Chobe. Wild Horizons recommends June to September¹² for safari; the full Chobe day trip guide covers the border and timings.
• Big views: a helicopter flight. Wild Horizons says the falls are at their fullest around April¹². For a sense of scale, see how Victoria Falls compares with Niagara Falls.
• A swim at the edge: swimming in natural pools at the top of the falls is possible only on the Zambian side¹⁰, at Devil’s Pool on Livingstone Island. The Devil’s Pool and Livingstone Island guide has the details.
• An easy evening: a sunset cruise, or the Boma dinner and drum show.

How many days do you need?

Plan on three to four nights¹² if you want the falls plus a couple of big trips; that’s what Wild Horizons calls ideal. Travel Butlers advises at least a couple of nights⁹.

When the seasonal tours run

Devil’s Pool and rafting both depend on the river level, so check your dates before you book either.

The operators disagree on when Devil’s Pool opens. If your dates are flexible, the window all three agree on runs from mid-September¹² to late December. For rafting, December is the last month of good low-water rafting¹².

What tour prices leave out

Many quoted prices cover the activity and the transfer, not the fees on top. These are the extras to budget for:

• Rainforest entry: Wild Horizons’ falls tour rates don’t include rainforest entry fees¹⁵. International day visitors pay US$58¹⁶ (checked October 2026) at the main gate.
• Park fees: not included in the Royal Sunset Cruise¹⁷, nor in the River Runner Adventures rafting price¹⁸.
• Airport tax: not included in helicopter flight rates².
• International flights: not in the Travel Butlers example cost¹⁹.

Booking tips: cancellation and pickup

Book through a site with free cancellation and confirm pickup from your hotel before you pay.

• Cancellation: guided falls tours on booking sites typically refund in full if you cancel at least 24 hours²⁰ before departure.
• Pickup: helicopter flights include free pickup and drop-off in the town centre and at all major hotels and lodges². The Royal Sunset Cruise includes return transfers from hotels and B&Bs in town¹⁷. If you’re out of town, check this before you choose between the hotels and lodges on each side.
• Price basis: Wild Horizons lists its private falls tour at US$405¹⁵ without saying whether that’s per person or per group, so ask.
• Chobe days: Wild Horizons says its Chobe Day Trip departs daily²¹.

Book a tour on the falls, river and gorge

These four cover the main types: the falls from both sides, the river at sunset, the gorge by raft and Devil’s Pool.

Day tour · 6 hours

Zimbabwe & Zambia: Guided Tour of the Falls from Both Sides

4.7 (516 reviews) on GetYourGuide, checked October 2026

Free cancellation · Pickup included

FromUS$63

See dates on GetYourGuide

Tour · 2 hours

Victoria Falls: 2-Hour Luxury Zambezi River Sunset Cruise

4.8 (551 reviews) on GetYourGuide, checked October 2026

Free cancellation · Pickup included

FromUS$69

See dates on GetYourGuide

Tour · 4 hours

Half Day White Water Rafting, Zambezi - Livingstone, Zambia

4.8 (105 reviews) on GetYourGuide, checked October 2026

Free cancellation · Pickup included

FromUS$140

See dates on GetYourGuide

Tour · 3 hours

From Victoria Falls: Livingstone Island Tour & Devils Pool

4.6 (282 reviews) on GetYourGuide, checked October 2026

Free cancellation · Pickup included

FromUS$230

See dates on GetYourGuide

Other bookable options:

• Private guided tour of the waterfalls
• Helicopter tour with hotel pickup
• Chobe National Park day trip with lunch
• Dinner cruise on the Zambezi River
• Traditional village tour

Price ladder: what a tour costs

Here’s what the operators and booking sites publish for tours bought on the spot, in US dollars, from the gate fee up to a private safari day.

Multi-night packages

Packages bought at home cost far more, mostly because of flights. If a package leaves flights out, price your own fares with the guide to getting to Victoria Falls.