Visiting Victoria Falls is one of those rare travel moments that stays with you forever — but deciding how best to experience this natural wonder can be overwhelming. Should you walk the rainforest trails and feel the spray on your skin, or soar above the mighty Zambezi for a bird’s-eye view of the world’s most spectacular waterfall? In this guide, we compare the Victoria Falls walking tour and helicopter tour so you can choose the perfect way to take in this iconic destination — or discover why doing both is the ultimate experience.
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1. Why Visit Victoria Falls (Mosi-Oa-Tunya)?
Check out our YouTube video of our walking tour of Victoria Falls here
Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The traditional name of Victoria Falls in the Lozi language, Mosi-Oa-Tunya, means “The Smoke That Thunders”. Victoria Falls is a source of great pride for the people of Africa.
It is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, sharing its title with:
- Aurora Borealis
- Grand Canyon
- Paricutin Volcano
- Harbour of Rio de Janeiro
- Mount Everest
- Great Barrier Reef
Victoria Falls is 1.7 km wide and plunges up to 108 metres. You can hear the thunder of the Falls and feel the mist of the Zambezi River from kilometres away. It is impressive to say the least.
You can visit the Falls from either the Zimbabwean side, via Victoria Falls town, or from Livingstone in Zambia. You can even cross the border and do both sides.
2. Walking Tour of Victoria Falls
A walking tour takes around 2 hours to complete. You should consider whether you prefer to visit early in the morning, at midday, or later in the afternoon. Depending on the time of year, in particular, the middle of summer, I would recommend an early morning or late afternoon visit.
The main entrance of Victoria Falls from the town is about a ten-minute drive. On arrival, there are many souvenir shops. After purchasing your tickets (which may already be included in your tour package), you will enter through the designated entrance. I recommend taking some time to familiarise yourself with the information that is displayed highlighting:
- Map of the Rainforest
- Fauna and Flora of the Rainforest
- Victoria Falls at different times of the year
- Recent History
- Indigenous peoples of the Victoria Falls area
- Formation of the Falls
- UNESCO World Heritage Site
Best Viewpoints Along the Trail
The first viewpoint on the tour is the Chain Walk (Stop #2). Although it is called the Chain Walk, the chain no longer exists; instead, there is a wooden handrail for the 73 steps that lead to a viewing point of the Gorge. There are great views towards the Devil’s Cataract.
Good to know: it can be slippery, so ensure you wear non-slip shoes, bring water, and be mindful of the spray on your cameras. If you experience knee problems, you may want to consider avoiding this walk.
Further along, stop #1 is the statue of David Livingstone, who discovered the Falls in 1855 and named them after Queen Victoria. He was the first European to journey across Africa from West to East. This is the first viewpoint of the Falls overlooking Devil’s Cataract and Cataract Island. Devil’s Cataract falls 70 meters in height and 30 meters in width.
Viewpoint #3, situated opposite Devil’s Cataract, is an excellent vantage point for photographers.
There are 16 viewpoints in total.
Devil’s Cataract Viewpoint
Livingstone Statue Viewpoint
Chasm Viewpoint
Main Falls Viewpoint – where you face the Main Falls straight on
Main Falls (Closer) Viewpoint – be careful here, as on some days you can be drenched
Main Falls Far Edge Viewpoint – great for photos of the length of the Falls
Horseshoe Falls Viewpoint
Rainbow Falls Viewpoint
Rainbow Falls Upper Viewpoint – the falls plunge 108m here
Armchair Falls Viewpoint
The Danger Point (Cliff Edge)
Eastern Cataract Viewpoint – views across to the Zambia side
Boiling Pot Viewpoint – swirling whirlpools of the Zambezi River
Bridge Viewpoint (Victoria Falls Bridge) – great for photos, hope for a visit when the mist is rising from behind
Zambezi Gorge Viewpoint
Knife-Edge Viewpoint
Tips for Staying Dry (or Embracing the Spray!)
- Wear a light raincoat or poncho
- Bring a cover for your phone or camera
- Small towel
- Comfortable shoes
- May need to bring a change of clothes if visiting in high water months, March to May
When to Go for the Best Views
May to July are the best times to visit Victoria Falls when the mist does not obscure the views.
June to August is popular as there is better visibility of the falls due to less spray.
Book your private walking tour here
3. Victoria Falls Helicopter Tour
Check out our YouTube video:
This is an incredible experience! I highly recommend this option if possible. Observing one of the world’s largest waterfalls from above is fantastic. You can feel the immense size of the Falls. Flying over Botoka Gorge on the Zambezi River, then over the Zambezi National Park, was thrilling. We saw herds of elephants around the waterholes.
There are many options, check them out here:
4. Walking vs Helicopter Tour: Which One Should You Choose?
The cost of the helicopter flight is expensive compared to the walking tour, but I’m glad we had the time to experience both.
Time vs. costs – A 2-hour walking tour, compared to a 15-25 minute flight, costs from USD 25, while a flight costs from USD 140.
If we had our time again, we would definitely do both. First, do the walking tour, then the helicopter flight in that order.
A walking tour lets you feel the raw power of the falls up close—hear the thunder, see rainbows forming in the mist, and explore all the viewpoints during the 2 hours.
A helicopter flight, on the other hand, reveals the full scale of Victoria Falls in a way no viewpoint ever can. From above, you see the entire curtain of water, the zig-zagging Batoka Gorge, and the Zambezi River laid out like a map—an awe-inspiring perspective you can’t get from the ground.
Where to Stay Near Victoria Falls
Whilst in Victoria Falls, we stayed at two properties.
The 5-star luxury Victoria Falls Hotel was all that we had wished for—an excellent location with views towards the Victoria Falls Bridge. We spent two nights enjoying excellent meals, relaxing by the pool, and this was our base for exploring Victoria Falls. You can read my review here.
We also stayed one night at the Waterfalls Lodge before starting our 7 night safari in Botswana. A recently opened hotel, Waterfalls Lodge, offers 60 beautifully decorated, spacious bedrooms with large en-suite bathrooms and verandahs, overlooking landscaped gardens and the swimming pool.
Compare prices on accommodation in Victoria Falls here.
Conclusion: The Perfect Way to Experience Victoria Falls
Whether you choose to feel the mist on your face along the rainforest pathways or soar above the Zambezi for sweeping aerial views, Victoria Falls never fails to inspire awe. Each experience reveals a different side of this extraordinary natural wonder — one intimate and powerful, the other breathtaking and expansive. For travellers who want the most whole, most unforgettable perspective, combining both the walking tour and helicopter ride creates the perfect balance. No matter how you explore it, Victoria Falls will leave you with memories that last a lifetime.
General Travel Information
We travelled to Johannesburg from Australia on the A380 direct flight with Qantas. Our internal flights from Johannesburg to Cape Town, Cape Town to Victoria Falls and Kasane, Botswana to Johannesburg with Airlink. We were very impressed with Airlink’s services, schedules, planes and they were on time and even served a complimentary meal on all flights.
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