Practical essentials
Money, Borders and Getting Around
The unglamorous things that decide how smooth a Victoria Falls trip feels: cash, crossings, transport, SIM cards and staying well.
Money and tipping
US dollars are the practical currency, with local currency for small change. Clean, newer notes are taken far more readily than old ones.
- Bring smaller US dollar notes — large bills are hard to break in town.
- Budget roughly US$10-20 a day for tips, crafts and short transport hops.
- Tipping guides, drivers and lodge staff around 10% is expected and appreciated.
- ATMs are limited and can run dry; draw cash at the airport or in Harare or Bulawayo if you can.
Visas, borders and the KAZA UniVisa
Most visitors get a visa on arrival or apply for an e-visa before flying. The KAZA UniVisa covers Zimbabwe and Zambia for eligible nationalities.
- Carry a passport valid for at least six months with blank pages for stamps.
- Ask at the border about the KAZA UniVisa, which also allows day trips to Chobe in Botswana.
- Keep your yellow fever certificate with your passport if you are arriving from a risk country.
- Even a few hours across the river is a real border crossing — take your passport.
Getting around town
The town centre, the falls entrance and the craft markets sit within a short walk of each other, and most activities include a pick-up.
- Agree the taxi fare before you get in, or ask your lodge to book a driver they trust.
- Rafting, cruise and flight operators collect you from your accommodation.
- Airport transfers take about 25 minutes from Victoria Falls Airport, further from Livingstone.
- Hire a local guide for the rainforest — the stories make the viewpoints far richer.
Staying connected and powered
A local SIM is cheap and lodge Wi-Fi is variable, so treat your phone as something that may go quiet.
- Prepaid SIMs from Econet or NetOne are available in town for data and calls.
- Download offline maps and your tickets before you travel — signal drops in the gorge.
- Power can go out in town; a power bank keeps cameras and phones alive.
- Zimbabwe runs on 220-240V with type D and G sockets, so bring an adapter.
Health and malaria
The Zambezi valley is a malaria area and the sun is fierce year round. Both are managed with ordinary preparation.
- Talk to a travel clinic about malaria prophylaxis and use repellent from dusk.
- SPF 50, a hat and refilled water bottles every day — the midday sun is strong year round.
- Oral rehydration salts are worth packing for the hot months.
- Insurance that covers rafting, bungee and flights is essential, not optional.
Planning around this
Water levels and weather shift week by week, so treat the seasons here as a guide. Members posting from the falls can tell you what is actually happening this week.
Read next
Your First Trip to Victoria Falls
What to book before you fly, what you can decide once you are here, and how to shape the first 48 hours so the falls themselves are not the only thing you see.