Best shoes for walking
Grippy trainers with real tread. The rain forest path and the gorge steps stay wet all season, and smooth soles slide.
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Small things, big difference
Quick Tips
Short, practical tips for visiting Victoria Falls — one idea at a time, from the shoes to wear to the currency to carry. The longer explanations live under Travel Tips.
34 of 34 tips shown
Expect to get soaked
Close to the viewpoints the spray falls like rain. A light rain shell and a dry bag for your phone make the difference.
Dress in layers
June and July mornings are cold enough for a jacket, and by midday you want short sleeves.
Pack a small dry bag
It keeps phone, passport and cash dry on rafting days, river cruises and the misty walk at the falls.
Rent what you cannot fly with
Rafting operators provide helmets and life jackets, and waterproof shoes can be hired in town.
Currency advice
US dollars work everywhere, with local ZWG notes for small change. Bring clean, newer US dollar bills — torn or old notes are often refused.
Carry small notes
US$1, $5 and $10 notes cover tips, crafts and taxis. Nobody can change a $50 for a short taxi ride.
Cash is still king
Lodges and bigger restaurants take cards, but markets, taxis and tips run on cash.
ATMs are thin on the ground
Draw cash at the airport or in Harare or Bulawayo if you can — town ATMs run dry in season.
Tipping
Around 10% for guides, drivers and lodge staff. Budget US$10-20 a day for tips, crafts and small transport.
Carry your passport, always
Even a few hours in Chobe or Livingstone crosses a real border and back.
Ask about the KAZA UniVisa
If you are eligible, one visa covers Zimbabwe and Zambia plus day trips to Chobe. Ask at the border before you buy anything.
Six months of validity
Passports need six months left and blank pages for stamps.
Yellow fever certificate
Keep it with your passport if you are arriving from a risk country.
Keep copies of everything
Photograph your passport and visa page and keep them on your phone and in the cloud.
The sun is fiercer than it looks
SPF 50, a hat and refilled bottles every day. The mist hides how strong the sun really is.
Malaria advice before you fly
The Zambezi valley is a malaria area — talk to a travel doctor about prophylaxis and use repellent at dusk.
Drink bottled or filtered water
Use it for drinking and brushing your teeth, and refill a bottle rather than buying one every hour.
Insurance that covers the fun
Check your policy covers rafting, bungee and helicopter flights — plenty of standard policies exclude them.
Bring your own prescriptions
Pharmacies in town stock the basics and repellent, but not necessarily your medication.
Agree the fare first
Settle the price before you get into a taxi, or ask your lodge to book a trusted driver.
Most trips include a pick-up
Rafting, cruises and flights collect you from your lodge — confirm the time the day before.
Town is walkable
The falls entrance, the town centre and the craft market are all a short walk apart.
Get a local SIM
A prepaid Econet or NetOne SIM from town is cheap for data and calls. Lodge Wi-Fi is patchy.
Download offline maps
Save maps and tickets before you travel — signal drops in the gorge and out on the river.
Stay behind the barriers
Wet rock beside a 100 metre drop is not a photo stop. Never climb or swim above the falls.
Devil's Pool needs a licensed guide
It is only entered with a guide, and usually only in the low-water months.
Give wildlife room
Elephants, hippos and baboons are wild. Keep your distance, never feed them, and keep food out of sight.
Follow the guide's line on the river
On a canoe or a cruise, hippos are the animal to respect most — stay on the path the guide takes.
Check the water level
High water (roughly Feb-May) pauses some river trips; Devil's Pool and the best rafting come with low water.
Ask before photographing people
Especially in villages and markets. Ask, and take a no with a smile.
Buy from the makers
Market prices are negotiable, but pay fairly — the carver or weaver standing in front of you set that price.
Learn a greeting
"Mhoroi" in Shona or "Salibonani" in Ndebele opens doors everywhere in town.
Ask before you gift
If you want to give something in a village, ask your host what is useful rather than handing out sweets.
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