No trip to Africa is complete without a few days in Victoria Falls. Spending two days in Victoria Falls makes for a great addition to a trip to South Africa or Kenya. Visitors can see both sides of the falls, and adventure seekers can swim at the top. It is also a great space to take a safari and see some amazing animals in the wild. If you do not want to plan it yourself, you can take a two day tour from Cape Town.
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History of Victoria Falls
The area surrounding Victoria Falls, located on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, has a long and rich history. The Tonga and Lozi tribes have lived along the Zambezi River for generations, revering the falls as a sacred site. Known locally as “Mosi-oa-Tunya,” meaning “The Smoke That Thunders,” the falls have held cultural and spiritual significance, often associated with ancestral spirits and natural power.
The falls became known to the wider world in 1855 when explorer David Livingstone became the first European to view them. He named the site “Victoria Falls” in honor of Queen Victoria of Britain, marking the beginning of European interest in the region. During the late 1800s, the area became a focal point for British colonial expansion.
The construction of the Victoria Falls Bridge in 1905, part of Cecil Rhodes’ grand vision for a Cape-to-Cairo railway, helped transform the area into a hub of tourism and transportation. Today, Victoria Falls is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, drawing visitors from around the globe while remaining an important cultural landmark for local communities.
When to Spend Two Days in Victoria Falls
May to October is the best time to visit Victoria Falls as it is the dry season. It is during this time that visitors can take advantage of a lot of the water activities such as swimming at the top of the falls or white-water rafting.
How to Get to Victoria Falls
There are two main airports visitors can fly into to access Victoria Falls. On the Zambia side, visitors will fly into Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport located in Livingstone. On the Zimbabwe Side, visitors will fly into Victoria Falls Airport located in Victoria Falls. Skyscanner is my favorite way to search for flights.
Kaza Visa
In order to visit Zimbabwe as a US citizen, you will need a visa. The easiest way is to get a Visa on Arrival at the Victoria Falls Airport. I recommend getting a Kaza Visa for $50/person. This visa allows unlimited border crossings between Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Botswana for 30 days. The Kaza Visa is convenient because visitors can stay in one country and cross over as needed for the duration of your trip.
Transportation in Victoria Falls
To get to and from the airport, I recommend booking an airport transfer for ease of travel to take you to your hotel. Once at your hotel, it is very easy to get around the main area of the falls. Here is a good airport transfer from the Victoria Falls airport. Alternatively, here is one from the Livingston Airport.
No matter which side you stay on, if you have the Kaza Visa, it is very easy to walk across the border from one side to the other. It is about a mile walk from the Avani Victoria Falls Resort to the main entrance of the falls on the Zimbabwe side. You can also hire a taxi, but I enjoyed getting to walk across the Victoria Falls bridge.
Where to Stay in Victoria Falls
When spending two days in Victoria Falls, you will need to choose if you want to stay on the Zambia or the Zimbabwe side of the falls. Both have their pros and cons and hotels are pretty pricey not matter what side of the falls you stay on. TripAdvisor is a great place to start your hotel search. Check out the best hotels in Victoria Falls and Livingstone here! You can always try searching Priceline Express Deals for a better price or try to price match a hotel.
We opted to stay on the Zambia side of the falls at the Avani Victoria Falls Resort and the Protea Hotel Livingstone. Protea Hotel Livingstone is a good option if you want to book a hotel using Marriott points. While it was a nice hotel, it is not in the most convenient location. The downside of staying on this side is many of the tours leave from the Victoria Falls side, so tours will cost a little extra for the extra transportation required.
I highly recommend staying at the Avani Victoria Falls Resort, even though it is a more expensive option. This resort is located right on the Zambia side of the falls, and your stay includes admission to the falls. There are also wild giraffes and zebras that roam the resort! Alternatively, next door is the Royal Livingston Victoria Falls which is a little fancier than the Avani.
If you opt to stay in Zimbabwe, you will stay in the city of Victoria Falls. Hotels on this side include Explorer’s Village and The Victoria Falls Hotel. The advantage of being on this side of the falls is the convenience for day tours. There is also more of an area to walk around for shopping and restaurants.
You can also opt to stay in Botswana at the Chobe River Cottages or the Chobe Safari Lodge.
If you have more than two days in Victoria Falls, I would split the time between the two sides of the falls. If not, I think the Avani Victoria Falls Resort is a great choice because it includes the admission to the Zambia side of the falls.
What to Do During Two Days in Victoria Falls
If you do not want to plan the entire day yourself, you can take this Victoria Falls full day tour. It will take you around to the main sites in Victoria Falls.
Day 1
Livingstone Island
Cost: $170+
No trip to Victoria Falls is complete without a trip to Livingstone Island. Livingstone Island is a small, rocky outcrop perched at the edge of Victoria Falls. This is where the infamous Devils Pool and Angels Pool are located. It is named after the explorer David Livingstone who first viewed the falls from this spot in 1855. This island offers a unique view of the falls.
If you venture to Livingstone Island, you will get the chance for a photo opp right at the edge of the falls. Then you will get to take a swim at the top of the falls and pose for Insta-worthy pictures at the edge. After, you will be served a light meal. For me, this was the number one thing on my bucket list when visiting the falls, so I made sure to allow for the price in my budget.
Zimbabwe Side of the Falls
Cost: $50
During your two days in Victoria Falls, you must visit the Zimbabwe side of the falls. The Zimbabwe side of Victoria Falls is the more popular side of the falls as it is the most expansive and offers the most stunning views of the waterfall. About 75% of the falls are visible from this side. Located within Victoria Falls National Park, there is a set of well-maintained trails leading to numerous viewpoints which include the Main Falls, Horseshoe Falls, and Rainbow Falls. It offers the best panoramic views and is the best side for photographing the falls.
Additionally, the Zimbabwe side of the falls is located near many restaurants and other attractions which makes it a perfect place to stop for lunch. You can also take a guided tour of the Zimbabwe side by pre-booking a guide or hiring a guide at the gate. While the entrance fee is pretty steep, it is worth the views you will get.
Zambia Side of the Falls
Cost: $20
The Zambia side of Victoria Falls, located within Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, offers a more close-up experience of the falls as you get a lot closer than the Zimbabwe side. We called it the “water park” side of the falls because if you visit during high-water season, you will get soaked viewing the falls. Visitors can walk across the Knife-Edge Bridge to get a panoramic view of the falls, hike down to the Boiling Pot, and view the Batoka Gorge. The Zambia side is generally less crowded than the Zimbabwe side.
If you have the time, you can also take a guided tour of both sides of the falls.
Sunset drinks at the Royal Livingstone
Cost: $10+
End your first of two days with drinks at the Royal Livingstone. There is a nice bar set along the Zambezi River with the perfect views of the sunset. You will not be sorry grabbing a drink or two here before heading to dinner. If you are not staying at the Avani or Royal Livingstone, you will need to make a reservation beforehand in order to access the resort.
Day 2
Chobe National Park
Cost: $150+
When spending two days in Victoria Falls, you must go on a safari. I recommend heading to Chobe National Park in Botswana. Chobe is one of Africa’s premier wildlife destinations known for its dense elephant population. The park features a variety of ecosystems that attracts an abundance of wildlife with over 450 bird species.
What is also unique about Chobe is that you can go on both a land safari and a river safari. Most of the safari tours begins with a land safari in the morning. After several hours, you will stop for lunch. Our tour included a buffet lunch. Then in the afternoon, you will embark on a river safari down the Chobe River. This offers you a unique perspective as you may be able to get closer to hippos on the river safari. Most of the tours also include transportation from your hotel.
If you do not want to travel as far as Chobe National Park, you could check out Hwange National Park or Zambezi National Park. Alternatively, you could do a Walking Safari or Night game drive.
Dinner Cruise
After getting back from the safari, opt to embark on a dinner cruise on the Zambezi River. This is a great way to end your two days in Victoria Falls and watch the sunset along the river. It also includes a nice dinner with unlimited beverages. You may even see some wildlife along the banks of the river.
More Than Two Days in Victoria Falls?
We actually stayed three nights at Victoria Falls and had about two and a half days to explore the area. If that is the case, I recommend some of the following other activities depending on your adventure level.
Final Tips for Two Days in Victoria Falls
Two days in Victoria Falls allows for you to see the main sites this stunning waterfall has to offer and a few things in the surrounding area. It pairs well with a trip to Cape Town or as part of a trip to Kenya. We opted to head to the Seychelles after visiting Victoria Falls.
