Which Side Of Victoria Falls To Stay On
The age old question that is asked by everyone planning to visit Victoria Falls is “Should I go to Zambia or Zimbabwe?”. The Zambezi River defines the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe and so both countries share the spectacular Victoria Falls, but your choice on which country to stay in can influence your budget and your experience and so here are some notes of the considerations for each side to help you decide.
Traditionally Zimbabwe is reputed to have the best overall viewing;
- Approximately 75% of the face of the Falls can be viewed from the paths in the Rainforest on the Zimbabwe side.
- Zimbabwe has a Rainforest in the truest sense of the word and has “rain” caused by the mist of the cascading water, 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year.
- The Zimbabwe side has water flowing all year.
- The Town of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe virtually surrounds the Falls making access to all supporting facilities easy and convenient.
- The experiences on offer are generally more numerous on the Zimbabwe side and are generally cheaper.
Zambia Views and Facilities are quite different and its also quite unique in its own right.
- Generally Airfares are cheaper into Livingstone than they are into Victoria Falls.
- Zambia only has 25% of the face of the Falls, the Eastern Cataract, but it does have a good network of paths and viewing platforms to provide some unique views and this can be just as rewarding. It is also very easy to take a morning trip across to Zimbabwe to do a viewing of the Falls from that side, and likewise time allowing we also recommend guests staying in Zimbabwe to take a trip across to Zambia for a viewing on that side.
- During the Dry Season, the Zambian side completely dries up and so the viewing becomes that of a shear rock-face and gorge which however is also spectacular.
- They have no real Rainforest as there is no mist on that side during the dry season.
- The town of Livingstone is some 10 Km. back from the Victoria Falls and make logistics to the activities at the falls a bit more time consuming if you are staying in a town hotel.
- Zambia however does have some really amazing hotels and lodges on the river just above the Falls, but they are a closer to some of the experiences on offer at the Falls. Most of these river based lodges have their own activities such as cruises at the lodge.
- There are some experiences such as the Microlight Flights that are only available on the Zambian Side.
Ultimately both Victoria Falls and Livingstone offer a different but equally rewarding experiences and it becomes a personal choice on which side to stay.
Seasons
Broadly summer in Victoria Falls runs between September to April, and very mild winters between May and August each year. Winters are mild and dry with low temperatures between 7-10°C and high temperatures between 25-27°C
Summer can be very hot with low temperatures of 15-17°C and high temperatures between 34-38°C. Rainy season is during the summer months generally December through to April rains can be sudden and dramatic with heavy thunder showers and storms.
Viewing and Activities can be heavily influenced by the weather:-
- Victoria Falls is spectacular whatever time of the year you view it, however the viewing experience is very different depending on the time of year you are there.
- The rainy season is mid-December through to the end of March and the volume of water passing over the Falls increases steadily over this period peaking in about April each year. During the high water flows, the “mist” caused by the cascading water can be very thick and make viewing difficult and wet, there is usually enough wind to blow the mist away for periods to see the spectacular water flow. The water levels decline from May through to mid-December, again providing different viewing experiences. Usually the Falls completely dries up on the Zambian side from about late October to December, but this also provides spectacular viewing of the gorge, and there is always water flowing on the Zimbabwe side.
- Game Viewing is best during the so called dry winter months where the bush is sparse and the wildlife gathers near water sources and particularly the Zambezi River.
- White Water Rafting is usually best during August to December as the low water makes for spectacular rapids. The rafting closes usually between April and July due to the high water.
- On of the most spectacular experiences, Livingstone Island and Devils Pool also closes between January and August, again as the water is too high.
- During the rainy season certain game drives may be affected by the heavy rains and the parks being inaccessible, as well as the animals being widely dispersed due to ample water and grazing.
Victoria Falls however is a year-round destination and planning the right activities in the right seasons will give an equally great experience.
Length of Stay
Victoria Falls is usually a bucket-list trip, and the last thing you want is to be leaving with the feeling that you haven’t experienced everything the destination has to offer. Most flights arrive in Victoria Falls around midday and depart early afternoon, so this can limit your time in-destination
We recommend that you stay a minimum of 3 Nights – 4 Days to get the full benefit.
