ZIMBABWE

Day Trip from Livingstone, Zambia to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe 🌈💦

While staying in Livingstone, Zambia, we decided to spend a day exploring Zimbabwe and visiting the famous Victoria Falls from the Zimbabwean side.

It turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip! 🥰

Crossing the Border

We arranged a taxi driver to pick us up from our hotel in Zambia.

The drive to the border takes around 15 minutes.

We had already purchased the visa that covers both Zambia and Zimbabwe, making the border process relatively straightforward.

At the border, you first pass through the Zambian immigration building, where officials check your passport and visa.

From there, you continue onto the famous Victoria Falls Bridge, which connects Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Walking Across the Victoria Falls Bridge

We chose to walk across the bridge, which took about 30 minutes including photo stops.

You can also pay a taxi driver to take you directly to the border crossings if you prefer not to walk.

Walking was definitely worth it.

The views of Victoria Falls from the bridge are spectacular, and we stopped several times to take photos. 📸

When returning in the evening, we took a taxi instead.

Important Border Information

The border officially closed at 10:00 PM during our visit.

Make sure to verify current operating hours before your trip, as regulations can change.

I also recommend returning well before closing time to avoid any unexpected delays.

At the Zimbabwean side of the bridge, you’ll pass through another immigration checkpoint.

The process was straightforward, although slightly slower than on the Zambian side.

Victoria Falls National Park 🌈

After entering Zimbabwe, it’s only a short walk along the road to the entrance of Victoria Falls National Park.

The entrance fee was $50 per person.

Inside the park, there is a well-organized walking trail with multiple numbered viewpoints overlooking the falls.

The Most Beautiful Viewpoint

For me, Viewpoint #2 was absolutely magical. 🥰🥰🥰

You descend a staircase to a lower observation area, where the views are simply breathtaking.

We were lucky enough to see two beautiful rainbows stretching across the waterfalls. 🌈🌈

The combination of the mist, the thunderous sound of the water, and the rainbows created one of the most beautiful scenes I’ve ever witnessed. 😍

Lunch with a View

The Lookout Café – Wild Horizons

After visiting the falls, we walked about five minutes to The Lookout Café.

The path is located behind the local market area. If you’re unsure where to go, simply ask one of the locals, everyone knows the restaurant.

I highly recommend making a reservation in advance.

When booking, I requested a table with a view, and they gave us an excellent spot. 👌🏻

The restaurant overlooks the dramatic Batoka Gorge and the Zambezi River.

The scenery is spectacular.

The food was delicious, and there were vegetarian options available.

One fun bonus: people doing the zipline activities nearby fly across the gorge right in front of the restaurant, so you can watch them while enjoying your meal.

Restaurant reservation link

Traditional Village Visit

In the afternoon, we joined a traditional village tour that I booked through GetYourGuide.

We arranged pickup directly from the restaurant.

The driver arrived a little late, but everything worked out fine.

Village Experience

Once we arrived, a local resident welcomed us into his family compound and showed us around his home.

He explained their traditions, daily routines, and way of life.

The experience felt authentic, personal, and very welcoming.

The tour itself was somewhat shorter than described on the website, but it was still a meaningful and memorable experience.

Visitors are encouraged to bring something small for the families.

We brought snacks for the children and also left a small donation for the father.

The families live very simple lives, and their appreciation was genuinely touching, especially the children’s excitement. ❤️

Village tour booking link

Boma Dinner & Drum Show 🥁

After the village visit, our driver dropped us near The Boma – Dinner & Drum Show.

This was one of the most fun evenings of the trip! 👌🏻

Upon arrival, guests receive colorful traditional-style wraps, immediately setting the atmosphere for the evening.

Dinner

The meal is served buffet-style and features a wide variety of local dishes.

There are also vegetarian options available.

Entertainment

Throughout dinner, there are traditional welcome dances, live performances, and cultural entertainment.

Around 8:45 PM, the famous drumming session begins.

Every guest receives a drum, and the host teaches the audience how to play together.

It was interactive, energetic, and a lot of fun. 😁

The event officially runs until 10:00 PM.

Because we needed to cross back into Zambia before the border closed, we left a little earlier.

Boma reservation link

Returning to Zambia

Many travelers choose to stay overnight in Zimbabwe near Victoria Falls National Park.

Since we were staying in Zambia, we needed to plan our return carefully.

Because the border closes at night, we arranged a driver to collect us from The Boma at 9:15 PM.

The timing worked perfectly.

The restaurant is about 15 minutes from the border.

After reaching the Zimbabwean side, we took a taxi to the Zambian border crossing.

A Small Travel Lesson 😅

On the Zambian side, we had arranged another driver to pick us up.

Unfortunately, he never arrived and stopped answering his phone.

Luckily, we had previously shared a taxi with a local woman, and when someone arrived to pick her up, they noticed we were stranded.

The area was dark and quiet, with very few people around.

Thankfully, they kindly offered us a ride back with several local passengers.

So my advice is simple:

✔️ Confirm your driver

✔️ Make sure they are reliable.

✔️ Have a backup plan just in case.

Fortunately, people in both Zambia and Zimbabwe were incredibly friendly and helpful.

Final Thoughts

This was a perfect and unforgettable day. 👌🏻

Walking across the famous bridge, seeing Victoria Falls from the Zimbabwean side, enjoying lunch above the Zambezi Gorge, visiting a traditional village, and ending the day with drumming and dancing at The Boma created an amazing combination of nature, culture, and adventure.

If you’re staying in Livingstone, I highly recommend taking a day trip to Zimbabwe.

It’s absolutely worth it. 😃

– Keren

For photos, locations, and travel inspiration, feel free to follow along on Instagram. 📸✨

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