Travel to Victoria falls

[gogohmm]

Really would like an adventurous trip but budget isn't huge, not enough for a tour plus I'm not keen on group travel.

Has anyone travelled independently? Any tips? Did you drive yourself? Thank you!

We flew into Livingstone in Zambia both times. Like most people I guess. Presumably you could drive from Zimbabwe or within Zambia. We didn’t go with a group but it was part of a safari to both these countries. We stayed at a lodge in Zambia. Not sure any of it is cheap!

Best option is to fly to Livingston where there is a range of accommodation from backpacker to luxury. You can get a visa at the airport that covers both countries. You can also fly to Vic Falls but I'm not sure what the accommodation choice is like there. No direct flights to either from the UK. We flew Kenyan to Livingston via Nairobi. I think you can get Lufthansa via Frankfurt to Vic Falls. There's a huge range of activities/trips once you get there. We did a road trip from Vic Falls to Windhoek last year but I think if you are based in 1 place it's probably not worth getting a car. Just get a taxi or most activities will pick up. We have stayed the Zimbabwe side but that was 24 years ago so not much help.

I did it independently - but many years ago so things will most likely have changed a lot. I flew to Harare and then on to Vic Falls, and stayed in a hotel there called the Rainbow Hotel. If I recall rightly it had a fabulous view of the falls. I've just googled and am surprised to see the hotel still exists!

The one thing I really recommend (if you have the stomach for it and if it is still possible) is to take a small plane sightseeing flight over the falls. I remember sitting in this tiny (4-seater I think?) plane and my stomach churning as it flew right in the gorge and then over the falls. A plane ride I'll never forget!

We flew from Lusaka to Livingstone so can't really help with getting there but we stayed here https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g298089-d305427-r155612001-AvaniVictoriaaFallsResort-LivingstoneeSouthern_Province.html and then it was like 15 minutes walk down to the falls

Zambia is a wonderful country.

Thanks everyone, I'll look at Zambia too but the Lufthansa option could work out brilliantly as we can fly from our local airport to Frankfurt. No it won't be cheap but the packages are starting at £6k for a week whereas I've found flights from Heathrow via Addis Ababa for £550 to Harare. I have a contact there (friends mum who I will be take meds to, they can't get in country, won't stay with them but will have a meal)

I think the only direct flights to Vic Falls from Europe are from Frankfurt. From Harare there are flights with Fastjet - but cheap - I think about £300 pp and the flight is less than an hour! Harare itself isn't a tourist hotspot really.

We stayed in Vic Falls itself for 4 nights. Lots of lodges to choose from, and some back packer type places. Unlike the rest of Zimbabwe things tend to work - there is 24:7 power and the roads are good. Best view of the bridge is from the Zambian side - you can walk or get a little tram over.

Some amazing activities though nothing is cheap. For non residents entry to the Falls themselves is something like USD50 and eg a sunset cruise down the Zambezi (beautiful and really worth it) is about USD 80 pp. You can do game drives for an afternoon or longer. Or even go over to Botswana for the day. Lots of adrenaline activities - zip line, gorge swing etc. All very easy to organise. Taxis are easy to get around town.
We had an amazing holiday. But we were already in the region. Not sure I'd have flown all the way from the UK just for a few days in the Falls. Lots of tourists seemed to be combining it with longer safari either in Zim or in SA or Botswana.

Yes. That’s what we did. Stopped off from Zambia to Zim. We went white water rafting below the boiling pot and stayed at the Vic Falls Hotel on that holiday. Not that luxurious at the time. The breakfast sausage joke lasted for years! Much nicer was Tongabezi lodge. Again, plenty of activities. There seem to be loads of lodges now. Sadly no BA flight direct to Harare any more!

We didn’t do the small aircraft flight over the falls. On the way into Livingstone, the Zambia Airways pilot did a figure of 8 flight over the falls. Good fun to begin with air sickness ensued. That was pretty bad! Did a light aircraft flight over the Okavango Delta though!

We flew from Johannesburg to Vic falls. Stayed there for four nights and it's amazing. Accommodation seemed mainly hotels but there were backpacking options. One thing I do remember, none of the banks/cash machines had any money so we had to find a hotel to change money at. Hope you have a fab time, it's wonderful!

Ive been going back and forth quite lot over the past 10 years and always fly Johannesburg to Vic Falls. Usually on Birgin as it’s overnight which I prefer. You can also take Ethiopian airlines to Vic falls.

I’ve been to both sides and the Zimbabwean side of the Falls has a lot more to offer.

As other posters have said it’s not cheap as prices are in USD but it really is incredible. You won’t regret it and the wildlife is amazing. You can also take a day trip to Chobe in Botswana to see even more. Shearwater run these excursions and sort all the border crossings.

i planned everything independently as family live there but otherwise I’d use https://www.victoriafalls-guide.net/ … they can organise activities accommodation and travel. Run by a fantastic local family.

happy to answer questions if you want to DM me

Sorry *Virgin!

Also if you’re going to Zimbabwe I wouldn’t miss the Matopos national park near Bulawayo

Oh man I want to go .... this has triggered a big yearning

@CloudPop me too. But I want to time my next trip to see Carmine Bee Eaters but that clashes with DHs busy period at work so saving up for a couple of years until he's retired.