There are three kinds of walk at Victoria Falls Town: the rainforest trail beside the falls, a stroll around the town, and a guided bush walk in the wild. Each has its own rules, set out here by length and effort. Walk one: the rainforest trail Time: about two hours at a relaxed pace. Effort: easy, on paved paths with some stone steps. Cost: about US$58 for international visitors, with US$35 and US$7 tiers for SADC and Zimbabwe residents.

Sightseeing at Victoria Falls Town splits into places you can enjoy for free and one ticketed highlight, the rainforest. This guide goes from the cheapest stops to the main attraction. The Big Tree A huge baobab stands beside Zambezi Drive, about 2 km from the river and the town. It is estimated to be between 1,000 and 1,500 years old, and its trunk measures more than 20 m around. The Museums and National Monuments body protects it, not ZimParks.

A romantic stay at Victoria Falls Town can be built from a handful of settings: a river at sunset, a historic terrace, a gorge-edge restaurant and a lodge on the Zambezi. Here is a long weekend for two, with the practical details for each setting. Friday evening: the river at sunset Start with a cruise on the upper Zambezi. The boats drift between islands while hippos grunt in the shallows and fish eagles call.

Three routes cover most visits that last longer than a weekend. Each one is built around Victoria Falls Town, because that is where the airport, the activity operators and the cross-border roads meet. Itinerary one: a short break of two days Start with the rainforest trail while the paths are quiet, then spend the afternoon over the gorge on a Flight of Angels helicopter ride. Close the day with a sunset cruise above the falls.

Which day trip suits you depends on how many hours you can spend in a vehicle and which passport stamps you are happy to collect. Here is a side-by-side look at the options from Victoria Falls Town. Trip Distance from town Border Best for Zambezi National Park entrance about 5 km west none a short wildlife outing Livingstone, Zambia about 10 to 15 km Zimbabwe exit and Zambian entry the falls from the other bank Chobe, Botswana about 70 to 80 km to Kazungula Botswana entry elephants from a river boat Hwange, Zimbabwe about 100 km to Hwange town none a long day among big herds Zambezi National Park The closest option has an entrance about 5 km west of town on Zambezi Drive.

The tours below are arranged through a day at Victoria Falls Town, from an early wildlife drive to a moonlit rainbow after dark. Each one adds something you would miss on your own, such as a guide, a vehicle or access outside normal hours. Early morning: Zambezi National Park game drive Zambezi National Park runs upriver from town and covers about 560 square km. Operators run open 4x4 drives in the early morning and again in the late afternoon.

The Zambezi sets the calendar at Victoria Falls Town. Water level decides whether you can raft, how much of the gorge you see and how wet you get at the viewpoints. This guide lines up the main activities with the season and the money. Low water, about August to December The river drops and the full rafting day opens, running from Rapid 1 to Rapid 19. The gorge is clear of mist, so views down into it are sharp.