Getting to Victoria Falls: Flights, Visas & Borders

Getting to Victoria Falls is straightforward: two airports serve the falls, one on each side of the border, both within about half an hour of the rainforest. Most international travellers connect through a regional hub such as Johannesburg, and a single visa covers both Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Flying to Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls Airport (VFA) serves the Zimbabwe side and is about 20 minutes from Victoria Falls town. Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport (LVI) in Livingstone serves the Zambian side. Both have regional connections, most commonly via Johannesburg. If you are combining the falls with Botswana, Kasane Airport (BBK) for Chobe is about an hour by road.

The KAZA UniVisa

The KAZA UniVisa is a single tourist visa for Zambia and Zimbabwe, available to many nationalities on arrival at the main airports and border posts. It allows travel between the two countries and day trips into Botswana through the Kazungula border for Chobe. Check eligibility, the current fee and any changes before you travel. Read Zambia or Zimbabwe? to decide where to stay.

Crossing between Zambia and Zimbabwe

The border posts sit at either end of the Victoria Falls Bridge. You can cross on foot, by taxi or with your guide, and the view from the middle of the bridge is one of the best of the falls. Allow time for formalities at busy periods.

By road from Chobe and Hwange

Kasane in Botswana is roughly an hour by road from Victoria Falls via the Kazungula border; Hwange National Park is about two hours south on a good road. These short transfers are why the falls combine so easily with safari, as on our ten-day Victoria Falls, Hwange and Chobe safari.

Money and practicalities

In Zimbabwe, US dollars are widely used; in Zambia, the kwacha is the local currency, with cards accepted at larger hotels. Carry small notes for tips and markets. Park entry fees are charged on both sides of the falls. Check vaccination requirements for your route, and take malaria prevention on medical advice. See Plan your trip for packing and health.