paradisedb

I am planning a trip to S.Africa and Botswana in August 2009 and plan to visit Victoria Falls for 2 nights. My husband does not want to stay on the Zimbabwe side. I understand at that time of year we would need to cross into Zimbabwe to see the falls as it is pretty dry on the Zamabian side. Someone mentioned it might take hours of waiting to cross between the two countries. Does any have any experience with this? Has anyone taken a helicopter ride over the falls and if so how was that. Would we get a good feel for the falls from the helicopter if we couldn't see it from the Zimbabwe side on the ground?

Bwino

You can see the falls from both Zambia and Zimbabwe at any time of year - it is just a different perspective. Crossing into Zimbabwe from Zambia on the 3 occasions I have done it was a simple process and no queue at all. The helicopter flight is awesome!

Pula

I've visited the falls twice, both times around August. The first time I stayed on the Zim side and the second on the Zambia side. The border crossing was a breeze but you DO NEED to have the correct amount of money in ONE currency -- I almost screwed that up. I didn't have enough to pay the whole thing in kwachas and they wouldn't allow me to "top it up" with dollars; fortunately I had sufficient dollars to do it that way.

IMHO, you really do need to see the falls from the Zim side to see them in all their glory -- it's quite remarkable to stand there (getting quite pleasantly wet) with all that water coming straight at you, and you can only do that from the Zimbabwe side.

I did the heli ride too and I guess I'm glad I did, but I don't think it can compare with the sound-and-fury, the sheer power, of the experience on the ground.

lerasp

I stayed in Zim side (in June). it was fantastic! didn't cross over to Zam. something else to keep in mind is that Zam visa fee (for US citizens) is now $130, while Zim is more reasonable $35. Unless you are spending more time in Zam anyway, it make quiet a difference. Another nice thing is that there are so few tourists in Zim that there's not that circus atmosphere. I don't know how it is in Zam, but i'd guess there are more tourist, touts, etc. It's very quiet in Zim. no one bothers you. we enjoyed just walking around the falls, walking around town, seeing how people live, talking with shopkeepers. it's a very sad situation there, heartbreakingly so. but we felt perfectly safe and people were very friendly, open and welcoming. Of course, with events now no one knows what it will be like in another year. maybe don't book anything at all and see how it goes for another 6-9 months?

Dana_M

I agree with Bwino. I thought the helicopter tour was absolutely wonderful. I planned to go on the microlight, but it was too windy so did the helicopter ride instead and was glad I did. The view was fantastic, and from the air you could really appreciate the vastness of the falls.

I would not substitute the helicopter ride for viewing the falls from the ground. As Pula mentioned, the sheer power of the falls, including the sounds, can only be properly felt from the ground. I would do both: view the falls from both the air and the ground.

ijkh

Maybe we were just lucky but when we flew with Sesofane. On the flight to Kwane and onward to the safari camps, the pilot gave us a fabulous 5 minute flightseeing tour of the falls. Our photos are amazing. I love my video of the falls. Be sure to ask your pilot.

ekscrunchy

I was just going to suggest that! Our pilot gave us a fantastic aerial tour en route to Kasane from Livingstone.


I had no trouble at the border; we stayed in Zambia at Siankaba and did a day trip to the Zim side. But you would probably be better off staying on the Zim side. The time at the border would depend on traffic at the time you are crossing. We had just finished our formalities when a large tour group entered the building..I was glad we were on our way before they arrived at the desk!

Elaine22

How safe is it to visit Victoria Falls? We are going to Africa in 8 months, and am seriously considering cancelling that part of the trip, and spending the extra days on Safari.

On the subject of safety, is it safe to take a bus tour of Soweto? Any comments on the Michelangelo Hotel in Sandton, near Johannesburg?

PRLCH

We too will be visiting the Victoria Falls in January .... and I keep watching the news and wondering if it is a foolish place to visiting just now.

poosaysmeh

We will be going to Victoria Falls in about 3 weeks and I am also wondering how safe it is going to be. We are staying on the Zam side but are thinking about crossing over to Zim to see the falls from that angle.

With the current political unrest do you guys think this is unwise or do you think because this is the high tourist area of the country we will be okay?

skibumette

We're headed to Vic Falls in mid-August, staying on the Zim side. There haven't been problems near VF -- that could change of course, but for now I'm following the unworried lead of my TO (who is from Zimbabwe) and sticking with my itinerary. If there's concern at the last minute we'll make changes then with her help. (Only a few months ago we were wondering if it was ok to go to Kenya. Changing our itinerary would have meant missing the Migration...and I'm certainly glad now that I didn't back out.)

torrem

I'm sticking with my itinerary too, I'll be in the Vic Falls area -zambia side- in early august. I would like to walk over to the zim side (anyone know how long is the walk?), but if things get ugly may have to cancel that part. So far, it seems the VF area is fairly safe

traveltheworld55

I just returned from Victoria Falls yesterday and it was a wonderful, action packed end to a terrific 3 week trip to Southern Africa. We spent two nights there and our one full day was busy from dawn to night with exciting activities. We really wished that we had at least one more night there.

The political situation has caused many people to cancel their visits to Zimbabwe and it has had a very negative effect on local people working in the tourism industry. We met several people who have lost their jobs due to the decline in tourism and up to this point I was told that there has been no problems in typical tourist spots. The local people are emphatic that Vic Falls and the National Parks are safe for visitors and will remain so. That was certainly the case this week, but I have some reservations as to what will happen next week.

To anyone planning a trip to Zimbabwe, if possible, please hold off making decisions to reroute to somewhere else until after the 27th so that you can accurately assess the safety factor. The wonderful National Parks, Vic Falls and the warm and welcoming people make it a superb stop on anyone's trip.

cwn

It is an interesting thread for me.

We are in a wait and see pattern. I have our tickets on SAA to Victoria Falls. Had to buy the all the trip tickets earilier this week so I could finalize the rest of the trip.

We are not going till early 2009. A lot can change by then, but we really want to see the Falls from the ZIM side.

So far I would do it, but that feeling could change after next week. If so, it will cost us $125 a piece to change the flight to Livingston at some later date.

I do hope for the peoples sake that things will begin to improve...

luangwablondes

Use the current tickets. Schedule a small aircraft transfer and fly directly to Livingstone from the VF airport. Any risk is absolutely minimal and if cancelled, you get your refund. Plenty of good accommodations in Livingstone so wait till a week or so prior to confirm those.

luangwablondes

Darn - wrong thread.

heasereb

All good advice. I flew into Zim side last summer and stayed on the Zam side. I saw falls from the Zim side in late July and then went and saw the falls on the Zam side in mid-August and they were very different perspectives. Got wet both times. One of the best things I did in my whole tour was go "Walking with the Lions" on the Zim side...It was amazing. Arranged from my hotel on the Zam side...We got to pet them as well. I really worry about the conservatory now.
I went to the Victoria Falls hotel and walked by myself (at one point was escorted by a hotel guard) to the entrance of the falls on the Zim side. The hotel is gorgeous, from Out of Africa, but very deserted. On the Zim side, I was more worried about the baboons than people, but that was a year ago.

FYI - if you stay at a hotel in Zam for two nights, you can get a visa waiver...I wasn't on the list at the border, although I was supposed to be, but had emails from my hotel indicating i was staying there so I didn't have to pay the $100 visa fee into Zam.

The walk from Zim side to Zam side took me no more than 30 minutes..wasn't a long line and I went alone and wasn't worried. Watched some young brits bunjee jump from the bridge too. I did have a double-entry visa into/out of Zim.

poosaysmeh

heasereb:

Can you explain further what you mean by the Visa waiver? We will be there in a couple of weeks. Are you saying that if you are only staying for 2 nights you get it waived? How did you get it called in? Is this only if you are staying in Zim and going over to Zam?

Please let me know as much info as you can since that visa fee is a huge chunk out of our budget wallets. Thanks!!

divine54

pooh
the visa weaver has been cancelled. so you have to pay the visa fee.
up until quite recently tourists visiting zam for 14 days or less could get a "visa weaver": the hotel informed the border post and so you didn't have to pay. but as said that's history

poosaysmeh

Awww shucks. I am sure my excitement was pouring out of the screen for that one. I knew the visa fee just went up so it did sound too good to be true.

Thanks for letting me down gently.