Boma Dinner & Drum Show Victoria Falls | A True African Evening

After a day at the falls or on safari, the Boma is how you end it properly. It's not just a restaurant, it's an experience that has been welcoming visitors to Victoria Falls for decades, and for good reason. You arrive to a traditional greeting in four local languages, Shona, Ndebele, Nambiya, and Tonga, and participate in a hand-washing ceremony before sampling traditional beer and snacks as a prelude to dinner.

Then the drums start.

The Boma's famous interactive drumming and dancing show is the highlight of the evening, not a passive performance but something you participate in. By the time the evening is over, most guests have drummed, danced, and eaten things they'd never have tried otherwise.

What Happens at the Boma

The Welcome
Guests are welcomed in the traditional greeting languages of Zimbabwe's four main peoples. A ceremonial hand-washing is performed, a gesture of hospitality deeply rooted in Zimbabwean culture, before traditional sorghum beer and pre-dinner snacks are served.

The Buffet
The Boma's buffet is its centrepiece. It's extensive, generous, and genuinely interesting, a spread that covers both familiar dishes and things you won't find anywhere else:

• Game meats, impala, warthog, crocodile, mopane worms (Zimbabwean delicacy; more popular than you'd expect)
• Traditional Zimbabwean dishes, sadza (maize meal, a staple across Zimbabwe), nyama (grilled meats), muriwo (leafy greens), bean stews
• International dishes, for guests who want something more familiar
• Salads, breads, and accompaniments
• Dessert selection

The buffet operates continuously throughout the evening, take your time, go back as many times as you like.

The Entertainment
Throughout dinner, traditional dancers perform and invite guests to join. The drumming is interactive, you'll be encouraged to try. There is also a Sangoma (traditional storyteller) and a local diviner available for fortune telling for those who want to participate. The entire atmosphere is warm, celebratory, and genuinely engaging.

What's Included & Pricing

✅ Return hotel transfers from Victoria Falls
✅ Full buffet dinner including game meats and traditional dishes
✅ Traditional beer and pre-dinner snacks
✅ Live drumming, dancing and cultural performances
✅ Access to Sangoma storytelling and fortune telling

❌ Tips
❌ Personal purchases

Why the Boma Is Worth It

Most tourists skip the cultural evening and stick to safaris and adventure activities, which is understandable. But the Boma offers something different: an introduction to the people, the food, and the traditions of Zimbabwe that no game drive delivers. It's the only place in Victoria Falls where you'll eat mopane worms, drum alongside Zimbabwean musicians, have your fortune read by a diviner, and be genuinely welcomed rather than simply served.

It's also excellent value. At $70/adult including dinner, drinks, transfers, and entertainment, it's one of the most cost-effective evenings available in Victoria Falls.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to try the unusual foods?
No, but we recommend approaching the game meats and traditional dishes with an open mind. Most guests are pleasantly surprised. The international dishes are always available as a fallback.

What are mopane worms?
Mopane worms are the caterpillars of the Emperor Moth, harvested and prepared as a traditional protein source across southern Africa. They're a genuine delicacy, crispy, savoury, and perfectly edible. Most guests try them; most are glad they did.

How long does the evening last?
Approximately 3 hours, from arrival to return transfer. The timing is relaxed and there's no rush. The Boma is open until late and guests can stay longer if they wish.

Is the Boma suitable for children?
Yes, children enjoy the drumming and dancing especially. Children (5–12 years) pay $30. The food variety means even picky eaters will find something they enjoy.

What should I wear?
Smart-casual. Most guests change out of safari clothes for the evening. The Boma is semi-open air with a warm, atmospheric setting, light layers are useful in the cooler months (May–August).