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The best Victoria Falls day tours depend on where you sleep and how much time you have. A guided walk of the Zimbabwe side suits a first visit, and a Livingstone day trip covers the Zambian side. A Kasane day trip suits Botswana-based travelers, and Chobe or Hwange add wildlife for $180 to $290 per person. Prices start at $55, but the headline rate is rarely your final bill.
Most listings mix border crossings, park fees, visas and lunch in different ways, so two tours that look alike on price can differ by $100 or more per person. That makes comparing them harder than it should be.
This article compares five tours by length, cost and inclusions, with worked totals for each. Maximum Adventure Trails has run tours from Victoria Falls since 2019 and books all five. Use the details below to pick one, then confirm current prices on the tour page.
1. Guided walking tour of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
A guided walk of the Zimbabwe side is the core of any guided tour of Victoria Falls. It follows viewpoints with close views of the falls.
What you do
You follow the viewpoints in Victoria Falls National Park with a local guide. The guide explains the geology of the gorge, the history of the area and the legends around Mosi-oa-Tunya, "the smoke that thunders." Our guides are locally trained and know the park well, which matters if you want more than photo stops. Spray soaks the rainforest sections, so carry a light rain jacket and protect your phone.
Price and what is included
The tour fee is listed on the tour page. The park entrance fee is charged separately:
- International visitors: $58
- SADC nationals: $35
Budget the park entrance fee on top of the tour price, because the walk never includes it.
Who it suits
This is the right first stop for first-time visitors who want to understand what they are looking at. It also works as a base for every other tour here. Do it on your first morning, then spend later days on the Zambian side or on wildlife.
2. Livingstone day tour, Zambia side
For Victoria Falls tours on the Zambian side, the Livingstone day tour is a 5-hour guided trip from Victoria Falls. It costs $80 per person.
What you do
You visit the Zambia side of the falls, the Livingstone Museum and the Livingstone market. The Zambian side lets you stand closer to the edge of the gorge when the water is lower. The Zimbabwean side gives the wider panorama. Seeing both gives you the full picture of the falls.
Price and what is included
Two Zambia options are available:
| Option | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Livingstone day tour (falls, museum, market) | $80 per person | 5 hours, children from $40 |
| Day trip to Livingstone and Victoria Falls | From $100 | Taxes included |
The Zambian park entry fee and visa rules depend on your passport, so confirm both when you book. Our team also assists with visas.
Pay $80 for the Livingstone day tour, or from $100 for the day trip to Livingstone and Victoria Falls.
Who it suits
This tour suits visitors who want both sides of the falls and a taste of Livingstone town. A family of two adults and one child pays about $200 on the $80 tour, with the child’s fare starting at $40.
3. Victoria Falls day trip from Kasane
If you are staying in Kasane, Botswana, you can reach the falls in one day. The transport-led trip costs from $55 per person. The version with a licensed guide, lunch and craft markets costs from $150.
What you do
Both trips pick you up from your Kasane hotel or Chobe lodge and handle the Kasungula border crossing in both directions. The $55 trip is 8 hours, leaves at 07:40, and adds a craft market and a Big Baobab stop. It needs a minimum of 2 passengers. The $150 trip leaves at 07:30 and includes a 2.5-hour falls tour with a licensed guide. It also includes lunch and the craft markets, and drops you back at about 17:00.
Price and what is included
| Budget trip | Guided trip | |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $55 | $150 |
| Guide | Driver-guide | Licensed falls guide |
| Lunch | Not included | Included |
| Visa | Not included, $50 single entry | Not included, $30 or $50 |
The budget trip also excludes the park fee of about $58 per adult. For two adults, that is $110 for the trip, $116 for park entry and up to $100 for visas, so $326 before lunch. The guided trip for two is $300 plus $60 to $100 in visas. Confirm whether the park fee is covered when you book.
A $55 headline price becomes roughly $163 per person once park entry and a visa are added.
Who it suits
The budget trip fits travelers who just want to see the falls without handling border logistics. The guided trip suits first-time visitors who want explanation, lunch and a fixed schedule.
4. Chobe day trip from Victoria Falls
Chobe is the best of the day tours from Victoria Falls if you want elephants. It costs from $180 per person and takes about 10 to 11 hours, with transfers included.
What you do
You leave around 07:00 from selected Victoria Falls hotels and cross into Botswana. The day combines a Chobe River cruise with a game drive in Chobe National Park, known for one of the highest concentrations of elephants in Africa. You also see hippo and birdlife along the river.
Price and what is included
- Adults: from $180
- Children under 12: $110
- Included: return transfers from selected hotels
- Not included: visa or immigration fees, where applicable
A family of two adults and one child pays $470 before visas. Book ahead in the dry season, when demand is highest.
Chobe packs a river cruise and a game drive into one day for $180.
Who it suits
This tour suits wildlife lovers who have one spare day and do not want to change hotels. It is a long day with an early start, so skip it if you want a relaxed pace.
5. Hwange full day trip from Victoria Falls
Hwange is the longest and priciest option. It is listed from $270 per person, runs 13 hours, and gives you 7 hours on safari in Zimbabwe’s largest national park.
What you do
The park is 160 km from town, about two hours each way. You take a morning and an afternoon game drive in an open safari vehicle with a professional driver-guide. Lunch is at a scenic point or waterhole inside the park, and bottled water is included. Hwange gives you drives across open savanna, while Chobe gives you water.
Price and what is included
| Traveler | Price per person |
|---|---|
| Adults (12 and above) | $290 in the pricing table |
| Children (5 to 11) | $160 |
The tour is listed from $270, so confirm the current rate when you book. Return hotel transfers are included. Park fees of $24 per person are paid at the gate, and tips and souvenirs are extra. Two adults pay $580 plus $48 in fees, so $628 in total.
Hwange costs the most, but it gives you seven hours of game viewing.
Who it suits
It suits safari enthusiasts who want wild Zimbabwe beyond the falls and can handle a 13-hour day. It is a poor fit for very young children.
Picking the right day tour
Start with the Zimbabwe walking tour, add Livingstone for the Zambian side, and choose the Kasane trip if Botswana is your base. Pick Chobe for elephants and the river, or Hwange for a long game-drive day. Whatever you choose, add the park fee and any visa to the tour price before you compare totals.
When you are ready, browse the individual tours and book your day. Our team is available around the clock to answer questions about timing, borders and what each price covers.
