Victoria Falls

Currency

Zimbabwe runs on US dollars in practice and the town prices everything in them. Bring small notes — ones, fives and tens — because change is scarce and you will be given sweets or credit instead. Do not accept torn or pre-2013 notes, and do not expect to change them back.

ATMs & cards

Machines are unreliable and often out of cash or out of dollars entirely. Arrive with the cash you need for the whole stay. Cards work at the larger hotels and activity operators but not much else.

Zimbabwe runs on US dollars and the machines are frequently empty. Arrive with small-denomination dollars for the whole stay — ones, fives and tens.

Wherever you are: if the machine offers to charge you in your home currency, decline. That is dynamic currency conversion and the rate is set by the ATM's operator, not your bank.

Safety

The town is small, dependent on tourism and safe to walk by day; take a taxi after dark. Baboons and warthogs wander freely and will take food from your hands — do not feed them and keep doors closed. Elephants sometimes cross the roads at night, which is the actual reason not to walk between lodges in the dark. Malaria prophylaxis is advised.

Our own assessment, not a sourced index.

Entry & visa

Health & emergencies

Required to enter

• Yellow fever certificate if arriving from a country where yellow fever is present

Worth having

• Hepatitis A
• Typhoid
• Tetanus up to date
• Malaria prophylaxis — the Zambezi valley is a malaria area
• Rabies for longer stays
• Cholera for extended rural stays

Getting treated

Limited. Victoria Falls has a clinic and a small private hospital that handle everyday problems and diving or rafting injuries; anything serious means an air evacuation to Harare or Johannesburg. Insurance with evacuation cover is essential rather than advisable, and medicines are frequently unavailable — bring what you need.

Malaria is a real risk in the Zambezi valley and prophylaxis is strongly advised. Do not drink the tap water. Rafting and bungee operators are largely self-regulated, so check what your insurance actually covers before booking.

Orientation, not medical advice. Entry rules change and what you need depends on your own history and where you have been — check with a travel clinic or your national health service four to six weeks before you go.

Food tip

The Boma does a set feast with game meat and drumming, touristy but genuinely good. In town, sadza with relish is the everyday meal and costs a fraction of hotel prices.

Getting around

• Walking — the town, the park entrance and most operators are within fifteen minutes of each other
• Taxi — fixed local fares, agreed before you get in; short hops cost a few dollars
• Border crossing to Zambia — walk or drive the bridge for the Livingstone side and a different view of the falls
• Transfers to Chobe, Botswana — day trips leave early and take about an hour and a half each way
• Airport: Victoria Falls (VFA) is 20 min from town

Must-see

Things to do

• Walk the full rainforest trail in a poncho at high water
• Swim Devil’s Pool in the low season, with a guide
• Raft the Batoka Gorge between August and December
• Take a sunset cruise and watch for hippos
• Cross to Botswana for a day in Chobe

Nearby day trips

Say a few words

Shona

• HelloMhoroMOR-oh
• How are you?Makadii?ma-ka-DEE
• PleaseNdapotanda-PO-ta
• Thank youMaita basama-EE-ta BA-sa
• Yes / NoEhe / KweteEH-heh / KWEH-teh
• Excuse mePamusoroipa-mu-so-ROY
• How much is it?Imarii?ee-ma-REE
• GoodbyeChisaraichee-sa-RYE

English is official and universal in Victoria Falls, but Shona greetings are warmly received and the reply to Mhoro is expected rather than optional.

Religion

Christian

Overwhelmingly Christian, often blended with Shona traditional belief. Sunday services are long and central to community life.

Do's and don'ts

Do

• Greet before anything else — asking a question without a greeting first is genuinely rude
• Take and give with the right hand, or with both hands to show respect
• Clap softly when receiving something or saying thank you; it is the traditional courtesy
• Ask before photographing people, and accept no as the answer

Don't

• Do not photograph government buildings, the presidential residence or anyone in uniform
• Do not discuss national politics with people you do not know well; it can put them at risk, not you
• Do not feed or approach the baboons and warthogs in town, however tame they look
• Do not haggle aggressively over crafts — the margins are thin and the trade is most of the local income