How Victoria Falls tours differ
You do not need a tour to see the falls. You pay the entrance fee and walk the paths: $58 for the rainforest on the Zimbabwe side, $20 on the Zambia side (2026 figures from published sources). Tours add what you cannot do on foot: flights, the river, a safari in Botswana, the island at the lip of the falls.
Two things change the price more than the activity itself. The first is the fee that sits on top of the base price. Flights add a government fee and fuel surcharge, river trips add a park fee. The second is where the tour starts. Zimbabwe and Zambia are two countries, and crossing between them takes a border post and sometimes a visa.
The examples below come from single operators. They show what one product costs, not a market range. A published offer does not show free seats on your day.
Tour examples compared
Adult prices in USD, 2026. Each row is one operator's product.
| Tour | Length | When | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short helicopter flight | 12–13 minutes | – | $173 plus $37 government fee and fuel surcharge |
| Longer helicopter flights | 22 or 25 minutes | – | $271 plus $50, or $328 plus $50 |
| Microlight from Zambia (price sheet) | 15 or 30 minutes | – | $190 or $380, plus $6 aviation fee |
| Rafting on the Zambezi | 7 hours 30 minutes | Low water August to December, high water January to April | $173 low water, $161 high water, plus $12 park fee |
| Standard sunset cruise | 2 hours on the water, about 3 hours in all | Pickup from 15:30 (1 May to 31 August) or 16:00 (1 September to 30 April) | $59 plus $12 park fee |
| Riversong cruise | – | – | $100 plus $12 park fee, snacks, drinks and local transfers included |
| Livingstone Island walking tour | 1 hour 45 minutes | Walking tours 1 September to end of December | $100 plus $20 heritage fee |
| Chobe day trip | About 10 hours | – | $229, minimum 2 guests |
| Bridge bungee | – | – | $194 |
| Game drive, private reserve (hotel offer) | 4.5 hours with transfers | – | $142 |
| Combo "Classic": helicopter and sunset cruise | About 15 minutes in the air plus the cruise | Offers valid to 30 November 2026 | From $235 |
The flight totals are the sum of the listed parts: $210, $321 and $378 for the three helicopter flights. Rafting and cruise totals add the $12 park fee. Combo prices are "from" prices, so confirm what is included before you pay.
Our picks: tours compared
A short helicopter flight, a microlight flight and a guided tour of both sides of the falls.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Short helicopter flight over Victoria Falls
Hotel transfer and a short flight of 13 to 15 minutes are included. The park fee and tax of $35, tips and photos or video are extra.
Check availability →
Microlight flight over Victoria Falls
The flight over the falls and the hotel transfer are included. A $6 aviation fee per person and a fuel surcharge ($1.85 for 15 minutes, $3.70 for 30 minutes) are extra, as are food, drinks and the flight video.
Check availability →
Guided tour of the falls from Zimbabwe and Zambia
Guides on both sides, water, hotel transfer and rain coats. Park entry is extra: $58 for Zimbabwe and $20 for Zambia, plus food and drinks.
Check availability →Victoria Falls tours and day trips
Flights, river trips, Devil's Pool, Chobe and combos, with live prices and availability.
The tour types in detail
What each one involves.
Flights over the falls
The short helicopter flight lasts 12 to 13 minutes and includes local Victoria Falls hotel transfers. Lodges outside the town cost extra. Children under 3 fly free on a lap, from 3 years the full fare applies, and you cannot pick your seat because of weight distribution. Microlight flights start from Zambia.
Flights compared →Rafting
The full day takes 7 hours 30 minutes, with lunch, drinks, helmet and life jacket. The minimum age is 15, and you climb out of the gorge at the end. Operators close or change routes when the river is too high.
Rafting guide →Sunset cruises
Boats run on the upper Zambezi above the falls. Hippos, elephants and crocodiles are possible, not guaranteed. Premium cruises with dinner are listed at $145 in a 2026 hotel brochure, including fees and hotel transfers.
Cruise guide →Livingstone Island and Devil's Pool
The boat tours cost $149 to $209 per person, depending on breakfast, lunch or high tea and on the price period. Swimming in Devil's Pool is usually possible from late August to late December and depends on the water level.
Devil's Pool guide →Bridge activities
Bungee, swing and slide run from the Victoria Falls Bridge. Bungee is $194, the swing $137 solo or $201 tandem, the slide $58 solo or $82 tandem. Bring your passport.
Bridge guide →Safari and Chobe
The Chobe day trip combines a 3-hour boat trip and a 3-hour game drive with a buffet lunch in between. A separate game drive in the Victoria Falls Private Game Reserve takes 4.5 hours. It is a different place from the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park.
Chobe day trip →Moonlight visits and combos
Moonlight entry costs $116 on the Zimbabwe side and $30 on the Zambia side. A travel site lists the remaining 2026 dates as 25 to 27 October, 23 to 25 November and 23 to 25 December. Combos such as helicopter plus cruise, or microlight, cruise and rafting (from $345), bundle several activities with local Livingstone transfers.
What to check before you book
The small print differs more than the headline prices.
Base price and fees
Ask for the total. A $59 cruise is $71 with the park fee, a $173 rafting trip is $185. Park fees for children can be lower: the cruise lists $3 for ages 3 to 12.
Entrance fees
Falls entrance is usually separate from a tour. A guided falls visit offered to guests of one hotel costs $225 for 3 hours with transfers, and the entrance comes on top.
Country and border
Check which side the tour starts on. German visitors need a visa for Zimbabwe ($30 for 30 days, according to the German Foreign Office), while Germany, Austria and Switzerland are on Zambia's visa-free list. The KAZA Univisa costs $50 and is not a visa for every country in the region. Check the rules with the embassy before you travel.
Visa and practical tips →Age and weight limits
Rafting starts at 15, bungee at 14 (40 to 120 kg), swimming on Livingstone Island at 12. Operators list different limits for the swing, so ask before you book.
Water level and weather
Rafting, Devil's Pool and the view of the falls all depend on the season. Terms for cancellation differ by operator and cannot be carried over. Read them before you pay.
Water levels by month →Plan the rest of your trip
Where the tours fit.
Helicopter and microlight flights
Lengths, prices and fees compared.
Rafting on the Zambezi
Seasons, rapids and safety.
Devil's Pool
Season, tours and age limits.
Chobe day trip
Border, entry rules and what a day looks like.
Sunset cruises
Boats, prices and wildlife.
Things to do
Fifteen experiences beyond the tours.
Victoria Falls tours: frequently asked questions
What is the best tour at Victoria Falls?
That depends on what you want. A flight shows the whole gorge in 12 to 25 minutes, rafting is a full day on the river, a cruise is a quiet evening. The table above compares single examples, not a ranking.
How much do Victoria Falls tours cost?
The examples above range from $58 for a slide on the bridge to $229 for the Chobe day trip, with the helicopter flights from $210 in total. These are single products for adults in 2026, and fees can change the final price.
Do I need to book in advance?
Published offer pages do not show free seats for your date. Some trips need a minimum number of guests, for example 2 for rafting and cruises. Check availability before you plan around a date.
Is there a Victoria Falls safari?
Yes. The Chobe day trip crosses into Botswana for a boat trip and a game drive. A shorter game drive of 4.5 hours runs in the Victoria Falls Private Game Reserve, listed at $142 in a 2026 hotel offer.
Are park fees and transfers included?
It differs by tour. Flights list local hotel transfers, the Riversong cruise includes local transfers, and the cruise and rafting base prices exclude the park fee. Check each offer.
Can I combine several activities?
Yes. Combos from $235 pair a short helicopter flight with a sunset cruise, and a three-part combo with microlight, cruise and rafting starts at $345. Offers listed were valid to 30 November 2026.