Choosing the side you sleep on
The falls lie on the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia, so there are two bases. Victoria Falls Town is on the Zimbabwe side. Livingstone and the hotel zone near the falls are on the Zambia side. A third option sits on the Zambezi riverbank upstream of the falls. No side is best or safest in general. They suit different plans.
The name causes a mix-up: "Victoria Falls Hotel" can mean any hotel at Victoria Falls, and it is also the name of one historic hotel in Victoria Falls Town. This page uses it only for that hotel.
This is an independent guide. It lists areas and examples, not room rates or availability, which depend on your dates.
The areas compared
Examples named by their operators. Falls entrance fees are 2026 figures from published sources.
| Area | Example | Location | Falls entrance (adult) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria Falls Town, Zimbabwe | The Victoria Falls Hotel, 1 Mallet Drive | Airport VFA 21 km southeast of the town | $58 for the rainforest |
| Falls hotel zone, Zambia | Avani Victoria Falls Resort, Mosi-oa-Tunya Road, Livingstone | 25 minutes by car from airport LVI, per the hotel | $20 on the Zambia side |
| Upstream riverbank | Tongabezi | 12 km upstream of the falls, per the operator | – |
A Livingstone address is not automatically in the town centre. The hotel zone by the falls is a different place from the town. The operator's figures are distances and drive times, not a walking route.
Tours that include hotel pickup
Flights, river trips and safaris with live prices and availability.
The areas in detail
What each base means for your trip.
Victoria Falls Town, Zimbabwe
The historic Victoria Falls Hotel dates from 1904 and is a hotel by that name, not a label for all stays. The rainforest path and the town's activity operators are on this side. German visitors need a Zimbabwe visa, listed at $30 for 30 days by the German Foreign Office. The same office reports thefts and robberies and advises against walking after dark. Check cash arrangements before you travel, because dollars are widely used next to the local ZiG currency and cards and cash machines are not reliable everywhere.
Zimbabwe side →The Zambian hotel zone and Livingstone
Avani Victoria Falls Resort is on Mosi-oa-Tunya Road in Livingstone, 25 minutes by car from the airport. An information sheet from 2022 described free access to the falls for guests. Conditions may have changed, so ask the hotel what is included. Germans, Austrians and Swiss are on Zambia's visa-free list from 2025, and the currency is the kwacha.
Zambia side →Upstream on the river
Lodges on the Zambezi upstream of the falls sit on the river itself. Tongabezi is described by its operator as 12 km upstream. That is the operator's location, not a road distance or a walking time, so ask about transfers to the falls and to the airport.
Staying on one side and visiting the other
Staying on the other side of the border from the airport or the activity adds border formalities and sometimes visa or transfer costs. The KAZA Univisa costs $50 for up to 30 days and covers Zambia and Zimbabwe plus Botswana day trips. It is not a visa for every country. Check the rules with the embassy before you travel.
Visas and practical tips →Transfer examples from one hotel
A 2026 hotel brochure near Victoria Falls. Per person and way, shared transfer for at least 2 guests, estimated and to be confirmed.
| To | Time | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria Falls airport (VFA) | 22 minutes | $25 | – |
| Livingstone airport (LVI) | 45 minutes | $61 | Includes the bridge levy, visas not included |
| Kasane airport, Botswana | 2 hours | $93 | Visas not included |
These are one hotel's figures, not a public timetable. The transfer to the airport across the border shows how a stay on the other side adds time and cost.
What to check before you book
Questions for the hotel.
Which airport and which country
VFA is in Zimbabwe and LVI is in Zambia. Pick the airport that matches the side where you sleep, or ask for the transfer with the border crossing included.
What the room price covers
Do not assume that falls entrance or park fees are part of the rate. Ask what the hotel includes and what you pay at the gate.
Pickup for tours
Local hotel transfers are listed for some tours, such as the short helicopter flight. Outlying lodges can cost extra. Ask the tour operator before you book.
Tours compared →Season
The water level changes the spray and which activities run. Check the season before you fix your dates.
Best time to visit →Plan the rest of your trip
The sides, the town and the season.
Where to stay at Victoria Falls: frequently asked questions
Is it better to stay in Zimbabwe or Zambia?
Neither is better in general. Victoria Falls Town in Zimbabwe is the base for the rainforest path. The Zambian hotel zone is by the Zambia side of the falls, 25 minutes from the Livingstone airport, according to one resort. Think about your airport, your visa and the activities you plan.
Is the Victoria Falls Hotel the only hotel?
No. The Victoria Falls Hotel is one historic hotel at 1 Mallet Drive in Victoria Falls Town, built in 1904. Many other places to stay exist on both sides.
How far is the airport from my hotel?
VFA is 21 km southeast of Victoria Falls Town. One Zambian resort lists 25 minutes by car from Livingstone airport. A hotel brochure lists 22 minutes to VFA and 45 minutes to LVI for a hotel near Victoria Falls.
Do I need two visas if I stay on one side?
That depends on your passport and on whether you cross. German visitors need a Zimbabwe visa, while Zambia has a visa-free list that includes Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The KAZA Univisa costs $50. Check the rules with the embassy.
Can I walk to the falls from my hotel?
That depends on the hotel, and the operator figures given here are drive times and distances, not walking routes. Ask the hotel how you get to the entrance and whether falls access is included.