Waterfalls in Zambia

Zambia holds the eastern end of Victoria Falls, where the Zambezi drops around 108 metres along a 1.7-kilometre basalt lip; from Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, just outside Livingstone, paths and the Knife-Edge Bridge lead across the gorge into the spray. In the dry season the Zambian side can thin almost to bare rock, but low water is also when Livingstone Island and the Devil's Pool, a rock pool on the very edge of the falls, open to visitors. Kalambo Falls, on the Tanzanian border near Lake Tanganyika in the far north, is a single drop of well over 200 metres into a deep gorge, among the tallest uninterrupted falls in Africa, and its riverbank has yielded worked timber dated to at least 476,000 years ago, the oldest known wooden structure.

When to go

The Zambezi peaks from about February to May, often highest in April; the falls are loudest then, but spray can hide the view and soak the paths. June to August still brings strong flow with clearer views. From September to December the Zambian side can shrink to a few streams, but low water is when Devil's Pool opens. Kalambo is best at the end of the rains, around April to June.

Getting around

Livingstone's Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport has flights from Johannesburg and Lusaka, and the falls are about 10 kilometres from town by taxi or hotel shuttle; the Zimbabwean side is a walk across the Victoria Falls Bridge. Kalambo is remote: Mbala, the nearest town, is a long drive north from Lusaka, and the final 33 kilometres to the falls are rough going, best tackled in a 4x4.

Entry requirements

US, Canadian, UK and EU citizens can visit Zambia visa-free, generally for up to 90 days a year for tourism. If you plan to cross to the Zimbabwean side of Victoria Falls, the KAZA UniVisa (US$50, 30 days, available online or on arrival) covers both countries plus day trips into Botswana via Kazungula.

Entry rules checked September 2026. They change without much notice — confirm with the official government source before you travel.