Victoria Falls vs Livingstone: what’s the difference?

Both Zambia and Zimbabwe have a settlement near the famous Victoria Falls that lies on their border: the city of Livingstone in Zambia and the town of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Let’s discuss the differences between the two.

If you’re planning to visit Victoria Falls – and everyone should do so once in their lifetime if possible! – then you need to decide if you’re going to stay on the Zambian or Zimbabwean side. Each side has its advantages, which I’ll discuss.

Vic Falls vs Livingstone – two settlements on opposite banks of the waterfall

Victoria Falls (or Vic Falls, as it’s often called) is the small resort town in Zimbabwe that sits more or less alongside the waterfall on its southwestern side. It exists to serve tourists. It takes only a few minutes to walk from town to the main entrance into Victoria Falls National Park, which protects the lion’s share of the waterfall. So it’s lovely that once you’re in the town of Victoria Falls, all you need to get around are your feet.

Livingstone is a bustling, historic city in Zambia located about 10 km (6 mi) north of the waterfall on the eastern side of the Zambezi River. Named after the Scottish explorer David Livingstone, it offers a more authentic African feel, and you can explore its markets and colonial architecture, among other things.

Understanding the different vantage points of Victoria Falls

If you look back to the aerial photo of the falls, you can see that the Zambezi River drops into a wide canyon, called Batoka Gorge. The water quickly meets a wall of rock roughly the same height as the falls, but is able to escape via an outlet in the middle.

The land to the left of the river is Zimbabwe, while the land to the east is Zambia. You can look directly at the waterfall from either side.

The perks of staying in Vic Falls

The Zimbabwean side offers the best or fullest view of the waterfall. More specifically, it gifts you panoramic, head-on views of about 70% of the falls. Importantly, the views from this side are spectacular year-round, even during the dry season (September to December) when water levels drop.

When the river is in full force, the curtain of water flowing over the edge of the falls is about 1.7 km (1 mi) wide, and you enjoy a spectacular view from either country. In the low-flow season (September to December), however, the water dries up on the eastern side first, as that land is slightly higher. Some years, it can become a trickle on that side. So for this reason, most people choose to stay in Zimbabwe if visiting in the dry season.

The Zimbabwean side of the waterfall is protected by Victoria Falls National Park. The rainforest lining the river, which is threaded with footpaths, is not only beautiful but unique, as it receives ‘rain’ (spray) every day of the year, which has led to the development of a singular microclimate.

Beyond the waterfall, Vic Falls is also a great base for a world-class safari. The town borders Zambezi National Park, which is home to the likes of elephants, lions, leopards, hippos, and crocodiles. You can go on classic game drives, guided bush walks, and river cruises.

If you’re interested in visiting the Zimbabwean side of Vic Falls, take a look at the 10 Day Unforgettable Victoria Falls. Also check out the 13 Day Best of Namibia, Botswana and Victoria Falls Safari and 20 Day Cape Town to Victoria Falls Adventure. Or find the full range of tours here.

The perks of staying on the Zambian side

Livingstone is much larger than Vic Falls. If you’re interested in culture and history, it’s a great option of somewhere to stay. That said, most tourists head to the riverside resorts closer to the falls.

The Zambian side of the falls is known as the Eastern Cataract, which many consider particularly beautiful. The spray here is absolutely breathtaking during the high-water season (February to June), and you can get really close by walking onto the pedestrian Knife Edge Bridge. Note that you’ll get absolutely drenched in the wet season if you don’t wear a raincoat!

Another reason some choose the Zambian side is that this is where you find Devil’s Pool. Swimming in the water near the edge of the waterfall is a unique and thrilling experience.

Finally, Livingstone is the hub for adventure activities. You can do microlight flights over the gorge, go white-water rafting on the Zambezi, and swim in the iconic Devil’s Pool right by the edge of the falls.

Keen to visit the Zambian side of the falls? Take a look at the 13 Day Zambezi Small Group Adventure Tour. Also look at the 14 Day Botswana Wilderness Safari, which ends with two nights in Livingstone.

The airports of Victoria Falls and Livingstone

Both Livingston and Vic Falls have international airports on their doorsteps. These make the waterfall a popular start or end point for many travellers doing a Southern African overlanding trip.

Victoria Falls International Airport (VFA) in Zimbabwe is a 20-minute drive from the town and surrounding lodges. It’s a smart airport that can handle large, long-haul planes. The downside is that its flights can be a little costlier in peak season.

Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport (LVI) in Livingstone is a 10- to 30-minute drive from the riverside lodges. It often has more competitive pricing, but generally enjoys fewer direct international and regional airline connections.

Border crossings and the favourable visa situation

While this discussion has so far been centred on the premise of ‘Victoria Falls vs Livingstone’, as that’s what folks often Google in order to decide where to stay, my advice to anyone planning a trip to the waterfall is to visit both sides.

Fortunately, there’s been lots of work in recent years towards creating a collaborative and tourist-friendly transnational region known as the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (or KAZA TFCA). A core aim of this initiative is to encourage travellers to visit more of the five countries centred around the Caprivi and Zambezi, which include Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Consequently, you can purchase a 30-day, US$50 KAZA Univisa, which makes it cheaper and easier to move between Zimbabwe and Zambia. In fact, the Univisa allows for multiple border crossings (though certain caveats apply). So there’s really no reason to miss out on the pleasures of both sides.

Note: This blog post was created in May 2023. It was rewritten in May 2026.