REVIEW · VICTORIA FALLS
Zimbabwe & Zambia side Private Guided Tour of the Falls
Book on Viator →Operated by Journey Beyond Nature Safaris · Bookable on Viator
Two countries, one giant waterfall day. This private half-day tour is built around seeing Victoria Falls from Zimbabwe and Zambia, with a guided walk through the misty rainforest so you get up close to the spray, rainbows, and thunderous drop into the gorge. I like the fact that the guide plans multiple viewpoint stops, not just one quick photo stop. I also like the hands-on feel of the experience, with a professional guide walking you through the forest and helping you get the best angles.
The one thing to plan for is weather in the falls. When water is high, mist and water drops can make the view feel blurry and you will get wet. The good news: the guides provide raincoats so you can keep going without turning your day into a soaked disaster.
In This Review
- Key highlights for your Victoria Falls day
- Why seeing Victoria Falls from two countries matters
- What the 6-hour private flow looks like (and why it feels easier)
- Walking through the Victoria Falls rainforest with a guide
- Zimbabwe side viewpoints: what you should budget for
- Zambia side viewing: the second perspective plus another entrance fee
- Price and logistics: where the real cost comes from
- What you’ll actually get from a private guide here
- Season reality check: mist can change your photos
- Who should book this tour (and who should think twice)
- Quick tips to make your falls day smoother
- Should you book this Zimbabwe & Zambia side private Falls tour?
- FAQ
- What does the tour cost and what’s included in the USD 79 price?
- Are the Victoria Falls national park entrance fees included?
- How long is the Victoria Falls Zimbabwe & Zambia side private guided tour?
- Is this a private tour or a shared group tour?
- Do you get a mobile ticket?
- What about lunch?
- What if I’m traveling alone and want hotel pickup?
Key highlights for your Victoria Falls day

- See Victoria Falls from both Zimbabwe and Zambia sides for a second perspective of the same natural spectacle
- Hotel pickup and drop-off included for a smoother start and finish
- Rainforest walk with multiple guided viewpoints so you’re not stuck at just one overlook
- Raincoats provided if the mist and spray are heavy
- Mobile ticket so entry is handled with less fuss than paper tickets
Why seeing Victoria Falls from two countries matters

Victoria Falls is famous for a reason: it’s loud, powerful, and hard to capture in one “standard” viewpoint. Doing it from two sides changes what you notice. From the Zimbabwe side, the falls feel like a sweeping wall of water. From the Zambia side, the approach and viewing angles can make the whole scene feel different, even though it’s the same waterfall system.
This tour is designed around that shift. You’re not just moving across the border for a checkbox. You’re walking through the rainforest and stopping at several places where the view and the experience of the spray change as you move. That’s what makes the guided format valuable: the guide helps you pace the day and focus on what’s actually in front of you rather than what you hope to see.
You can also read our reviews of more guided tours in Victoria Falls
What the 6-hour private flow looks like (and why it feels easier)

This is a private guided tour with hotel pickup and drop-off, running about 6 hours total. The heart of the tour is roughly 5 hours on foot and in the rainforest area, with viewpoint stops along the way. That timing matters because Victoria Falls isn’t just a sight; it’s a walk-and-stand experience. You need time to get comfortable, wait for clearer moments, and move before your legs and patience run out.
You’ll also get a mobile ticket, which is one less thing to track during a busy day. And the tour starts from two people. If you’re booking as a single traveler, there’s an extra USD 30 pickup fee. If you’re traveling as a pair (or group), pickup is included for your group under this arrangement.
Finally, this tour expects a moderate physical fitness level. You don’t need to be an athlete, but you should be ready for rainforest walking and staying steady on your feet near wet areas.
Walking through the Victoria Falls rainforest with a guide
The rainforest at Victoria Falls is not the quiet kind. As you walk, you feel the atmosphere change fast—spray in the air, wet paths in places, and that constant roar that keeps your attention locked in.
This tour takes you through the Victoria Falls rainforest and stops at several viewing points. The description emphasizes feeling the spray, hearing the thundering noise, and seeing rainbows when conditions line up. The guide’s job is more than pointing. A good guided walk helps you understand where to stand for visibility, when to pause, and how to experience the falls without rushing yourself into bad angles.
One practical detail I really appreciate here: raincoats are provided by the guides if you don’t want to get soaked. That turns a potential frustration into part of the plan. The goal is to let you focus on the experience instead of fighting the weather.
Zimbabwe side viewpoints: what you should budget for

On the Zimbabwe side, plan your day around the national park entrance fee. This tour does not include it. The fee is listed as USD 50 per person for the Zimbabwean side.
What you’ll do there is core Victoria Falls viewing from the Zimbabwe perspective, plus time in the rainforest area with guided stops. Because the tour includes both sides, the Zimbabwe park fee is not optional if you want the full route the tour is built around.
In terms of what to expect visually, the falls can look different depending on mist levels. High-season spray can create a soft, blurry look. If you want crystal-clear photos, know that the atmosphere here can work against you. If you’re there for the feeling—the sound, the scale, the rainbow moments—that’s exactly the environment this tour leans into.
Zambia side viewing: the second perspective plus another entrance fee

The big win of this tour is that you get a chance to view the falls on the Zambia side as well. Like Zimbabwe, Zambia has its own national park entrance fee, listed at USD 20 per person, and it is also not included in the tour price.
Zambia side viewing tends to give you that “wait, this looks different” effect. The experience isn’t limited to one overlook; you’re walking and stopping through the rainforest area, which means you get more than a single-frame view of the falls.
Because this tour can involve mist-heavy conditions, it’s smart to think of your first Zambia view as part of the range. If visibility is soft one moment, it can shift quickly. Your guide can help you reposition so you’re not just staring at fog and hoping.
You can also read our reviews of more private tours in Victoria Falls
Price and logistics: where the real cost comes from

The tour price is USD 79 per person and it includes a professional guide, hotel pickup and drop-off, a bottle of water, and the private Victoria Falls tour experience. It also uses a mobile ticket.
But the value question is really about total cost, because entrance fees are separate. Since the tour visits both sides, budget for both park fees:
- USD 50 per person for the Zimbabwean side park entrance
- USD 20 per person for the Zambian side park entrance
So a realistic total to plan for is:
USD 79 (tour) + USD 50 + USD 20 = USD 149 per person, before lunch and any visa-related costs.
That doesn’t automatically make it “expensive.” It can be good value because you’re paying for time, a guide, and private logistics (pickup/drop-off) for a half-day that includes both sides. Where it may feel less worth it is if you’re expecting the tour price to cover everything, or if the mist is heavier than you imagined and you end up with photos that look softer than you hoped.
Also note lunch is optional, not included. If you want to keep spending low, plan to grab something simple on your schedule rather than letting lunch eat your day budget.
What you’ll actually get from a private guide here

A private guide is most worth it at places like Victoria Falls, where the weather can change what you see in minutes. A guide helps you:
- pace the walk so you’re not exhausted too early
- choose stops that make sense given what the falls are doing that day
- stay oriented in the rainforest area
- keep you safe and comfortable when the ground is wet and spray is heavy
Even the included bottle of water is a small but useful detail. It helps when you’re walking near the falls and you need basic hydration without stopping for purchases.
And because this is private, you’re not fighting the rhythm of other groups. If the guide tells you to wait a minute for a clearer angle, you can do it without a crowd pressure situation.
Season reality check: mist can change your photos

The tour experience explicitly includes rainbows and feeling the spray. That’s not marketing fluff; it’s the physical reality of being near the falls. If you prefer a dry, sharp, distant view, this might not match your expectations.
In higher-water periods, the air can carry a lot of droplets. That can blur the scene. It can also make the whole area feel more dramatic and alive. I’d treat this as a “watch and feel” day first, “shoot a perfect photo” second.
The raincoats help a lot. Still, even with rain protection, you should expect some level of wetness around clothing and shoes just from being near the spray. Plan accordingly so you don’t spend the day thinking about drying off.
Who should book this tour (and who should think twice)
This tour fits best if you want:
- a guided, private route with hotel pickup
- to see both sides of Victoria Falls in one outing
- a rainforest walk where the falls are close enough to affect your senses
It may be less ideal if:
- you’re traveling solo and the extra USD 30 pickup fee changes the math
- you strongly dislike getting wet and want a more sheltered viewing experience
- you expect fully clear, far-looking photos no matter the conditions
If you’re a couple or small group, the logistics become simpler. The private format also helps if you’d rather take your time at viewpoints instead of rushing through.
Quick tips to make your falls day smoother
You’ll walk through rainforest and spend time near heavy spray, so set yourself up for comfort:
- wear shoes you don’t mind getting damp
- dress for cool mist even if it’s warm elsewhere
- keep your camera handling simple, since droplets are part of the environment
- accept that rainbows depend on conditions; your guide will steer the timing as best as possible
If you run into mist-heavy visibility, remember this is exactly where the guide’s viewpoint stops matter. The experience is designed for moving with the changing air, not standing in one spot hoping for perfect clarity.
Should you book this Zimbabwe & Zambia side private Falls tour?
I think this tour is a strong pick if you want one half-day that covers both Zimbabwe and Zambia viewpoints with a guide handling the route and timing. The included pickup/drop-off, the private format, and the rainforest walking make it feel like a complete experience, not a rushed sight-seeing stop.
Before you book, do the math honestly: the tour is USD 79, but you should budget roughly USD 149 per person total for both park entrance fees. If that total fits your budget and you’re okay with mist, this is the kind of day that delivers more than a single photo. It gives you the full Victoria Falls atmosphere: the noise, the spray, the rainbows when they happen, and the perspective shift of seeing the falls from two sides.
FAQ
What does the tour cost and what’s included in the USD 79 price?
The tour costs USD 79 per person. It includes a professional guide, hotel pickup and drop-off, a bottle of water, and the Victoria Falls private tour. You also receive a mobile ticket.
Are the Victoria Falls national park entrance fees included?
No. You should budget USD 50 per person for the Zimbabwean side park entrance and USD 20 per person for the Zambian side park entrance.
How long is the Victoria Falls Zimbabwe & Zambia side private guided tour?
The duration is about 6 hours. The guide activity includes walking through the rainforest for around 5 hours.
Is this a private tour or a shared group tour?
It’s a private tour/activity. Only your group participates.
Do you get a mobile ticket?
Yes. The tour includes a mobile ticket.
What about lunch?
Lunch is not included. It’s listed as optional.
What if I’m traveling alone and want hotel pickup?
The pickup arrangement starts from 2 people. If you book 1 person, an extra USD 30 pickup fee applies.



































