Victoria Falls is the adventure capital of Africa , as well as one of the beautiful waterfalls in the world. Although it is a very small town, there is plenty to see and do here. Most people will easily fill three to four days here. This guide has been prepared to help you get the best out of your time at Victoria Falls .

ZIMBABWE VISA’S
It is cheaper to buy your Zimbabwe Visa on entry to Zimbabwe at Immigration, than to buy it before you leave. Visa’s can only be paid for in US$ cash, no traveller’s cheques or credit cards are accepted.

AIRPORT TRANSFERS: We can organize transfers to and from Victoria Falls or Livingstone Airport ’s.
Victoria Falls Airport ( Zimbabwe side) to/from town $20 per person
Livingstone Airport ( Zambia side) to/from Victoria Falls town $30 perperson
Email your name, flight details and arrival airport to adventure@bukima.com. We will send you confirmation of your transfer.

WE OFFER EXTRA ACCOMODATION PRE AND POST TOUR: If you would like to book extra accommodation with us just email adventure@bukima.com.

Shoestring Backpackers	A two minute walk from the centre of town. Has a bar and swimming pool. Your Driver will be staying here from the day before the tour begins. Please let them know when you arrive. The 'Booze Cruise' is usually on the evening before departure. Dorm Room: approx USD10.00 pp / Doubles with en-suite approx USD20.00 / camping approx USD5.00	12 West Drive. Victoria Falls Town. 00-263-(0) 11800731 sstrings@mweb.co.zw
Hotel Mecure Rainbow	3 star hotel in central Victoria Falls . Ensuite rooms, Aircon, Satellite TV in all rooms, In room safe, large pool. Bed and Breakfast rates. Single room US$100 Double/Twin Room US$130	Hotel Mecure Rainbow 278 Parkway Drive Victoria Falls +263 13 44583

Some activites take place on the Zimbabwe side of the Falls and some on the Zambia side. Transfers routinely cross the border as people move to and from the different activities. Most Zambia activities include a Zambia Day Visa and transfers across the border. In some cases you need to add money on to the price of the activity to cover the price of the day visa to Zambia . If you are doing a Zambia activity you will need to take your Passport.

Backpackers Bazaar - Victoria Falls Booking Office is located in Shop 5, Old Vic Falls Centre, Victoria Falls . This is in the same block as Wimpy’s which you will find on the corner of Livingstone Way and Park Way Drive. Phone 011 404 960 or 013 44611. For pre-booking of any activities.

 
VICTORIA FALLS ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES  

ACTIVITY	DURATION	COST	NOTES	PAYMENT
Victoria Falls Zimbabwe	1-2 hours	$20	No need to book, Just walk down to the entrance on Livingstone way.	$US Cash only
Rafting Zambia	Full day	$110	Includes Zambia Day Visa, breakfast, lunch, dinner, transfers, park fees and a VCD of the days rafting	Visa , US $ cash or TC’s Only. No MasterCard or Amex
Raft/River board Combo Zambia	Full Day	$135	Includes Zambia Day Visa, breakfast, lunch, dinner, transfers, park fees and VCD of the days rafting	Visa , US $ cash or TC’s Only. No MasterCard or Amex
Lion Walk Zimbabwe	½ day morning or afternoon	$100	Zimbabwe side of the falls. Includes transfers and snacks.	US cash or TC’s only, no credit cards accepted.
Tandem Sky Dive Zimbabwe	Morning	$250	Includes a DVD of your jump.	Visa , US $ cash or TC’s Only. No MasterCard or Amex
Adrenalin Day (High wire, Abseil, Rap Jump, and Gorge Swing) Zambia	Full Day or Half day	$100 Full day $80 Half day	Includes transfers, day visa for Zambia , lunch and drinks. (No lunch for half day)	Visa , US $ cash or TC’s Only. No MasterCard or Amex
Bunji Jump On Zimbabwe/Zambia Border	One hour	$75 Single $120 Tandem	111 metres 2nd highest commercial bunji in the world... Tandem jump can not weigh more than 145 kilos between you.	Visa , US $ cash or TC’s Only. No MasterCard or Amex
Horse back Safaris Zimbabwe	2-3 hrs am or Pm	$45 novice $55 experienced	Longer rides available on request.	US cash or TC’s only. No credit cards accepted.
Elephant Ride Zimbabwe	Morning or afternoon	$100	Includes transfers snacks and drinks	US Cash or TC’s only. No Visa or MasterCard
Micro light Flight over the Falls Zambia	15 or 30 minute flight plus one hour for transfers	$80 -15 min $140 - 30 min	You need to pay a $10 Zambia day Visa if doing this activity from the Zimbabwe side.	Visa , US $ cash or TC’s Only. No MasterCard or Amex
Zambezi River Cruise Zimbabwe or Zambia	Sun downer cruise approx 3 hrs	$30	Includes transfers drinks and snacks	US cash or TC’s only, no credit cards accepted.
Canoe Safari Zimbabwe	Full Day or Half Day	$85 Full day $75 Half day	Includes transfers, breakfast, lunch, refreshments and park fees	US cash or TC’s only, no credit cards accepted.
Wine Route Canoe Safari Zimbabwe	Afternoon 3hrs on the Zambezi	$55	Includes snacks, Local wines and beers	US cash or TC’s only, no credit cards accepted.
Tiger Moth Flight over the Falls Zambia	20 minutes plus 1 hour for transfers	$115	You need to pay a $10 Zambia day Visa if doing this activity from the Zimbabwe side.	Visa , US $ cash or TC’s Only. No MasterCard or Amex
Helicopter flight over the Falls Zimbabwe	15 minute flight plus 1 hour for transfers	$85 - 15 mins $170 - 30 mins		Visa , US $ cash or TC’s Only. No MasterCard or Amex

CHANGING MONEY IN ZIMBABWE There are two rates of exchange for money in Zimbabwe . Wait to you arrive at the Lodge to get current advice on changing money, including how much you need to change and what the current rates are. We highly recommend that you pre organize an airport transfer with us, or if making your own way pay your Airport Taxi in US dollars cash. A number of passengers have been fleeced between the airport and the lodge. Do not change money on the street! Only change what you need as inflation is at 1000% and the currency is not accepted for change in other countries. The best and really only currency to bring for Zimbabwe is US dollar cash. Do not rely on credit cards or Travellers Cheques; Cash is King in the Falls.

 CREDIT CARDS We advise you not to use your credit card or debit cards while in Zimbabwe unless you are paying for activities in Zambia . Zimbabwe is the only county that we travel through which has a parallel market for foreign exchange. This means that if you use your credit card it may end up costing you double or triple than if you had paid in US dollar cash or Travellers Cheques. For the adventure activities we have posted advice in the bookings table where you can pay safely by credit card (Visa Only). These are charged directly in US dollars in Zambia with no exchange rate penalties applied.

MALARIA There is Malaria in the Victoria Falls area. Make sure you consult your doctor for Malaria prophylactics before you come to the area and make sure you take them as prescribed. Remember to use mosquito repellent and cover up in the evenings.  

WEATHER Rains - November to March/April Coolest season - June to August, bring something warm for the nights Hottest season - September to November  

CRIME Take sensible precautions as you would any where in the world. Lock your valuables in the Hotel Safes, and don’t walk around with flash gear and valuables. We do however recommend that you do not walk at night rather make use of the many cheap taxis around town.  

DEPARTURE POINT Shoestring Backpackers.  Please see above. Please be here by 9am on day of departure.

OTHER THINGS TO SEE AND DO!   GOLF COURSE – 18 hole Course at the Elephant Hills Hotel, beautiful course with occasional wildlife– Clubs and carts for hire. Best to ring and book phone 013 44795.

CRAFT VILLAGE/TRADITIONAL DANCING SHOW – Turn left at the post office approx $25 for the traditional dancing show in the evening.

FISHING SAFARIS – Ahalf day fishing on the Zambezi for Tiger Fish and Bream.

CURIO MARKET – On the road down to the falls and border you will see the Vic falls post office on your left. Turn down this road and approx 700m down this road is the craft market.

VICTORIA FALLS HOTEL – HIGH TEA - From 3-5pm , Beautiful colonial hotel built 1907 with a lovely view of bunji bridge and falls. 3 tiers of cakes and scones and cucumber and salmon sammies, quite pleasant indeed!

THE BIG TREE – An enormous Baobab Tree on Zambezi drive – part of the walk along the river – sometimes you will find game down this road so be very careful. Turn down the road before the Victoria Falls entry or opposite Inyathi campsite on Parkway.

VICTORIA FALLS AQUARIUM – Large fresh water aquarium with a wide variety of species found in the Zambezi river, best viewing times between 11 and 1. Entry $5.

THE CASINO – At the Kingdom Hotel – slot machines all day, Blackjack and Roulette after 8pm .

CROCODILE FARM – Various animals to see other than crocodiles (lions, leopards) a small museum and videos shown during the day. Tea garden. Entry approx $5. 10 minutes from town on Park Road .

SUNSET DRINKS – The Safari Lodge approx 10 minutes from town (on Parkway road) has a beautiful viewing area overlooking a watering hole. Fabulous sunset views, cold drinks and good bar snacks make this one of the most popular places for African sundowners.

SHOPPING – Elephants walk, The Landela Centre on the main road, Victoria Falls Curio Market.

SUPERMARKET – SPAR is the biggest supermarket in town in the car park behind Shearwater. The next road up the hill from Park Way .

VICTORIA FALLS HOTEL – high tea on the terrace is recommended in the afternoons, very flash buffet at night in the Jungle Junction Restaurant. The hotel is worth a look at just for its ambience and grounds. Food is expensive though and you must be reasonably dressed. Ph 013 44203.

THE BOMA – Very nice buffet dinner with indigenous food, game meats and traditional dancing and drumming class in a nice location. Approx 10mins out of town at the Safari Lodge. Approx $30 per person, bookings essential, PH 013 43238

VICTORIA FALLS – MOSI OA TUNYA – THE SMOKE THAT THUNDERS   Pleas note if you are visiting the Falls please put your camera in a plastic bag and you passport in the hotel safe. During certain times of the year the spray from the falls is massive and your cameras and documents may be ruined.  

• You can view the falls from the Zambian and Zimbabwe sides.
• The falls are approx 1.7 km wide and 110m deep.
• The highest flow is in April/may and the lowest in December/January.
• Around 550 million litres of water flow over the lip of the falls every minute, this increases to 750 million litres in peak flow sending clouds of spray up to 500m in the air.
• The world’s largest sheet of falling water.
• The Zambezi is Africa ’s fourth largest river at 3540km.
• The falls are a World Heritage site.
• David Livingstone reported the falls to the outside world as “ a sight so beautiful it would make angels weep in flight” he arrived here in November 1855
• The railway arrived in 1904 as part of the Cape to Cairo route.
• The bridge opened in 1905,
• Victoria Falls hotel built in 1905, guests used to be pushed in carts to the falls.
• Zimbabwe side – The entrance to the falls is $20 which must be paid in US cash or a US dollar 20 travellers cheque (no change available).
• Zambia side –Entry to the park on the Zambia side is $10. If you are coming from Zimbabwe you must add a day visa for Zambia at $10.

ANY QUESTIONS?

We hope this information enables you to get the best out of your stay, If you have any questions please email us at adventure@bukima.com and we will do our best to help you.