So this is the place I decided not to stay during my Victoria Falls visit, and after stopping by for a few minutes, I’m glad I didn’t. This is very different from Livingstone, in Zambia. Like two different planets. Victoria Falls is definitely built to cater to tourists. The first word that comes to mind is clean. Kind of reminds me of Main Street USA in Disney’s Magic Kingdom 😀 Don’t know why that popped into my head 🙂 It’s pretty. Very quiet. It all felt like something you’re visiting, not a place you’re living. Looked to be filled with restaurants and souvenir shops, mind you quality souvenirs. I know I just walked through the village, but, yes, still sticking to my choice! Viva la Livingstone!
Getting here from Livingstone in Zambia took a lot more time than any of us tourists crossing the border had imagined. After being dropped off (me by a taxi) at the Zambian border post, and going through the emigration process, you have to walk to the Victoria Falls Bridge (650 m), cross it (70 m), and then walk for 1.2 km until you get to the Zimbabwean border post. Here you have to line up twice to get your visa. This takes a while, so be sure to calculate that into time this day trip will take. After visa is in place, there is another 1 km to walk to the village. And then you have to do it all over again. First time I’ve walked across a border, and I need not do it again. At this point I have only one thing to say, my feet hurt!! The mother of all blisters, and her sisters. In hindsight a taxi from the bridge to the Zim border post would have been a good idea. And maybe not do the Victoria Falls site (2.5 km round trip) and a lookout cafe detour into the bush on the same day. Close to 8.5 km in total feels like a bad idea right now!
Hi Bea ,
I follow your blog for a while now and I wanted to react to this article. Soon I will be writing about my stay in Zimbabwe and Zambia at the Victoria Falls and before I went there I already have read this blog of you. I just came back now to read it again because I had the opposite experience when it comes to the 2 towns at the Vic Falls. Livingstone is just dirty to me and far from the falls, you need a cab to get to the bridge where the zipline activities are and to the park entrance to do the different trails at the Falls. The Victoria Falls Village in Zimbabwe is closer, you can actually walk from your Hostel to the vilage and the falls and its cleaner then Livingstone, but it’s not liek Mainstreet in disneyland lol, there is dirty parts as well, close to the railroad it wasn’t that clean but cleaner then Livingstone. Livingstone was better to book activities and it’s cheaper then Zimbabwe, in Zimbabwe they charge you for anything.
Anyway I liked Vic Falls Village better then Livingstone but again I respect your honest opinion and different view about the 2 places.
cheers,
Hi Pol,
Livingstone is definitely a lot «dirtier» than Victoria Falls village, but in this case that translates to me into more authentic and less catering to tourists, and that I prefer. Vic Falls village would have been a nice place to stay too, but for me Livingstone was the best fit. Yes, drawback is Livingstone is fairly far from the falls. I didn’t know that Livingstone was better for activities booking and cheaper. A good thing I stayed there then, because I try to cover as much as possible with my budget 🙂 It’s a good thing we’re all not the same 😀 I hope you had just as a good time at the falls as I did. I imagine you got the falls at full throttle.
Yes indeed, I got the falls at full throttle but I think one day to return there when the water will be at lower level. I will put my Vic Falls posts up probably next week, for now I just posted my Lesotho trip that I did from Durban. Have a good day
Sincerely
Pol
I assume two very different experiences, high and low water level. Would also have loved to experience both, but might not happen 🙂
Thanks for the info! ☺
You’re very welcome 🙂
Good to know!
Glad to help 🙂