| Arrival route | Key fact | Planning use |
|---|---|---|
| Fly to Victoria Falls Airport (Zimbabwe) | About 20 minutes from the town centre; direct flights from Johannesburg take about 1.5 hours | Best if you want to stay in Victoria Falls town and reach the falls on foot |
| Fly to Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport (Livingstone, Zambia) | The Zambian arrival point; the Livingstone side has good facilities with a slightly rawer feel | Suits travellers basing themselves on the Zambian side |
| Cross the Victoria Falls Bridge | The border crossing takes 30–60 minutes | Leave a time buffer on any day you change country |
| Drive from Kasane and Chobe | Approximately 80 km via the Kazungula border crossing | Fits trips that start in Botswana |
Distances and crossing times come from a Victoria Falls travel guide, and are typical figures rather than guarantees.
Knowing how to get to victoria falls starts with choosing an airport: fly into Victoria Falls Airport on the Zimbabwe side or Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport at Livingstone in Zambia, then transfer by road. Choose by where you plan to stay.
Fix your dates using the best time to visit victoria falls, then decide how many days in victoria falls you need before booking anything. The falls sit on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe, so your first choice is which country to arrive in.
Choosing your airport
Pick the airport that matches your base, because the falls can be reached from either country but the towns feel different. Victoria Falls town is the tourism hub of Zimbabwe, and Livingstone is its Zambian counterpart.
Victoria Falls Airport, Zimbabwe
Victoria Falls Airport is the simplest option for a short trip focused on the falls. A tour operator describes arriving at the new Victoria Falls International Airport, and the drive into town takes roughly 20 minutes. The town itself is small and walkable, and the falls entrance is a 10-minute walk from the main hotel area, so you can drop the bags and reach the falls without arranging more transport.
That convenience is the main reason to choose it. If you want a compact stay with restaurants and hotels close together, this is the airport to book.
Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport, Zambia
Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport serves Livingstone on the Zambian side. The Livingstone side offers good facilities with a slightly rawer feel, which suits travellers who prefer a less polished base. Because transfer times and prices from this airport vary by provider, ask your accommodation to confirm the transfer and its cost when you book.
If you land here but stay in Zimbabwe, or the reverse, you will cross the border on foot or by vehicle. Allow for that in your plans, as covered in the bridge section below.
Booking the flight
Most international visitors reach Victoria Falls by connecting through a regional hub. Travellers from overseas will in all likelihood fly a connecting flight from Johannesburg or Cape Town, so build your itinerary around one of those two cities.
Airlines and routes to Victoria Falls Airport
Victoria Falls Airport receives direct scheduled flights from Johannesburg, with a flight time of about 1.5 hours. The carriers on that route are South African Airways, Airlink and FlySafair. Connections from Nairobi, Addis Ababa and Dubai are available via regional hubs, which makes the Johannesburg link the practical gateway for long-haul passengers. These details come from the same travel guide used in the table above.
Booking steps
- Choose your base first. Decide whether you will sleep in Victoria Falls town or Livingstone, then book into the matching airport.
- Book the long-haul leg to a hub. Johannesburg and Cape Town are the usual connection points.
- Add the onward flight. On the Johannesburg route to Victoria Falls Airport, compare South African Airways, Airlink and FlySafair for times that leave room to connect.
- Confirm your transfer. Arrange or at least price the ride from the airport before you travel.
Landing and transferring
Allow time at immigration and baggage reclaim, then move straight to your pre-arranged ride. The transfer to the Victoria Falls town centre from Victoria Falls Airport takes about 20 minutes, a figure given independently by a tour operator and by the travel guide cited earlier.
Taxi and shuttle options
Taxis and shuttles are the usual way to reach town, and a hotel pick-up removes the guesswork after a long flight. Agree the fare before you get into any vehicle, and carry US dollars on the Zimbabwe side, where USD is universally accepted and preferred for tourism transactions.
Once you arrive in Victoria Falls town, you will not need a vehicle for the falls themselves. The 10-minute walk from the main hotel area to the falls entrance keeps your first afternoon free of transfers.
Road and bridge arrivals
You can reach the falls by road from Botswana or by crossing between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Kasane and Chobe are approximately 80 km from Victoria Falls via the Kazungula border crossing, so a day trip or onward transfer from Botswana is realistic.
Self-drive cautions
If you drive in Zimbabwe, check fuel availability along your route before setting out. One regional guide warns that Zimbabwe is not particularly reliable in ensuring that gas stations can refuel your vehicle. Fill up when you can and plan stops rather than relying on the next station.
Crossing the Victoria Falls Bridge
The Victoria Falls Bridge spans the gorge between Zimbabwe and Zambia, and the border crossing there takes 30–60 minutes. This matters if you land in one country and sleep in the other. Build in that window rather than scheduling a tight connection, and keep passports easily accessible.
Visa and entry
Entry rules depend on your nationality, so confirm them with the immigration authority of each country before you fly. The KAZA univisa is designed to allow unhindered travel between Zimbabwe and Zambia, which is useful if you plan to cross the bridge during your stay. For eligibility and the process in detail, see our guide to victoria falls visa requirements.
Troubleshooting your arrival plan
- No direct flight that suits. Connect through Johannesburg or Cape Town, the two cities international travellers most often use for the onward leg.
- Landing in the wrong country for your hotel. Plan for the bridge crossing and its 30–60 minutes, or rebook into the airport on your side of the border.
- Unsure about payment on arrival. Carry US dollars for tourism payments in Zimbabwe, where they are widely accepted.
- Planning to drive. Check fuel availability along the route before you depart.
Frequently asked questions
Which airport should I fly into for Victoria Falls?
Fly into Victoria Falls Airport if you will stay in Victoria Falls town, which is small and walkable. Choose Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport if you plan to base yourself in Livingstone on the Zambian side.
How far is the airport from the falls and town?
Victoria Falls Airport is about 20 minutes from the town centre by road. Confirm transfer times for the Livingstone airport with your accommodation or transfer provider.
Which airlines fly to Victoria Falls?
South African Airways, Airlink and FlySafair operate direct flights from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls Airport. Passengers from Nairobi, Addis Ababa and Dubai connect via regional hubs.
Can I arrive by road?
Yes. Kasane and Chobe are approximately 80 km away via the Kazungula border crossing, and you can also cross between Zimbabwe and Zambia at the Victoria Falls Bridge. Check fuel availability if you self-drive in Zimbabwe.
Is a KAZA visa available?
The KAZA univisa allows unhindered travel between Zimbabwe and Zambia. Check eligibility for your nationality before you travel.
