Victoria Falls is one of the most iconic sights in all of Africa and even the world! This beautiful sight is one of the seven natural wonders of the world and one of the main reasons why visitors venture to Zambia and Zimbabwe. Not only does it share a border with these countries, but within just a short drive you can find yourself in Botswana and Namibia. Although Victoria Falls is reason alone to travel to this area, the countries of Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Namibia have so much more to offer!
Based on our experiences, research, and recommendations, here are 12 of the best things to experience in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Namibia.
1. Victoria Falls (Zambia / Zimbabwe)
Victoria Falls is one of the seven natural wonders of the world for good reason. It looks like the earth opened up and swallowed the Zambezi River. At 5,604 feet long, Victoria Falls is the largest curtain falls in the world. If there were a “Mount Rushmore” of the world’s waterfalls, Victoria Falls would definitely be one of them! (Based on beauty and popularity I would say the top 4 waterfalls of the world are Victoria Falls, Niagara Falls, Iguazu Falls, and Angel Falls 😁)
Victoria Falls creates the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Both countries offer unique viewing experiences of the falls. We couldn’t decide which side to visit, so we decided to go to both. Since the actual falls are on the Zambia side, Zimbabwe has the most viewpoints. There is a long walking path that offers several incredible views of the falls. We spent two hours walking this path and still didn’t make it to the end! Most people suggest that if you can only choose one side, Zimbabwe is the preferred side to visit. However, Zambia has some of the coolest, most unique viewing experiences. Here, you can walk on the iconic Knife’s Edge Bridge, take a helicopter ride, or swim to the edge of the falls at the famous Devil’s Pool. Livingstone, the largest town in the area, is also located in Zambia, making it the prefered side to stay for many tourists. Either way, you can’t go wrong viewing this incredibly beautiful natural wonder of the world.
Victoria Falls is surrounded with amazing activities. In just a few miles you can bungee jump, white water raft, river cruise, zipline, rope swing, game drive, and countless other options. Two of our favorite activities were swimming in Devil’s Pool and taking a helicopter ride over the falls. (These were so amazing that they deserve their own categories!)
2. Devil’s Pool (Zambia)
One of the things that has been on my bucket list since high school was Devil’s Pool. This is a small, natural pool right on the edge of Victoria Falls. We booked a Livingstone Island Tour to sit on the edge of the falls in Devil’s Pool! The incredible guides even held our feet so we could lean out toward the edge! It is an experience unlike anything else in the world. It is definitely an adrenaline rush and probably one of the most amazing / crazy things Em and I have ever done. Feeling the rush of water fall over the edge of the cliff as we sat on the edge was something that is hard to describe. It was beautiful and slightly terrifying at the same time. But while I was scared sitting on the edge, the fearless guides walked confidently on the edge making sure we got the perfect picture!
With the rushing water and sheer drop, it is definitely important not to panic and swim exactly where the guides tell you to. But thanks to the unbelievable guides, Devil’s Pool is also possible for all ages to experience. In our group we had a family with two 13 year olds and an 11 year old. They were far more fearless than me and made hanging at the edge of a 354 foot waterfall look easy! In the next group, we even saw one of the guides put a lady in her 60’s on his back and swim her out to the pool! Many of the guides running the Livingstone Island Tour have been taking people to Devil’s Pool for 15 years and have always brought everyone safely back! (There are locals who will offer to take you to the falls edge illegally. This is life threatening and illegal. Make sure to book your Livingstone Island Tour with Tongabezi, part of Green Safaris).
Due to the changing water levels, Devil’s Pool is only open between mid-August to mid-January. (These dates can change, so it’s best to go somewhere in the middle. Also if you aren’t a strong swimmer, the beginning to the end of the season has a much stronger current you have to swim through.) We found out afterwards that we were the first group of the season to experience Devil’s Pool! I was so thankful for the fearless and extremely patient guides and that I was finally able to check Devil’s Pool off of my high school bucket list. If you are interested in reading more about our Devil’s Pool experience, click here!
3. Helicopter Ride Over Victoria Falls (Zambia)
Devil’s Pool may be the most thrilling way to see Victoria Falls, but the best and only way to see the entire falls at once is from the air! We booked a helicopter flight with Livingstone’s Adventure. If there is one helicopter flight you are going to take in the world, this is the perfect place to experience it. There is no way to appreciate the sheer size of the falls except through the air. We could see all 5,604 feet of the expansive falls. The mist of the falls and the brilliant rainbows rising out of the water looked like something out of a movie. During our flight, the pilot circled around the falls three times! We’ve experienced helicopter rides around other iconic landscapes and have always only gotten one pass. During our flight we also spotted elephants, zebras, and hippos below! Our pilot was very friendly and made the whole experience a joy. Livingstone’s Adventure is located very close to the falls and has a beautiful waiting location. If you are traveling all the way to see one of the seven natural wonders of the world, it is definitely worth booking the Livingstone’s Adventure helicopter tour! They offer many other tours as well, from river cruises to horseback safaris.
4. Chobe National Park (Botswana)
Chobe National Park is the home of elephants. More than 120,000 elephants call Chobe home! The park gets its name from the Chobe River that separates the border of Botswana and Namibia. The river provides the perfect congregation area for all kinds of animals. During our game drive, we saw countless numbers of elephants, hippos, giraffes, impalas, and other animals drinking and cooling off in the river. We had to stop several times to let elephants or giraffes cross the road. The park is also famous for its large number of active lions. Unfortunately our schedule changed, so Em and I only had 3 hours in the heat of the day for our Chobe game drive (usually the worst time for a game drive). So our expectations weren’t high, but we were blown away by the variety of active animals along the river! We talked with some other visitors who told us that they saw a pride of lions hunting the day before.
We booked with the company Big Sam Hubber last minute and were thankful that we did. They facilitated the game drive and border crossings. We hope to someday be back and spend a few more days in Chobe National Park. Chobe is a must visit for any elephant lover!
5. South Luangwa National Park (Zambia)
Possibly the most popular safari spot in Zambia is South Luangwa National Park. The majority of the wildlife can be found on the east of the park along the Luangwa River. One of the most popular activities of the park are walking safaris. This provides an unique and exciting way to experience the wildlife and terrain. The park can change greatly depending on the season you visit. South Luangwa National Park transforms from dry bushland in the winter, to a flourishing woodland in the summer. There are several different terrains to experience within the 909 square kilometer park. Unfortunately, all of the rhinos have been poached to extinction in this park. However, the park is full of countless other big game animals to see and enjoy.
6. Dune in Sossusvlei / Dune 45 (Namibia)
One of the most photographed areas in Namibia are the Sossusvlei Dunes in the Namib Desert. Located in Namib-Naukluft National Park, the massive red sand dunes make for a unique photo opportunity. One of the most famous locations in the park is Dune 45. Chances are, if you’ve seen a picture of Sossusvlei, it’s of Dune 45. If you are adventurous enough, you can even hike up the towering 550 foot tall pile of sand! Although not as famous, at over 1000 feet tall, the tallest dune in Sossusvlei is aptly named Big Daddy Dune. Another popular photo location in the park is Deadvlei. This large clay pan is famous for its white ground, dead camel thorn trees, and red dune background. Sossusvlei is at the top of our list if we ever make it back to Namibia!
7. Etosha National Park (Namibia)
Located in the northern part of Namibia, Etosha National Park is possibly the most popular game drive location in Namibia. The park is centered around the giant Etosha salt pan. The white salt floor makes it look like the animals are walking on another planet! It stands out from almost any other big game park in the world. A positive and a negative about Etosha is that it is very remote. This makes it very difficult for travelers to get to. However, its remote location has helped preserve it from tourists. It is widely regarded as one of the best game parks in southern Africa. So if you are able to get there, Etosha National Park is a unique, beautiful national park that seems virtually untouched!
8. Okavango Delta & Moremi Game Reserve (Botswana)
The Okavango Delta is one of the largest inland deltas and is full of incredible scenery and wildlife. The Okavango River floods over into the Kalahari Desert, making it a unique haven for a wide variety of wildlife. Due to the large amount of water, the Okavango Delta is a great place to experience a boat safari. We talked with a family who went on a boat trip and were chased by a hippo! The Okavango Delta is located west of Chobe National Park, making it an ideal stop on a Botswana safari. One of the best places to see wildlife in the delta is at Moremi Game Reserve. Here you can see thousands of different animals crowded around the floodplains and lagoons. Every few miles, the terrain changes dramatically. This area is at the top of our list to visit if we make it back to Botswana!
9. Matopos National Park (Zimbabwe)
Matopos National Park is most well known for its balancing rocks and rhino walks. If you’re a fan of precariously balanced rocks or building cairns, then Matopos National Park in Zimbabwe is the place to visit. All throughout the park are teetering stacks of rocks that were formed by erupting molten rocks. Another highlight of the park are the famous safari walks where you can get up close and personal with white rhinos! Although Em and I haven’t visited Matopos, we did a safari walk in Swaziland where we saw white rhinos. It was definitely an unforgettable experience that is a definite must-do if you have the opportunity.
10. Hwange National Park (Zimbabwe)
The largest national park in Zimbabwe is Hwange National Park. It is also one of the best places in the country to go for a safari. Sharing the border with Botswana, Hwange is located close to Chobe National Park and Victoria Falls. The location and abundant wildlife make Hwange National Park a very popular safari park. With over 100 different mammal species, Hwange has one of the most diverse wildlife in southern Africa. Like Chobe, Hwange is home to one of the world’s largest herds of elephants. But there are also plenty of other animals to see in this incredibly populated park.
11. Stone Rock Paintings of Tsodilo (Botswana)
Southern Africa is full of incredible national parks and diverse wildlife. But another unique thing to do in Botswana is visit the Tsodilo Rock Art. The rocks are adorned with white and red ancient paintings from the Bantu and San people. Some of the paintings have been dated to be up to 24,000 years old. Because of the 4,000 paintings, Tsodilo Hills have been nicknamed “The Louvre of the Desert.” The hills are divided into four main areas: Male Hill, Female Hill, Child Hill, and North Hill. The paintings are among some of the most unique and best preserved ancient paintings in the world!
12. San Bushmen (Botswana) or Himba People (Namibia)
One of the best experiences in southern Africa is visiting the local tribes. Many of these tribes have thousands of years of history and tradition. One of the most popular tribes to visit are the San Bushmen. There are currently more than 100,000 San peoples located in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Angola, and Zimbabwe. Because of this, there are several different places and different ways to meet the San peoples. However, the largest population currently resides in Botswana. The San people are hunter-gathers, who have mastered living in the African bush. We would love to get to meet some of these incredible natives and learn more about their culture and traditions.
Another native people group is the Himba in Namibia. There are currently around 50,000 Himba people living in northern Namibia and southern Angola. These semi-nomadic people have remained relatively uninfluenced by the outside world. Himba measure wealth in terms of cattle and still practice many ancient traditions.
As with visiting any native tribe, it’s important to do your research beforehand. The San and Himba are often found in remote locations and take some work to reach. It’s important to find a good tour company who has a good relationship with the tribes so as to avoid making the natives feel like they are part of a human zoo. But if done right, visiting these incredible native people groups is an excellent way to meet some amazing people and get to learn a little more about their culture and traditions.
How We Got Around
The way that we were able to see and do so much in a short amount of time is thanks to Dewclaw Eco Tours and Safaris. Dewclaw is a one-stop-shop for tours and adventures in Zambia and beyond. Lacken, the owner of Dewclaw, has many years of experience in safaris. They have an amazing team to help coordinate your dream vacation. Located in Livingstone, Zambia – the tourism capital of the country – Dewclaw coordinates countless adventures, from rhino walks to mobile camping safaris. Some of their most popular tours are: Victoria Falls guided tours, local village tours, game drives, and more. If you’re interested in an adrenaline rush, Dewclaw also arranges bungee jumps, helicopter rides, rappelling, white water rafting, and the famous Devil’s Pool swim. Pretty much anything you can think of, Dewclaw can arrange to visit.
We loved our time in Livingstone, Zambia. There is so much to see and do in the area and surrounding countries. If you are looking to book a trip to Africa and want to see one of the seven natural wonders of the world, go on a safari, walk with rhinos, or swim in Devil’s Pool – Livingstone, Zambia is an incredible place to start!
