Victoria Falls: Guided tour from Zambia with crafts stop

Summary

Walking the Zambian side of Victoria Falls with a local guide

Step into the misty roar of Victoria Falls on this guided tour from Zambia’s side. You’ll walk shaded paths with a local guide, hear stories behind Mosi-oa-Tunya, watch artists at work in the crafts center, and feel that cool spray on your skin — moments you’ll remember long after you dry off.

What’s the experience like?

I’ll admit, I didn’t expect to get soaked before we even reached the main viewpoint — but that’s what happens when you follow your guide too close to the edge during high water. The spray from Victoria Falls is like walking through a sideways rainstorm, except it smells fresh and earthy, almost sweet. Our guide, Joseph, just grinned and handed me an extra poncho (he must’ve known I’d need it). He grew up in Livingstone and told us how locals call it Mosi-oa-Tunya — “the smoke that thunders.” I tried saying it out loud; Joseph laughed and corrected my accent. I still can’t get it right.

The walk itself isn’t long — maybe two hours if you take your time — but there’s so much going on: monkeys darting across the path, the roar of water so loud you have to shout sometimes, and these little rainbows that pop up in the mist when the sun comes out. At one point I just stopped talking because the view over the Zambezi River was... well, honestly, it made me feel small in a good way. You can see Zimbabwe across the gorge, but most of this side is pure Zambia. Joseph pointed out where 85% of Victoria Falls actually sits on this side — something I never realized before.

After all that noise and water, we ended at a local art and crafts center nearby. It smelled like wood shavings and paint; some artists were carving animals while others wove baskets. I bought a tiny giraffe for my niece (she’ll probably lose it in a week). We had some snacks and bottled water before heading back in our air-conditioned van — which felt weirdly quiet after all that thunder. The whole thing was only a couple hours but I keep thinking about those first few steps into the spray, not knowing what was coming next.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Victoria Falls Tour and Crafts Visit

• Tour Victoria Falls and learn local customs
• Visit local art and crafts center

Top questions

How long does the Victoria Falls guided tour last?

The guided tour lasts about 2 hours from start to finish.

Is transportation included in this Victoria Falls tour?

Yes, private transportation with air-conditioning is included.

Does this tour include snacks or drinks?

Bottled water and snacks are provided during the tour.

Do we visit both Zambia and Zimbabwe sides of Victoria Falls?

This tour focuses on the Zambia side of Victoria Falls only.

Is there a visit to a local crafts market or center?

Yes, after visiting Victoria Falls you’ll stop at a local art and crafts center.

What’s included

Your day includes private pickup in an air-conditioned vehicle from Livingstone or nearby, entry fees for Victoria Falls (Zambia side), bottled water and snacks along the way, plus time at a local art and crafts center before returning comfortably at the end.