Victoria Falls: 3-Day Safari, Dinner Cruise & Game Drive

Three days at Victoria Falls: river, rainforest, and the African night

You arrive at Victoria Falls airport and are picked up for a same-day dinner cruise on the Zambezi River with meals prepared by an executive chef. Day two includes a guided tour through the Victoria Falls rainforest and a late-afternoon game drive through Nakavango Private Game Reserve with a 3-course bush dinner at sunset. You stay at Dzimbahwe Guest Lodge both nights, and the driver returns you to the airport on your departure day, timed to your flight.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and Dinner Cruise

• Arrive at Victoria Falls Airport
• Transfer to accommodation
• Meet driver-guide at 16:00
• Enjoy Zambezi River dinner cruise

Day 2: Falls Tour and Night Game Drive

• Pick up at 8:30 am for falls tour
• Explore Victoria Falls rainforest and cliffs
• Drive to private game reserve at 16:00
• Late afternoon game drive until sunset
• Enjoy drinks and snacks at vantage point
• Night spotlight game drive
• Have 3-course BBQ bush dinner

Day 3: Departure Transfer

• Breakfast at accommodation
• Transfer to Victoria Falls Airport

The experience

You land at Victoria Falls International Airport and within hours you're on the Zambezi River. The driver meets you at arrivals, handles the timing around your flight, and by 4 p.m. you're boarding for the dinner cruise. The mist from the falls reaches you even on the water. That's the first thing you notice, how close it actually is. An executive chef has prepared the meal, and the waiters move steadily across the deck as the light changes. You eat while floating past one of Africa's largest waterfalls, which is the kind of detail that stays with you.

Day two starts early. At 8:30 a.m. your driver-guide picks you up from Dzimbahwe Guest Lodge, which sits 3 kilometers from the falls themselves. The guided tour takes you through the Victoria Falls rainforest to the cliffs on the opposite side of the cascade. You walk the actual landscape, not just look at it from a distance. Then at 4 p.m. you head out again, this time to Nakavango Private Game Reserve, about 7 miles from town. The 4x4 vehicle is open-sided, which means you're exposed to the landscape as it changes: basalt plains, then Kalahari sands, then teak forest. At sunset you stop at a vantage point with drinks and snacks, and when dusk comes the spotlight goes on. That's when you see what moves in the African bush at night. The 3-course BBQ dinner comes with wine, beer, and the kind of quiet that only happens when you're far from a town.

On the final morning, the driver returns you to the airport on your schedule: pickup happens two hours before your flight departs, so there's no guessing or rushing. Three days, and you've seen the falls from the water and the forest, eaten under the open sky twice, and watched the bush shift between daylight and dark.

What’s included

• Airport pickup and drop-off timed to your flight.
• two nights at Dzimbahwe Guest Lodge.
• Zambezi River dinner cruise with meals prepared by an executive chef.
• guided tour of Victoria Falls rainforest.
• late-afternoon and night game drive in a 4x4 vehicle through Nakavango Private Game Reserve.
• 3-course BBQ bush dinner with wine, beer, and refreshments.
• driver-guide throughout.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day18 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 14:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 5 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 6 days before the start.Between 2 and 6 days before the start, 50% refund.After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 88

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessiblePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Cuckoo Safaris

Is this one for you?Book this if you want the main Victoria Falls experiences (the falls, the river, the bush at night) without arranging transport, accommodation, or timing between stops yourself. The fixed schedule fits everything into three days, and the airport pickup removes the uncertainty of getting from the airport to your first activity.

Traveler reviews

4.75★★★★★★★★★★

4 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What time does the dinner cruise depart on day one?

The driver picks you up from your hotel at 4 p.m. for the Zambezi River dinner cruise.

How far is Nakavango Private Game Reserve from Victoria Falls town?

The reserve is approximately 7 miles from the center of town.

What vehicle is used for the game drive?

An open 4x4 vehicle, which allows you to see the landscape and wildlife from all sides.

Is the guided falls tour included on day two?

Yes. You're picked up at 8:30 a.m. for a guided tour through the Victoria Falls rainforest to the cliffs opposite the cascade.

Where do you stay during the 3-day tour?

Dzimbahwe Guest Lodge, located 3 kilometers from Victoria Falls.

What meals are included?

Dinner on the Zambezi River cruise (day one), a 3-course BBQ meal at the bush dinner (day two), and snacks and drinks during the sunset stop on the game drive.

How is airport transfer arranged?

The driver picks you up at Victoria Falls International Airport based on your flight arrival time, and returns you two hours before your departure flight.

Can you see wildlife on the game drive?

Yes. The late-afternoon and night game drive uses a spotlight at dusk to show animals active in the African bush after dark.