Victoria Falls: Zambezi River Dinner Cruise with Pickup

Summary

Evening cruise on Zambezi with chef dinner and river sounds

You’ll float along the Zambezi River above Victoria Falls as evening settles in, sharing a chef-prepared four-course dinner and drinks on board. Watch for hippos with your local guide and soak up sunset colors reflected on the river. Hotel pickup makes things easy so you can just relax into the quiet rhythms of Zimbabwean night.

What’s the experience like?

I still remember how quiet it got once we left the dock near Victoria Falls — just the low hum of the boat and that wide, slow-moving Zambezi River stretching out ahead. I’d expected noise or maybe even music, but it was mostly just water lapping and someone from our group laughing softly about their sunhat blowing off (it didn’t, but it was close). The air smelled different than in town — fresher, almost sweet with a hint of something woody. Our guide, Tendai, pointed out hippos along the bank before we’d even finished our first drink. He said you can sometimes hear them grunting if you’re lucky. We weren’t that lucky, but honestly I didn’t mind.

The kitchen’s tucked right on board, which I hadn’t realized until I caught a whiff of grilled fish and something spicy — maybe peri-peri? The chef came out to chat as he served the starter (I wish I could remember his name; he had this easy smile and made us try to guess what local greens were in the salad). The food felt lighter than I expected for a “gourmet” dinner — just enough so you could keep watching the river without feeling stuffed. There’s wine if you want it, or soft drinks — someone at our table kept asking for more ginger beer and nobody blinked.

Sunset isn’t instant here; it sort of drifts in slowly over the Zambezi. The sky went from gold to this deep blue-purple while we ate dessert (some kind of tart with citrus — sharp and sweet at once). No one rushed us. You could see little boats far off, tiny against all that water. On the way back toward Victoria Falls, people got quieter again — not sad exactly, just full. I still think about that last bit of light on the water sometimes when things get noisy at home.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Dinner cruise on Zambezi River

• Visit Operation Sales and Ticket office
• Cruise on the Zambezi River
• Enjoy gourmet light dinner onboard

Top questions

How long is the Zambezi River dinner cruise?

The cruise lasts approximately 3 hours from start to finish.

Is hotel pickup included for Victoria Falls hotels?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are included for hotels on the Zimbabwe side of Victoria Falls.

Are meals and drinks included during the cruise?

A four-course gourmet dinner is served onboard along with alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, and bottled water.

Can infants or small children join the cruise?

Yes, infants and small children can join and may ride in a pram or stroller.

Is there vegetarian food available?

The menu uses fresh ingredients; dietary needs can be accommodated if mentioned in advance.

Does this tour operate from Livingstone hotels?

Transfers from Livingstone hotels can be arranged for an extra charge; border crossing fees may apply.

Are service animals allowed on board?

Yes, service animals are permitted during the cruise.

What’s included

Your evening includes hotel pickup and drop-off from Victoria Falls hotels (Zimbabwe side), all transfers needed to reach the boat, bottled water throughout the journey, a four-course gourmet dinner prepared by an onboard chef using fresh ingredients, plus alcoholic beverages and soft drinks as you drift along the Zambezi River before returning after sunset.