Zambezi River Sunset Cruise at Victoria Falls: Wildlife & Drinks

Watch the Zambezi's animals move at dusk while the sky turns gold

The Riversong is a luxury river cruise on the Zambezi just above Victoria Falls, where you board at the end of the day for a 2.5-hour sunset float. You relax with premium drinks and cold appetizers while elephant, hippo and birds move along the banks and the light shifts across the water. Hotel pickup from Victoria Falls town is included. An English-speaking guide is on board.

Step-by-step itinerary

Sunset cruise on the Zambezi River

• Board the Riversong luxury cruise
• Relax and watch wildlife along river
• Enjoy photographic opportunities of sunset

The experience

The Riversong departs in the late afternoon from a dock above the falls, where the Zambezi still runs wide and calm. You board with a drink in hand and settle into the rhythm of the river as it widens before you. The boat moves slowly enough that you can watch the animals (elephant at the water's edge, hippo in the shallows, birds working the banks) without the noise and dust of a land-based game drive. The spray from Victoria Falls carries across the water on the wind, and the sound of the falls grows closer as the cruise unfolds.

As the sun drops, the light on the water shifts from white to gold to deep orange, and the animals' silhouettes sharpen against the sky. This is when the photographs happen: the elephant drinking as the sun touches the horizon, the hippo's head breaking the surface with the falls glowing behind it. You're not watching from a vehicle or a platform. You're on the water itself, at eye level with what moves along the banks. Cold hors d'oeuvres and your choice of alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks come throughout the cruise, so you can eat and photograph without leaving your seat.

Hotel pickup from Victoria Falls town is included, so you don't need a car or a separate transfer. The guide speaks English and points out the animals and the details of the river as they appear. The cruise lasts 2.5 hours, ending after dark. Note that national park fees of $10 are not included in the price and are paid on arrival at the dock.

What’s included

• Premium alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
• cold hors d'oeuvres.
• coffee and tea.
• hotel pickup and return transfer from Victoria Falls town area.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 15:30 and 16:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupUp to 50

Live guideEnglish

Audio guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 32 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 12

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Shearwater Adventures (Pvt) Ltd

Is this one for you?The included hotel pickup means you don't need a rental car or a separate transfer to reach the dock. Book this if you're staying in Victoria Falls town without your own transport and want to watch the sunset and animals from the water instead of from land.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

What animals will I see on the Riversong cruise?

Elephant, hippo and birds are the wildlife you're most likely to encounter along the Zambezi's banks during the cruise. The slow pace of the boat and the calm water above the falls make it easier to spot them than from a fast-moving vehicle on land.

Does the cruise get close to Victoria Falls itself?

The Riversong operates just above Victoria Falls, so you're on the river as it approaches the edge. The spray carries across the water and you hear the sound of the falls, but the boat does not go over them or into the gorge below.

What time of day does the cruise depart?

The Riversong is a sunset cruise, so it departs in the late afternoon and runs through dusk. The exact departure time shifts with the season to catch the light at its best.

Is hotel pickup really included, or do I need to arrange my own transport?

Hotel and lodge pickup from Victoria Falls town is included in the price, so you don't need a car or a separate transfer. The boat returns you to your accommodation after the cruise ends.