The 15 Best Boat Trips on the Zambezi

1.Dinner Cruise on the Zambezi River

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 925 reviews · 3 hours · from $110Our pick

Set out from Pure Africa Waterfront for three hours on the Zambezi aboard the Zambezi Breeze. You get sunset views, assigned seating, a freshly prepared four-course or six-course dinner, included drinks, and chances to see hippos, elephants, crocodiles, birds, and other wildlife. Hotel pickup is available within 5 km of Victoria Falls Town in Zimbabwe.

“Dinner was fantastic with a choice of beer, wine and spirits. Staff were all lovely and worked hard to keep everyone happy. A truly wonderful experience along the Mighty Zambezi River.”

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2.Dinner Cruise on the Zambezi River

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 518 reviews · from $92Top rated

Set out at 5:00 pm from Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, for about three hours on the upper Zambezi. You will watch sunset, spot possible hippos, elephants, crocodiles, and see mist from Victoria Falls while enjoying a four-course dinner, unlimited drinks, and hotel transfers. The boat takes up to 50 people.

“I have to say the cruise staffs hadn't prepared enough! It was a raining night and rain came into the cruise. It made some tables wet. And the staff refused to block it with equipped curtain because it will block the air current! The most ridiculous reason I've ever heard!”

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3.2-Hour Luxury Zambezi River Sunset Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 303 reviews · 2 hours · from $69

You’ll leave your Victoria Falls hotel for a two-hour Zambezi sunset cruise with drinks, canapés, and English-speaking crew. Choose the refurbished Luxury Deck or upgrade to the Signature Deck for a quieter upper-level setting, cocktails, premium drinks, and gourmet hors d’oeuvres. Wildlife sightings may include hippos, elephants, crocodiles, birds, and antelope.

“Fabulous sunset cruise on a beautifully comfortable boat. Staff were great, plenty of canapés & drinks. Even catered for gluten free. Saw a host of different game. Very happy with our choice of the signature deck.”

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4.Dinner Cruise on the Zambezi River, Victoria Falls

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 162 reviews · from $90

Cruise the Zambezi above Victoria Falls from about 4:30 pm, heading toward the falls before turning back for sunset. You’ll have a four-course dinner, wine, beer, soft drinks, coffee, and water aboard a small boat for up to 20 people. Hotel pickup from Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, is included.

“A very enjoyable evening sailing on the Zambezi River. The staff were friendly and attentive, the food was excellent, and the atmosphere was spectacular. I highly recommend this.”

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5.Sunset Cruise on the Zambezi River

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 151 reviews · from $92

Spend about two hours on the upper Zambezi River near Victoria Falls, with hotel pickup from Zimbabwe lodges, drinks, freshly prepared canapés, sunset views, birds, and possible sightings of hippos, elephants, crocodiles, and other wildlife. This is a relaxed sunset cruise, not a dinner cruise.

“Very good service, nice view from the boat ( incl. hippos and elephants playing and swimming in the water), awesome sunset!”

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6.Sunset Cruise and Dinner at The Eatery

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 137 reviews · 4 hours · from $110

Spend four hours on a sunset cruise aboard the Zambezi Explorer, with canapés, drinks, river wildlife, and views toward Victoria Falls. Then dine at The Eatery beside the Zambezi. Pickup is included from Victoria Falls hotels within 5 km, but Zambia-side transfers and the $12 park fee cost extra.

“Beautiful experience with Pure Africa Company that made on of our afternoons unforgettable!”

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7.Zambezi River Relaxing Sunset Boat Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 124 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $70

Set out from Victoria Falls for a 2.5-hour sunset cruise on the upper Zambezi. Expect hippos, crocodiles, elephants, birds, river views, snacks, and an open bar, with friendly crew and hotel transfers included. The boat also gives you views toward the mist of Victoria Falls.

“Unfortunately the weather wasn’t great, but the guide explained a lot about the Zambezi. No music playing, so a rather peaceful experience. Snacks are a few, drinks are unlimited.”

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8.Sundowner Cruise on Zambezi River (Zimbabwe)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 58 reviews · from $55

Set out from Victoria Falls for a two-hour sunset cruise on the Zambezi. You will have local-brand drinks, soft drinks, finger snacks, and hotel pickup included. The usual boats include the Finfoot and African Queen, with a maximum of 40 people. Expect calm river views, wildlife watching, and sunset rather than a view of Victoria Falls itself.

“This was a relaxing cruise and we got the chance to see some animals and enjoy a beautiful sunset. However, it wasn’t clear when booking that you don’t actually see Victoria Falls during the cruise. Additionally, I would be careful booking thrRead more”

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9.Zambezi River Sunset Cruise, from Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 48 reviews · from $66

Cruise the Zambezi for about two hours aboard the Zambezi Explorer, with hotel pickup, an open bar, bottled water, and passing plates of snacks. Choose the standard boat or pay more for the upper deck. Expect sunset views, river scenery, and a chance to spot hippos, elephants, crocodiles, zebras, or monkeys, though wildlife is never guaranteed.

“Beautiful setting, friendly staff, abundant wildlife, topped off with plentiful snacks and drinks. Well worth it!”

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10.Luxury Sunset Dinner Cruise with 4-Course Meal

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 46 reviews · 3 hours · from $140

You’ll be picked up in Victoria Falls and taken to the Zambezi River for a three-hour evening cruise aboard the Zambezi Breeze or Zambezi Reflections. An English-speaking guide and captain lead the trip, while the crew serves a four-course dinner, drinks, and views of hippos, crocodiles, birds, sunset, and distant Victoria Falls.

“Good food and service. We loved the boat experience and how peaceful it was during our visit in October 2025.”

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11.Standard Sunset Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 23 reviews · from $50

Spend about two hours on the Zambezi River in Zambezi National Park, cruising between Zimbabwe and Zambia as your captain points out hippos, elephants, crocodiles, antelope, buffalo, zebras, and river birds. Drinks, alcohol, and light snacks are included. Captain Moses has been praised for his humor and river knowledge.

“We went on a cloudy day but even without a true sunset, it was so lovely. We were with about 8 other people's, making it a 10 person group not counting the crew. There were plenty of space to sit and room to move around. The crew was so aRead more”

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12.Sunset Cruise Wildlife Watching Experience at Zambezi River

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 21 reviews · from $45Best value

At 4 pm, Khanondo Tours & Safaris takes you from Victoria Falls to the Zambezi River for about two hours of sunset wildlife watching. Sip beer, wine, spirits, soft drinks, or water while snacking on finger food and watching for hippos, crocodiles, elephants, birds, giraffes, and baboons. Hotel pickup and return are included.

“The sunset trip was excellent and the wildlife was stunning , over 30 elephants down to the waters edge , plenty of hippo and we saw crocodile, two large ones basking on the river bank , bee eaters and baboons were other things we saw . OuRead more”

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13.Birdwatching Cruise in Zambezi River with Breakfast

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 18 reviews · from $85

Meet at the Zambezi River at 6:30 am, or use pickup from select Victoria Falls hotels, for a two-hour birdwatching cruise with a maximum of 16 people. Your guide helps identify birds, from possible African pittas to Narina trogons, while you enjoy fruit, pastries, cheeses, biscuits, and a birding booklet onboard.

“Excellent crew, knowledgeable guides, lots of birds and other wildlife opportunities. So much calmer than the sunset traffic jams. Bring your own binoculars. Breakfast was OK but the fruit was old and soft.”

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14.Shearwater Adventure Jet Boat Experience in Victoria Falls

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 16 reviews · from $122

Take a 465-horsepower jet boat through the Zambezi rapids, pause below Victoria Falls in the Boiling Pot, and hike into Batoka Gorge. A captain and guide handle the technical work while you wear a helmet and life jacket. The three-hour outing includes a 45 to 50-minute water ride, pickup, soda, and optional photo and video purchases.

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15.Private Sunset Cruise on the Zambezi River

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 16 reviews · 2 hours · from $110

Spend two private hours on the Zambezi River near Victoria Falls, watching the sky turn orange while attentive crew serve cocktails and canapés. Guides such as Elvis, Precious, Daniel, and Memory have helped make past cruises memorable with wildlife spotting and warm service. Hotel pickup is included within 5 kilometers of Victoria Falls Town.

“We had a fantastic afternoon on a private sunset cruise on the Zambezi River with Elvis and Precious. The canapés and drinks were delicious, and the atmosphere was just perfect. Elvis and Precious were incredibly attentive, friendly and knowledgeable – they showed us so many animals and birds along the way and made the whole experience truly special. We can highly recommend this cruise to anyone looking for a memorable and unique experience in Victoria Falls.”

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