Zambezi Sunset Cruise at Victoria Falls: Dinner Cruise or Short Boat Trip?
3 min read
Short answer: for a special evening, book the dinner cruise, the most reviewed boat trip here. If you only want the river at sunset and a shorter evening, the 2-hour luxury sunset cruise is the plain version. Both pick you up in Victoria Falls town; staying in Livingstone, take the Livingstone sunset cruise instead.
The cruises side by side
| Cruise | Price | Rating | What the listing says |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dinner cruise on the Zambezi | €97.96 | 4.8 (1,339) | 4-course dinner on board at sunset, with drinks, and a look-out for wildlife; listed at 3 hours |
| 2-hour luxury sunset cruise | €61.45 | 4.8 (561) | Sunset on the Zambezi Explorer, Pure Africa’s flagship boat, with canapés and drinks on the lower decks; up to 100 guests; listed at 2 hours |
| Sunset cruise and dinner at The Eatery | €97.96 | 4.8 (209) | A 2-hour cruise on the Zambezi Explorer, then a 3-course riverside dinner at The Eatery with wine and water; listed at 3.5 hours |
| Relaxing sunset boat cruise | €62.34 | 4.2 (175) | Sunset, wildlife and river views on the Wanuka Queen, with snacks, beer, wine, local spirits and soft drinks; listed at 2.5 hours |
| Livingstone sunset cruise | €66.79 | 4.7 (119) | A 2-hour cruise upstream from the falls on the African Queen or African Princess, with drinks and snacks; premium spirits and tips cost extra |
What to think about
Dinner or no dinner. Two listings put a full meal at the centre: the 4-course dinner cruise, served on board, and the cruise with a 3-course dinner on land at The Eatery afterwards. The dinner cruise page also offers an upgrade to a 6-course dinner on a second boat, the Zambezi Reflections. Drinks come with all five cruises; the three without dinner add snacks or canapés. At The Eatery, wine and water come with the meal and other drinks are paid at the bar.
Fees. The four cruises on the Zimbabwean side name a national park or river fee of USD 12 per person. On the three Pure Africa cruises (the dinner cruise, the 2-hour cruise and The Eatery) it is paid at check-in, on top of the price. The relaxing cruise lists the USD 12 river fee among its includes and extras without saying which it is, so ask the operator whether it is in the price.
Pickup and which side of the river. The three Pure Africa cruises collect you from hotels and lodges in Victoria Falls town within 5 km and do not pick up from Livingstone. The relaxing cruise also starts in Victoria Falls and charges an extra fare if you stay in Livingstone or Kasane. The Livingstone cruise leaves from the Zambian side, upstream from the falls, and its transfers come from accommodation in the Livingstone area. Choose the boat on the side of the border where you sleep, and you avoid a crossing at night.
Wildlife. Several listings mention looking out for wildlife on the river. None of them promises a sighting, and neither do we.
Our recommendation
For most visitors: the dinner cruise. It is the most reviewed of these boat trips and gives you dinner, drinks and the river in one booking. Pick the 2-hour sunset cruise if you would rather eat in town afterwards, and the relaxing cruise if you want a 2.5-hour trip with beer, wine and local spirits on board. For other evenings out, see our culture and dinner page.
