Updated Feb 2024

Best Victoria Falls activities: #8. Have an up-close animal encounter in Victoria Falls

In Victoria Falls, you get once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to be face-to-face with the majestic creatures that call Africa their home. These are not the same as the activities that you can do at wildlife parks in the West. The activities in this ‘up-close’ category are not ‘safaris’, where you spot animals in a reserve. These are opportunities to get even closer to real African animals, often without fences, in a more concentrated environment. Up-close animal encounters are important because they help us humans feel even more connected to these animals, and it is only when we feel connected to them that we will want to conserve them.

Ethical note: It is imperative that you fully research all animal experiences to ensure that the animals are not being exploited. I have given details of specific animal activities below that I feel are ethical, but you should contact the operators or visit their websites for more information. Please do make an informed decision before promoting or supporting any animal interaction. These animals should allowed to be wild, and to behave like wild animals, as much as possible.

Read on for our list of the up-close animal encounters available in Victoria Falls …

An up-close animal encounter is our Number 8 of Things to do in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. But which one to choose? That’s up to you …

Vulture Culture Experience

• Where: Victoria Falls Safari Lodge. This is a lodge (accommodation), but visitors can still stop in to see the vultures.
• When: Daily at 1pm, in front of the lodge restaurant. It takes less than an hour.
• What: See huge numbers of wild vultures descend from the sky and eat in true predator style. There is no contact with the vultures, as they are completely wild and free. You’ll likely not be able to see such large amounts of birds of prey in volume anywhere else!
• Cost: Free, but why not enjoy a drink or lunch at the lodge before or after the feeding, to show your appreciation.
• Who: Suitable for all ages, but children should be accompanied by an adult so that they stay clear of the vulture feeding area. This is an excellent educational and engaging activity for kids!
• Booking required? No.
• Visitors are guaranteed to see white headed vultures, hooded vultures, lappet faced vultures and white backed vultures, but even better, this supplementary feeding program aids the survival of these remarkable, but endangered birds.
• Top tip: You won’t need a zoom lens here! The vultures will be just a few metres in front of you.
• This is a must-do in Victoria Falls. For more information about the vulture culture experience, read the full article and watch the video here.

Elephant encounter

• There are two separate elephant encounters in Victoria Falls: Wild Horizons and EleCREW.
• The below info is about the Wild Horizons experience.
• Visit the Wild Horizons Elephant Orphanage to experience the elephants and their human handlers up-close, in their natural habitat. These animals are not in cages!
• Note: The elephants at the Zimbabwean sanctuaries have not been taken from their mothers or herds for the purposes of tourism. They have been rescued from abusive/captive/cull/orphaned situations. The elephants in these sanctuaries are not sold to other countries’ zoos – in fact, many have been adopted in order to prevent them from being sold to other countries. They are not bred. They are not chained. The income generated supports the elephants’ veterinary bills, the large area of land that they need, and to aid in the efforts to release some of them back into the wild. You can read more here. It was once an elephant-back safari but for ethical reasons it is now an encounter, and it follows a strict code of conduct for the elephants’ benefit.
• You will be transferred from your lodge to the private game reserve where the elephants live.
• Guests will learn about the elephant as well as their history and how they came to be in our care as well as the threats facing elephant populations today, in an interesting and informative talk.
• Guests will venture out into the bush to spend time with the elephant and the sight of the gentle grey mammals up close and personal will be imprinted on guests’ minds’ long after they have returned home. Witness the special relationship the elephant keepers share with the animals and become a part of it.
• You will have the opportunity to take photographs with the elephants, marvel at their size and watch them behaving normally; browsing and interacting with one another.
• After the encounter with these amazing creatures guests will be offered a selection of refreshments in the cool of the Wild Horizons Elephant Wallow. A transfer back to Victoria Falls concludes the experience.
• Minimum age: 5 years. Children must be accompanied by a guardian. Children aged 5 to 12 may participate if accompanied by a parent. Management retains the right to refuse a child, whom they feel is unsuitable for the activity, for any reason. Children 5-11 years are half price; over 12 pay full price.
• Fitness Level: No Fitness Requirement.
• Experience Level: No Experience Requirement.
• Inclusions: Scheduled transfers from/to Vic Falls Town/Hotels, an Elephant Encounter.
• Early morning: Tea, Coffee, Soft Drinks & breakfast.
• Mid morning: Soft Drinks, Local beer, wine, water, coffee, tea and a selection of hot & cold snacks.
• Afternoon: Soft Drinks, Local beer, wine, water, coffee, tea and a selection of hot & cold canapés.
• Exclusions: Items of a personal nature.
• Tip: Take a hat and apply sunscreen before going, especially for the afternoon.
• Language: English
• How to book: Book online directly with Wild Horizons here. Book online directly with EleCREW here. You can also book with your tour company, hotel, lodge, or within the Wild Horizons or Shearwater offices in Victoria Falls town. Do not book with someone on the street!
• Read about my Wild Horizons elephant safari here, but note that it was in 2013 and therefore a different experience.

Crocodile Park tour

• What: Want to hold a baby crocodile, as well as see these massive adult reptiles up close? This is the place for you. It’s one way to (hopefully) instil a healthy fear and respect for these prehistoric killers. They are not to be messed with when on a truly wild safari.
• Where: Victoria Falls Crocodile Farm, approx. 5 km from Victoria Falls Town.
• Cost: Very affordable, approx. US $20 ($5 for locals), booking ahead not required. Book via your accommodation; ask your accommodation to offer you a transfer if necessary.
• There’s also a snake enclosure for visitors to ‘enjoy’.
• Family friendly?: Yes, kids will love interacting with the baby crocodiles – just make sure they aren’t likely to climb into the enclosures! Read about my visit to the crocodile farm here.
• Note: I do not support crocodile cage diving activities in Victoria Falls: cage diving is just too much human contact to be fair for creatures like this. Go to the crocodile park instead!

Lion encounter

• What: Once a ‘walk with lions’, this is now a ‘lion experience’; it is a more ethical yet still exciting way to see the African Lions in their natural habitat, much closer than you might on safari.

• Feast of the Beasts: On arrival, you’ll drive through the enclosure past some of the lions. There will be a safety briefing and an introduction on what Wildlife Encounter is all about, and the importance of lion and human peaceful cohabitation. You will be in a secure hide where you will be able to see the lions at eye level, and from a safe distance. Prepare yourself for a bit of an adrenaline rush. Fresh food will be placed in position, and then the large male lions are released. Watch the ‘beasts’ charge and see how powerful these big cats are, as close as possible.

• Into the Pride: The second part of the activity is an opportunity to witness the life of a lion pride. This experience takes you on a scenic drive through a 25-acre enclosure strategically placed within the teak forest housing a pride of lions. From the safety of a secure safari vehicle, enjoy guaranteed sightings of the pride, with incredible photo opportunities as they go about their daily lion lives. As always, not only do these activities offer amazing experiences, but also contribute financially to the continued conservation and community development work.

• When: Twice a day; you can choose either a morning or late afternoons slot.
• Family friendly?: Yes, There is no age restriction for this activity. Children need to be accompanied by their parents/guardians.
• Inclusions: Transfers to and from your place of stay. Morning activity includes a full English breakfast, while the afternoon activity includes drinks and finger snacks.
• Tips: Apply sun cream, wear a hat, take a water bottle, a camera, comfortable clothing, do not wear dangling objects (think of a giant cat toy), do not wear the colour red.
• Book with your tour company, hotel, lodge, or with the Shearwater/Wild Horizons office in Victoria Falls.
• Lion conservation volunteer holidays are also available if you want to come back for more.
• All lion encounters in Victoria Falls are operated by ALERT, regardless of who you’ve booked with.
• Read about my 2013 lion encounter experience.

Next: See the Victoria Falls Bridge from a steam train: Number 9 of things to do in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

If you’re planning your own Zimbabwe holiday (hooray!), I can recommend Go2Africa, Africa’s Leading Safari Company (and one of our affiliates). Go2Africa has been tailor-making safari vacations for thousands of clients from across the globe since 1998. You can research African destinations, accommodation, safaris, and more. Even better, you can directly contact their safari specialists who can help you get the African experience that’s perfect for you. 

Please do visit the Go2Africa website for more.

You can also check out Go2Africa’s Zimbabwe tours here.

Travel advice about Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

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