Planning the day
A Victoria Falls day, then Simunye
A plan for one day at Victoria Falls that ends with Simunye: the falls, the bridge, the town and an unhurried evening at the theatre.
Book Simunye on Viator ↗Quick answer
Spend the day at the falls and the bridge, rest through the middle, and keep the evening for Simunye. The theatre is in the centre of the town, taxis serve it, and the show runs about an hour. Eat before or after, because food is not included, and allow time for photos with the cast.
Start with the falls
Wikipedia gives the falls as 1,708 m wide and 108 m high. Mosi-oa-Tunya, the Lozi name, translates as the smoke that thunders, and Scottish missionary David Livingstone, the first recorded European to see them, did so on 16 November 1855 and named them for Queen Victoria. UNESCO listed the site in 1989 under both names, Mosi-oa-Tunya and Victoria Falls. Seeing them first gives the evening a frame: you will have stood in front of the thing the town exists for.
The national park
On the Zimbabwean side, the falls are protected as Victoria Falls National Park, which Wikipedia says covers 23 km². The town of Victoria Falls is surrounded by national parks, and a visit to the park is a daytime activity with its own planning. Leave the late afternoon free after it, so that you reach the theatre rested rather than rushed. The evening show is much easier to enjoy after a rest than after a full day of walking in the heat.
The bridge
The Victoria Falls Bridge opened in April 1905, linking Southern Rhodesia with Northern Rhodesia, according to Wikipedia. It is a steel arch bridge spanning the Batoka Gorge and a combined road and rail crossing, described as the only rail link between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Wikipedia says Cecil Rhodes wanted it built where the spray from the falls would hit passing trains, so it was sited at the Second Gorge. It is a good half-day stop in itself, and it sits well in a day that finishes in the theatre.
The town in between
The settlement itself began in 1901, when the falls' potential for hydro-electric power was explored. Wikipedia says the central historic district holds the town's oldest hotels, restaurants and bars, and that the town is a regional centre for adventure tourism, with over 200 related activities in 2019, among them helicopter tours, jet boating, whitewater rafting, bungee jumping and mountain biking. Most of those are daytime and active. Simunye is the opposite: a seated hour in the evening. If you have packed the day with activity, the show is a gentle way to end it.
Fitting the show in
Build the day backwards from the start time shown for your night in the calendar. Aim to be there half an hour early, which leaves time for a drink. Food is not included, so book dinner for before the show or for after. Allow roughly 20 to 30 minutes at the end for photos with the cast. A good rhythm is the falls in the morning, rest in the middle, an early meal, the show, and a taxi home.
Getting around
The booking page says taxis are available to and from the theatre and that public transport is nearby. Wikipedia puts Victoria Falls Airport 18 km south of the town, with international services to Johannesburg, Cape Town, Nairobi and Windhoek. If you arrive on a late flight, the first evening is better kept free. Save Simunye for a night when you are settled, because the performance is quiet and calm and rewards a relaxed mind more than a tired one.
Frequently asked questions
Can I see the falls and the show on the same day?
Yes. The falls are a daytime visit and the show is an evening performance in the centre of town. Leave the late afternoon free.
Is food included?
No. The ticket carries no meal or drink, so book dinner before or after the show.
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