South Africa drives regional tourism surge to Victoria Falls

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South Africa is the leading country in the SADC region when it comes to sending tourists to Victoria Falls in the first quarter of 2025, according to the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks).

Victoria Falls is located at the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. Over the years, it has become an attractive tourist destination.

South Africa leads regional tourism to Victoria Falls

In a statement, Zimparks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo, noted that South Africa has played a big part in why Victoria Falls has seen so many more international visitors recently. He said that Botswana follows South Africa closely.

According to Zimparks, international arrivals to Vic Falls hit 47 633 in the first part of 2025. This is an increase from 44 110 last year.

“The implementation of the KAZA UniVisa, which simplifies cross-border travel between Zimbabwe and Zambia, has also played a pivotal role in encouraging visitors to explore both sides of the Falls, offering a more seamless experience for tourists from many countries,” he said.

Tourists from Europe drive growth in international arrivals

Farawo added that the main countries driving international interest in Victoria Falls are in Europe, particularly the UK, Ireland, and Germany.

He believes this is largely because of the readily available tour packages aimed at people in those markets.

Farawo further noted that the improved accessibility of Victoria Falls, thanks to the airport expansion and new flight routes like the direct one from Frankfurt, has sparked even more interest from German travelers.