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Food tours in Victoria Falls: what to eat and which tour to book
Victoria Falls is a small resort town built around the waterfall and the Zambezi, so most visitors eat in lodges, hotel restaurants and on sunset river cruises rather than in a local food scene. The food worth seeking out is Zimbabwean: sadza (stiff maize porridge) eaten by hand with stews and greens, kapenta (small dried fish), Zambezi bream, beef and goat grilled as braai, and game meat such as kudu, eland and warthog, which appears on lodge menus and at boma dinners with drumming and dancing. Adventurous eaters can try mopane worms (madora), a seasonal protein snack. Across the bridge, Livingstone in Zambia has a similar mix of lodge dining and local eateries.
Use this page to know what to order and where, with rough 2026 prices in US dollars, which are widely used in Victoria Falls. The tours shown are real GetYourGuide listings, with prices as seen when we checked; confirm the price and meeting point on the booking page before you pay.
What to eat in Victoria Falls
| Dish | What it is | Where to eat it | Typical price* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maize porridge with relish sadza ne nyama / sadza with relish | Thick, white maize porridge, rolled into a ball with the right hand and used to scoop up beef or chicken stew, greens or beans. The everyday meal of Zimbabwe. | Local eateries in the town centre and in Chinotimba township; some tourist restaurants and boma dinners serve it too. | roughly $3–8 at a local eatery; more in tourist restaurants |
| Greens in peanut sauce muriwo une dovi | Leafy greens (often rape, covo or pumpkin leaves) cooked with tomato, onion and peanut butter. A common side to sadza. | Local eateries and Zimbabwean menus in restaurants. | usually part of a sadza plate |
| Small dried fish kapenta | Tiny freshwater fish from Lake Kariba, dried, then fried with tomato and onion or eaten crisp. Salty and strong-flavoured. | Local eateries with sadza; sold dried at markets. | roughly $3–7 a plate with sadza |
| Zambezi bream bream (tilapia) | Freshwater fish from the Zambezi and its lakes, usually grilled or fried whole and served with chips or sadza. | Restaurants in town and lodge restaurants by the river. | roughly $12–25 a main course |
| Game meat kudu, eland, impala, warthog, crocodile | Farmed or legally harvested game served as steaks, skewers, stews or burgers; lean and slightly gamey. Crocodile tail is often on menus as a novelty. | Lodge and hotel restaurants and boma dinners; some restaurants in town have game grills. | roughly $20–40 a main course; boma dinners are usually a fixed price |
| Mopane worms madora / amacimbi | Caterpillars of the mopane moth, gutted, dried and then fried or stewed with tomato. A traditional seasonal protein in southern Africa; offered as a 'dare' at boma dinners. | Boma dinners and some local markets. | usually included in a set dinner; small amounts at markets |
| Braai | Barbecued beef, boerewors sausage, chicken and goat, often eaten with sadza and a tomato-onion relish. | Restaurants and lodges; local braai spots in Chinotimba. | roughly $8–20 a plate |
Where to eat: markets and neighbourhoods
Town centre (Livingstone Way and Parkway)
The small grid of streets between the falls entrance and the residential areas, with cafés, restaurants, craft markets and shopping centres. Walkable, though be careful after dark because elephants and other wildlife do pass through town.
Victoria Falls Hotel terrace
The historic hotel near the falls has a terrace looking towards the Victoria Falls Bridge, known for afternoon tea and drinks; non-guests can usually visit.
Boma dinners
Evening buffets at lodges with traditional dishes, game meat from the grill, sadza and mopane worms, plus drumming, dancing and storytelling. Touristy, but the easiest way to taste several Zimbabwean dishes in one meal.
Zambezi sunset cruises
River cruises upstream of the falls include snacks or a dinner and drinks, with hippos, crocodiles and elephants on the banks. Food quality varies by boat and price.
Chinotimba
The main residential township of Victoria Falls, where locals shop and eat sadza, braai and kapenta at local prices. Best visited with a local guide or a community tour.
Food tours in Victoria Falls compared
Every tour below is a real listing on GetYourGuide or Viator, checked on 2 Oct 2026. Prices move with season and group size, so treat them as a guide and confirm on the booking page.
| Tour | Length | Price* | Group | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria Falls: Dinner Cruise on the Zambezi River | 3 hours | from €98 per person | — | Evening eaters who want dinner and drinks rolled into one, plus the city after dark. | Check dates |
| Victoria Falls: Sunset Cruise and Dinner at The Eatery | 3.5 hours | from €98 per person | — | Evening eaters who want dinner and drinks rolled into one, plus the city after dark. | Check dates |
| Victoria Falls: Village Tour with Traditional Food Tasting | 2 hours | from €44 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Victoria Falls: Traditional Dinner Under Stars Experience | 3 hours | from €58 per person | — | Evening eaters who want dinner and drinks rolled into one, plus the city after dark. | Check dates |
| Victoria Falls: Luxury Dinner Train Experience | 4 hours | from €302 per person | — | Evening eaters who want dinner and drinks rolled into one, plus the city after dark. | Check dates |
| Victoria Falls: Sunset Dinner at The Lookout Café | 2.5 hours | from €160 per person | max 10 | Evening eaters who want dinner and drinks rolled into one, plus the city after dark. | Check dates |
Victoria Falls: Dinner Cruise on the Zambezi River
On GetYourGuide · run by Pure Africa Limited
- Length
- 3 hours
- Price
- from €98 per person
- Rating
- 4.8 ★ from 1,284 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Suits
- Evening eaters who want dinner and drinks rolled into one, plus the city after dark.
Victoria Falls: Sunset Cruise and Dinner at The Eatery
On GetYourGuide · run by Pure Africa Limited
- Length
- 3.5 hours
- Price
- from €98 per person
- Rating
- 4.8 ★ from 201 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Suits
- Evening eaters who want dinner and drinks rolled into one, plus the city after dark.
Victoria Falls: Village Tour with Traditional Food Tasting
On GetYourGuide · run by Masuku Adventure Safaris
- Length
- 2 hours
- Price
- from €44 per person
- Rating
- 4.6 ★ from 5 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Guided tour Transportation Cultural experiences Traditional food tasting
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
Victoria Falls: Traditional Dinner Under Stars Experience
On GetYourGuide · run by www.kitapansafaris.com
- Length
- 3 hours
- Price
- from €58 per person
- Included
- Traditional bush dinner Local cuisine buffet Lantern-lit campfire Traditional music and dance Pickup and drop off services
- Suits
- Evening eaters who want dinner and drinks rolled into one, plus the city after dark.
Victoria Falls: Luxury Dinner Train Experience
On GetYourGuide · run by Amiable Tours and Safaris
- Length
- 4 hours
- Price
- from €302 per person
- Included
- Includes dinner Includes select beverages Includes transfers Excludes visa fees (if guest transfers from another country) Smart casual dress code applies Private hire options available Maximum 44 Visa fees
- Suits
- Evening eaters who want dinner and drinks rolled into one, plus the city after dark.
Victoria Falls: Sunset Dinner at The Lookout Café
On GetYourGuide · run by Jends Safaris
- Length
- 2.5 hours
- Price
- from €160 per person
- Group size
- max 10
- Included
- Jends Safaris private return transfers Reserved sunset table at The Lookout Café Welcome drink and three‑course dinner One paired wine or non‑alcoholic beverage per guest Photography tips from Jends Safaris host Conse…
- Suits
- Evening eaters who want dinner and drinks rolled into one, plus the city after dark.
Some links on this page are partner links. If you book through them TonyPlan earns a small commission — the price you pay is exactly the same.
Street food, sit-down or a cooking class?
Street food
There is little street food aimed at visitors in Victoria Falls. Roadside snacks such as roasted maize and fried snacks exist in the township and around the markets, but most visitors eat in restaurants, lodges and on cruises.
Sit-down meals
Most eating is in hotel and lodge restaurants, cafés in town, and set-price dinners (boma or cruise). Prices are close to international levels because much food is imported. Dinner is usually from about 18:30–19:00, and many visitors book a lodge restaurant with a view of a waterhole.
Cooking classes
Formal cooking classes are rare. Food experiences more often take the form of village or township visits with a home-cooked meal, boma dinners with traditional dishes, or a sunset cruise with dinner. Ask exactly what is served and whether drinks are included.
How much to budget for food
| Style | Per person, per day* |
|---|---|
| Budget (street food, markets) | $20–35 (local eateries for sadza, a café meal) |
| Mid-range (one sit-down meal a day) | $50–90 (café lunch and a restaurant dinner with drinks) |
| Splurge (tasting menus, wine) | $120+ (boma dinner or dinner cruise, high tea at a historic hotel) |
Vegetarian, halal and gluten-free
Vegetarian & vegan: Possible: sadza with greens in peanut sauce, beans and vegetable stews are traditional, and tourist restaurants have vegetarian dishes. Vegan options are fewer; ask whether stews are cooked with meat stock.
Halal: Halal-certified food is limited; there is no large Muslim community in the town. Fish, vegetarian dishes and sadza with vegetable relishes are practical choices. Ask lodges in advance — some can arrange halal meals.
Gluten-free: Sadza is made from maize and is naturally gluten-free, as are grilled meats and fish. Lodges and hotels can usually cater for coeliacs with notice; small local eateries may not understand the requirement.
Food scams and tourist traps to avoid
- Street money-changers offering a 'good rate' for local currency or old Zimbabwean banknotes, and change given in torn or withdrawn notes you can't use. Pay in US dollars with small, clean notes, and change money only at banks or official bureaus.
- Being short-changed because shops lack small US dollar change. Carry plenty of $1 and $5 notes; agree prices before ordering at small eateries.
- Set dinners and cruises where drinks are not included or are charged at high prices. Check what is included when booking: food, drinks, transfers and tips.
Top tours & activities in Victoria Falls
Rent a car in Victoria Falls
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Staying near the markets saves time and taxi money — most food tours start in the old centre.
Common questions
What currency should I use for food in Victoria Falls?
US dollars are widely used and accepted in restaurants, lodges and shops, and cards work in most tourist places. Bring small, clean US notes ($1, $5, $10) because change can be scarce, and avoid exchanging money on the street. Zimbabwe has its own currency too, but visitors rarely need it.
Do I need to tip in Victoria Falls?
Tips are appreciated and an important part of staff income. About 10% in restaurants is normal if service is not included, and a few dollars for guides, cruise crews and drivers is common. Tip in US dollars cash so it reaches the person directly.
Is it safe to eat local food?
Yes, in restaurants, lodges and well-run local eateries; choose busy places where food is cooked fresh. Drink bottled or filtered water, which lodges usually provide. Ice in good hotels and restaurants is generally safe.
Are boma dinners worth it?
They are touristy, but they offer a good sample of Zimbabwean food — sadza, stews, game meat from the grill and mopane worms to try — along with drumming and dancing, in one evening. Book ahead, check what drinks and transfers are included, and come hungry: they are usually large buffets.
How much should I budget for food per day?
Victoria Falls is expensive because most visitors eat in tourist venues and much food is imported. Eating mostly at local eateries and cafés, roughly $20–35 a day is possible. A café lunch and restaurant dinner with drinks costs about $50–90. Boma dinners, cruises and high tea push the day past $120.
Can I eat game meat ethically?
Game served in restaurants in Zimbabwe generally comes from farmed or licensed sources, such as kudu, eland and impala, and crocodile is farmed. If it matters to you, ask the restaurant where the meat comes from. Avoid anything claimed to be from protected species.
* Prices are approximate, gathered on 2 Oct 2026 from menus, markets and the booking pages linked above. They change with season and exchange rates.