What Livingstone Saw

When David Livingstone first laid eyes on Victoria Falls in 1855, he wrote that the scene must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight. He named the flights that now carry visitors above the falls in his honour – and the name, it turns out, was entirely appropriate.

From the ground, Victoria Falls is overwhelming. From 300 metres above it, it becomes something else: comprehensible in its entirety, astonishing in its scale, and breathtakingly beautiful in the way that only a truly aerial perspective can reveal. The 1,708-metre curtain of falling water. The gorges carved over two million years. The spray column rising half a kilometre into the air. The Zambezi snaking away in both directions, ancient and unhurried.

This is what the Flight of Angels shows you. It takes 13 minutes. It lasts considerably longer in memory.

The Flight

Your helicopter departs from the Victoria Falls helipad and heads directly to the falls. The pilot completes a series of left and right-bank turns, ensuring every passenger has full, unobstructed sightlines from both sides of the aircraft. What you see:

• The Main Falls – the full 1,708-metre width visible in a single frame for the first time
• The Eastern Cataract – the thundering Zambian section and the Knife Edge Bridge below
• Batoka Gorge – the dramatic zigzag series of gorges carved by the river below the falls
• The Victoria Falls Bridge – the 1905 railway bridge spanning the second gorge
• The Zambezi River – upstream and downstream, the full context of this extraordinary waterway
• Victoria Falls and Livingstone towns – the human scale set against the natural wonder

Photography from the Air

The Flight of Angels is a photographer’s defining Victoria Falls moment. Bring a wide-angle lens if you have one – the aerial perspective rewards focal lengths between 14mm and 35mm. Protect your equipment from spray, particularly during high-water season (February to May) when the column can reach the aircraft. A wrist strap is essential. The doors may be open for improved photography on certain flights – confirm at booking.

Best Time for the Helicopter Flight

• August to November – optimal for photography. Clear visibility, strong falls, excellent light
• June to July – very high water with dramatic spray; some photography limitation from mist
• February to May – peak flood. The most visceral, powerful experience. Spray can be intense enough to affect visibility and photography
• The Flight of Angels operates year-round. Every season offers a different and rewarding perspective

What’s Included

• 13-minute scenic helicopter flight over Victoria Falls
• Helipad check-in and boarding assistance
• Transfer coordination from your Victoria Falls hotel (if booked as part of a day package)

Additional Costs at the Helipad

An aviation fuel surcharge and national parks/aviation tax of approximately $25 to $35 per person is charged directly by the helicopter operator at the helipad. This is standard industry practice and applies to all helicopter operators at Victoria Falls.

Good to Know

• Flight duration: 12 to 15 minutes
• Allow 45 to 60 minutes at the helipad including check-in, briefing, and boarding
• All passengers are weighed before the flight – standard aviation procedure
• Avoid loose items: hats, scarves, and unsecured items are an aviation hazard
• Closed shoes preferred; jewellery should be secured or removed
• No minimum age. Infants fly as cargo weight on a guardian’s lap
• An extended 25-minute flight covering the gorge system and upstream Zambezi is also available at an additional cost – contact us for details