Victoria Falls at golden hour with spray in the evening light

Microlight flights over Victoria Falls

A microlight is the open-air alternative to the helicopter: pilot and one passenger in an open cockpit. All microlight flights we found depart from the Zambian side, from the Batoka Sky base in Livingstone — there is no microlight product on the Zimbabwe side with any of our booking partners. Flights run 15 or 30 minutes; the seller recommends morning slots for calmer weather.

from $190 per person

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Before you book: cameras stay on the ground

Own cameras and phones are not allowed on board a microlight — a photo package is sold on site instead. Local fees are small: US$6 flight fee plus US$1.85 (15 min) or US$3.70 (30 min) fuel surcharge per person, paid locally. Maximum passenger weight is 100 kg.

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Departing from Livingstone (Zambia)

Bestseller Lowest total price

Microlight from Batoka Sky

15 or 30 minutes · Livingstone’s Adventure (Batoka Sky) · Batoka Sky, Livingstone

Open-cockpit flying with nothing between you and the spray: the 15-minute morning flight circles the falls and the islands, the 30-minute version continues across the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park with a low-level pass to look for wildlife.

15 minutes, morning flight ★ 4.6 (128) ✓ Free cancellation up to 24 h + US$7.85 p.p. paid locally

$190 ≈ $197.85 total incl. local fee Book on GetYourGuide
30 minutes ★ 4.6 (128) ✓ Free cancellation up to 24 h + US$9.70 p.p. paid locally

$380 ≈ $389.70 total incl. local fee Book on GetYourGuide

Good to know

Own cameras and phones are not allowed on board; a photo package is sold on site.
Weather-dependent; the seller recommends booking morning flights. Maximum weight 100 kg.

Private microlight flight (Afro Dawn)

A private open-cockpit flight from the Zambian side, starting at 7 a.m. when the air is calmest. Guests staying on the Zimbabwe side can be brought across for a transfer fee.

★ 4.9 (14) ✓ Free cancellation up to 24 h + US$6 p.p. paid locally

$246.16 ≈ $252.16 total incl. local fee Book on Viator

Good to know

Departs from Zambia, start 7:00 am.

Helicopter or microlight?

A microlight carries the pilot and one passenger in an open cockpit — no cabin, no window between you and the spray. That single difference drives everything else: you fly alone with the pilot rather than sharing a cabin of four or five, you feel the air, and the falls are directly below you with nothing in the frame. One traveller who did both puts it bluntly: the microlight was “quite a bit better than the helicopter flight”. The trade-offs are just as concrete: microlights fly only from the Zambian side (Batoka Sky in Livingstone), they are more weather-dependent, and your own camera stays on the ground.

The two routes

The 15-minute flight, offered in the calmer morning hours, covers the falls, the islands immediately upstream and the Zambezi itself, with the gorge the river has carved clearly visible below. The 30-minute flight continues along the Zambezi, circles the falls, then crosses the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park and finishes with a low-level pass looking for wildlife — travellers report elephants, rhinos, zebras, hippos and crocodiles from the air.

The camera rule — and why it isn’t a trick

The seller’s listing is unambiguous: cameras, video devices and bags are not allowed on board. Instead, the operator photographs and films the flight and sells the package on site after landing — travellers confirm receiving the files and describe them as good keepsakes. If having your own footage matters more to you than open-air flying, the helicopter is the better fit — cameras are welcome there.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take my phone or camera on the flight?

No — the seller’s listing is explicit: no cameras, no video devices, no bags on board. The operator photographs and films your flight instead, and the package is sold on site after landing. Travellers confirm receiving the files.

Where do microlights take off?

Only on the Zambian side, from the Batoka Sky base in Livingstone. Transfers from Livingstone accommodation are included; one seller offers the flight for guests staying on the Zimbabwe side with a US$25 per person transfer.

Is there a weight limit?

Yes — the operator states a weight limit of 100 kg per passenger for the Bat Hawk microlights; above this limit you cannot fly.

When should I fly?

The seller recommends morning slots: the air is calmer, and microlights are more weather-sensitive than helicopters. Flights do not operate in rain or storms; travellers report uncomplicated rebooking when weather intervenes.