How to be an Ethical Visitor to Victoria Falls

• Respect our local wildlife.

• Do not litter.

• Support local artisans directly and pay them fairly.

• Be careful about paid animal interactions.

• Don't drink bottled water

Respect our local wildlife.

Victoria Falls town is commonly frequented by chacma baboons, vervet monkeys, banded mongooses, warthog and bushbuck. Less frequently Cape Buffalo and African elephant wander into town.

All of these animals need to kept at a safe distance, and should never be fed or provoked. Don't walk after dark when you are more likely to bump into wild animals.

Do not litter.

Litter threatens our environment, wildlife, and economy. It pollutes our neighbourhoods, increases the spread of disease, and degrades the spectacular natural beauty of the Victoria Falls environment.

Support local artisans directly and pay them fairly.

If you want to bring back something truly authentic and unique, buy handicrafts and goods from local artisans! We are lucky enough to have a wealth of local artisans in Victoria Falls- all drawing on the rich national heritage of artistic tradition. Intricate and life like wooden and stone carvings, baskets, cloth and more.

Most folks are usually game for negotiation but be mindful of the time and energy someone spent to make the item you desire. Think of how long it might take and what you would pay for such an item in your home country. Many artisans in Zimbabwe live on the borderline and your purchase can make a huge difference.

Be careful about paid animal interactions.

Paid interactions with animals that should be wild, such as lions and elephant, often are unethical- requiring wild animals to be captured and separated from their families, or breeding them in captivity. Animals that inherently are dangerous to humans need to be controlled and that requires them to fear their human captors. Ask questions before participating or preferably view wild animals instead!

There are only two ways elephant tourism can be ethical, according to Dr Mark Jones, head of policy at Born Free. “Truly responsible animal tourism consists either of watching wild animals in their natural habitat in a way that has no negative impact on the animals or their ecosystem,” he says, “or safely viewing those animals who cannot live in the wild but in genuine well-managed sanctuaries that offer optimal welfare standards.”

Don't drink bottled water.

In Victoria Falls treated municipal water from the taps is perfectly safe to drink. Plastic bottles are used for minutes yet are with us for centuries. Single-use plastic water bottles are non-biodegradable items that are easily replaced with a reusable container. If offered bottled water in a plastic bottle decline it and post a review to the company highlighting you would like the practise changed.